Gender Issues

Hi,
Something is wrong with my account and I'm unable to post in my blog. So I'm doing it here.
My partner, Laura, and I have had many talks lately over gender issues. I have very strong views on what my role is as a male and her own views are strong as well. Sometimes the two perspectives are similar, sometimes not. Luckily the are most often alined with one another. Are discussions together many circle around what are the roles biologically for men and women respectively. And how those biological roles line up with or contrast the roles we have been gilded into playing by society. I'm of the mind that if any animal is forced away from their basic instincts, it is to the detriment of that animal. This begs the question, what are man's basic animal instincts, and what are woman's. Are there similarities? Are we even in touch with them any more? I don't have an answer but is interesting to speculate. However, I do know that intellectually Men and Women are equal, which is not the prevailing notion amongst many. This is seen in the belief that Women are inherently (As in inherited from previous generations of womanhood) bad at math. Wrong. That idea is sexist but for some reason males still dominate the math world and only 1 in 10 engineers are women. So if this is how this one issue plays out, what other issues are we not even aware of? What beliefs to we hold as facts, but are only constructions of this historically patriarchal society?
While you think on that, watch this video of some cool new toys coming out for girls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFpe3Up9T_g

Something my partner found

 

 

 

So Lying in bed the other night, I happen to look over her shoulder to watch this very poinient clip of a show called "Scandle" or something like that. Watch this video.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1oyIEgDWAQ

 

I think Laura wanted to watch this show initially to see Feebe from "Friends" but we ended up having a long talk about feminism, politics, gender issues and much more.

Do You Want Studio Space

Hey, are you looking for studio space?

 Contact Abbe in our department.

He's talking with Drea and the Provost to try and get us a studio space for the Department. But he's been turned down thus far because they haven't heard any interest in it from the students. There is already space for exhibiting any work on the 4th floor of Sharp Building. So please contact Abbe and let him know that you want the space. We are Art Educators, and I think that the Art should go hand in hand with the Education. Personally, I'm a painter and would love the space.

Open Minds

 

What are three things you first consider when creating an arts based lesson plan?

 

First, the actual Artistic skills being used and taught.

Second, how does one, who is not educated in the arts language, view the work being done.

Third, how engaging the particular arts practice is to the audience.

 

Other Questions and Comments:

History of 'Mark' making

 What are the resources available?

 What's permitted? Is a radical view of the world allowed?

 What is most important to the students?

 

What is One component/element you would add after the materials covered in the course so far?

 

Learning the Art of holding your tongue. Sometimes what is said in class is not constructive or condusive to learning. And can sometimes be detrimental to the lesson. We are taught in grade school that there is a right answer to questions posed. The visible reward of students for speaking out those right answers is prevalent in all schools. This births the belief that silence has to be filled and saying Nothing is awkward and wrong. So our students blindly fill the silence. This leads to students to enjoying the sound of their own voice, which isn't inherently bad, but at times promotes the notion that anything that comes to mind should be said. This is bad. Thoughts can be reviewed and restructured, forming foundations to build upon. But words can never be unsaid, and some words and comments can send students down the wrong path, undermining the lesson plan. 

 

We need to learn that silence is not our enemy but can actually be constructive to learning. 

 

Notes and Comments from a conversation with Nicole Marroquin

 

Lesson spreads: 2 page package/snapshot of lesson plans in action. Done after lesson is completed as evidence of procedure and purposes of holding such a lesson. Describes the project's objectives and shows images of finished work and process of students working.

 

I need to read "Rethinking Our Classroom"

 

Interdependence of Social Movements

 

Why should people care?

We need to be well versed in explaining our rationale for creating this lesson plan. When confronted with this question, it woud be aweful to not have an answer. Keep in mind that time is valuble, not only to students, and parents, but also to you. Your lesson plan needs to be inline with your beliefs of what is valued. You need to be able to answer why it is that you are teaching this subject. Know how to rationalize why a child or teen need to know the specific techniques and skills, knowledge of the world (context and scaffolding), social and survival skills, values or lineage of values., etc...

=> Find the 'Road Map' of your lesson plan 

How do you write purposes around 'Socially Engaged Art'?
Show the benefits of such a lesson would have to the student's business skills (showing up on time, working with others, working with public, being responsible for what you say publically, etc...), communication skills (how does one voice their beliefs and accept other's beliefs), leadership skills,

Listen to the parents... their concerns and questions. They will have strong notion of their child, do not crush that but build apon it.

Value different view points and opposing view points.
Know when you have 'Loaded Questions' that might be pushing one belief over another.  

Name the Big Idea
 Beyond techiniqual skills, this is the meaning-making endeavor. Could possibly be really romantic. Could be a question that is yet to be answered. This is your art brain, make sure you'd want to participate too. 

Ground your teaching in the lives of your students.
Ask them about their feelings. How might you do this? They are fascinated as young people. Do not assume that ALL kids know/care about what Other kids know/care about. Let the kids instruct, let them be experts in the things they are experts in.

Because of the internet, the Teachers are no longer experts.
Make student knowledge and experience central to the project. "Teacher Action Research"

There is no number, there is no edition.
Edit your purpose to meet your outcome.

Leave room for Reflection.

Good week past and forward

I've been super busy these past few weeks since school started, as is everyone else. But it does seem that I'm getting even more taxes on my time. Thankfully, I've been up for the challenge and more efficiency and energy has increased along with my work load. I am however worried about getting burnt out. I remember not too long ago being a weaker man not able to keep up with these demands. Maybe all the energy I built up over a year of traveling has settled in my bones, and is a resource waiting to be used. I guess being active is a way to an active life as it were. So if you're interested in knowing what I'm spreading my efforts to, here's a list of my activities.

9 hrs/week Grad School with about as much outside of class with readings and projects.  

21 hrs/week TA job (freshmen are taxing on the nerves so I've found). 

10 hrs/week Pulse job working with the Sustainability Committee at SAIC which includes meetings, and meetings, and emails, and meetings. It's good work that is necessary for my happiness, but it is a time consuming venture. 

I sleep about 6 hours a day, sometimes less. 

3 hours a day making and eating food. 

7 to 10 hrs/week on the train, which sounds like a lot but I get much of my work done on the train. and occasionally read a book for fun. It's "Game of Thrones" right now.

And then on the weekends, I clean and work on fixing up my house and playing with my cat, and enjoying loud music with a glass of wine. Building shelves and doing laundry seems to be my only free time. I'm glad it has to be done because if it didn't, I'd probably fill that time with work too. Yay, for folding clothes. It might me boring to others but it's needed for my sanity. Sometimes it's good to not have to think. 

So there you have it. If I'm not answering your call or email or hanging out with you, it's probably cause I'm doing one or more of the following.  

No News is Good News

Well, not to much to say. Classes are going well. I've really hit a stride with completing work and getting everything done despite my busy schedule. I'm working on fixing up my apartment. I'm eating properly which hasn't always been the case. Family is good. It's a bit hot out but that soon will change. My life is pretty great right now.

And I'm so proud of Laura. She's figuring out her shit as well and her ideas are spectacular. I'm really happy for the both of us. 

Now if I could just get my first pay check.

Into the Thick of it

This is what I asked for. I must remember that. I can hear my own voice telling Laura while sitting in some cold, hard, forgettable shelter. "I can't wait til I have a schedule." When everyday, you wake up and put on almost frozen boots over definitely frozen socks, then trudge up and over a mountain then down then up another, you really miss the small things. Like a schedule. Something regular besides the trees and an empty stomach. Then I hear it. "I can't wait til I have a schedule." What was I thinking? A schedule was what I had. Every day I knew my tasks; walk, eat, sleep. No easier schedule than that. And I tell you the truth, trees aren't that bad. Good listeners, actually the best. Not too demanding either. I miss it, and yearn for it. I must find a way to get out of the city to see some trees. It is interesting that I've taken to imagining skyscrappers as trees. If I squint, and in just the right light, I can make out the trunks of huge metallic Oaks and Ashes. When Laura and I first started the AT, we would get claustrophobic from the woods. Walking for miles at a time, never seeing the direct rays of sunlight, living in a twilight world. The trees seemed to never end. But after a while, the forest became more like an oversized security blanket, always surrounding and comforting you. I'm hoping that's what this city will also become. I know it will in time, but til then I'm off to find some real trees. Peace out.