NO PICTURE....

Unfortunately I was told at the polling place that I was not allowed to take pictures. I deciced to go to a new polling place this year out in suburbia and the energy was completely different than that of 2008. During the presidential election people were excited. People were laughing and people were so excited to have their vote count. During this year's election day people seemed very unenthusiatic about what their vote meant. I suppose I could assume the differences I experienced were due to not only the different environments but also because I think the people in the suburbs were not too happy about how las election day turned out. I think many people are still in shock and some what disheartened by the fact that their is such a "liberal democratic" influence in Washington these days. 

Jasmine Thomas
Modern Educational Theory
10/6/09

I want and need to preface this “position paper” with a few thoughts.
Thought 1: The ideas and opinions that are found in these pages should lie within all classrooms.
Thought 2: The fact that I am a seventeen year old enrolled in a class called Modern Educational theory and have been asked to write about my vision of school should not be my reality.
My reality and the reality of my peers should lie in the realm of organic expression of the self. This idea of school that I have been asked to write about should not only welcome but also expect for young minds to express themselves in ways that are rational, irrational, traditional, and progressive.

I suppose as I write this paper I will convey ideas that seem ultra liberal and progressive but in reality they are ideas and ideals that support teaching the whole student. The idea of caring for a student as an individual first and student second allows for a student to feel as though they are valued not for their academic ability but their true existence in a community. In order for a community to cater to the individual being of both student and teacher both parties must understand that a relationship that embodies reciprocity in terms of trust, responsibility, collaboration, and encouragement is needed. The purpose of these ideals that I speak of allows for an individual to interact in a community and in a larger sense teaches a person how to communicate in the “world”.

As far as I can tell I have not mentioned how this school I speak of would look like. It has not been mentioned because when it truly comes down to it students don’t need to walk the halls of buildings. Students need to walk through these ideas and be able to empower themselves with them in order to understand that life and the real purpose of school should be to teach one that the individual is a student of life.  
This idea of school that I speak about teaches to the student. This idea empowers and challenges the ideas of the individuals of a community. What purpose would such a school serve? This idea of school is not producing doctors, policemen, or nutritionist but something more. This idea of school, that I have really only scratched the surface of, serves to shape and enlighten individuals. Discovering a passion and parts of the self both are an essential aspects of “my vision”.

If these ideals and ideas that I so strongly believe found their way into the pedagogical practices of every educator then maybe, just maybe school would be regarded as a safe place to revel in the struggles and successes of life. Maybe, just maybe students would walk away feeling deeply connected and empowered by a community that viewed them as essential.

U.S Congress House Bill

H.R 1024 Uniting American Families Act of 2009 

This bill discusses how to help emliminate discrimination with immigration laws. 

The most recent action that pretains to this bill happened during the middle of March. The bill was referred to the subcommittee. 

I think this bill will die because of what it adressses. It is a bill that hopes to eliminate discrimination with the immigration processs and right now in our country immigration seems to be a hot and heavy issue. I think the reason the bill has not gone anywhere since March. 

PA Bill 

H.B. 1540 

This bill discusses how students who are home schooled can participate in clubs/organizations/ and sports that their loca schools provide. Schools seems to be on the spectrum of either allowing students to participate or turning them down. 

When I first read this bill I thought that the bill could possibly go somewhere and then I realized that it did not seem that important. I think one of the most important things right now in terms of education is budget and if it is not dealing with that it is being overlooked. I could be wrong but I do believe that there is some importance in this bill. I believe the importance is the social growth of the students. 

City Bill 090326

This bill goes into detail about making the city of Philadelphia green, if not the greenest city in America. 

Although this is a hot topic right now the city of Philadelphia seems to be in a financial turmoil and in my opinion other bills will trump this one.

9/28 Progress 

There has been no progress with my bills. I believe my bills are moving at the rate they are due to how trivial they seem in comparison to other aspects of the country, state, and city. Although I do not agree with how elected officials choose to address each bill I believe some guidelines or rules should be set in place for the movement of a bill. In my opinion if there was a guideline or rule that said "All bills must be reviewed, and moved or vetoed in a 3 month period" I feel as though citizens would not be on the edge of their seats waiting. There also may be a system such as this already set in place and if there is do people actually know about it? 

10/6 

There has been no progress on any of the three bills. 

The content area of these bills are all very different. One deals with education, one deals with environmentalism, and the last one deals with immigration. I think one similarity is that these aspects of our society don't seem to be as important as other ones due to the economic crisis our country is in. Maybe if these bills were proposed a few years ago or a few years from now my bill tracking process would look a lot different. 

10/12

There is no recent action on any of my bills. 

I choose to focus on local lesgislation. A simple statement is that the city of Philadelphia is simply trying to get their budget in order. Without the budget being intact it will be hard for any things to happen in the city of Philadelphia. 

10/19 

There is no recent action on any of my bills. If I could choose any bill to pick that would get passed I think I would choose my bill that is at the national level which is in regards to education. I believe immigration is such an important aspect of our country. It is an aspect that is also very, very postive but it seems to be seen as something that usurps the American people of fullinf being able to experience being American. 

10/26 

There is no recent action on any of my bills. 

11/23

There is no action on my national bill that addresses immigration

There is no action on the city bill. 

There is no action on the state bill. 

Reflection: 

The senate voted on Saturday to begin a full blown debate about the health care issue. The health care plan has a projected 31 billion citizens who would be covered under this plan. From the looks of things it seems as though this bill is progresses and could possibly be fully passed. Seeing as health care is such a hot topic right now in the White house. 

Jasmine Thomas
Water Stream
5/15/09
Sources

Hurston , Zora N. The Complete Stories . New York : Harper Perennial Modern Classics , 2008. 73-86.

"Policy 102 ." The School District of Philadelphia . Aug. 2004. 15 Jan. 2009 <http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/e/educationalequity/programs--services/policy-102>.

Perrotti , Jeff , and Kim Westheimer . When the Drama Club Is Not Enough: Lessons from the safe schools programs for gay and lesbian students . Boston : Beacon Press , 2001. 106 -8.

The chapter in this book lays out a strategic plan of how LGBTQ awareness and inclusion is being done in schools around the country. The school environments starts to address the issues of diversity in lifestyles at an early age and explains the progress that many students had made. Allowing for students to talk openly about the issues of sexual and gender diversity allows for the kids thinking to be pushed to levels that are rarely acknowledged.

Campos , David . Understanding Gay and Lesbian Youth: Lessons for straight school teacers, counselors, and administrators . Lanham , MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers Inc, 2005. 28 -31.

This book gives lessons and overviews on how to better understand LGBTQ students in the educational setting. The book touches on a wide range of topics such developing support to refuting the myths of LGBTQ people. Campos is able to convey the messages that not only affect LBGTQ students but heterosexual students as well.
The research and statistics on LGBTQ youth are accompanied with explanations as to how those statistics came to be statistics.

Jasmine Thomas
Water Steam
11/ 5/2008

Dear President Elect Barack Obama, I want to first start out by saying congratulations on your winning the American presidency as the first African America.  Your win as proven that America as moved passed the idea of race. Sadly, I'm not one to shout out "Yes We Can" due to my belief in the power the Republican Party. As a young Republican I need to know what direction you plan to take this country in and that includes the Republicans. I'm writing this letter in response to Ralph Nader's open letter that was addressed to you. I want to get to the point of why I'm so intrigued by what you plan to do for the Republican people. This is why.

My experiences at Yo! Darkroom for the most part of have been very positives. On either Wednesdays or Thursdays I get to go into the real of creativity. I work on a project called Bureau of Workplace Interruputions which is essentially performance art. I create and find little interruptions like letters, toys, games, ect. The purpose of this art is to bring a little bit of enjoyment to people who are not excited by their careers or jobs. I think this project is quite powerful seeing as a lot of people become disconnected with who they truly are when they enter the work place. Being able to bring a smile to someone's face is a good feeling to have as a young person I suppose. For the most part I enjoy my ILP and I am thankful that I have this opportunity to contribute to a performance art project.

J.Thom

Dai Uno

Horas de Sueño por Noche: Anoche, dormi 7 horas

El Desayuno: Comi leche y pretzel

El Almuerzo: Comi pizza y pollo y bot apio

La Cena: Comi uvas y narajas y Cheezits

Las Merienda: Comi espaguetti ( but I didn't eat it though)

Ejercicio: yo paeso para dos millia

Dai Dos

Horas de Sueno por Noche: Anoch, dormi 9 horas

El Desayuno: Comi cereal y leche

El Almuerzo: Comi los eggrolls

La Cena: La manzana y bot apio

Las Merienda: Comi un salada

Ejercicio: yo paeso para un milla

Dai tres

Horas de Sueno por Noche:Anoche, 8 dori horas

El Desayuno: leche

El Almuerzo: comi pastel

La cena: yo es no comi

Las Merienda: comi cameron scampi

Ejercicio: yo paeso para un dos millas

Dai quatro

Horas de sueno por noche:  Anoche, 8 dori horas

El desayuno: comi leche

El alumerzo: nada

La cena: nada

Las merienda:comi cheese steak

Ejercicio:  nada

Dai cinco  

Horas de sueno por noche: Anoche 1o horas

El desayuno: comi cullin

El alumerzo: pizza y frier

La cena: nada

Las merienda: comi pollo

Ejercicio:  yo paes para 2 millas 

Jasmine Thomas
Iron-English
1/8/08
Language Autobiography

The System In that Robs

As I watch the children walk in carrying projects that represent them as students I get excited and at the same time I am angry and filled with rage. I watch these children walk in whose transcripts read, “mentally gifted” and “post high school reading level” but when you meet them and begin to really listen to them you then understand what “mentally gifted” means in the School District of Philadelphia. My school is one of the new schools that has opened up in the district and has taken on the philosophy of progressive learning. With this in mind, our school interviews potential students to kind of get a feel of who they are as people and not just as students. I try to make the question sound as friendly as possible “So tell us why you decided to bring this project here today?” “I brought this project in because…um well I don’t know…I got a perfect score on it”. Sometimes the questions are not even answered and sometimes they are answered with looks of helplessness and confusion. You can read the nervousness of the interviewee from the hives covering their necks. While the fear and anticipation runs down their faces in droplets of sweat I begin to understand the language that is coming out of their mouths, bodies and spirits.
During these interviews that I partake in…I am so amazed and thrilled that a school like Science Leadership Academy exist it is a chance for kids from the city to show people just how phenomenal they really are in the world of learning. To show the system that they are not failures and to show “them” they do deserve a quality education. I am filled with rage at the same time…because some of these kids have not been taught. They have not been taught how to be brilliant students, they have been taught how to come to class, wear their uniform, to not cause school fights, these kids have simply been taught not to become “another problem”. The reward for not being “another problem” is being granted “A’s” and being placed in the mentally gifted program. The system is just pushing these innocent children along who really do long and wish for a quality education. During these interviews you can feel the their spirits and potential radiating from them, its such a strong presence in the room, it’s a language that many people choose to not understand.
I turn to my fellow interviewer and tell her “It’s not his fault, he has not been taught like he should have, and has not had the chance to have educational privileges and resources like he should have”. The language that is spoken at a lot of these interviews is the language of confusion, helplessness, nervousness, and most of all potential and beauty. These children drip like water with the potential to become top students who can do well and who can go off to college and become the next oncologist or lawyer or artist. They have the ability and determination but the system robs them of their educational rights and privileges. The system is unjust and is made up of a majority people who sit in their offices deciding whether or not the children of The Philadelphia School District deserve a quality education. They sit in their cubicles contemplating whether or not these children should have the dream to be doctors, teachers, or mayors. Why is the language of doubt spoken from the mouth of the system about these children? The criminal act here is having doubt about such amazing souls and spirits.
“I am sorry what do you mean how can I contribute to your school community?” I respond to the question with an “If you were to come to Science Leadership Academy what would you bring to the table” The interviewee then replies in a surprised and confused tone, “Wow that’s a hard question, I never thought about that.” The real question here is how come these kids are not taught to look at themselves as beings who are extraordinary and who are capable of becoming doctors and lawyers just like kids who go to Lower Merion High school? How come these kids are not taught that they are important parts of this world and without them there is no future. Why can’t these kids be seen as kids who want to learn and not as kids who “make trouble”? When is the time going to come for the people of the system to stop robbing the children of the city their rights as students? When is the time going to come when inner city kids are not seen as threats but as assets? When is the language of excitement, curiosity, confidence, and pride going to be spoken at the majority of the SLA interviews? Will the time ever come for me, as a young activist, to not question the rights of education in our system that victimize innocent children …when will my rage for the people of the system cease?
The language that I hear spoken by these children is what fuels me to be a student activist. An activist who stands with other young activist to voice our opinions to the system, which provides us with our educational institutions, we stand to make a change and a difference. As a young person I feel like it’s my generation that speaks the language of change and revolution. My generation also speaks a language of hurt, pain, and empathy. This language we speak is not something we had to learn in high school for credits, it was not a class we decided to take over the summer, but it was the world in which we lived and live in that taught us this language. The society we live in has so much going on is it really surprising that the most common dialect between people is that of pain, oppression, and sadness. Is it surprising that my friends and I have many times where we feel like there is no hope for the future and that there really is no value in setting future goals. On an individual level I have many moments where I feel as though, it really doesn’t matter because things are never going to change. I am human though, so then there are other times when I say to myself “Yes your activism and consciousness of the world will pay off Jas, you just have to be patient because like everything else life is one hell of a journey”. I have moments like these where I feel extremely empowered to be a young adult. I feel like my generation is going to change the world and we will do it in a way that is innovative, progressive, inspiring. I have faith; my soul and heart speak the language of hope and in the end that is what I use to guide me through this thing we call life.