Welcome ENC 1101 Summer 2012!! It's A Hot One!

This is your first blog prompt. Read the entire entry and respond on your blog, print out a hard copy and bring to class. (Be sure your name and URL are on the copy you print out.)

It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.

And it's more than just thinking about issues, it's about challenging, questioning, analyzing and exploring issues. Breaking them down into pieces and examining each piece and how they work together to make a whole. Just like a business person or accountant would do with numbers, or how a biologist/chemist would do with cells/atoms and elements.
If this is your first time writing in a blog I challenge you to examine, question and analyze this idea of writing your thoughts or opinions on an internet blog as a journal. How does this make you feel? Uneasy, excited? Consider the fact that you have security settings that you can manipulate and that you are being required to do this for a class rather than a decision you have made on your own. Consider its purpose and who your audience is. Do you want for the whole world, or just for your teacher? What kind of style should you write in depending on that audience? Will you write in first or 3rd person, will you speak directly to an audience or not?

Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?

This isn't your first time blogging??

If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?

So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!

Adieu Spring 2012

Dear class,

Well, that's it, another semester has come to an end and as always, I'm saddened to say goodby, but confident that I have prepared you well to continue forward in your studies, or retake ENC 1102!! lol!!

Teaching is a passion for me. I love to do it, and, I feel that teaching chose me; not that I chose teaching as a profession. It doesn't come with much monetary gains, but it comes with huge personal fulfillment. Having the opportunity to teach, inform, mentor and get to know anywhere from 60-120 students a semester, from all walks of life, is a humbling and rewarding opportunity. I wish there was more time to get to know each of you better, but unfortunately those are the dynamics of college classes.

Over the course of the semester we have had engaging conversations and arguments, listened to each others' perspectives and learned from one another. My hope is that through those conversations, blogs, powerpoints, group activities and presentations, that I have equipped you with the tools necessary to continue through your undergraduate studies as strong critical thinkers who are intrigued and enticed to ask question after question after question; because it is the questions that lead to research and research leads to solutions and new ideas.

As you have become critical thinkers, you have become stronger writers, and we all know that you did a lot of writing , granted some more than others, (a lot that you may have felt was "pointless" or "busy work") but I have seen the growth and the development in all of you. Some of you simply becoming more refined, while others have improved tremendously using every opportunity to revise over and over again. I would like to think that most of you have walked away with a better appreciation for the art of writing and rhetoric and the ability to persuade.

Additionally, now that you know the techniques involved in argument, whether it be to persuade, inform or entertain, you can appreciate the importance of knowing who your audience is, what your purpose is, how to appeal to your audience through the use of logos, ethos and pathos, what kinds of claims can be used, and how not to commit a fallacy. Heck, even if it's just to convince your boy/girlfriend or mom/dad to do whatever it is you want them to do! LOL!

For this final blog I would like for you to write an entry describing your experience during this semester in class. Tell me what you learned, how you feel as a writer after taking this course, and what you would recommend that I do differently or better. Touch upon whether or not the expectations you had of yourself and myself at the beginning of the semester were met or not. What your favorite moments or memories were, and all that jazz!

My final thoughts...if you see me around campus don't be afraid to say hello or think that I would have forgotten you. One of the greatest aspects of teaching college is bumping into a student over the years and seeing how far they've come. If you ever need to get in touch with me for help or advice or a letter of recommendation, please feel free to ask (but remember that I won't lie, so make sure I'm the right person you want to ask!). Feel free to keep in touch via twitter or Facebook (look up Natasha Olivera, I have an account just for my students) and of course you can always follow my crazy mom stories on my blog stumblesthroughparenthood.com :)

In one way or another you have all touched my life and you will not be forgotten. I wish you all luck with your future endeavors and college experiences and that you make the most of it and your potential (can you tell I'm a mom!? :) ).

Peace Out!
Natasha

The issue(s) with Children of the Mountains

This week you were introduced to the Children of the Mountains. Many of you were ignorant to the fact that this community even existed, and many of you were surprised to know that this is happening in this country.

As we discussed in class, the issue of the Appalachian people has it's many sub-isues, all of which are interrelated and as a consequence perpetuate the social conditions in which they live. Time and time again we have heard of "solutions", usually by politicians, that need to be implemented in order to eradicate the "problem. While still others, believe that it is a "problem" that is not solvable and will always exist.

Using the information that you learned through the documentary, and pulling from your own global awareness, what you have learned in the past, and the teachings of your parents/family, etc., argue whether or not this issue is solvable, and if not why, or if so, how.

Remember to bring a hard copy of your entry to class on Monday.

Dolls that give birth: Introducing the VBAC Doll

My oldest son was a little less than 2 years old when I got pregnant with my second son. Throughout the months I introduced the idea of being a big brother and the changes that were going to occur with my body to him. As the time neared, my son who is very inquisitive, asked me how his baby brother would come out of my tummy. Bent on always being as honest as possible with my son, I figured, if he's asking the question, then he is ready for the answer. I was not going to make up some story about a stork, that was for sure. "From my vagina. That's where babies come out of. Isn't that amazing?"

Personally, and I think most people would agree with me on this, I think it's really amazing that a woman's body has the capacity to bear a child and give birth to that baby vaginally. So why is it, when MamAmor released their newest doll, that does exactly that, are people, and women in particular, up in arms about it, claiming that "it's too much"? First they freaked out because MamAmor
(According to their About Us section on their website: "MamAmor dolls are pregnant, birthing, and breastfeeding mamas. Each one is handcrafted with love and attention to detail. MamAmor dolls are very unique, and like real mamas, they are all different.MamAmor dolls are educational tools that demonstrate normal, natural birth, breastfeeding and bonding."
has a line of breastfeeding dolls....and that was too much. Now MamAmor has created a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarian) doll that gives birth both vaginally and by caesarian.

I grew up playing with Barbies who had perfect breasts, and no vagina. I had no breasts, but I had a vagina. Pretty confusing if you ask me. Yet, mommy's are A-OK providing their daughters with dolls that embrace a false sense of beauty and perfection and aren't even anatomically correct. How is that any right?

Lauren Jimeson wrote an article about the doll for Babble.com, a parenting website, and referred to it as "inappropriate" in the title of her article. So now, apparently, giving birth is "inappropriate", like it's pornographic or something.

She goes on to say that, "My 2 1/2 year old knows that there is a baby in my belly but she has no idea how the baby gets out. I don’t plan on having the “where do babies come from” conversation with her until she is much older. I can’t tell you exactly when she will be ready for the conversation, but I will let time take its natural course and we will approach the subject when it feels right for both of us." Until she's much older??? How much older?? What is the logic behind not explaining to a child the reality of an incredible and NATURAL experience? Is there something grotesque about it? Then she goes on to say,

"Giving this doll to a child as young as 3 might just confuse them on the baby subject in general, especially if you are trying to explain to them where there baby sister or brother are coming from. We’ve been very open with my daughter throughout this pregnancy, but not open enough to tell her exactly how her baby sister will get here. And we don’t plan on it either. There will be no doll or demonstration in our house explaining how the baby will get here." If you're trying to explain to them where babies are coming from, how is it confusing that the baby comes out of the vagina? That the woman's vagina is designed to be able to expand for a baby to come out of it? So it's less complicated to keep your child ignorant and in the dark about how life works? I wonder what this mom will tell her child when she sees a dog humping another dog? "Oh, their just playing hunny."

LOL, That reminds me of a video:

Blog #1: Welcome to a Bloggy World Spring 2012

This is your first blog prompt. Read the entire entry and respond on your blog, print out a hard copy and bring to class. (Be sure your name and URL are on the copy you print out.)

It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.

And it's more than just thinking about issues, it's about challenging, questioning, analyzing and exploring issues. Breaking them down into pieces and examining each piece and how they work together to make a whole. Just like a business person or accountant would do with numbers, or how a biologist/chemist would do with cells/atoms and elements.

If this is your first time writing in a blog I challenge you to examine, question and analyze this idea of writing your thoughts or opinions on an internet blog as a journal. How does this make you feel? Uneasy, excited? Consider the fact that you have security settings that you can manipulate and that you are being required to do this for a class rather than a decision you have made on your own. Consider its purpose and who your audience is. Do you want for the whole world, or just for your teacher? What kind of style should you write in depending on that audience? Will you write in first or 3rd person, will you speak directly to an audience or not?

Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?

This isn't your first time blogging??

If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?

So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!

Farewell Fall 2011 ;(

Dear class,

It's finally over! The semester that is, because I'm sure that none of you are glad that we will not be spending any more class days together, right? :)

What a crazy semester!! And what crazy, obnoxious, engaging, entertaining, and awesome groups of classes I had this semester. I don't think any semester has been as lively as it has with all three of my classes than this one. And I'm grateful for that...it makes my job so much easier and fun.

Teaching is a passion for me. I love to do it, and, I feel that teaching chose me; not that I chose teaching as a profession. It doesn't come with much monetary gains, but it comes with huge personal fulfillment. Having the opportunity to teach, inform, mentor and get to know anywhere from 60-120 students a semester, from all walks of life, is a humbling and rewarding opportunity. At times I wish there was more time to get to know each of you better, but unfortunately those are the dynamics of college classes. I do however, pride myself in the fact that as a college instructor I try to get to know each of you as well as possible. I am a strong believer that a teachers job does not consist of simply teaching in a classroom and it's crucial for teachers to treat their students as individuals and not blank faces or numbers.

Over the course of the semester we have had great conversations and arguments (sometimes distractions), listened to each others' perspectives and learned from one another. My hope is that through those conversations, blogs, powerpoints, group activities and presentations that I have equipped you with the tools necessary to continue through your undergraduate studies as strong critical thinkers who are intrigued and enticed to ask question after question after question; because it is the questions that lead to research and research leads to solutions and new ideas.

As you have become critical thinkers, you have in turn become stronger writers, and we all know that you did a lot of writing , granted some more than others, (a lot that you may have felt was "pointless" or "busy work") but I have seen the growth and the development in all of you. Some of you simply becoming more refined, while others have improved tremendously using every opportunity to revise over and over again. I would like to think that most of you have walked away with a better appreciation for the art of writing and the art of rhetoric and the ability to persuade. Additionally, now that you know the techniques involved in argument, whether it be to persuade, inform or entertain, you can appreciate the importance of knowing who your audience is, what your purpose is, how to appeal to your audience through the use of logos, ethos and pathos, what kinds of claims can be used, and how not to commit a fallacy. Heck, even if it's just to convince your boy/girlfriend or mom/dad to do whatever it is you want them to do! LOL!

For this final blog I would like for you to write an entry describing your experience during this semester in class. Tell me what you learned, how you feel as a writer after taking this course, and what you would recommend that I do differently or better. Touch upon whether or not the expectations you had of yourself and myself at the beginning of the semester were met or not.

My final thoughts...if you see me around campus don't be afraid to say hello or think that I would have forgotten you. One of the greatest aspects of teaching college is bumping into a student over the years and witnessing their growth and change (this year the first classes I taught began graduating and I'm still in touch with many of them). If you ever need to get in touch with me for help or advice or a letter of recommendation, please feel free to ask (but remember that I won't lie, so make sure I'm the right person you want to ask!). Feel free to keep in touch via twitter or Facebook (look up Natasha Olivera, I have an account just for my students) and of course you can always follow my crazy mom stories on my blog stumblesthroughparenthood.com :)

In one way or another you have all touched my life and you will not be forgotten. I wish you all luck with your future endeavors and college experience and that you make the most of it and your potential (can you tell I'm a mom!? :) ).

Peace Out!
Natasha

Paterno: Where does the line of responsibility end?

In 2002, then Graduate Assistant Mike McQueary, walked into the locker room to find coach Jerry Sandusky raping a 10 year old boy in the shower. Mike walked away, sat on this info for the night and reported it the next day to Penn State's legendary and iconic coach, Joe Paterno who in turn sat on the information for another day and then reported it to athletic director Tim Curley stating that McQueary had seen Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy." Curley discussed it with Penn State's senior vice president of business and finance and "took" Sandusky's keys away. Not a single one of these men reported this incident to authorities such as the police or child welfare services.

Over the course of what could possibly have been 20 years, Sandusky committed heinous sexual acts on young boys and is currently being indicted by a grand jury on 40 counts:

"Former longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, known for his charitable work with at-risk children and for helping establish the school's "Linebacker U" reputation, faces 40 charges -- including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse -- in Centre County, in a scandal that has ended the 46-year tenure of football coach Joe Paterno.

The 40 charges against the 67-year-old Sandusky also include indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

Sandusky was arraigned Nov. 5 in Centre County court and later released on $100,000 unsecured bail."

As a result of this scandal, that has brought negative attention to the renowned university, an ever lengthening list of men have lost their prestigious positions at the university for failing to protect innocent children, including university president Graham Spanier and the most revered man of the university: Coach Joe Paterno. In the aftermath of the press conference held by the board of trustees announcing coach Paterno's immediate resignation, Penn State students reacted in disgust taking to the streets and chanting:

“Hell, no, Joe won’t go!”

“One more game!”

“F—k Sandusky!”

Things got so heated that students overturned a news crew van and even threw rocks at police officers, leaving many throughout the nation wondering how the position of one man and his career achievements for the university can overshadow the safety and protection of children.

Here's a brief synopsis of some of the allegations against Sandusky:

Victim 1: Said he was 11 or 12 when he met Sandusky in 2005 or 2006. Beginning in 2007, he said, Sandusky began inviting him to stay overnight at his home. In a basement bedroom, Sandusky kissed and fondled him, performed oral sex on him more than 20 times and made the boy reciprocate once.

Victim 2: In March 2002, graduate assistant Mike McQueary walked into a locker room one Friday night and heard rhythmic slapping sounds. He looked into the shower and saw a boy of about 10, with his hands up against the wall. A naked Sandusky was having intercourse with him. The assistant left. The next day, he reported the incident to Paterno. On Sunday, Paterno told Penn State athletic director Tim Curley that McQueary had seen Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy." Curley and Gary Schultz, Penn State's senior vice president of finance and business, talked to McQueary about 10 days later. About two weeks later, Curley told McQueary that Sandusky's keys to the locker room had been taken away. The grand jury said police and child welfare agencies were never notified, and the officials made no attempt to identify the boy.

Victim 3: Said he was between seventh and eighth grade in 2000 when he met Sandusky. He was invited to spend the night at Sandusky's house, where he said Sandusky repeatedly hugged him, gave him back rubs, blew on his stomach and, twice, fondled his genitals.

Victim 4: Said he was 12 or 13 in 1996 or 1997 when Sandusky began inviting him to spend the night. He described repeated acts of oral sex and fondling, and said Sandusky gave him dozens of gifts and guaranteed him he would be a walk-on player for Penn State.

Victim 5: Said he was 8 to 10 when Sandusky began inviting him to events in 1996-98. He said Sandusky showered with him, repeatedly hugged and touched him and forced the boy to fondle him.

Victim 6: Said he was 11 in 1998 when he went to work out with Sandusky. Afterward, Sandusky showered with him in a college locker room, hugging and washing him. The boy later told his mother, who reported it to university police. They investigated, but dropped the case after the Centre County District Attorney decided not to file charges.

Victim 7: Said he was about 10 when he met Sandusky in 1994. He also was invited to events, and said Sandusky hugged him, showered with him and tried to put his hands in the boy's pants.

Victim 8: In fall 2000, a Penn State janitor reported he saw Sandusky in a shower room, performing oral sex on a boy who was pinned against the wall. He told other janitors and a supervisor, but made no official report. The grand jury could not identify the boy.

This issue is raising a lot of questions about our responsibilities in regards to human rights and has some proposing a law that would require any individual to report to the authorities if they are witness to these types of acts, while some are wondering why this isn't a law in place already. It also puts into question the decisions and choices individuals will make in order to protect the reputation of a universities football program of which rakes in 40-50 million dollars a year or even their own job, for as low on the totem pole as it may be, as was seen with the janitor.

People are inherently resistant to change. It is easier to pretend a problem doesn't exist rather than face the grotesque nature of atrocities that are being committed such as this. And more often than not it isn't until something of this severity calls the attention of people to realize that something needs to change or something different must be done.

Sext Me Baby!!

Sexting. It's the easiest way to tease without the fear of embarrassment and/or possible rejection. It's fun, it's exciting, and everyone does it. Even teens.

But sexting can take on many forms, from ambiguous flirtatious comments to kinky messages and then of course there's full blown "here's a picture of my ....." fill in the blank.

But sharing pics or vids of sexual content is not something new. What is new, is the method in which they are shared today and it's been getting a lot of guys into trouble, particularly young men who are being faced with felony criminal charges of distribution of child pornography.

Yup, child pornography. What do you think of when you think of distribution of child pornography? Would you think that a 13 year old who gets a naked picture from his 13 year old girlfriend and then goes around and shows it to his friends who in turn take a picture of it with their phone and text message it to all their friends is considered child pornography?


Sending a picture to your boyfriend can be as innocent as the smile on your face, or as risque as a little sneak peak peep show. Whatever it is, there is an unspoken rule of courtesy that the sharing is being done between two individuals and no one else. This is an understanding that most adults comprehend and respect. But what about kids?

The new generation is being raised by technology with tech devices acting as attached limbs, but do they really understand the responsibilities and consequences that come along with the power of technology? And how can we expect parents to teach them when so many of them are afraid, weary or disinterested in learning the in's and out's of it themselves? Today, most kids are teaching their parents how to use technology.

No parent would expect their daughter to take a picture of them self half naked or naked never mind text message or email that picture to another boy. No parent would want to believe that they hadn't taught their daughter "right from wrong" or hadn't instilled enough self esteem or self confidence or values or morals or whatever you want to call it. But does it really have anything to do with that, when the boy you're in love with is asking you to show him a little sum' sum' and all you really want to do is put a smile on his face?

Then on the other hand, no parent expects their son to share indiscreet pics of a girl with all his buddies. No parent wants to believe that they haven't instilled the morals, beliefs, values, etc etc in their son and that instead of sharing he would simply delete the pic. And then BAM!

Handcuffs are being slapped on his wrists and he's being taken to jail for distribution of child pornography and will be forever labeled as a sex offender. Some cases in point include:

This January in Pennsylvania, 6 teenagers were charged. Three girls for creating child porn, and three boys (who it was sent to) for possessing it. In Texas, an eighth-grader actually spent a night in prison after his coach found a nude picture on his cell phone which had been sent by another student. In Wisconsin, a 17-year-old was charged with child pornography after posting naked pictures of his girlfriend, who is a year younger, on the internet. In Rochester, New York, a boy aged 16 faces seven years in jail for circulating an image of a girlfriend to friends.

A 15-year-old girl in Ohio and a 14-year-old girl in Michigan were charged with felonies for sending along nude images of themselves to classmates. Similar charges have been filed in cases in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, and Utah. Some may remember back to the case in Florida a few years ago where a teen couple took pictures of themselves nude, and engaged in “unspecified sexual behavior.” The police got involved somehow when one of the kids sent the photo to the other. They were tried in the courts and convicted for both production and distribution of child pornography, and the teenager who had received the image also had the charge of possession. It was taken to an appeals court, and they lost. The convictions stood.

The list could go on and on. So what exactly is the problem? Is there something wrong with the parents, the kids, technology or the law? Better yet, what's the solution? You tell me.

Side Note: Recently (in June) Florida passed a law making sexting illegal, banning teens from sending nude or racy pictures to each other. The first offense is a non-criminal violation punishable by eight hours of community service or a $60 fine. The second strike is a first-degree misdemeanor and on the third offense, sexting becomes a felony, carrying a maximum five-year prison sentence. In reality, this new law softens the punishment for teen offenders, who were being prosecuted under child porn laws and labeled as sex offenders.

What do you think of this new law?? Does the punishment fit the crime? Is it too lenient? Or should it even be considered a crime?

Safe Haven laws: Decriminalizing Parental Surrender of Children

Currently, in 50 of the United States, there exists some form of the "Safe Haven Law" otherwise known as the "Baby Moses Law". While every state treats the surrenders in different manners, the law provides parents a means to surrender their child and their responsibilities as parents in a "safe" manner by which the child becomes a ward of the state. Supporters claim that the law saves lives rather than mothers aborting, killing or discarding their just born infants but there also exists controversy over the definition of a "child" such as in Nebraska where a "child" is defined as anyone under the age of 18.

Watch this short clip:



If there exists a problem with mothers injuring and abandoning and even killing their just born infants, and this law has been around for almost ten years in most places, then why is more attention not brought to these safe haven laws? Did you know they existed? Do you know what the safe haven laws of Florida stipulate? Or is this notion of providing a safe place for mothers to drop off their babies or children immoral and should not be given any attention? If more attention is given to this "opportunity" would it produce more problems than good? Would it allow mothers the opportunity to do away with a "problem" they don't want to deal with hence they don't have to suffer the consequences of their irresponsible behavior? Isn't this the same argument made against abortions and birth control? What are your thoughts?

Blog #1: Welcome to a Bloggy World Fall 2011

This is your first blog prompt. Read the entire entry and respond on your blog, print out a hard copy and bring to class. (Be sure your name and URL are on the copy you print out.)

It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.

And it's more than just thinking about issues, it's about challenging, questioning, analyzing and exploring issues. Breaking them down into pieces and examining each piece and how they work together to make a whole. Just like a business person or accountant would do with numbers, or how a biologist/chemist would do with cells/atoms and elements.

If this is your first time writing in a blog I challenge you to examine, question and analyze this idea of writing your thoughts or opinions on an internet blog as a journal. How does this make you feel? Uneasy, excited? Consider the fact that you have security settings that you can manipulate and that you are being required to do this for a class rather than a decision you have made on your own. Consider its purpose and who your audience is. Do you want for the whole world, or just for your teacher? What kind of style should you write in depending on that audience? Will you write in first or 3rd person, will you speak directly to an audience or not?

Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?

This isn't your first time blogging??

If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?

So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!

Final Farewell to Summer 2011

Dear class,

It's finally over! The semester that is, because I'm sure that none of you are glad that we will not be spending any more class days together, right? :)

This semester went by far too quickly, I had forgotten how fast summer semesters are, particularly those that only meet twice a week. But we got through it, and for the most part pretty unscathed. Unfortunately, for me anyways, the semester did not allow me the opportunity to get to know many of you that well. :( Either way, having the opportunity to teach, inform, mentor and get to know anywhere from 30-120 students (depending on the semester), from all walks of life, is a humbling and rewarding opportunity. I am a strong believer that a teachers job does not consist of simply teaching in a classroom and it's crucial for teachers to treat their students as individuals and not blank faces or numbers.

Over the course of the semester we had conversations and arguments, listened to each others' perspectives and learned from one another. My hope is that through those conversations, blogs, powerpoints, group activities and presentations that I have equipped you with the tools necessary to continue through your undergraduate studies as strong critical thinkers who are intrigued and enticed to ask question after question after question; because it is the questions that lead to research and research leads to solutions and new ideas.

As you have become critical thinkers, you have in turn become stronger writers, and we all know that you did a lot of writing , granted some more than others, (a lot that you may have felt was "pointless" or "busy work") but I have seen the growth and the development in all of you. Some of you simply becoming more refined, while others improving dramatically. I would like to think that most of you have walked away with a better appreciation for the art of writing and the art of rhetoric and the ability to persuade. Additionally, now that you know the techniques involved in argument, whether it be to persuade, inform or entertain, you can appreciate the importance of knowing who your audience is, what your purpose is, how to appeal to your audience through the use of logos, ethos and pathos, what kinds of claims can be used, and how not to commit a fallacy.

For this final blog I would like for you to write an entry describing your experience during this semester in class. Tell me what you learned, how you feel as a writer after taking this course, and what you would recommend that I do differently or better. Touch upon whether or not the expectations you had of yourself and myself at the beginning of the semester were met or not.

My final thoughts...if you see me around campus don't be afraid to say hello or think that I would have forgotten you. One of the greatest aspects of teaching college is bumping into a student over the years and witnessing their growth and change (this year the first classes I taught are graduating and I'm still in touch with many of them). If you ever need to get in touch with me for help or advice or a letter of recommendation, please feel free to ask (but remember that I won't lie, so make sure I'm the right person you want to ask!). Feel free to keep in touch via twitter or Facebook (look up Natasha Olivera, I have an account just for my students) and you can always follow my crazy parenting stories on my blog stumblesthroughparenthood.com :)

In one way or another you have all touched my life and you will not be forgotten. I wish you all luck with your future endeavors and college experience and that you make the most of it and your potential. (can you tell I'm a mom!? :) )

With love,
Natasha

Neutrality Policy on Homosexuality?

In 2009 the Minnesota school district adopted a curriculum policy that bars teachers from taking a position on homosexuality in the classroom. It has come to be known as the "Neutrality Policy", and opponents of the policy claim that it's a censorship policy. Currently five students in Minnesota's Anoka-Hennepin School District are suing the district, alleging that the policy enables a hostile environment toward students who are either gay, or are perceived to be.

The official district policy, “Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy” (SOCP), reads as follows:

“Teaching about sexual orientation is not a part of the District adopted curriculum; rather, such matters are best addressed within individual family homes, churches, or community organizations. Anoka-Hennepin staff, in the course of their professional duties, shall remain neutral on matters regarding sexual orientation including but not limited to student led discussions. If and when staff address sexual orientation, it is important that staff do so in a respectful manner that is age-appropriate, factual, and pertinent to the relevant curriculum. Staff are encouraged to take into consideration individual student needs and refer students to the appropriate social worker or licensed school counselor.”

Using the skills and strategies that you have been learning this semester in deconstructing arguments, recognizing their strengths and weaknesses and why, as well as questioning critically any issue or topic to understand it from a multi-dimensional perspective, watch the interview conducted by Sanjay Gupta on CNN with Candy Kushman and Rosalind Wiseman and write a response on your blog.

School district's neutrality policy impacting bullying?

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/21/video-school-districts-neutrality-policy-impacting-bullying/

This post will be worth two grades, therefore, be sure to put all of the tools that you have learned to use and compose a strong response!!!

Hide Yo Kids, Hide Yo Wife: Deconstructing Public Verdit of Casey Anthony

When various news sources reported that Casey Anthony was found not guilty of the killing of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony, the general public went berserk. Those belonging to the “public court of opinions” were furious—many of them even arguing that Anthony carried as much guilt as O.J. Simpson did when it was ruled that the “jury must acquit if the glove don’t fit.”



People all over the United States took to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube and all other means of social networking to discuss their outrage. What about the smelly trunk? What about the fact that she was out partying, living “la bella vita,” while her poor two-year old Caylee went missing for 31 days? And what about the chloroform, the cover-ups, the fact that she doesn’t cry when they talk about how Caylee was killed? Our legal system has committed an injustice against us, everyone agreed.

Throughout all the frenzy of anger and outrage, though, it’s impossible to look at the many reactions and not recall times when people, very much like bloodthirsty savages, called for the heads of those they deemed guilty. We might as well still be living in the time of witch-hunts and guillotines, because even with 12 jurors and an entire state court system, most Americans find the verdict unacceptable. Even the media, with all its pundits, experts and lawyers, participates in encouraging the public to believe that Casey Anthony must have killed her child. We’re bombarded with headlines like “Was Justice Served?” and “Did the Casey Anthony Jury Get it Right?” With messages such as these, why wouldn’t we believe that the trial’s outcome was more than unfair?

Of course, there isn’t enough evidence to prove that Anthony did kill her daughter, or even that she didn’t kill her, that’s not the issue at hand. What is really of concern is that an entire nation has forgotten the laws that make our country work. What happened to the idea that people in this country are guilty until proven innocent? Would we rather convict people based on gut emotion and circumstantial evidence or uphold the legal system inspired by our forefathers, a legal system tweaked and tuned by democratic principles? Isn’t this the system WE believe in? Or is it that we have forgotten, because of all the chaos, that there exists a system that protects us from injustice?

What are your thoughts? Do you think the hyper-sensationalizing of this issue has duped us into accepting Casey Anthony as guilty because of the bad image they’ve painted of her? This is a good time to remember what we learned in class last Wednesday. Put those good skills to use!

Blog #1: Welcome to a Bloggy World Summer B 2011

(Be sure to read the entire post, and not just look at the picture.)

It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.

And it's more than just thinking about issues, it's about challenging, questioning, analyzing and exploring issues. Breaking them down into pieces and examining each piece and how they work together to make a whole. Just like a business person or accountant would do with numbers, or how a biologist/chemist would do with cells/atoms and elements.

If this is your first time writing in a blog I challenge you to examine, question and analyze this idea of writing your thoughts or opinions on an internet blog as a journal. How does this make you feel? Uneasy, excited? Consider the fact that you have security settings that you can manipulate and that you are being required to do this for a class rather than a decision you have made on your own. Consider its purpose and who your audience is. Do you want for the whole world, or just for your teacher? What kind of style should you write in depending on that audience? Will you write in first or 3rd person, will you speak directly to an audience or not?

Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?

This isn't your first time blogging??

If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?

So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!

Adieu Spring 2011

Dear class,

It's finally over! The semester that is, because I'm sure that none of you are glad that we will not be spending any more class days together, right? :)

I have to admit, this has been a rough semester. Not just for me but for many of you who have had to overcome some hurdles and obstacles this semester and struggle to keep getting through. I want to first thank all of you for being understanding of my own personal loss this semester and for all of the sincere condolences; it meant a lot to me.

Teaching is a passion for me. I love to do it, and, as I told one of you (Alexi), I feel teaching chose me, and not that I chose teaching as a profession. It doesn't come with much monetary gains, but it comes with huge personal fulfillment. Having the opportunity to teach, inform, mentor and get to know anywhere from 60-120 students a semester, from all walks of life, is a humbling and rewarding opportunity. At times I wish there were more time to get to know each of you better, but unfortunately those are the dynamics of college classes. I do however, pride myself in the fact that as a college instructor I try to get to know each of you as well as possible. I am a strong believer that a teachers job does not consist of simply teaching in a classroom and it's crucial for teachers to treat their students as individuals and not blank faces or numbers.

Over the course of the semester we have had great conversations and arguments (sometimes distractions), listened to each others' perspectives and learned from one another. My hope is that through those conversations, blogs, powerpoints, group activities and presentations that I have equipped you with the tools necessary to continue through your undergraduate studies as strong critical thinkers who are intrigued and enticed to ask question after question after question; because it is the questions that lead to research and research leads to solutions and new ideas.

As you have become critical thinkers, you have in turn become stronger writers, and we all know that you did a lot of writing , granted some more than others, (a lot that you may have felt was "pointless" or "busy work") but I have seen the growth and the development in all of you. Some of you simply becoming more refined, while others have made huge growth. I would like to think that most of you have walked away with a better appreciation for the art of writing and the art of rhetoric and the ability to persuade. Additionally, now that you know the techniques involved in argument, whether it be to persuade, inform or entertain, you can appreciate the importance of knowing who your audience is, what your purpose is, how to appeal to your audience through the use of logos, ethos and pathos, what kinds of claims can be used, and how not to commit a fallacy.

For this final blog I would like for you to write an entry describing your experience during this semester in class. Tell me what you learned, how you feel as a writer after taking this course, and what you would recommend that I do differently or better. Touch upon whether or not the expectations you had of yourself and myself at the beginning of the semester were met or not.

My final thoughts...if you see me around campus don't be afraid to say hello or think that I would have forgotten you. One of the greatest aspects of teaching college is bumping into a student over the years and witnessing their growth and change (this year the first classes I taught are graduating and I'm still in touch with many of them). If you ever need to get in touch with me for help or advice or a letter of recommendation, please feel free to ask (but remember that I won't lie, so make sure I'm the right person you want to ask!). Feel free to keep in touch via twitter or Facebook (look up Natasha Olivera, I have an account just for my students) and you can always follow my crazy mom stories on my blog stumblesthroughparenthood.com :)

In one way or another you have all touched my life and you will not be forgotten. I wish you all luck with your future endeavors and college experience and that you make the most of it and your potential. (can you tell I'm a mom!? :) )

With love,
Natasha

Shhh...you can't say the "n" word!

The "N" word is probably the most controversial word of our time and may even possibly have the most connotations of any other "label". The word has been deconstructed and reconstructed, has been silenced by some and has been voiced loudly by others, while prohibited to some, yet acceptable to others.

Writer Maya Angleou is offended by the word and any other pejorative term that has to do with dehumanizing or demeaning another human being. In an interview with the Academy of Achievement she said: "I will not sit in a group of black friends and hear racial pejoratives against whites. I will not hear "honky." I will not hear "Jap." I will not hear "kike." I will not hear "greaser." I will not hear "dago." I will not hear it. As soon as I hear it, I say, "Excuse me, I have to leave. Sorry." Or if it's in my home, I say, "You have to leave. I can't have that." And continues: "I know there are blacks who say, "I can use the N-word because I mean it endearingly." I don't believe that. I believe it is vulgar and dangerous, given from any mouth to any ear. I know that if poison is in a vial which says P-O-I-S-O-N and has a skull and the cross bones, that it is poison. But if you pour the same thing into Bavarian crystal it is still poison. So I think racism is vulgar any way you cut it."

Oprah is also known to vocally share this same perspective and challenged JayZ's use of it in his music. "When I hear the N-word, I still think about every black man who was lynched--and the N-word was the last thing he heard. So we'll just have to disagree about this," she told Jay-Z.

Jay-Z defended the use of the word in rap lyrics by saying: "It's just become part of the way we communicate. My generation hasn't had the same experience with that word that generations of people before us had. We weren't so close to the pain. So in our way, we disarmed the word. We took the fire pin out of the grenade."

Recently, though, the controversy of the word has been reignited when Mark Twain scholar and editor Alan Gribbin announced that a new version of Mark Twain's Huck Finn would omit the word 'nigger'. Gribbins defended his decision: "After a number of talks, I was sought out by local teachers, and to a person they said we would love to teach ('Tom Sawyer') and 'Huckleberry Finn,' but we feel we can't do it anymore. In the new classroom, it's really not acceptable." The word 'nigger', all 213 times, will be replaced by the word slave.

How do you feel about this? Should the book be changed? The language of the original text? Or should schools change their stance on banning the book? Listen to Whoopi Goldbergs thoughts on the issue.

(If you can't get the video to play directly from here then go to the link: http://theview.abc.go.com/video/hot-topics-n-word-mark-twain-classics)

Blog #2: Mom Arrested For School Choice Crime

On the 26th of January the media informed us of a mother who was arrested for manipulating the system by falsifying records and her home address in order to get her girls into a better school.

Watch the ABC clip here.

It is very likely that every one of you reading this right now knows someone who used someone elses address to get into the school of their choice, or perhaps your own parents did it for you. And it is highly likely, that most of you believe this is a ridiculous case. However, it is a crime, correct? And every crime has its punishment.

Mom, Kelly Williams-Bolar claims she did it to get her girls into a better school. Is this a justified claim? Are there not appropriate and legal ways of going about placing children in better schools? If everyone is doing this, then isn't it affecting the demographics and performance of certain schools? On the other hand, parents want their kids to be safe, and to get an education of books, not necessarily an education on misbehavior, crime and illegal activity. So what's wrong with doing what you gotta do for the best interest of your child's future?

More importantly, though, Bolar makes the claim that they went after her and prosecuted her to make an example of her. Do you think she's justified in her claim? Does she or can she provide evidence to support this claim? Or is it solely an assumption?

Other things to consider, would be the manner in which the Good Morning America news piece relayed the information to its viewers. How much information or context or background information are they failing to provide the audience with? How have the presented the piece to its viewers and skewed it in order to produce a certain reaction from the audience? Are you, as a viewer, comfortable with the amount of information they have relayed to you? Will you allow yourself to formulate an opinion on this issue solely based on this news piece or are you inclined to look for more information to formulate a more informed opinion?

Remember, things are not black and white. How many shades are there to this story that we aren't seeing?

Blog #1: Welcome to Blogging and Spring Semester 2011

It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.

And it's more than just thinking about issues, it's about challenging, questioning, analyzing and exploring issues. Breaking them down into pieces and examining each piece and how they work together to make a whole. Just like a business person or accountant would do with numbers, or how a biologist/chemist would do with cells/atoms and elements.

If this is your first time writing in a blog I challenge you to examine, question and analyze this idea of writing your thoughts or opinions on an internet blog as a journal. How does this make you feel? Uneasy, excited? Consider the fact that you have security settings that you can manipulate and that you are being required to do this for a class rather than a decision you have made on your own. Consider its purpose and who your audience is. Do you want for the whole world, or just for your teacher? What kind of style should you write in depending on that audience? Will you write in first or 3rd person, will you speak directly to an audience or not?

Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?

This isn't your first time blogging??

If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?

So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!

Farewell to Fall 2010

Dear class,

It's finally over! The semester that is, because I'm sure that none of you are glad that we will not be spending any more class days together, right? :)

Over the course of the semester we have had great conversations and arguments (sometimes distractions), listened to each others' perspectives and learned from one another. My hope is that through all those conversations, blogs, powerpoints, group activities and presentations I have equipped you all with the tools that you need in order to continue on with your undergraduate studies and be strong critical thinkers who are intrigued and enticed to ask question after question after question; because it is the questions that lead to research and research leads to solutions and new ideas.

As you have become critical thinkers, you have in turn become stronger writers, and we all know that you did a lot of writing, granted some more than others, but I have seen the growth and the development. Some of you simply becoming more refined, while others have made huge growth. I would like to think that most of you have walked away with a better appreciation for the art of writing and the art of rhetoric now that we have come to an end. Additionally, now that you know the techniques involved in argument, whether it be to persuade, inform or entertain, you can appreciate the importance of knowing who your audience is, what your purpose is, how to appeal to your audience through the use of logos, ethos and pathos, what kinds of claims can be used, and how not to commit a fallacy.

For this final blog I would like for you to write an entry describing your experience during this semester in class. Additionally, I would like for you to write about what you have learned, how you feel as a writer after taking this course, and what you would recommend that I could do differently or better. Touch upon whether or not the expectations you had of yourself and myself at the beginning of the semester were met or not.

My final thoughts...if you see me around campus don't be afraid to say hello or think that I would have forgotten you. One of the greatest aspects of teaching college is bumping into a student over the years and witnessing their growth and change. If you ever need to get in touch with me for help or advice or a letter of recommendation, please feel free to ask (but remember that I won't lie, so make sure I'm the right person you want to ask!). Feel free to keep in touch via twitter or Facebook and you can always follow my crazy mom stories on my blog stumblesthroughparenthood.com :)

In one way or another you have all touched my life and you will not be forgotten. I wish you all luck with your future endeavors and college experience and that you make the most of it and your potential. (can you tell I'm a mom!? :) )

With love,
Natasha

Solving Homelessness...?

In class we watched the first three parts of "On Skid Row" by Sam Slovick. His exploration into the issue of homelessness on Skid Row in L.A. gives us a peak into a world most of us would rather not know about (or at least we live comfortably not knowing about it).

Homelessness is a huge issue in the U.S. and with the housing epidemic over the last few years, a new community of homeless has surged in numbers: families. But homelessness is an issue that most people choose to ignore, that most people believe is unsolvable, that most people are apathetic to. Why? Because if they weren't ok with being homeless than they would do something about it. Right?

Perhaps it's not that black and white. Like any issue dealing with marginalization there are plenty shades of gray involved which ultimately make dealing with or solving the problem/issue twice as difficult. Needless to say, it is a challenge. However, consider the possibly that the problem of "fixing" the problem lies in that people believe it takes only one persons solution to fix a problem. One solution; one right way to do things.

This mentality was in part used after the oil spill in the gulf, and now with the rescuing of the 33 miners in Chile, the world zooms in on the collaborative efforts that Chile put together with several other nations in order to come up with a solution. Is there something to be learned in this problem solving strategy?

In the last two video parts of his documentary learn about two other solutions to the problem that Slovick learned about while living on and documenting the community on Skid Row. In your blog, discuss your reaction to the issue on Skid Row and what other possible solution could be looked at to help solve this issue; because at the end of the day, whether you realize it or not, or want to accept it, homelessness does affect all of our citizen's lives, particularly our pockets.


Good Magazine: Skid Row Part 4: God
Good Magazine: Skid Row Part 5: Afterword

If you want to see what happens to a child who grows up in these sorts of environments check out Brenda Ann Kenneally's "Back on the Block: Andy & Tata". Brenda is a Miami native who moved to NY pursuing a masters in Photography and in this piece she follows Andy over the course of several years documenting his life through photography & video recordings.

And if you're interested in the report by Anderson Cooper on Hospital Dumping, click here
and if you want to see what others like yourself have done check out Enoch Magazine and their crew of young documentarists and what they've been doing on Skid Row as well as with prostitutes.