Large, Boyce, Gilyard, Aronson, and hooks suggestions for changes and their rankings. (Assignment 11/21)

(A) How does each author support his/her ideas for change? (B) Rank Them

(1) bell hooks: "Critical Thinking"

Teaching discernment.  A way of approaching ideas that aim to understand the core, underlying truths, not simply that superficial truth that may be obviously visible.

I believe that critical thinking is very important to understanding what you are learning.  It is more than just knowing the facts, but also understanding how those facts relate to each other.  To me this is most important, and that is why children start out learning in this way.  It is how we are programmed to learn.

(2) Keith Gilyard: "Children Arts and Du Bois"

"One of the best ends to have in view is that humanities as a widely recognized and amply funded force for the common good.  Creative arts programs are integral to this vision."

I believe that with the humanities we learn to appreciate the beauty of something, and with science we learn to appreciate the structure/organization of something.  I feel that they are 2 sides of the same coin and unless both are taught we miss out on some very important aspects of being human.

(3) Deb Aronson: "Arizona Bans [Latino/A history Program]"
"In order to protect their students best interests, teachers must become politically engaged and active."  "it boils down to legislative control over the classroom content and curriculum and teacher voice,"

Teachers through their unions or personally need to be politically engaged.  They should not sit by idly and let their unions or institutions tell them what to do.  If they see an issue and do not become engaged through the proper channels to fix it then they become part of the problem.  Politics does not have to be going out and collecting votes from society, it is also organizing, being part of the PTA, being involved in teachers organizations.

(4) Jerry Large: "Gift of Grit, Curiosity Help Kids Succeed"
"If more parents hug and kiss and coo in those first years, we'd have a lot more happy and successful children."

Children feel that they are loved and are a part of something.  It is part of Maslows hierarchy of needs.  
If they do not feel that starting when they are young from their parents they they become colder socially and will have a longing for something but they don't understand what or why.  When they are older they are more likely so succumb to peer pressure to feel part of a group.  The reason I put this toward the bottom of the list is that it comes mainly from the family not from the K-12 school system.

(5) Barry Boyce: "A Real Education"
Mindfulness: Focusing on ways to promote pro-social behavior.  Awareness of ones own emotions. Ethics. Peace within their own bodies.  Learn to listen, really listen to our children. teach compassion skills, not be reactionary.

I think this goes with Jerry Large, this sort of thing should be taught at home, but it it were to be taught in the early years of K-12 that it would have a major impact on the self esteem of people as they become aware of and learn to control their own emotions.  This would have an outward expression of making people more socially acceptable.