Finn

Finn, Literacy with Attitude
Quotes

1. "One explanation is that we have come so far in our democracy that we have nothing to fear from the have-nots. We worry instead that the low levels of literacy among them make them a liability for the rest of us. The idea is that if we could raise their level of literacy they would join the haves. America would have no poor, just rich, richer, and richest."
This makes a lot of sense with everyone trying to change the way education is being taught we want everyone to succeed in our country but at the same time some people are afraid of knowledge and the power that comes with it.  There would still be levels of inequalities and the fight for who gets the most power will continue and want to rule over the not so rich people.

 2. "One fifth grade teacher said the students needed the 'basics-simple skills, When asked "why?" she responded, "They're lazy, I hate to categorize them, but they're lazy,"  
This would be a comment that my teacher in my classroom would make about her students that they are lazy and don't pay attention and don't care.  She doesn't think very positive of them and laughs at some things that they don't understand.  The teacher tries to give the basic idea to the students and not try to incorporate into their own world.

3. "These lessons were often based on ques- tions that students had encountered during their individual read- ing or writing activities. Students could sit anywhere they pleased in the room, as long as they were working on their projects. All books read and all writing genres exhibited by the students were self-chosen. These conditions mirror Anyon's description of the affiuent professional school."
I did this when I was in elementary and middle school, we were given the freedom to sit anywhere around the room and write.  I can't see the teacher in my elementary school allowing her students sit wherever, she doesn't have enough control or wanting to allow her students that freedom.  I think she likes them but on the other hand doesn't think very highly of them.

4. "While the affiuent professional school's teachers were excited and motivated, the most common refrain I heard among the working-class school's teachers was that they planned early retirement. "
The teacher that I help gives off the feeling that she is already tired and she graduated from Rhode Island College 10 years ago.  She also gave me some food for thought with that teaching takes a lot out of you and that if you want to teach it as to be your whole entire world.  I'm pretty sure that if you want to teach you should be focused on the job that you chose to do and the teacher seems to not care as much especially in her kids in the classroom.

 I chose 4 quotes because many things that Finn wrote about were relatable to me and my volunteering experience with being in an urban school.  I'm not sure I would have been aware of them if I didn't volunteer at Asa messer.  It has enlightened me about what I think I would like to do in my future.  There are so many options that's it hards to decide, do I want to be that disciplinarian in the classroom who bosses her children around and loses interest in it or would I rather work with kids and be able to work with them in others ways such as being creative or playing sports.  I have been a little confused about what exactly I want to do in my future.