thinking points II

Joshua Wainwright

Joyce Stevos

FNED

23 February 2010

Why Can’t She Remember That?

This article was particularly interesting. Having worked with a children’s after school program, I can understand how hard it can be for children to pay attention to reading. The kids as a whole were always so energetic after being out of school that they were more interested in playing outside with their friends than being read to or doing homework. The first time a child asked me to read was over the summer when he didn’t want to venture out into the 95 degree weather. The children of color in the group never once discussed an unfair showing of only white characters in books. This article brings up many fascinating points though, especially the abilities of such young children. I was amazed when I read that three year old were repeating books, creating poetry, and making up songs about real people in their lives. Children are continuously being more and more capable at younger ages. Being able to absorb information, understand the meaning, and recall it on command at such a young age is simply amazing. I think this brings up the questions of how much can a three year old really take in? Would it be possible to introduce more intellectual and sophisticated materials? Can damage be done? I think that over time children will be introduced to harder materials, and eventually be able to process more complicated information. The movie “Meet the Fockers” is a great example of this when Robert De Niro is teaching the baby hand symbols depicted on flash cards. The symbols are a way for the infant who can’t speak yet, to communicate with the adults. I think that these three year olds are living proof that humans are becoming smarter at younger ages. I also feel that it’s a foreshadow of great things to come.

white privelege

1. "I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to

recognize male privilege."

I can totally understand this quote. Being a white male I understand why it seems whites have been taught to not recognize privilege. Until taking this diversity class, I had never before relaized the privelages given to whites. Class discussions have further deepened my understandings of those privileges, and also how whites have been unaware of these privileges.

2. "whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative, and

average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work which will allow “them“ to be more like “us.”

This quote I feel relates in a way to the first. Whites were brought up not understanding these privileges and also not understanding the the certain advantages associated with them. The life white people feel is normative, is not the one represented by the people being benefited. They look at these benefits, like certain scholarships and fundraisers as ways to help others be more like them.

3. "For this reason, the word ”privilege” now seems to be misleading."

This quote i feel is very important to the article. People who read this article might find the word privilege offensive. They feel everyone already has equality to one another, and that the privileges are even giving the so called "unprivileged " the advantages over them. It would be very beneficial for a nation wide diversity class be offered for free to people of all ages across United states, which would help further deepen everyones understanding on how diversity affects everyday life.

I'm a freshman at RIC going onto my second semester. I was recruited to wrestle here, but took a year off to heal up end of the season injuries from my senior year of high school. I'll be applying to the School of education in a few months at the conclusion to this semester. Living on campus has proven to be a good time so far, and im looking forward to returning next year.