" A Hero to English"

After viewing Stand and Deliver and The Freedom Writers I have discovered that there is one teacher in Lindenwold High School that I can relate as being like the teachers in the Stand and Deliver and the Freedom Writers. His name is Larry Abrams; he is an extraordinary English teacher at Lindenwold High school. Many may not know him, but this teacher makes me want to read the courier post every chance I can, especially Saturday morning.
I might never meet Jaime Escalante from Stand and Deliver, but I have the amazing chance to have Mr. Abrams as a teacher. Everyday I can't wait to get to 8th period and learn something new from him.I can go on and on writing about him on how he has used literature to make me a better student. From appreciating Shakespeare and making connections, every time he grades a paper I wait impatiently just so I can read his comments. His comments always mean the world to me, and from my errors, I always try to better them. One thing I really have to work on is on making commas my friends. I really appreciate everything Mr. Abrams does for his students and the school. Mrs. Bubb should be very lucky to have an English teacher like him in her department.
Every year the school chooses a teacher of the year, but I believe if the students picked the teacher it would be more valuable. So if I had the chance to pick someone for teacher of the year it would definitely be Mr. Abrams. I really admire him and hope that one day I can reflect on his teaching.

"The Price Of Going To Class"

"One morning last November, 17-year-old Shamsia Husseini and her sister were walking through the muddy streets of Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, to the local girls school. A man pulled alongside them on a motorcycle and posed what seemed like an ordinary question: "Are you going to school?"
Then the man sprayed Shamsia's face with what appeared to be battery acid."(New York Times)

This whole story brings sadness to my heart. How can there be cruel men out there that feel that it's okay to do this? In my opinion I feel that girls having education threatens them. They know that if they put a pencil and a book in front of us women, we can do many things, but most importantly be independent. With education we can go far and accomplish many things. If given the chance I know these girls have the potential to become teachers, doctors or lawyers. I am very happy that their parents are not letting them give up on school, but are persuading them on not giving up on school. My personal advice for them is to keep working hard, and that this obstacle that they face in such adversity.

"Stand and Deliver"

Another great movie that I enjoy watching, and that is very inspiring is Stand and Deliver. Mr.Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a Hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to try and turn gang members and hopeless adolescents into some of the country's top algebra and calculus students.
What brings more inspiration to me about this story is how the students were bold and determined to prove The Educational Testing Service that their testing scores where right, and that they did not cheat.

This movie also brings concerns to me because maybe this school may not be teaching students to their pontential. We need to get rid of those incommensurate teachers, and get more teachers who care about students, and want to get the best out of every student.

Lastly, what I love about this teacher is that he is able to transform even the most troublesome teens into dedicated students who are ready to learn. I believe that if teachers in Lindenwold get more passion and determination, they can change the lives of many students. This teacher did it. Why can't others do the same as he?!

Freedom Writers

One movie that I really enjoy watching is The Freedom Writers, just the passion and inspiration a teacher can have in a couple of students is incredible. What makes this teacher really special, is that she is not there for the salary, but to make the students motivate themselves. She is always going the extra mile in helping the students learn in different ways. In addition, even when everyone turned their back on her, she kept fighting to achieve her goal and making the students understand that if they put all their effort and dedication they can accomplish anything they wanted in life. It's amazing how she made education fun and at the same time use their writing to change themselves and the whole world around them. All I hope is that at the end I can reflect on her motivation,determination and passion.

"A hero to education"

Colombian singer Shakira inaugurates school in Barranquilla

Yesterday, I read an article on how Shakira has established a school in Barranquilla, Colombia. This school will allow more than 5,000 children to have a better education.

Shakira has helped fund a school in Colombia for children displaced by guerrilla violence. Shakira said that her Bare Feet Foundation works to break "the myth that quality education is the privilege of the few". It amazes me how just one person can change the lives of many. Shakira also wants to grab the goverment's attention, and persuade them to help create better education programs.

She inspires me to become a better person, and work harder to help those that lack education. I might not build a school, but I hope that I can help under privileged children better their education.

http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/culture/2785-shakira-inaugurates-barranquilla-school.html

Freshman Students

I can't believe how the third quarter has already begun, and my freshman are still whiners. For their midterm, they are supposed to choose a hometown hero in Lindenwold. I just can't believe that in order for them to make a powerpoint for their presentation, and interview their hometown hero, they need me there for everything. They're completely lazy. All I hear is " Tomasa can you help on this and that?" Some times I ask myself how are they going to make it through school, but then I step out of my anger, and try to understand them. In addition, I try to persuade them to motivate themselves, and realize that they are the key to their own success. I try to observe all of these obstacles that cross my path so that in the future I can use and apply it in my future inculcation of students.

Bible Club Meeting

Yesterday was our fifth meeting for the bible club. Overall, we had an awesome time, and had a total of 18 students attending the club. We received our bibles and binders where we are going to be writing our notes on lessons we learn. As the president of the club, I really felt happy about the outcome, and understand that the posters and activities that I do are not in vain. I am reaching out to students. Also, I am very gratified by all the help I am getting from Mr. Snyder by letting the Bible Club use his room, and Mrs. Clark for staying after school to supervise the club. The topic we are now doing is hope, and realizing that there is hope because we have God. So for anyone out there that has given up on hope, I encourage you to come to the Bible Club and listen to the gospel about hope. I know that anyone that comes will get a blessing from it.

superhero

If I could have any superpower, it would be speed. For some reason, I have always had a hard time getting on time to places. Last week on Wednesday, I arrived very late to the meeting for Senior Project. I thought to myself that when I become a teacher, I can't come to work at whatever time I want. If I do that, my future students are going to be in a classroom without a teacher. I have to take my job very seriously, and compromise for any future meetings I might have. Speed would definitely make my life easier as a whole.

What Power would you want?