Critical & Cultural Perspectives in Education Reflection

A poetic reflection on my growth in

Critical & Cultural Perspectives in Education.

I see others for who they are

Except when I don't

I see myself for who I am 

Except when I don't

I see the potential in every situation

Except when I don't

I see the cause behind the effect

Except when I don't

I see the pain behind the outburst

Except when I don't

I see the growth behind the failure

Except when I don't

I see the same behind the different

Except when I don't

I see my place in this world

Except when I don't

I see opportunities to reveal

Except when I don't

I see the spark of motivation

Except when I don't

I see the longing for approval

Except when I don't

I see the need for relationship

Except when I don't

Except

Excluding

Omitting

Not counting

But

Besides

Apart from

Aside from

Barring

Other than

Saving

And so I commit 

To replace

Except

With

Accept

Accept that I am human

And move forward

Accept that I have bias

And move forward

Accept that I hold prejudice

And move forward

Accept others

As they are

As I am

And move forward

Build from a foundation of 

acceptance and not exception

Acknowledge

Inquire

Explore

Connect
Communicate
Collaborate

Grow

Together.

The most significant outcome of this course has been the increased confidence and skill to advocate for change.  I have experienced more courage to make meaningful speech acts in an effort to reveal and promote changed thinking and behavior.  The Advocacy Project was certainly a catalyst for this. Outside of this class, I have been able to communicate with evidence in order to bring about two significant changes.  One conversation resulted in the removal of literature from a public lobby that overtly discriminated against women and promoted a white, heterosexual male sense of entitlement and privilege. The other resulted in a commitment from a local school official to stop the promotion and live reenactment of a car crash for students the week of prom.  I felt strongly about these two situations for a variety of reasons.  In the past I would have voiced my concerns to a confidant in order to process my feelings, but probably would not have taken further action.  As a result of this class, I did research and communicated to the appropriate parties with the intent to facilitate change. 

I now have a stronger voice to advocate for my students, their families, and my community.

In a letter to my students today I ended with:

"Look out for each other.  Use your voice.  

Stand up and speak out, even when it's hard or unpopular.  

When you do, you will make a difference."

Finally, I enjoyed continuing to explore the overlapping circles of democracy, capitalism, and moral values in our culture and the ways in which these values are represented to different degrees in all aspects of our individual and communal lives. I grew up in a musical family where American folk songs, spirituals, and hymns were common tunes played and sung around campfires, while working, and playing.  I realized on the way home from class one night that this collection of songs fit well into the three circles and also bled into the nooks and crannies where those circles overlap.  This led me to think about the concept of harmony and tension in those circles.  It occurred to me  that these styles of music are, more often than not, songs of solidarity and faith.  Music is a powerful instrument to keep the soul going in times of hardship and strife, of persecution, and of change.  Although there are many songs in our modern repertoire that pay homage to capitalism, to honor the genres, I selected songs for that category that were more about work and labor.  Of course, I had to include "When you Wish Upon a Star" as a nod to the American Dream.  It's Disney, so if that's not a symbol of capitalism, I'm not sure what is! 

CLICK HERE to listen to "Harmony & Tension".