i&i: Informed and Involved

The Government Curriculum: SIMPLIFIED!

Lorraine — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:46:40 +0000

The New York State Department of Education currently has a curriculum designed to teach the fundamentals of government to high school students. The curriculum gives suggestions of what teachers should teach, but it allows the individual teachers/ schools to decide which aspects of the curriculum the y would like to emphasize in the classrooms. There are three basic teaching methods the DOE suggests:

Issue-Based Approach
Community-Based Approach
Knowledge for Effective Citizenship Approach

The Issue-Based Approach focuses on research and problem analysis. Students identify an issue, research its background and history and the current scope of the issue then compare solutions for dealing with the specific public need. Ultimately, the students select the most feasible solution or combination of solutions.

The Community-Based Approach focuses on introducing real-world politics into the everyday lives of students. In this approach, the students may visit government offices, interview political figures and learn about the resources provided to them in their communities by government agencies. This approach includes:

Getting to know multiple communities.
Acquiring habits of participation.
Meeting role models.
Acquiring research skills.
Appreciating different perspectives.
Acquiring skills of negotiation.
Learning how to interact with people in public settings.
Reflecting on what counts.
Learning the ethics of research.

The Knowledge of Effective Citizenship Approach focuses on equipping students to be “Informed and Involved” citizens. Students work to answer questions concerning:

How to register to vote
How to vote
How to serve on a jury
When to pay taxes
When to register with the Selective Services System
How to protect one’s rights and exercise one’s responsibilities
How to learn more about issues facing the local and global communities

In my opinion, the government curriculum is designed to work the same way as our year-long Teagle Program. During the summer, we focused on theories, ideas and issues in politics. We discussed why certain ideas and theories would be conducive or detrimental to the efficacy of a community. Our program included all of the teaching approaches. We visited City Hall (city politics), the United Nations (global politics) and the Dwyer Cultural Center (local politics). These trips allowed us to observe and experience the everyday effects of these institutions. Through our project, we learned about the positions that politicians can be elected for as well as the importance of active citizenship. We also learned how to effectively communicate with public officials. In my opinion, the Teagle curriculum is the quintessential government curriculum.

Authored by Lorraine Njoki

U.S. Naturalization Test: Would you Pass?

teaglestudents — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:20:19 +0000

We’ve posted the U.S. Naturalization Test that Donahue found! You can find the link in our “Survey” page, or simply click here.

New York City’s Political Structure

rosyyperez — Sat, 08 May 2010 19:43:53 +0000

This chart called ‘The Voters Of The City Of New York Boroughs Of The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens And Staten Island’ is designed to show the public the structure of local politics. It is a very complex chart to read since there are branches after branches and positions I have never heard of before. Since this chart is so complex, I decided to break it up to find some way of explaining it. Although the Mayor is the big and main picture when it comes to local politics, the position collaborates with other departments such as Borough Presidents, Comptroller, Public Advocate, The Council All The District Attorneys and Independent Budget Office. I prefer to refer to this set as the primary set because these positions are made to make laws, to budget the City’s finance and to listen to our citizens to accommodate us. They branch out to other little positions that they are in charge of. The second set is where the departments are more direct with the public when it comes to serving the citizens. These positions are Deputy Mayor for Operations, Deputy Mayor For Economic Development, Deputy Mayor For Government Affairs, Press Secretary, First Deputy Mayor, Senior Advisor, Communications Director, Deputy Mayor For Education And Community Development, Deputy Mayor For Legal Affairs Mayor’s Counsel and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. These positions do branch out to other positions that make up these Departments. This section secures the citizen with education, health, safety and representation of the city.

Authored by Rosy Perez

Teagle Meets with Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott

sabreu1991 — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:06:57 +0000

Left to right: Shaun Abreu, Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, Donahue Hemmings.

We began this project in the hopes of educating and engaging the public in New York local politics. Our goal was to eventually build a program that could be integrated into the city-wide high school Social Studies curriculum.

We researched the existing city curriculum, we researched alternative curriculums, we met with curriculum writers and representatives from the New York City Department of Education.

But last week we were thrown a curve ball. New York City Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein announced that the Department of Teaching and Learning within the city Department of Education, the division responsible for the oversight of curriculum development and teacher training, would be dissolved.

What does it mean for Teagle? It means everything.

The Department of Education says that school principals will now have more say in what is taught inside the classrooms. The last time I visited the Board of Education, I was told that principals are expected to interpret and apply the guidelines set forth by the DOE. While this sounds like a reasonable means of meeting the educational needs of students city-wide, I couldn’t help but worry that this policy would leave out the cornerstone of a strong social studies curriculum. While I was certain most schools would encourage social studies teachers to review course material most likely to appear on Regents exams and SAT II Subject Tests, I had a feeling that local politics would get the shaft simply because state-wide and national exams are less likely to focus on the subject.

But just yesterday, Donahue and I had the opportunity to speak with the Deputy Mayor of Education and Community Development, Dennis Walcott. He made it clear that there will be other ways in which the curriculum is monitored, and that the shift in power was not absolute.

More importantly, he reminded us of the importance of pursuing our goals through multiple routes.

We were a bit nervous as we introduced ourselves to Deputy Mayor Walcott, but he greeted us with a genuine interest in who we were and what we were trying to do. And just like that, we felt at home at City Hall – like every citizen should. Mr. Walcott reaffirmed our right to engage with local leaders.

We’ll be posting the interview soon. I hope you enjoy it!

Authored by Shaun Abreu

The Power of the CORE!

golito14 — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:12:50 +0000

: The Surreal Circle

Picture a table surrounded with four prudent scholars effortlessly sparking concepts and translating, ideas and perceptions of worldly affairs. A meeting as the summit, of politicians speaking of grievances, concerns and of course solutions. These are the individuals who lead our nation; they speak, they understand and they solve. There is an invisible connection in these meetings and the electrical currents their minds emmit is not ceased because they are prudent, intelligent and most importantly well rounded individuals. Not once the discussions abruptly cease because these are the people we chose to lead our nations that from a central theme can offer ideas that express and never digress. Do we not seek a nation that can sit any citizen at a table and can effortlessly expand on a topic with the little knowledge they have, do we not seek those eloquent individuals that can respond and offer a point a view, do we not every single day strive to be the best? It all begins with a core curriculum that can enrich the future leaders of America, our students. A curriculum that can diversify their minds and challenge them from every single angle so that when they are challenged, now they, with a mere response of their masterful tongue can counterattack gracefully, eloquently and of course prudently.

What exactly is the NYC government core curriculum? That which New York City students are exposed to but seem so oblivious to it. A core curriculum is marked by the aggregate of courses of study given in an educational institution wherein all or some of the subjects or courses are based on a central theme in order to correlate the subjects and the theme. The New York City’s government core curriculum’s sole purpose in a nutshell is to “meet the needs and interest of the students” wherein “since the core curriculum represents a recommended course of study, teachers should read the entire core and then plan student learning activities that best address local requirements”. This core is nothing more than an alternate route to what is due to interpretation. A curriculum is supposed to have the elasticity to essentially adapt to clearly changing times and from what I have read it fails to do so. This curriculum is supposed to assist teachers rather than tell them and is not a concrete core thus leaving the young mind of NYC students to venture into a world far beyond their understanding. Ultimately, teachers are left to create the NYC curriculum and in all honesty, education’s core is the hands of the teachers wherein the core is to” teach what you know not what we have written down on this paper”.

Columbia University’s Core Curriculum however does quite the opposite. Offering courses mandatory for graduation this core drives rather than to remind the student, it serves to enrich the student. Columbia drives to prepare the student for the boundless encounters the individual is to experience in his or her life. Rather than teaching “Concentrated” math or science courses it teaches countless ideas, perceptions, thoughts, isms and ways that truly “diversifies” the student. This core creates an individual that is adapted to embrace change and be the best. This is what makes Columbia, Columbia and why this institution is so renowned for setting out into the world the most ideal individuals.

A stated before a core curriculum’s sole purpose is to enforce a concept or teaching for the betterment of the individual. However as our “Jay Leno Style” interviews in our schools and societies have suggested we have yet to reach the curriculum that graduates prudent, knowledgeable individuals in the concepts of our intricate government. How are we supposed to manage ourselves, understand and interpret a government we lack understanding of. Sometimes what we think is right is not and we pretend it works to avoid change. However, Sometimes enough is just not enough, when better is always available.

Authored By: Franchesco Martinez

Opportunity…There to Waste or There to Embrace

golito14 — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:49:26 +0000

Harold Ford Jr.

There have been days where I have sat down in retrospect as my friends and acquaintances quarreled over a government policy they objected. So I wondered why they complained of it now when months ago they had the power of vote, the power of a first amendment to speak freely. A time, that when hurt, they can be heard and scream, while in some countries individuals are barely let to breathe. What is the point of a democracy if we have choice but seal our voice? What is the point of capitalism where we are left to thrive, but individuals rather choose to cheat and lie. Sometimes I wonder, what is the point of being graced to live in America?

Last Month I was blessed to attend the 40^th annual Harlem YMCA’s 2010 National Salute to Black Achievers in Industry at the Marriot Marquis in New York City. Ambivalent to attend my intuitive forces spoke to me from the far reaches of my mind, and I could have not been anymore grateful to attend. Close to the ending of the ceremony a man came to the podium, quite renowned, and it was the great Harold Ford Jr. As he spoke, I was engulfed in his majestic words where he revolved around a central theme, Opportunity.

Harold, kept reminding us the achievers who were awarded stood there that day because individuals invested in them and they believed in them. We high school seniors stood because undoubtedly we had “Done more right than wrong”.

Harold was looking for speeches after his college graduation to expand his notions of perseverance to at least high school students and after much struggle his great friend found him 32… kinder garden graduations. Regardless, he followed through with them, and in his campaign to be in the House of Representatives he found a chance after taking an opportunity. After being denigrated on the radio during his campaign Harold was bound to lose but one then two then tens and hundreds of grandmothers called saying “I was not going to vote for him, until I heard him speak at my grandson/ granddaughter’s graduation and I loved him.” Harold soon shone where he was once was opaque because he took all the opportunities he was granted.

In America we are capitalist, hence, we are ambitious, we have dreams and we must embrace them before they flee. We, as a country are successful because we have used these entrepreneurial ways that have distinguished our economy. We must strive to defy the norms set upon race and cultures and get informed to be involved and cease what is thrown at us, because ultimately is not success we all dream for?

Authored By: Franchesco Martinez

Estoy aqui pero mi mente esta alla y no pierdo la esperanza de algun dia regrezar

weinstein12 — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:45:22 +0000

After 10 days in my maternal homeland of the Dominican Republic and on an airplane to the United States, I found myself drowned in thoughts of sadness and desires to be with my family. Especially knowing that when I arrive in the United States I will be confronted with schoolwork and little time to dream of this paradise. However when I spoke to many of my extended family members in a town called Villa Tapia, during my stay, many of them spoke to me of how I should feel happy to return to a land of opportunities, where I am able to accomplish any goal that I desire. I rebuked their response with tears. My closing remarks to my rebuttal was “El costo de la vida sube otra vez.” This Spanish phrase means the cost of living rises again.

Nothing in life is free. More important, nothing in life is guaranteed. With no guarantees and always paying for a way of life, it would be best to wonder: what way of life are you paying for? In New York, our Governor is one of the most despised governors in New York State history making drastic budget cuts, aiding close friends, and reaping the benefits of his position as governor. Moreover, Gay New Yorkers await for marriage rights that should be given since the opposing argument in such debates are grounded in religious beliefs; these beliefs should not constitute as a legal reason to not award the most famous gay community equal rights. Black Americans are threatened with losing their historic cultural center of Harlem, with and without Columbia’s expansion. From what I understand, I don’t pay taxes and my mother’s taxes does not go towards gentrification, unequal marriage rights, and politicians to belittle their esteemed position with a sense of entitlement. I hope when I get older I do not pay for these things. Don’t you wish to avoid paying for such things?

I ask you, my dear reader, not to take up a pen and sign a petition or go out and strike for the sake of raising your voice to express your anger over an issue. Instead, I ask of you to inform your neighbor of your life and lifestyles, to open your door and lend a dollar or two to a man or woman lacking food, and to spend your time with the elderly, hoping that in the future a similar favor might be returned. I feel that the major issue in American politics is not the laws that govern this land, but the morals of the politicians that carry out these laws. If America is to be a great nation then it must take a step forward by having its citizens treat each other as friends.

Columbia University Interview

vicelys — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:42:09 +0000

Yesterday Lorraine Njoki, Szeyin Lee, and I were at Columbia University interviewing people; trying to find out how much people know about politics. In our journey we encounter a number of diverse individuals. We interviewed people from high school seniors to senior citizens.

Having the recorder, the microphone, and the camera gave us the opportunity of having a higher number of individuals who were more enthusiastic to get interview by us. There were a lot of individuals that got very excited when they saw all the technology that we had. I remember that when we first started, we were trying to get somebody to ask the questions; As we were walking a male came up to us and was looking at us with an expression of his face that said “can I get interviewed?” therefore we interviewed him. On the other hand, there were some people who told us “no” and others said “am late to class” or “am in a rush.”

We interviewed not only students from Columbia University but student from Barnard College and some high school seniors. We also obtained the knowledge of residents, whom in one way or another had an interaction with Columbia University.

By Vicelys Gonzalez

Local Politics: Smells Like Teen Spirit?

weitingchen — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:29:08 +0000

A very interesting article Local Politics: Smells Like Teen Spirit? written by a freshman at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on March 28, 2010 describe teenage lack the knowledge about local politic. This freshman starts his article off writing about how he can name all of Maryland’s Congressmen and people in Obama’s cabinet but he does not know anything about local politic. Like all others, he refused to vote on certain elections, not because of anything but he simply has not knowledge of them. This freshman thinks that teens would care less about politic especially local politics because they think it is boring. The reason he give is “Local politics lacks the controversy and scandals that, depending on your opinion, plague or enliven national politics.”

Most issues that teens care about are: the drinking age, health care, environment, and the legalization of marijuana. All these issues are mainly national basics. However, teens are wrong. In an ideal nation, we should care about local politic more than nation politics because local are what’s affect us the most. Local politics determines funding for the public schools we attend, maintenance for the roads we drive on, and taxes that we have to pay. A lot teens are mislead by the idea of local politic. To improve this lack knowledge in common teens this freshman suggests putting more politic issues and idea on facebook. I think this could be a great idea since most people uses Facebook often.

Author: WeiTing Chen

U.S. students can count but can’t read?

zszez — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:21:20 +0000

From the results released Wednesday from the largest nationwide reading test, American students have made little progress in reading proficiency, compared to the increase of improvement in math skills. Eighth graders scored 264 on a 500-point scale in reading, compared with 263 in 2007. Fourth graders scored 221 on the 2009 test, the same average as two years earlier.

Why Why Why?

“In seeking to explain the lagging reading scores, some experts point to declines in the amount of reading children do for pleasure as they devote more free time to surfing the Internet, texting on cellphones or watching television. Others blame undemanding curriculums. ” NY Times

So it’s facebook’s fault? The teacher’s fault? Maybe it’s parents’ fault? Or…all of them?

BUT we have to remember that America is a diverse country. Many immigrants from India and China and other countries move to America every year, while their English proficiency is lacking, they might already learned some advance math skills in their homeland.

Back on the topic.

I don’t think the usage of internet is causing the problem. On the other hand, I think it gives easy access to books and readings (Don’t tell me you never use Google Books!) Students can just sit at home and enjoy reading a variety of genres. The important part is getting children comfortable with the resources they have and teach them to use it to benefit themselves. Instead of blaming on the Internet, why can’t teachers use it as a tool to learn? There much more things you can do than playing Maple Story and watching youtube videos online. (For instance, blogging would be a nice place to start, children can keep an online journal!)

Curriculum’s fault? Every school has their own curriculum. In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg has given principals a greater degree of freedom to utilize their given budget and make decisions about the curriculum. However, if there are different curriculum being taught in different schools, why are results still the same? Would Obama’s proposal of a national standards in education help?

Just wondering…..

By Szeyin Lee