My name is David Daymude (one of those rare surnames that occurs less than 1 in 3 million when you try to search for it on genealogy sites) and I am originally from here and there. My father was in the Air Force when I was a kid - which meant that I was also in the Air Force - as a dependent. I was born in Everett, WA and lived there until I was 2 or so. I have also lived in Alexandria, VA (just across the Potomac River from Washington DC); Alconbury AFB, England; Lakenheath AFB, England and Vandenberg AFB in California. Those were just my elementary school years! I went to high school in Santa Barbara. I have also attended eight colleges: UCSB, Santa Barbara City College, National University, Alan Hancock College, Miracosta College, Palomar College, CSULB, and I just acquired my bachelor’s in Social Science from CSUSM. I will be in the teacher-credentialing program in the fall. So, yes, I have been here and there, but mostly there.
In terms of technology, I am somewhat competent with technology, but times have changed faster than I have and I am currently in a learning curve to catch up. In the early 1980s I was cutting edge! LOL. Yeah, I know, that’s the dark ages in terms of technology. I am absolutely a Mac person. I use a Power PC G4 running 10.4. I hate the new Microsoft Office suite (and Microsoft products in general) and use Office 2004 for Mac. I depend on technology daily (as everyone does) and use texting, IM-ing and email almost daily. CSUSM has given me beginners experience with Excel and PowerPoint. I have a fair knowledge of the workings of the web and I crawl there daily for news and just plain peeking into corners.
The COE Mission Statement has a section stating that the school is committed to social justice. Although this is a highly worthy statement and goal, I find it difficult to see how public schooling, which is certainly the most politicized institution in any nation, can be very effective in achieving this goal. Our nation is founded and holds dearly to the notion of individual freedoms and rights and many, many parents will fight tooth-and-nail for the “maintaining” of “social standards” and other notions of conservative thought processes that are antithetical to this notion of justice for all. Many parents believe that justice is only for them, their children and others that think and look like them. For them, conservative “standards” must be maintained or reverted back to, and that notions of social justice are but a loosening of standards and the bane of civilized society and the “American way of life”. So, although I personally may agree with the notion of social justice as a goal, to put it in a mission statement of a public higher learning institution seems to be somewhat overly idealistic. The COE mission statement was not a factor in my decision to apply to CSUSM, but it is certainly a grand set of worthy goals to try to achieve—even if they are pie-in-the-sky idealistic goals.
I agree that the idea of social justice is an ideal, but I do think that as teachers we can at least give the children of the parents you speak of another alternative to this conservative way of thinking. Maybe we can't influence every child, but I think we can influence at least some toward this ideal of social justice and equality.
ReplyDeleteWell put. One of the reasons I am going into teaching is that a multicultural and inclusive outlook is certainly one of my goals. I suppose my original comment may seem a bit critical, but I think my reasoning for the statement was to try to put this idealistic goal into a perspective of a real-world political power structure that is very resistive to change. i know the goals are lofty, but that is why we strive for them...because we seek change for the better.
ReplyDeleteI feel where you're coming from with social justice. Its a lofty goal and a great ideal to to try to live up to, but as of right now the idea of social justice in our public schools almost seems like a joke. Our public schools system is floundering in the urban a rural school districts and there is no social justice. The wealthy get a high level of education because of the money the community can invest in their schools while those in urban and rural districts are left with the scraps of the public education budget. Hopefully we can be a part of the generation of teachers that changes this situation.
ReplyDeleteI am majoring in Social Science too, what was your primary and secondary fields?
ReplyDeletethis is only a test
ReplyDeleteI'm kinda torn between both sides. Like I said in my blogg, my parents enrolled me in Private High school because the public school I was attending was primarly populated with students from Mexico. Beacuse my maiden last name is from the spanish/mexican descend, "Pantoja" the school district automatically put me in a spanish speaking class throughout my elementary school years. My parents had no idea, and the damage was done. This really put me back in my english and grammar skills as well as math. I feel that I was lucky to have parents that worked hard to pay my way for private school. Is it fair that the lower class students get the crappy public schools? Is it fair that my parents had to dish out two grand a month to make sure I was receiving proper education? No, but either way you look at it someone gets left out. Maybe that's why it's important for parents to really prepare themselves financially before having kids so you dont have to depend on any public system. But on another note...I'm jealous you went to high school in Santa Barbara. My husband took me there for the first time about 2 1/2 years ago. It was so gorgeous that we decided to get married there Oct. 6, 2007 at the Mission. It was awesome!!!
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