Junot Diaz wrote The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, in which he highlights the history of the Dominican Republic and briefly the United States to describe superstitious aspects still present in the culture today. In the writing, Diaz introduces several colloquial terms such as: “fuku”,”fua”, and “zafa”. Despite enjoying the pleasant conversational tone of the work, certain references such as places and Spanish terms were lost on me. It was difficult reading through some of the text due to the switching into Spanish terms. I did not fully understand some of the sentences without looking up terms, even with the use of contextual clues. This distracted me from the flow of the story unfolding and required several rereads. A prime example being, “…every single Dominican, from the richest jabao in Mao to the poorest guey in El Buey, from the oldest anciano sanmacorisano to the littlest carajito in San Francisco, knew: whoever killed Trujillo, their family would suffer a fuku so dreadful it would make the one that attached itself to the Admiral jojote in comparison.” (3) Diaz is conveying how it was common knowledge amongst virtually all Dominicans from different walks of life, the stigma attached to merely attempting to end the life of the despot. While I did have difficulty with the references, it lent a personable aspect to Diaz’s writing, which further emphasized the conversational tone present through the work. Moreover, Diaz makes Science Fiction/Fantasy and pop culture references that he seems to assume his readers are familiar with and he does not clarify despite the presence of footnotes. Diaz writes, “But be assured: like Darkseid’s Omega Effect, like Morgoth’s bane, no matter how many turns and digressions the shit might take, it always-and I mean always-gets its man.”(5) It may not always be the most obvious result or direct path taken but the bad ju-ju eventually catches up to the intended person. The fuku curse, like karma always comes around to bite someone in the butt.
Author: NinaD
Loaded Word
Speaker: Ta-Nehisi Coates, an African American male, he states “black people (like me).” He mentioned he has 6 siblings, so he is from a large family. He also stated that he is married.
Occasion: Incident with Miami Dolphins Richie Incognito (white) addressing his teammate, LA Clippers’ Matt Barnes (black) tweeting, and Philadelphia Eagles Riley Cooper (white). This led to sports commissioners’ being urged to ban the use of the word publicly. The media coverage brought the issue back into cultural focus.
Audience: African Americans are the primary focus. Specifically those who either use the word openly or may disagree with the usage. In the article, he uses the term “we” several times in the article.
Purpose: Stress the significance or weight of word(s) used within specific communities, that become unacceptable when used by other groups especially when used in derogatory terms. Urge people to not ban the use of the word out of fear other groups will feel entitled to use the words with malice.
Tone: Angry. “what we are really saying to black people is, “Be less human.” This is not a fight over civil rights; it’s an attempt to raise a double standard. It is no different from charging “ladies” with being ornamental and prim while allowing for the great wisdom of boys being boys.” “If you could choose one word to represent the centuries of bondage, the decades of terrorism, the long days of mass rape, the totality of white violence that birthed the black race in America” “the signpost that reminds us that the old crimes don’t disappear. It tells white people that, for all their guns and all their gold, there will always be places they can never go.”
Calling his father by a family nickname is not comparable to calling his wife and her friends bitches. Although it would most likely be awkward and strange for him to address his father in that manner, it is not inherently derogatory.
Unit 1 Final Draft
Nina Darbonne
Dr. Carrie Hall
English Comp 1 1101-D355
21 February 2019
Pocket Guide to Fending Off Consumer Zombies in School Systems
In current society, it is so commonplace being urged to buy the latest products whether its a phone, laptop, footwear, clothes, or gaming paraphernalia; that people rarely bat an eye at the steady stream of advertising we encounter at every turn. Advertising constantly assaults individuals with the message “you need the newest features.” Despite having fully functional items, they suddenly become obsolete as soon as the new edition hits the shelves. Are these unavoidable waves of consumerism so deeply imbedded in our culture that it affects our youth in schools? Is the education that is presumed to take place in the school systems being usurped by institutionalized brainwashing to mass produce a society of “gullible, mindless consumers?”
The most reliable source to answer these questions would be the two groups that spend the most time in the school systems, students and teachers. Based on my experiences, the entire school system is not flawed. Society creates problems which trickle into schools and teachers are then expected to make an effort to combat the issues that arise. Conversely, according to John Taylor Gatto public schools are failing the mission. John Taylor Gatto, an award winning teacher in New York, ended up leaving the profession bitter and jaded. Gatto’s article “Against School,” berates the public school institution criticizing the founding intentions and effectiveness of producing educated individuals. Gatto writes, “School didn’t have to train kids in any direct sense to think they should consume nonstop, because it did something even better: it encouraged them not to think at all. And left them sitting ducks for another great invention of the modern era – marketing.” (Gatto 4) Schools do not specifically promote children to be consumers, however they encourage them not to be discerning. Then leaving impressionable minds defenseless against the onslaught of advertising. Public schools may not be conditioning students to be consumers, its rampant in almost every aspect of society; however schools can do more to prepare children to become competent functional adults.
John Taylor Gatto taught in the New York City school system for thirty years. He grew to believe the public school system hinders children as opposed to educating and preparing them to be responsible, productive adults. Gatto identifies his major gripes with the public school system in his article “Against School.” Some of the concepts Gatto mentions in the article I previously never gave much thought to and took for granted. Gatto mentions in the article, “1. To make good people. 2. To make good citizens. 3. To make each person his or her personal best. These goals are still trotted out today… as a decent definition of public education’s mission.” (Gatto 2) Based on this information, the public school system should aim to mold each young mind into morally good people that strive to achieve their best and are productive members of society upon graduation from high school. At the age of eighteen, approximately the same age many complete “the twelve-year wringer,” many aspects of the world transform and opportunities open up to individuals. For instance, eighteen marks the age when people are considered legally adults with the capacity to make their own decisions and be held accountable for said decisions and actions, enlist in the military, and the ability to vote is available. Personally, I never attended public school. However, through my experiences in Catholic schools I feel the parochial educational institutions I attended have strived to instill the objectives of the public education’s mission in their students. This was done through requiring volunteer work, stressing the importance of the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”), and rewarding good behavior and academic success while conversely reprimanding negative behavior and poor academic effort. The academic institutions I attended ensured we were aware of current events through a myriad of assignments that emphasized news articles while excluding sports and celebrity tabloids.
To be gullible is to readily believe something without questioning the source or soundness of the information. If a school’s goal is to merely force feed students information without them giving further thought to the material the teachers are providing; mindless gullible behavior is being fostered. In my school experience, I encountered several teachers that sought to keep the classroom interesting and students engaged by challenging students to fact check in order to possibly correct the teacher for various incentives, the chance of getting extra credit or a gift card was more than enough to capture the attention of the entire class. On several occasions, I found myself reeled back into lessons after zoning out giving more thought to impending lunch over the “golden nuggets of wisdom” tumbling out of my teacher’s mouth. I can recall the moment in my education that sparked my curiosity and effectively tethered me to Science. An interest that made obtaining my Bachelor’s of Science in Biology truly a labor of love. Sophomore year of high school, my Chemistry teacher converted lab class into a veritable fireworks display conveying the whimsical applications of the Science.
The schools I attended made efforts to combat consumerism by banning fad objects from being brought into the classrooms. This spanned from yo-yos and tamagotchis to G shock watches. In conjunction with uniforms, materialism was discouraged and uniformity was promoted.
Dr. Robert Leamnson wrote “Learning (Your First Job)”, which describes the components of the learning process (understanding and remembering) and several methods to aid this process both in and out of the classroom. Many of Leamnson’s learning strategies ring true. Leamnson writes, “You cannot be ‘given’ learning, nor can you be forced to do it. The most brilliant and inspired teacher cannot ‘cause’ you to learn. ” (Leamnson 1) A good teacher can not force a student to learn it is the student’s responsibility as well. Conversation is not one sided neither is the learning process.
A person’s achievements are not based solely on their educational background but their motivation and perseverance are major components. That being said, some careers, such as medical doctor, require substantial schooling that would seem unattainable without the “twelve-year wringer” as a adequate base to build upon. School systems, teachers in particular can help spark curiosity in a given subject by escaping the humdrum routines. Whether it’s bringing the lesson to life in new and unexpected ways or offering incentives to ignite passion in the material. Consumerism is practically unavoidable; however stressing the importance of schoolwork and morality may be enough to keep the “gullible, mindless consumers” at bay in schools.
Works Cited
Gatto, John T. “Against School.” Against School – John Taylor Gatto, wesjones.com/gatto1.htm.
Leamnson, Robert. “Learning (Your First Job).” MA, Dartmouth, Dec. 2002.
Unit 1 Rough Draft
Nina Darbonne
Dr. Carrie Hall
English Comp 1 1101-D355
19 February 2019
Parochial Schools Upholding Public Education Mission
In current society, it is so commonplace being urged to buy the latest products whether its a phone, laptop, footwear, clothes, or gaming paraphernalia; that people rarely bat an eye at the steady stream of advertising we encounter at every turn. Advertising constantly assaults individuals with the message “you need the newest features.” Despite having fully functional items, they suddenly become obsolete as soon as the new edition hits the shelves. Are these unavoidable waves of consumerism so deeply imbedded in our culture that it affects our youth in schools? Is the education that is presumed to take place in the school systems being usurped by institutionalized brainwashing to mass produce a society of “gullible, mindless consumers?”
The most reliable source to answer these questions would be the two groups that spend the most time in the school systems, students and teachers. This is the unfortunate truth according to John Taylor Gatto, an award winning teacher in New York, who ended up leaving the profession bitter and jaded. Gatto’s article “Against School,” berates the public school institution criticizing the founding intentions and effectiveness of producing educated individuals. Gatto writes, “School didn’t have to train kids in any direct sense to think they should consume nonstop, because it did something even better: it encouraged them not to think at all. And left them sitting ducks for another great invention of the modern era – marketing.” (Gatto 4) Schools do not specifically promote children to be consumers, however they encourage them not to be discerning. Then leaving impressionable minds defenseless against the onslaught of advertising. Public schools may not be conditioning students to be consumers, its rampant in almost every aspect of society; however schools can do more to prepare children to competent functional adults.
John Taylor Gatto taught in the New York City school system for thirty years. He grew to believe the public school system hinders children as opposed to educating and preparing them to be responsible, productive adults. Gatto identifies his major gripes with the public school system in his article “Against School.” Some the concepts Gatto mentions in the article I previously never gave much thought to and took for granted. Gatto mentions in the article, “1. To make good people. 2. To make good citizens. 3. To make each person his or her personal best. These goals are still trotted out today… as a decent definition of public education’s mission.” (Gatto 2) Based on this information, the public school system should aim to mold each young mind into morally good people that strive to achieve their best and are productive members of society upon graduation from high school. At the age of eighteen, approximately the same age many complete “the twelve-year wringer,” many aspects of the world transform and opportunities open up to individuals. For instance, eighteen marks the age when people are considered legally adults with the capacity to make their own decisions and be held accountable for said decisions and actions, enlist in the military, and the ability to vote is available. Personally, I never attended public school. However, through my experiences in catholic schools I feel the parochial educational institutions I attended have strived to instill the objectives of the public education’s mission in their students. This was done through requiring volunteer work, stressing the importance of the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”), and rewarding good behavior and academic success while conversely reprimanding negative behavior and poor academic effort. The academic institutions I attended ensured we were aware of current events through a myriad of assignments that emphasized news articles while excluding sports and celebrity tabloids.
To be gullible is to readily believe something without questioning the source or soundness of the information. If a school’s goal is to merely force feed students information without them giving further thought to the material the teacher are providing, mindless gullible behavior is being fostered. In my school experience, I encountered several teachers that sought to keep the classroom interesting and students engaged by challenging students to fact check in order to possibly correct the teacher for various incentives.
The schools I attended made efforts to combat consumerism by banning fad objects from being brought into the classrooms. This spanned from yo-yos and tamagotchis to G shock watches. In conjunction with uniforms, materialism was discouraged and uniformity was promoted.
Dr. Robert Leamnson wrote “Learning (Your First Job)”, which describes the components of the learning process (understanding and remembering) and several methods to aid this process both in and out of the classroom. Many of Leamnson’s learning strategies ring true. Leamnson writes, “You cannot be ‘given’ learning, nor can you be forced to do it. The most brilliant and inspired teacher cannot ‘cause’ you to learn. ” (Leamnson 1) A good teacher can not force a student to learn it is the student’s responsibility as well. Conversation is not one sided neither is the learning process.
A person’s achievements are not based solely on their educational background but their motivation and perseverance are major components. That being said, some careers, such as medical doctor, require substantial schooling that would seems unattainable without the “twelve-year wringer” as a adequate base to build upon.
Works Cited
Gatto, John T. “Against School.” Against School – John Taylor Gatto, wesjones.com/gatto1.htm.
Leamnson, Robert. “Learning (Your First Job).” MA, Dartmouth, Dec. 2002.
Gatto
John Taylor Gatto taught in the New York City school system for thirty years. He grew to believe the public school system hinders children as opposed to educating and preparing them to be responsible, productive adults. Gatto identifies his major gripes with the public school system in his article “Against School.” Some of the concepts Gatto mentions in the article I previously never gave much thought to and took for granted. Gatto mentions in the article, “1. To make good people. 2. To make good citizens. 3. To make each person his or her personal best. These goals are still trotted out today… as a decent definition of public education’s mission.” (2) Based on this information, the public school system should aim to mold each young mind into morally good people that strive to achieve their best and are productive members of society upon graduation from high school. At the age of eighteen, approximately the same age many complete “the twelve-year wringer,” many aspects of the world transform and opportunities open up to individuals. For instance, eighteen marks the age when people are considered legally adults with the capacity to make their own decisions and be held accountable for said decisions and actions, enlist in the military, and the ability to vote is available. Personally, I never attended public school. However, through my experiences in catholic schools I feel the parochial educational institutions I attended have strived to instill the objectives of the public education’s mission in their students. This was done through requiring volunteer work, stressing the importance of the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”), ensuring we were aware of current events through a myriad of assignments, and rewarding good behavior and academic success while conversely reprimanding negative behavior and poor academic effort.
The strategies I intend to utilize for rereading “Against School” will aid in keeping the text as my primary focus. I will attempt to remove myself from distractions so my attention will not be divided. Instead of trying to squeeze the reading in during work, I will allot time at home to complete the article. Moreover, when I do attempt the reading I will find a quiet place and time, so I won’t become distracted by my children, most likely utilizing their nap time. I will pay attention to the differences in the repetitious themes Gatto echoes throughout the article. I will push through some of the more boring sections and be a more active reader by annotating. I will also take a snack or coffee break when I notice my mind starting to wander and return to the text refreshed.
Gatto
John Taylor Gatto was an award winning teacher in New York, but left the profession bitter and jaded. Gatto’s article “Against School,” berates the public school institution criticizing the founding intentions and effectiveness of producing educated individuals. Gatto’s references the Founding Fathers among other noteworthy individuals ranging from the 1800s to the early 1900s as Americans that achieved greatness in life despite not adhering to modern school framework. I found the examples Gatto utilizes in his article antiquated and irrelevant. Gatto states, “… a considerable number of well-known Americans never went through the twelve-year wringer our kids currently go through, and they turned out all right. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln? Someone taught them, to be sure, but they were not products of a school system, and not one of them was ever ‘graduated’ from a secondary school.” (2) Gatto asserts that prominent leaders in American history that did not attend school is evidence that schooling is not necessary for the education of today’s children. Not only are the individuals he uses as examples outdated, the school houses they would have attended are considerably different from the modern day “school system.” Moreover, doing away with schools will not necessarily remove boredom in youth or produce unique intellectuals. Comparing the schooling of early America to the current educational system or even schools in Gatto’s time of the 1990s, is like comparing apples to oranges. A person’s achievements are not based solely on their educational background but their motivation and perseverance are major components. That being said, some careers, such as medical doctor, require substantial schooling that would seems unattainable without the “twelve-year wringer” as a adequate base to build upon.
Your First Job
Dr. Robert Leamnson wrote Learning (Your First Job), which describes the components of the learning process (understanding and remembering) and several methods to aid this process both in and out of the classroom. Many of Leamnson’s learning strategies ring true, however I do not completely agree with one statement in particular. Leamnson states, “…we have to practice what we understand. Without rehearsal, that fantastic circuitry that enabled our understanding will gradually disintegrate and we can no longer reconstruct what we once understood.” (Page 3) Leamnson is stressing that without repetition, the initial learning that was achieved will be forgotten. Leaving the learner unable to access the knowledge. It is true that without repetition of newly gained skills or information the person will eventually forget. However Leamnson’s statement seems unfounded, that a person can not “reconstruct” and relearn information. On this basis, if a person forgot something they once learned, it is not possible to relearn the material. The saying “just like riding a bike” is commonly used to convey the ease of relearning a forgotten skill. Every three years a paramedic must recertify to continue practicing medicine, and is refreshed on forgotten skills and information. If Leamnson’s statement were true, this practice would be pointless, as forgotten information cannot be relearned.
