"Issues of Language, Literacy, and Power"

In this reading, the writer made some very noteworthy and obvious points about literacy in children of poverty. I strongly agreed with her thesis, that the reason most students are struggling with literacy is the result of a lack of experience to reading and writing. This mad a lot of sense to me being a future physical educator. For example, say we are starting a new lesson on baseball. Some students in the class may have previous exposure to baseball through little league, and will grasp the skills much faster. Whereas a student with no experience in baseball will have very little skills if none in the game. The reason they aren't capable of performing the skills isn't because the have a deficint or completely uncoordinated, it's because they have had little or no expereince in that sport. That is completely parallel to what the writer in the article was saying about Donnie.
Also, in the article on page fourteen, there is a italicized statement that states "children of povery are learners,have been learning since birth,are ready to learn any time, and will learn." This to me is a very powerful statement that all teachers need to internalize, but not just only for students of poverty, all students. I feel strongly about this because going through school i've seen classmates who had the potential to succeed, but slipped through the cracks. We as teachers need to realize its our duty to ensure success in the classroom and put our preconcieved notions behind us. When it came to the part in the story where the teachers had no concern for the students predicament and wouldn't act apon it, it really spoke to me and planted a seed in my head to never underestimate a students potential because of their background or lack of skill or knowledge.

WV question responses

1. Have you experienced prejudice or negative stereotyping because you are a West Virginian? Have you experienced positive reactions?
Yes, I have exoerienced negative stereotyping because I'm a West Virginian, and I'm sure anyone who have visited other states or perhaps talked to someone from another state has experienced it too. I've heard the old "do you where shoes" question a few times before, along with all the incest slanders about West Virginia. When I hear remarks like that I just laugh, or make a joke about it. On a brighter note, I have heard more positive reactions from people than negative. I've talked to people from out of state on this campus, who say the people here are so much nicer or down to earth than from back home. Also they talk about how they like the laid back lifestyle and the beautiful landscapes of West Virginia. Whenever you hear positive responses like that, it definitely makes you proud to be a West Virginian.

2. Some feel that there is a dark part of the West Virginia psyche due to the exploition, the rugged life, poverty, or some say, life in dark hollows. Do you see truth to this?
No matter what state your in this country, or part of the world, the fact of the matter is there is going to be dark parts, that's just how it is. We've akk heard of Jesco White and his family. There have been documentaries on them and a movie was recently made about them that exposes their wild and crazy rebel attitudes. This could be another way to exploit people of West Virginia, but things like that you take with a grain of salt. I've also heard personal experiences from professors giving examples of things us future teachers will see in the workplace, such as people who live in homes with dirt floors and without running water in their home, along with astonishingly unsanitatry living conditions. Another professor said in a school not 45 minutes from Fairmont, there are kids that actually are born as a result of incest. They explained that the family lives in a holler, and they don't leave it, and do not welcome outsiders. I also have been through areas of the state where I have seen places of poverty and grave living conditions. So yes, I do see a little truth that there is a dark part, but not as extreme as some make it out to be. Like I said though, West Virginia is not the only state with dark areas.