A Big Bowl of Queso.

            You are probably wondering why I choose that title for my blog post.  The reason is because everyone describes America as a Melting Pot.  But I tend to think otherwise.  I like to think if America as a big bowl of queso.  Queso is a heterogeneous mixture, which is something I picked up from Chemistry.  A heterogeneous mixture is a mixture where you are able to see and determine all of its parts, like queso.  America is a heterogeneous mixture.  Many different ethnicities call America home.  You are able to see the diversity here in our nation.  African-American, Latino, Asian-American, Native American, we are all Americans.

            I work for a company notorious with diversity, Abercrombie & Fitch.  In the past, the company (as it is referred by its employees), faced many lawsuits for not employing more women and those of other ethnic backgrounds.  After these lawsuits, the company began to redo the hiring process.  Now each store has a quota as to how many people of different ethnic backgrounds are hired.  One of the most important questions in the interview for any position in the company is “What is your definition of diversity and is it important in the workplace?”    That is the question that will either guarantee you a place, or send you on your way.  It is the company’s goal to staff their stores with many employees of different backgrounds.  We should embrace this concept.  We should be open to accepting people from different backgrounds, and not judge and create assumptions of people until we get to know them better.

Education... needs improvement.

            I really enjoyed watching Waiting for Superman.  It caused me to think about what education I would like to provide my children, and it also caused me to look back on the education I received in a rural community.  I couldn’t help but feel angry, disappointed, and terribly sad while watching this film.

            I attended a rural school; my graduating class contained 55 students.  I never wondered what kind of education I was receiving.  But, if I recall correctly, there wasn’t really anything wrong with my district so my concerns were then calmed.  But, somewhere out there is “that teacher” who puts themselves before their students, and I just can’t stand that.

            I do feel that Magnet, Charter, and Private schools are a good alternative.  If you are able to place your child in one of these, I say go for it.  If your child has the capacity to achieve on this level, and the current school they are enrolled in isn’t meeting their needs, then you as their parent should do everything in your power to make sure your child receives the education they deserve.

            One of the largest goals in my life is to be able to send my children to a private school that has an outstanding reputation and is a place where I know without a doubt my child will succeed and receive the education they deserve.  I don’t agree with the “tracking” they do in public schools, and I don’t want to take the risk of having a teacher who doesn’t care about his/hers students and is just there to get a paycheck.

            I agree strongly with what Michelle Rhee tried to accomplish in the Washington D.C. school system.  However, the teachers were too shellfish and were only concerned about keeping their jobs and not keeping in mind the concerns for the students.  Being an educator means putting the needs of your students before your own.  This needs to be a code to which every educator abides by.

            The public education system in America needs major reform, and many tries have been made.  But, the system of Unions and contacts prevent us from changing anything.  Something needs to change, I don’t know how to change it, but it needs to happen.

Learning is Power... and unbalanced.

            A public education is something, in the United States, that is our right.  But, at the same time, it is also a legal mandate that we attend.  Public school districts are drawn by the state, and are based off of population.  Once the district is formed, it is up to the school board to determine what schools the students will attend.  In large districts, there are multiple elementary, intermediate, middle, and high schools.  What this means is that a certain neighborhood will fall under the zoning of one school, and other neighborhoods will fall under others.  There is an underlying problem with this system.  Let’s take a look at the one neighborhood.  This is where the “upper class” citizens call home.  You drive down the street and see beautiful homes with Range Rovers parked out front next to a perfectly green lawn.  (Please note that this is just an example).  One can take a wild guess as to what kind of public school (unless they are enrolled in a private school) they go to.  The school receives a large amount of funding.  The school has the latest technologies, such as iPads and Smart Boards.  They tend to employ teachers who have impressive degrees and come from somewhat similar neighborhoods as well.  These students are being prepared to become doctors, lawyers, politicians, and CEOs.  But, across town, is the other school.  This school serves the middle and lower class neighborhoods.  The school houses all of your average kids from average families.  This school doesn’t receive as much funding for things such as computers.  The faculty is counting down the days until retirement.  These students are being prepared to enter the workforce and other jobs of that nature.  As you can see, there is an imbalance in the public school system, an imbalance that needs to be addressed.

Good Ol' Rednecks

            I’m actually excited for our blog prompt this week.  I’m from a community that, according to urbandictionary.com, “will remind you that racism and bigotry are still strong in America when you see a confederate flag bumper sticker crookedly stuck to the back of a 90's style Ford Mustang.”  The way I perceive “rednecks” is not positive.  I believe that they are people who practice racism, and are very obnoxious about it.  I know that people of the upper class can be racist, but they handle it in a dignified manner.  The rednecks from Granbury are very vocal about their beliefs in racism.  You can see this through the bumper sticker display they have covering the tailgate of their truck, which is “jacked up” to an illegal height.  They are the people who talk with an extreme “hick” accent.  They also run around telling the world of their adventures of illegal hunting, or there trials in the rodeo.  The community is equally divided between rednecks, and the “normal people.”  The normal people keep to themselves, as do the rednecks.  There is very little interaction between the two social groups.  I know this a sad reality, but there will always be a divide in class in America.

Modern Family...

                I wonder how many people in our class support same sex marriage.  I think that is a very good question to ask.  In class we discuss the “Myth of a Model Family” and what our definition of a family is.  But I feel like we are dancing around the topic of homosexuality. 

In our copies of Rereading America, we have a copy of Proposition 8.  I necessarily don’t agree with what it is saying.  I feel that we should let same sex marriage be legal in the United States.  Are homosexuals causing harm to society?  We say we are “The Land of Freedom,” but we don’t allow our people to live as freely as they want to.  Sure you can take the religious route and say that homosexuality is a sin.  But, if it is their choice to live a life of sin, then all we can do is respect their choices and pray for them.  We can’t walk up to them and say “Being gay is a sin! You have to be straight!”  That is a very quick way to getting punched in the face.  I believe that if you are a Christian, no matter is you claim to be straight or gay, you will go to heaven.

I know at this point in your reading you are thinking “What is he going on about?”  All I have to say is read what is next.  The whole “Nuclear Family” concept is changing as society is changing.  In class we said that families need to have love and stability.  Who’s to say that a same sex family can’t provide these things?  They shouldn’t be denied the rights of any other family.  They deserve to live their version of “The American Dream.”  It’s not our job to judge those who choose to like their life the way they want to.  And it’s not our jobs to decide with the definition of a “Model Family” is.

My story isn’t a fantastic adventure filled with action, and it isn’t one filled with heartbreak either. My life is rather average, some might even say it’s boring.  But, despite this drab introduction, I will try to make my life seem rather appealing.

            I was born in Fort Worth Texas, and my younger sister was born two years after me.  We lived in Arlington until I was the age at which I was able to attend school.  At the time, Arlington wasn’t the safest place to put your kids in school. So we moved to Granbury.  At the time, Granbury was a small and safe town.  But as we all know, good things don’t last forever.  By the time I was in the third grade, Granbury had exploded in population and its schools became overcrowded.  In turn, my parents purchased a lot in the small neighbor town of Tolar and built a house.  My sister and I were enrolled in Tolar schools and ten years later I graduated from Tolar High School in a class of 54 students.   

            Let me change things up a little and tell you some random facts about myself.  I enjoy listening and dancing to my music selection, even in the car.  I love to run recreationally, not competitively and that story is for another day.  I have run a Half Marathon, and it is my personal goal to run a full Marathon.   I am not the most religious guy in the world, but I do believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and it is through him that I am saved.  One of the reasons that I chose OBU was for me to strengthen my relationship with God and to help me understand what he has planned for my life.  I have a wonderful girlfriend named Taylor; she studies Biochemistry here at OBU.  I was recruited by Abercrombie & Fitch or “The Company” as we associates call it, and worked at Hollister as an “In Store Model.”  I made many friends from my time there and I do plan on returning to the store to work over the summer break.

            I’m going to admit that I am not the best writer in the world.  I can write research papers pretty well. But the creative stuff, I’m dead in the water.  However, I am praying that this class will help me improve my writing skills and I am looking for to spending the semester with all of you.