Journal # 8

I really enjoyed this class! The part I liked the best was how we watched films and then chose what we wanted to write about. This gave us a bit more freedom than being told exactly what to write. It was interesting to see the topics that fellow classmates came up with. It just goes to show how each person interprets things in their own way. I also enjoyed the movies that where chosen for us to watch. I found them all interesting! 

I found the peer critiques to be helpful as well. Sometimes it takes a second (or even third) pair of eyes to catch something we may have missed, even when we read our drafts over and over again! My only suggestion for this area would be to maybe change the groups up more often. I would have liked to read the papers of more than just the few classmates I did get to critique. It is always nice to be exposed to other ideas and ways of writing.

Other than that, I feel that the class went very smoothly. I had fun! I wish I had taken you for ENC1101, as I found the teacher I had to be quite boring...

Education Essay

What Could Tenure Be?

            It is no great mystery that America’s education system is severely flawed. While there are many issues and problems that plague the world of education, such as under-paid and over-worked teachers, the issue that really strikes a nerve with many is that of tenure. Tenure has not always had a bad rap. The word tenure comes from the Latin tenere, meaning “to hold” or “to keep” and was created in 1866 with the original purpose of protecting educators from losing their jobs for arbitrary reasons (Chesley). Since its beginning, however, the overall perception and understanding of tenure for teachers has been skewed. The problems associated with tenure, however, could be solved if several steps are taken. Principals could avoid giving tenure to undeserving teachers by following such guidelines as more meaningful evaluations for new teachers, ensuring more involvement by teachers in not only their classrooms, but also their communities, and finally, providing better guidance and intervention for those struggling during their early years (Chesley).

            The process of evaluating workers on their job performance is not a new concept. Many companies routinely evaluate and track the achievement of employees in the workforce, and make adjustments accordingly. The idea that teachers should be evaluated is also not new. While most teachers are evaluated and tracked, the problem comes when the administration gets lazy. Since the guidelines for measuring the effectiveness of teachers will vary from state to state, it is up to the schools to make sure that the teachers are performing at their very best (Marshall). In an article by Patricia Marshall, which reviewed the tenure policies and related resources in ten states, she discovered that many administrators use a “classroom-teaching-performance check list” which fails to measure such things as the teacher’s “reasoned commitment to the education profession” (Marshall). This should be changed. Although it is important to evaluate teachers on their ability to educate the students, it should also be taken into account the way they feel about their jobs and how much they strive to improve themselves on a daily basis.

For those individuals planning to enter the world of teaching, it would serve them well to be actively involved in their communities. Teaching should reach far beyond the classroom and day to day instruction. Teachers, both new and those with much experience, should all work together to foster learning in their classrooms and communities. Some ways to become more involved would be to hold open houses, allow for many parent teacher conferences, as well as volunteering in the surrounding community. According to a NEA policy brief,

“Parent, family, and community involvement in education correlates with higher academic performance and school improvement. When schools, parents, families, and communities work together to support learning, students tend to earn higher grades, attend school more regularly, stay in school longer, and enroll in higher level programs” (NEA).

Not only does community involvement help the students, but it can also help the teachers feel that that are a part of something bigger. Principals and other administrators in charge of granting tenure should take into consideration a teacher’s involvement and overall feelings toward the community in which they work and live.

            Teaching is a scary profession. It is perhaps most terrifying in the first few years. New teachers are thrown into a world in which they are given the task of shaping young minds and building the future of this country. What could be more intimidating? “So well-known is the hectic nature of the early period in a teachers career that it is commonly referred to as the “survival stage” (Marshall). That being said, many may find it unfair to judge teachers during their first few years on the job and use those judgments to determine their eligibility for tenure. An article published in the American School Board Journal in 2009 titled “5 Reasons to Quit Whining About Tenure”, offered this suggestion; “Identify your poorest-performing teachers and work with them” (5 Reasons). The article goes on to suggest such methods as regular evaluations and coaching, providing the teacher with a mentor, and offering professional development (5 Reasons). These are all great ideas to help teachers who are new and might just need that extra push to get where they need to be. Everyone has room for improvement, and given the right tools, teachers who are struggling may be able to overcome the difficulties of those first few years on the job. As the article states, “The worst that can happen: The teacher doesn’t improve, you have invaluable documentation for a termination hearing, or maybe the teacher will see the handwriting on the wall- and quit” (5 Reasons).

            “Schools take the path of least resistance by allowing the mere passage of time to automatically affirm a teacher’s abilities. Teachers receive tenure by default in the absence of a finding of gross incompetence” (Chesley). This is a trend that needs to be stopped. We should not be allowing teachers tenure merely because they managed to “stick it out” for a few years. Principals and other administrators must put the effort in to make the changes necessary to ensure that all schools are filled with competent, wonderful, and caring teachers who have a natural passion for helping others. “Now is the ideal time for educators to redefine the concept of tenure. Principals can establish a culture in which granting tenure is not the mindless, default position” (Chesley). 

Journal #7

    This is my third time watching the movie Waiting For Superman, and this is the third time it has brought me to tears. The first time I saw the movie, it made me question my decision to become a school teacher. The second time I saw it, it did just the opposite. It made me that much more confident that this is what I want and NEED to do with my life. The way I see it, if I can become a good or even a great teacher, then I can do my part in helping the future of our children and of our nation as a whole.
    One part of the movie that really got to me was the children waiting to see if they got into schools based on a lottery. Seeing the sadness and disappointment on the faces of their mothers, fathers, and grandparents was very hard. I could not imagine being in a position such as theirs. Having to sit back while my child got less than they deserved would be unbearable. The fact that this country can not fix its broken education system is appalling.
    Perhaps the most disturbing part of the movie was that about tenure. I think it is ridiculous that teachers are granted tenure just for "continuing to breathe for 2 years" (Waiting For Superman). As the movie pointed out, teaching is not a right, it is a privilege. If teachers are not doing their very best and helping children grow and learn, they should lose their jobs. Most other jobs, if you are doing a bad job, you will be fired. Why is this not the case for teachers? By allowing tenure we are telling lazy and incompetent teachers that "its OK, you can still have your job", when they do not deserve it.

Beauty Pageants: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Beauty pageants have gained much attention recently as such shows as “Toddler and Tiaras” and “Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo” have gained popularity. While pageants that judge participants on their beauty have been around since the ancient times, the first Miss America Pageant was held in 1921 in Atlantic City in an effort to make tourists stay past Labor Day (PBS). Since then, the face of pageants has changed, and not for the better. Contestants are becoming younger and younger and the stakes are higher. While some would argue that beauty pageants help build girls’ self-confidence and positive self-image, they are far more damaging to young children. Participants in these types of pageants are more likely to develop body image issues as well as unhealthy ideas about their worth. For these reasons, beauty pageants for young girls should be stopped.

            An article by Andrea Canning on ABCnews.com reports that an “estimated 250,000 children compete in more than 5,000 pageants in the United States each year” (ABC). Upon viewing the website for the Royal International Miss pageant, it can be seen that there are many supporters for children in pageants. Glancing through the photos of these children painted up like dolls was a little disturbing. Perhaps the most fascinating part of the website that I found was their mission statement.

“Empowering young women while giving them the opportunity to grow and develop a positive self-image is the focus of Royal International Miss Pageants. By providing opportunities for young women and girls to cultivate their talents and public speaking abilities, we help facilitate self-confidence” (Royal).

It is clear that the supporters of such pageants are in agreement that these types of competitions among children are healthy and can only have positive outcomes. There is much research, however, that point to the contrary.

            Body image is the way we feel about how we look. For young girls, developing a positive body image can have many benefits. Girls who are happy with the way they look are less likely to have eating disorders, less likely to suffer from depression, and more likely to develop positive and healthy relationships both in their teen and adult lives (Psychology Today). A study done by Costal Caroline University in South Caroline on the correlation between beauty pageants and eating disorders revealed some startling results. Out of 131 female beauty pageant contestants, over 26% had shown signs of an eating disorder. The average age at which these problems began was 16 (NCBI). Depression is also higher for girls who participate in such competitions. When they do not win, they feel as though they are not good enough the way that they are. This brings me to my next topic, damage to the self-worth of these young girls.

            Self-worth is defined as the value we place on ourselves as human beings. Beauty pageants and the messages they convey say that all that is important about us is the way we look. “When it comes to performing, education takes a back seat. The performers bodies are their livelihood and less-than-perfect might lead to unemployment”(PsychologyToday). It is this message that is damaging to our society’s young girls. We should be encouraging young women to expand their minds and better themselves through education. Beauty will fade, but intelligence is something no one can ever take from you. The fact that so much pressure is put on girls to always look their best is a tragedy.

            As the mother of young daughter, it is my hope that one day the attitudes toward women will change. With such an abundance of beauty pageants that claim to offer girls self-confidence and pride; this is where we need to start making the changes. We need to teach young girls and women that their value does not lie in their faces or bodies, but instead in their minds.

Sources:

"Beauty Pageants for Teens, Girls, Toddlers, & Women (State & National). N.p., n.d. Web. 09     Apr. 2013.

Cartwright, Martina M. "Child Beauty Pageants: What Are We Teaching Our Girls?" Web log                               post. Psychology Today. N.p., 12 Aug. 2011. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.

CANNING, ANDREA, and JESSICA HOFFMAN. "On TLC's 'Toddlers & Tiaras,' Little Divas            Make Their Entrance." ABC News. ABC News Network, 21 July 2009. Web. 09 Apr.   2013.

"People & Events: Origins of the Beauty Pageant." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.

Thompson, SK. "Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National     Library of Medicine, 08 Sept. 2003. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.

Journal #6

As the mother to a young daughter, the movie Miss Representation frightened me. I already knew that women were being treated differently than men in the media, but this movie made it much more clear how awful this society treats women. The part that scared me the most was when they explained how the media is affecting young girls. By putting these "examples" out there for them to look up to, we are telling young girls that they are not good enough. We are also telling them that their value and worth lies in their appearance. This is the wrong message. We should be teaching girls that what is important is what is on the inside. The way they treat people, the education they receive, and many other similar things are what really matter.
       An issue that has always struck a raw nerve with me is that of pageants. At very young ages, parents are entering their children in these events that expose them to things they are much too young for. Fake hair, fake teeth, loads of makeup and even fake tanning are all used in these pageants. This is showing very young girls that they are not good enough the way that they are. These girls are then judged against other girls and a winner is chosen. This is not healthy. We should not be judging CHILDREN on how they look, especially when most of the things about them are fake. This is setting them up for a life in which they will constantly be worried about how they look and how they measure up to those around them.

Food and Hunger Issues Essay

What if you could change the world? If you had the capability to do so, would you? The truth is we all have the capacity to make a change in this world if given the proper training, education, and resources. One of the most prevalent and devastating problems we face is that of hunger and food waste. According to a study done by the Department of Agriculture, “an estimated 48 million tons of food is wasted at the retail, consumer and food service levels each year” (Lettuce Recycle). The problem is not just here at home. This is a worldwide issue. A study done by the London-based institution of Mechanical Engineers found that “Up to half of all the food produced worldwide ends up going to waste due to poor harvesting, storage and transportation methods, as well irresponsible retailer and consumer behavior” (Reuters). Since most of the food produced by the world goes to waste, some steps should be taken to reduce this problem. Although it may be time consuming and costly, teaching retailers about waste reduction as well as educating families of food waste will go a long way in reducing the problem of food waste in both this country and the world.

            Reducing food waste and raising awareness of the importance of food is not something that can be done overnight. Breaking old habits and instilling values in people is not an easy task, as many people are set in their ways. There are, however, some small steps that can be taken to start making people aware of the food they are wasting and the impact it has on the world around them. In an article by Trevor Stokes, a study was done on College students in New York and the amount of food they wasted. Simple signs were posted saying things such as “All Taste…No Waste” and “Eat What You Take, Don’t Waste Food” (Stokes). According to the study, after the signs were posted, there was a reduction in the amount of food waste. If something as simple as a few signs can change the way people treat food, imagine what would happen if we did more. Grocery retailers would benefit in the long run by implementing and committing to training associates on how to properly handle food. Retailers should also take the time to teach associates how to properly dispose of food and ways in which food scraps may be used for other things.

            Grocery stores are a major contribution to food waste. An article found on Earth911.com detailed the following:

“The average U.S. food store sends to the landfill more than 1,300 pounds of food waste per employee per year, according to a 2006 study looking at waste management practices typical of different industry groups. Supermarkets employed about 2.5 million people in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. That means about 3.25 billion pounds of food waste from supermarkets was sent to the landfill in 2008, or the weight of more than 200,000 elephants” (Eath911).

Those are some startling numbers. The worst part of food waste happening at the grocery store is that most of it is done due to laziness or lack of training. I have seen first-hand a whole bag of oranges being thrown out because one has gone bad. This is the type of thing that needs to be addressed. Grocery stores need to step up and start training their employees on proper food handling, storage, and disposal. Grocery stores also must increase the amount of food they donate to those in need. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act was signed in October 1996, and this allows grocery stores to donate food and avoid liability (Coles). This should encourage all retailers to donate the food they do not use, but this is not the case. Grocery stores should also try to reduce the amount of food they produce in their fresh departments. These can include fresh cut fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and food prepared on site, such as fried chicken or subs. Much of the products produced in fresh departments (with the exception of bread), are thrown out if not sold. Only when grocery stores begin setting a good example for those around them will the issue of food waste begin to be solved.

            The problem of food waste is also prevalent in the home. “On average, Americans waste 14% of the food they buy, including products still within their expiration date but never opened” (Coles). A study done by UA anthropologist Timothy W. Jones estimated that “the average family of four tosses out $590 per year in meat, fruits, vegetables, and grain products” (Coles). Those numbers add up, and we are all guilty of wasting food in the home. We do not eat leftovers because they do not look good or we are tired of eating the same thing. We cook more than we need. We buy more fresh fruits and vegetables than we will consume before they go bad. These are all habits that need to be broken. If families could be educated on the proper amounts of food to buy and to prepare, as well as how to properly store food, perhaps we could reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfills. Another reason that food waste is so high in the home is lack of knowledge on how long food is good for. Many people do not know the difference between “Sell By” and “Best Before” dates (Coles). If we took the time to educate people on food awareness, the problem of food waste could be greatly reduced.

            Reducing the amount of food we waste is not only good for the planet; it is also good for the economy. With an estimated 48 million tons of food being wasted each year, steps must be made to decrease this number. Through proper training and education, we can change the world, one empty plate (and dumpster) at a time.

                                                                      Works Cited

"Clean your plate, save the world?" Reuters. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News              Services, 15 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

Marisa McNatt, “Help your Supermarket Cut Food Waste”. Earth 911.  13 Oct. 2011. Web. 12                                             Mar. 2013 

"Simple awareness reduces college food waste." Reuters. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File                                           News Services, 11 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

"Up to half of world's food goes to waste, report says." Reuters. Issues & Controversies. Facts                                                        On File News Services, 10 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

Journal #5

The movie Dive! was a real eye opener. I was well aware that food is being wasted in this country, but I had no idea how much. I was shocked to find out that half of the food we produce is thrown away. I work for a grocery store, so I see on a daily basis how much food is wasted in grocery stores. I also am guilty of wasting food at home. I have tried to be better about it since seeing the movie. I am more conscious of how much food I make and I make sure that more leftovers are eaten.
  When I first read the description of the movie and saw that people where eating out of dumpsters, my first thought was "GROSS!" After watching the movie, however, I felt differently. These people are not just grabbing rotten food out of the trash and feeding it to their children. The food is wrapped in plastic and the food they chose to take has not been touched by other garbage that would make it inedible. At some points throughout the movie, I would feel as though these people where doing a good deed by eating the thrown out food, while at other points of the movie I felt it was unfair that they got to eat for free while others have to pay for food. One part of the movie that I really enjoyed was when they took the thrown out food and donated it to shelters in need. With so many people going hungry, it only makes sense to get the food no one else wanted into the bellies of those who need it. All in all I enjoyed the movie. I wish more people would be food conscious and help those in need.