The Role of the Community

The role of the community is largely defined by the community’s extent to which community education programs exist. Community Education is an opportunity for local citizens and community schools, agencies and institutions to become active partners in addressing education and community concerns.
What does your community do to partner with schools? If there is a lack in partnership, what could you do as an advocate of community partnerships to foster this process?
This blog is worth 10 points, be thoughtful and thorough! Use the web for info if necessary.

I am not from Muncie, but since I am here most of the year I know alot of community events that happen.  One that I am involved in is College Mentors for Kids.  It was a group of college kids who volunteer to mentor an elementary schooler.  The elementary students come from 4 different schools around Muncie.  Our job is to teach them about college and basically encourage them to want to go to college and what jobs can come from different professions.  They get to do fun activties and get to walk around campus.  In Muncie, I do not think there is a lack of partnership with the schools.  I am in a sorority and I we are always being told about community service events that we can attend and participate in.  Some are with schools and then others are not.  Having college students be able to participate in such activities is just another way education can be brought into the community.  Maybe the college students aren't going into another school system, but a volunteer opportunity is being brought to them.

If there was a lack of partnership, I would as an advocate in the community, start such groups.  There are so many opportunities out there, you just have to find one.  I would get in touch with the local elementary schools and ask if there were any events coming up that I and my friends could volunteer at.  I believe it takes something simple like that to create something that could eventually grow into an actual program.  I knew someone at my high school who started her own fundraiser for her little brother that was sick.  From there she these hospitals supporting her and people from all over the community coming out to help her with this.  Something so simple can create something so big and become a great idea as well as a great opportunity.  

Drug Abuse

Watching this video made me realize how drugs can affect more than just the person using them.  I always knew this because you hear about it all the time, but this was an even bigger eye opener.  The statistics were scary.  I couldn't believe it.  At a school I think the teachers should look out for drug abuse families.  I do not think it would be that hard to find one if one did come up.  You just have to be careful on how you approach it, you don't want to get anyone upset.  Trying to remove that child for the home with the drug abuse is key.  Side-effects of drug abuse can hurt the people around the drugs.   I know that I was taught that drugs were bad in elementary school.  I never even really heard about drugs until about junior high.  We had health classes that talked about drugs and alcohol and even school convocations about it.  The school needs to have things like that in place to the help the students out.  If you get them at the young age they will be more likely to try it when the are pressured with it.  As for in the classroom, I will be open for the students to come and talk to me about what is going on at home and if they need help.  I will also reach out to the parents and even have numbers the parents can call if they need help with a problem.  

Poverty in America

Poverty is an issue for youth in America because parents are having trouble keeping their jobs.  This can be due to any number of reasons.  Illness is an issue because if you are living in poverty then you aren't getting enough nutrition that your body needs so their are many health concerns that arise from that.  It is hard to get a job when you do not have enough experience which I think is what many parents face.  Sometimes the parents can have a good job but that just isn't enough to support a family and to live in a house.  I think this issue is a hard one to address in the classroom.  A teacher doesn't want to call a student out or single a certain person out because they are in poverty but I think it is important to make it known to the students that this is an issue.  Not everyone is as fortunate as some other students might be and the students should know that. The students could help with being in cans of food for a food drive or taking food to a shelter and those things could be incorporated into a lesson and learning about poverty in the United States

Reflection #1

We have been discussing the historical events and eras that have shaped the course of education throughout history. Reflect on an event in your life that has shaped the course of your life with relation to education. It could be an event that affected your course as a student, your decision to enter the education field or your ideals as a future teacher. Include the event, at what age the event occurred and the manner in which it affected you.

Reading this post there was no question in my mind what my answer was.  The reason I am doing what I am doing today and going into teaching is because of my first grade teacher.  She was by far the best teacher ever and I remember everything she taught me.  We went to the same church and that is where I met her first so when I found out she was my teacher at school I was so excited!  I think the reason why she is my favorite and why I want to teach is because she was the person who taught me the very first things I ever learned.  I went to preschool and kindergarden and I know my parents taught me things, but she was the first "real" teacher I believed I am.  I don't remember things I learned in kindergarden but if you ask me about first grade and I can tell you how she taught me math.  I want to get to the kids at a young age and teach them their first things that will go with them hopefully always but mostly to the higher grades.  I still keep in touch with her and her three boys.  She is the one person I will always remember and I thank her every chance I get.