HW 49

a. No contribution

b. The main aspect of class A's film that I admired was how realistic it was. Not necessarily the acting(though it was good) but the concept of how everything went down throughout the film. There was no scene that created a magical teacher who saved the day, it only had an overly stressed teacher resolving it through alcohol. Not only was the teacher realistic, but the reactions the students gave out throughout the movie. There was no one student that enough courage to support the teacher, or one strong voice that conflicted the teacher. They were all bundled up in their cliques and were impacted very little by the teacher's sayings.

The whole film seemed very light, especially the plot, but that also brought out what made it realistic. The ending especially made it clear as to what the film was trying to portray. The actual lack of significance teachers have in the minds of students. Though some more than others.

c. Unlike most savior teacher films, it was clearly the teacher who had the problems and not the students. Or that point of view was only shown in the film. The camera was not faced at the individual students, but the teacher himself. Movies like "Coach Carter" or "Freedom Writers" mainly focus on a strong teacher figure who struggles in order to sacrifice themselves for their students. But in the class film none of that was portrayed. The teacher started out stressed and relied on alcohol, and at the end the teacher did not become better one bit, but got worse and insulted the students.

d. Like everything in the world school is not perfect, mainly because of the diversity in human characteristics and personalities, no school can be perfect no matter how they rearrange their curriculum. Though that does not make every school the same. I believe that schools that "enforce" things upon the students are doomed to fail at least from the student's perspective. School can only save us from certain things that we may encounter in the future, then theres specialized schools for other things. School saves us from losing the base of judgement. Everyday we are forced to label right and wrong through use of common sense, so we do not become irrational. This also builds good citizenship in our society, which results in possibly less crime. School's should be a place where we can exercise our brain, not a place where our brains are filled.

HW 50

Gato
In Gato's article "The Six-Lesson Schoolteacher" he explains six lessons aside from subject classes that are taught in school. Or at least he ensures he teaches at school. From the violation of privacy into the students life by constantly keeping an eye out, to making students switch between mental mindsets in a matter of minutes.

I think Gato has a very solid philosophical mindset on schooling, especially from the teacher's point of view. He understands what he needs to teach the kids in order to successfully educate them, not ony through curiculums but through the small things that get factored in when a teacher has authority over the class. His rules seem strict but he does not bullshit. He knows why somethings are mandatory for students to do. For example, he explains in the article "Six Lessons" that homework is a way to keep surveillance over the kid's life out of school. It also routes the kid's life towards better education and a brighter future.

Freire

Freire believes that the education system's flaw lies in how the teachers narrate their lectures. He compares teaching to filling up an empty jar. Students being the jar of course. We are taught through hollow, insignificant words that mean nothing to us that we are expected to memorize through repetition. Like a computer being programed, yet it obviously is not as effective due to the variety of learning capabilities each students acquires. He feels that significance in everything is key for students to comprehend what they are learning about.

I believe that Freire's philosophy on teaching is more or less correct and much more effective than Gato's. But only to a certain extent. Sure significance is factored majorily into what we learn, but is that really what makes it easier for the students? I think not. If we were to be expected to comprehend the significance of every little detail we learn, it would take ages just to teach one unit. But on the other hand, if we learn how to find significance instead of being told the significance that would better education greatly.

Delpit

Delpit's main focus is on much younger education as she is a first grade teacher. Her perspective on education is to allow kids no matter what age to think in higher levels of reasoning. That the basic and simplistic way of approaching education given to children is wrong.

HW 48

In a urban public school, teachers constantly come and go. Long term teachers are in high demand but none are capable of handling the tense situation at the school. After endless attempts to hire top class teachers to teach in the school, one teacher who goes by the name Joe steps up. Based off his background, he is no better than the students that attend the school. His history is identical to a criminal's background, yet his physical appearance differs greatly from what is written.

The students disrespect the new teacher verbally and physically, but their tactics seem to be less effective against this new mystery teacher. Questions begin to arise, and gossip spreads that the teacher may be mentally challenged or disturbed. They don't yet know the truth that Joe has lived a life much worse than any student and he is the key to their success.

He becomes a therapist like figure for the kids in his class, for those who are brave enough to confront him. In the end they realize that education is not everything in life, but experiences are what make up who people are. They understand that school teaches more than what is written in the text book, it teaches life skills and social interactions that they can never experience out of school.

HW 47

*1. There is variety in personality the kids have in the film.
2. Transition between the "students" general behavior in the beginning of the film to the end of the film should be portrayed in the lighting and setting of the scenes.
3. Unlike most hero teacher films, the teacher is passive.
*4. A couple of "Main" characters with point of views that contradict each other to form drama.
5. Create an significant "outcast" character.
6. Teacher displays unusual tactics in educating the students.
7. Make the most significant scenes interactions not with the teacher, but interaction between the students due to the teaching.