I have had a difficult time trying to decide what to phlog about.
Do I phlog about the book I’m reading Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman, which has me completely intimidated about teaching. But its also a little comforting, since I have experienced some things that are in the book.
Do I phlog about my Independent Learning Requirements? Philosophy Paper? Some of the interesting things I’ve been told by teachers and students? I have been asking everyone what they think makes a good teacher, what their philosophy of teaching is, and What is good teaching?
So I am sitting her on Friday night trying to decide what to write about…perhaps I’ll write about the one thing that I would change about school/education/teaching/students/etc. Unfortunately I don’t think I am far enough along studying and classroom experience to be able to make an educated answer at this point.
So instead I will blog about one of the things we worked on in class on Tuesday. We had an exercise where we worked in groups and answered some questions about democracy. One of the questions was, how do we define the term democracy? My group’s answers were similar in some respects and different in others. One thing that was similar was that we, one way or another felt that democracy means that everyone has a say as to where our country goes…since we elect our representatives and then vote for them. One of the things we came across that wasn’t completely agreed upon was even though we elect our representatives there are limitations to those elected officials. To be able to run for office you have to have money. The gal who just won the gop in Delaware said that she knew how it was to struggle and that she would be there for the people of America. Next she said if you want to donate to her campaign you can go online, etc, she only needs one million plus dollars for the next month and a half. I am still appalled by the two contractions. Another thing that we talked about was that even though we elect the representatives they are sometimes influenced by others and/or their own agenda. I find myself feeling helpless with the situation sometimes but I know that there are good people out there who want to do what’s right.
I agree. One thing that came up in our discussion is that we don't often vote for a candidate we like. We always seem to be voting for the lesser of two evils. Despite the diversity of the nation we live in, there is very little diversity in the people who represent us. Therefore, I am left with the question: Are we truly being represented?
ReplyDeleteYour exactly right. Our political system is a contradiction on the one hand we get to vote for our elected official, but on the other hand campaigns cost so much that we are asked to help support them. How can we truly represented by those who are office? Once in office do those who them voted into office get asked for their opinion when voting on something important. "No". I like what Leonard had to say about the diversity of nation and the little diversity in the people who represent us. I think that needs to change so we can feel as if are well represented.
ReplyDeleteHell no! We're not being represented. Our officials in office rarely reflect the average person in society. How do we get there, though? How do we get an "Average Joe" in office?
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