Journal 8

            Honestly, I liked this class but I didn’t like the purpose. The format was fine; I learned many things about MLA that I didn’t already know. It was an education process, and it also took some time to get used to. I didn’t mind writing about films, but I didn’t like how we had to write on other topics about the films we watched. Even though I didn’t like to do it, I found that it was very interesting. Every time I wrote a new essay, I learned something new about that topic. What I liked most about the class was how the essays we wrote gave us a chance to write about our different beliefs, in any topic. The only thing I would suggest to be changed about the class is the blog comments. Overall, it was a great class and I’m glad I took it. Also, I seemed to get it out the way and won’t have to take it in college. If I do have to take another English class, I can take things from it that I learned from ENC1102.

Education- The Big Cutoff

Alaina Woods

Professor Kelly Warren

ENC1102

22 April 2013

The Big Cut Off

“Gosh, why do we have to carry these books back and forth?” I ask my AP Government teacher Ms. O’Neal. “Because”, she replies “the district apparently can’t afford to buy two copies for you guys.” This explains the growing pain I have in my right shoulder, and the growing irritation I’m getting with Duval County Public Schools. The bad thing about it is that budget cuts in education seem to be everywhere, and pretty much everyone is feeling some type of way about it.

It’s clear that teachers are the most effected by the budget cuts. As well as resources being lowered, so was their salary. Many schools face budget cuts, all over the United States. This results in many teachers being dissatisfied with their jobs. The budget cuts seem to have an impact on the school, and how much teachers can put out to their students. With help from the Obama administration, there a few changes in action. These changes, such as “teacher evaluations that stress the student’s standardized performance, curbs on tenure and Common Core”(Resmovitz: Teacher Survey) were passed years ago. However, it seems as if these changes are just now taking effect. With the number of unsatisfied teachers constantly growing, school leaders actually make an effort to try their views.

Lately, sequestration has been familiar to many people and one it’s main victims is education. Sequestration doesn’t only put fear in teacher’s hearts, it also puts a fear in Secretary of Education’s Arne Duncan’s heart. He feels that “education is the last place to be reducing our investment”(Paner: Budget Cuts), and he’s right. The sequestration makes things harder, and is also a cause of a decrease in after-school programs, day care, and the length in the school year or school day. I remember a question I was asked about sequestration: “Which of the following would you take away-head start, meals on wheels, or section 8 housing?” This question stuck with me, because what person would take away education designed for innocent toddlers? I feel as if the sequestration is unfair, and takes away many useful things, instead of the things that aren’t needed as much.

Lastly, the budget cuts in education may cause teachers to use their own money to purchase school supplies that the school should distribute. There aren’t enough resources to go around, such as textbooks, notebooks, pencils, etc. This eventually results in the teacher having to use their money to provide for their students. Even though this has just been brought to attention, it is not a new issue. I experience it all the time in my school, and it won’t improve any time soon. “Teachers spend $3 Billion out of pocket per year on school supplies.”(Inglee: Shocking Amount) It isn’t fair, nor is it trying to be improved. However, it’s the only solution due to the fact that schools don’t get the money needed to give the great education that students deserve. I often hear my teachers complaining on how they have to use their own salary to buy things that should be given, and I think the school board could actually give assistance, they just choose not to.

Budget cuts are simply a part of life, but some things shouldn’t have to suffer because of it. One of those things is simply education. Yes, it’s free and some things should be paid for, but everybody isn’t able. Nobody should be a victim of it, especially students. Teachers see budget cuts as excuses for them to slack off, and it’s soon taken off on the students and the things they learn. Next, sequestration puts a hurting on the students from an early age, because daycare is taken away. Students also lose a chance to enhance their learning unless their parents will use their own funds. Lastly, the budget cuts have become so bad to the point where teachers have to provide their own. Education is taking a turn for the worst, and the bad [part about it is that the root of it is money and selfishness. When I think about that conversation with Ms. O’Neal, I actually feel bad knowing that it’s beyond her control, and there’s nothing she could possibly do about the harsh consequences of budget cuts in education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Resmovitz, Joy. “Teacher Survey Shows Record Low Job Satisfaction In 2012” Huffington Post. 21 Feb 2013. 22 April 2013

 

Inglee, Jenny. “The Shocking Amount America’s Teachers Spend On School Supplies (Infographic)” Take Part. 12 Sep 2012. 22 April 2013

Parker, Suzi. “Budget Cuts in Education Are Looming- So What Does That Mean for Kids?” Take Part. 22 Feb 2013. 22 April 2013

Media Effects

Alaina Woods

Professor Kelly Warren

ENC1102

9 April 2013

As a high school teen, I must agree that the media may have negative effects, and nobody is immune to it. Whether it’s the image that one is given from the media, or the image that one takes; the media often has negative effects and doesn’t seem to get any better. The media especially has a negative effect on teens: mostly on violence, body image, and sexuality.

Though all issues are equally important in the effects of media, violence is one that is constantly brought up. It’s very entertaining to many people, and may have an influence on them; whether positive or negative. Violence is usually viewed in television, video games, and books. This enables a wide variety of access to these things, and in turn gives people a clear view of violence. There have also been experiments ran to see just how much of an effect violence can have on minors. One popular experiment is the “Bobo Doll Experiment”, created by Albert Bandura. This experiment involves children watching a video clip of the Bobo Doll being punched repeatedly. After the video is viewed, the child will be left in the room alone with the doll. The majority of the children would “replicate the behavior” (Johnson, “What Effect Does the Media Have on Teen Violence”) they see in the video, which is beating the doll. This proves that viewing violence can sometimes increase the amount of violence. Teens and children only repeat what they see. Since access to media that includes violence is so common, it seems as if violence only increases with time.

The next issue that effects teens within the media is body image. Many models, actors, and actresses seen on television seem to be perfect, and this influences teens to change their bodies so they can look perfect as well. Teens want to be accepted, and because celebrities are accepted because of their looks that’s who they follow. This often results in “destructive eating habits” (Kelly, “Negative Effects”) for girls, and boys try very hard to get lean to resemble celebrities. It looks as if the media influences teens to lose an excessive amount of weight; however there seems to be more obese teens due to the amount of media available. Teens spend an “average of five hours” (Kelly, “Negative Effects”) on different sources of media such as computers, television, and cell phones. This causes a huge amount of laziness so teens usually just resort to unhealthy snacks during this time period. Body image is very important to teens, and is also important to the health of teens and the media has a huge influence on it.

Lastly, the media has a drastic effect on teens and their sexuality. The media depicts sex as “acceptable and normal” (Kelly, “Negative Effects”) so of course teens soon feel tempted to try it. Also, the internet seems to be a reliable source for teens to search for information that involves “sexuality and sexual health” (Kelly, Negative Effects). Unfortunately, most of these sites are discreetly encouraging sex, by making it seem normal. The media seems to have a negative effect on a teen’s outlook on sex. The things seen on TV seem to encourage teens to have sex, and never encourages the right kind of sex. “Less than 1% of teen media focuses on sexual health, contraception, and consequences.”(Warren, “The Media & Teen Sexuality”) The frequent exposure to sexual social media is 2.2 times more likely to encourage a teen to have sex than a teen who hasn’t been exposed to this form of media. Media does not seem to have a positive effect on teen sexuality.

The media is a very dangerous thing, especially when it comes to teens. Speaking from experience, I’ve seen how the media can change one’s views on looks, violence, and sexuality. The numbers in violence seem to increase every day, and the things seen on television or the internet influence it in a large way. Body image is another thing that has such a huge effect on teens in the media. By seeing celebrities and their flawless bodies, teens have the urge to go to drastic measures to have their bodies look the same way. As well as influencing teens to change their bodies to look better, the media will also cause a teen to gain weight, and become obese. One of the last effects that the media has on teens is influencing sex or exaggerating sexuality. The internet and TV displays sex to teens, but not in the most beneficial ways. The effects of media go a long way, and range from all different types of dangers.

Journal 6-Miss Representation

To me, the film “Miss Representation” hit all the points that people don’t seem to see in the media. It’s true that there’s some sort of bias towards women in the media, and it isn’t fair at all. Women are viewed in a negative way in just about everything they do, whether it’s a positive action or a negative action. To society, women can’t seem to win anything. This film was built solely on opinion and testimony and gave an excellent viewpoint on how women are viewed in the media. I was very engaged in this film, and was shocked at the way some of the women are looked at on television. It’s actually sad that women are sat on such a high pedestal, just to be looked down on as failures. It’s also a known fact that you don’t have to be on television just to be judged, and any female is judged every day. It’s as if women have to go to drastic measures just to be perfect, and it still doesn’t seem to be enough for our “critics”. When we’re dressed professionally, we’re not showing enough skin, but when we show just an ankle, we’re showing too much skin. It seems to be a no-win situation for women, but it’s time that someone stands up. “Miss Representation” was a great view to me, and showed me that women do care how they’re looked at want to do something about it. As women, all we have is each other so we have to be there for one another.