Change in setting

Technology has changed our world, it Has change education and students are great beneficiaries. Technology has changed the classroom setting by making work easier and faster. Students can access things easier such as online books and worksheet. Notes in class can be transcribed faster as the ability to use laptop and iPad allows student to write proficient and save their hand....oops and the earth.
With technology, student learn to intertwine education and technology together. A noteworthy example is our present blogging assignment. We not only learn to express our opinions, but also prepare the way for future observers to understand the youth of this time.

Feeding the Community

Congratulations for making it through the previous year. You’re all winners in this amazing race TRUST ME!

One thing that I hold dearly and love to do as a hobby is helping out my community. I make the effort to give my time and resources.

 I volunteered during church health clinic where in a church provided free health tests, donations, and seminars for different groups in my community. 

On December 31, 2011, I was involved in a program called Feeding the Community held by my local church. 

An anonymous individual had donated a thousand dollars for us to do this. 

Although we had a limited amount of money for a limited number, we decided that we would bless some families in the working class. 

These were the individuals who didn’t belong to shelters, but struggled all the same. We passed out Publix gift cards to these families.   

An influencing factor to our decision was the story of a mother who shot herself and her two children after she lost her job and was denied food stamps by the government.

I realized that most people forget that group. 

 I really enjoyed what I did and made that I brought friends and family to share this experience.

"If you ain't desperate at some point, you ain't interesting"

We all know him. At least, have heard about him and seen him acting as "sad clown." He was named the funniest man alive. He brought laughter to the mouth of  his fans with his savvy. Yet, he had a traumatic childhood which mostly consisted of anger and hardship.


Who might this be. I know you know. And of course, i know.
      
JIM CARRY.

Jim Carry had a normal life.  As a child, he performed stand-up comedy to anyone and everyone interested to watch. At 10, he performed stand-up comedy during the last remaining minutes at the end of each school day.


 His father was an accountant, but as Jim got older things became worse for his family. They had to move to Scarborough and all work in the Titan Wheels Factory. He  had to work 8hrs a day while still attending school. Even with his input, his family struggled and had to search for  new jobs. Things were so touch that they lived in a camper van.

Willed and determined, Jim decided to pursue his career as a comedian. He performed stand-up comedy and loved so much that he dropped out of high school. After, he landed in a sitcom called The Duck Factory and then progressed to Living in Color. This opened the door of stardom for him and paved the way to many funny roles in movies such as Mask and Ace Ventura.


He has been nominated and awarded several award in the MTV Movie Award, Kids Choice Awards, People's Choice Awards, U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, and many more.
Jim truly understands what it means for one to work for his dream!
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-rags-to-riches-stories.php

Moving Up the Ladder

                    In Modern America Social Stratification is the class classification of persons into socio-economic conditions. It is a ladder that rises in social class as it get higher. Originating centuries ago, social stratification has progressed from: the Greek era to caste society to medieval feudal society and to capitalist society.

Not to reverberate what you already know, lets begin!

             

                      The American society as a capitalist society is socially stratified into three group. These include: Upper class, Middle class, and Lower class. Inequality exists economically, socially, politically, and ideologically. Weber would explain this society as one in which class status depends on material wealth, although, honor, prestige, and religious affiliation come secondary in determining class status. 

         The American society is state based and divided into subdivisions according to Dennis Gilbert, William Thompson, Joseph Hickey, and James Henslin. These include:  the upper class, who are rich and powerful; the upper middle class, who are highly educated and affluent professionals; the middle class, who are college educated and white –collar individuals; the lower middle class; the working class, who are clerical and blue-collar workers; and lower class, who are working poor and unemployed underclass.

                   

                                   Class mobility in regards to social stratification has become a growing concern sociologist. Class mobility is defined as class ascendancy. It follows the principle that each successful generation will have a higher standard of living than predecessor. 

                 

                   The American Culture, which believes that an individual has the freedom and liberty to pursue happiness know this as the American dream. The idea emphasizes that any individual possess the opportunity to move up the social class ladder. It sent hundreds of million to the American shore. 

                                           Yet to many Americans, this was reality in the past, where educational attainment and income were easily increased in a lifetime.

               

                         Research shows that the middle class has experienced a decreased in class income. Compared to the past, social mobility has decreased. This is evident in the tax difference between the rich and the other classes beneath. For instance, a CEO to a company makes more money in an hour than his employee makes in a month under minimum wage. 

                                      In a poll in 2006, less than one third believed that life would be better for the next generation. Another showed more than half of Americans no longer believe that the American Dream is attainable for majority of their fellow citizens. Further, a survey showed the fear within American towards the inability to continue their present life style. This gruesome idea has impacted 5% of American today wherein the unemployment rate has risen from 4% in 1999 to 9% in 2011.

So ask yourself, does the American dream still exits today?

Are You "In" or "Out"?

Centuries and decades have past, yet one thing that persists and remains the same among teenagers is peer pressure. I will be discussing the 'fitting in' aspect of teen social problem. Let me begin with a story of a young freshmen in high school. He sees the upperclassman on his bus completely regaling and loves to be part of them. As a result, he tries to lie his way into the crowd. It is evident to them that his bluffing, so they disregard whatever he says. This just goes to show a live experience of an attempt by a "new kid" to fit in. There are many examples that goes beyond being accepted into a group.  You may be pressured in defining your identity, behavior, or language. 

Teens do crazy stuff to fit in. They find themselves in conflict between being cool or being themselves, just because they wish to be part of the “in” crowd. Some with appropriate and respectful behaviors have adopted not-so-great behavior like behaving rudely, using cuss word, and participating in illegal activities. From my point of view, self-actualization (psychology, sorry Ms. Basi) plays a role in overcoming the need to fit into a crowd that might make you feel uncomfortable anyways. Once you know who are and what you stand for, I believe it takes twice the effort for that necessity to influence you. Most teens experience self-actualization at different period. If it results in you not fitting in with the popular kids, so be it, but with over 200 million teens in the U.S. and up to a billion teens around the world, I doubt the likelihood for that to occur.

Hyper Scheduling (Intense)

Imagine the daily routine of a student who attends Fort Lauderdale High School.  She wakes up at 5 a.m., goes to school for 8 hours, and stays after school until 5 p.m. for a demanding physical activity. She boards the after school bus, reaches home at 6 p.m., and spends the rest of the night  finishing her homework until probably 12, 1, or 2 a.m. in the morning. This applies to most high school students in what scientist call hyper scheduling.

Hyper scheduling or over scheduling has increased in student over the last decade. One of the causes is the amount of competitiveness that has made college admission much more difficult than previous decades. These students who are hyper scheduler often feel like there is not enough hours in a day because they have many things to do. As a result, they are unable to get enough sleep which leads to emotional, physical, and mental stress.
 
It tends to be worse for students whose families are not involved in their activities. They tend not to spend enough time with their families. In contrast, involved families help reduce student's stress by managing their activities in supportive ways.
 
So guys, my research will incorporate all these profound aspect by answering the question on whether  involved students experience hyper scheduling and to what degree is it experienced if parents are involved.

P.s. If you are involved in any extracurricular activity or activities and you think you are an hyper scheduler and you are interested in being a part of my research, let me know. (there is a smiley face after this) :)

Blue Tape and the attack on Studentville

Man 1: Education in danger,
Woman 1: The future of school students is at risk. And this is a serious problem!
Man 1: What is that in the air?
Man 2: A bird.
Woman 1: A plane 
Man 1: No it's blue tape


How ridiculous it is that the big guys mandate the use of blue tape for all teachers. Most of the time students already know whats going on. Hitler had a way better propaganda than these school board officials who proclaim that blue tape will ensure "students success". I don't believe that blue tape will make students more focused, willed, or interested. Whether it's blue tape, green tape, purple tape, red tape or whatsoever tape, it has no relevance to my life or education. Although I think it is a great idea, significantly counting it against teacher is really uncalled for.

Man 2: now every student will stay awake in class.
Man 1: they will complete their homework and turn it in.
Woman 1: and every student will go to college and graduate with a PhD.