Chapter 9 - Kathleen

I've been focussing on Reggie in this chapter instead of what happened to him. I don't understand acts of hate like this from people in power, it happens too often and there is no point. So rather than go on a rant I will write about other elements of the chapter.

Pg. 159 Reggie sings in the parking lot for Mr. Michie.
This is amazing, here's a student who will barely raise his eyes in class and now he's belting out Earth Wind and Fire. If we can find out about the passions and abilities of students we can use those to encourage and engage all students especially those struggling. We have this attitude with students with disabilities, if you're looking at the social model this is what it tells us to do: focus on ability and fit the system to meet the needs of the student. The social model works with everyone, every student. I wonder what a classroom run on this system would feel like walking into it.

Pg. 162 News reports focussing on the fact that Reggie is an honor student.
Reggie being brutalized by the police officer should be news whether or not he's an honor roll. I understand that TV stations need to keep viewings up and that sensation or pulling at the heart strings often is what gets views but Reggie shouldn't get more community care because he's an honor student, it shouldn't matter what his grades are, who his parents are, the color of his skin, what version of god he prays to or who he loves. A crime is a crime no matter who it happens to. Michie poses the question of whether this would've been reported if Reggie had been a gang member - probably only as a statistic or a vague mention of yet another violent crime.

Pg. 166 The eighth grade class honors Reggie with applause at their graduation ceremony.
The community that was built surrounding this event was astounding. I loved seeing the teachers and administrators fight for their student, seeing them teach the kids the process and flaws of our system and what they need to do to become active, informed citizens. For the students to begin the applause means that they understood the situation and were still there to fight it with Reggie years after the fact. It hurts, though, to think that maybe there were students there who were also wrongfully attacked by the police but the right people didn't see it, or no one would listen or testify for fight for you in the legal system, I couldn't help but think of the students who suffer at the hand of equal and different injustices who will leave our schools without applause. How do we change that? It becomes increasingly clear to me as I get older (even though yes I'm still only 22) that that beautiful rose colored bubble I lived in for years was carefully crafted by my parents so I wouldn't know hardship. What about those students who don't have the luxury of a bubble. How do we have a school system, law system, country that treats everyone equally? It seems like a stupid question to have about the US, we're supposed to be the land of opportunity, freedom and equality yet so many are done wrong....

Essence:
As teachers we have to teach our students how live in this world and be living examples of what we preach. (This may not have been in the chapter but its what I'm thinking)

Researcher!
Statistics on Police Brutality
http://baltimorechronicle.com/2010/071310Lendman.shtml

How-To Information on reporting Police Brutality
http://www.ehow.com/how_2299773_report-police-brutality.html

Information on An Anti-Bullying Program
http://www.olweus.org/public/bullying.page

The Workplace Bullying Institute (see... if we don't stop it, it keeps going!)
http://www.olweus.org/public/bullying.page