bullying

I appreciate speakers that can get their point across quickly and creatively. That was one of the reasons why I chose the videos on texting and John Legends performance. First, I loved the point the speaker made about how texting can be an open environment. It's easy to be open to a faceless person on the other end and it is very easy to be discreet. It is a medium that, if used in the right way, can be the most effective due to the constant use and ease of access.

I've seen the video of "True Colors" before and it made just as much of an impact as it did the first time. If you listen to the song, it's pretty obvious what it's about. I like the song because it makes a point in a few words and doesn't shy away from the issue. Rather than focus merely on bullying, it focuses on the individual. We don't need another song that says "Stand up for yourself and screw those guys". It says "I'm here for you."

Competition

After reading this article, I agree with Good and Brophy. They state that “if students become preoccupied with winning or losing the competitive activity, the may lose sight of important instructional objectives and content.” Students lose sight of the value of learning and become fixated on the rewards of winning. They also go on to say that those who end up losing can fall prone to losing interest in the subject at hand while being so focused on the competition.  I suppose that competition has its place in the educational context though. Children play games against each other, and that is competitive. Competition teaches humility and fairness. It can also teach children how to be good winners and losers, which, to me, is the most important thing that competition can teach child. Learning to overcome failure is important. I don’t mean that I want students to fail, but by experiencing the feeling of loss or failure, a student may feel more inclined to do their best and succeed. All in all, I think that students should experience healthy competition, but the competition should depend on the student’s age, and the subject matter.  

Girls on the edge part 2

After reading the second half of Girls on the Edge, I took mental notes regarding a couple of ideas. The only thing I did want to note on before I cover the concepts in the text was that many of the suggestions regarding teaching or raising girls can be applied to men. One of the points that was made in the text was that it’s important to encourage your daughter to play sports that focused on different sets of muscles. It was also mentioned that you know your daughter better than their coaches. The same can be applied to men. The second half of this book almost took a look women as a second thought. I did like how the author made a point to mention that men’s and women’s bodies are built differently which means they can be prone to different types of injuries. Another bit I liked was the section about how earlier didn’t always mean better. Regarding reading, listening to music, and other supposedly developmentally beneficial activities, it’s important not to force anything onto our children.