Prop 30

http://defeat30.com/

http://cavotes.org/vote/election/2012/november/6/ballot-measure/temporary-taxes-fund-education-guaranteed-local-public-safety-funding

Readers Response

In Idiot Nation, Michael Moore, focuses on American Education. The author mentions many defects in the Education System, that a high percent of Americans cannot read beyond a fourth-grade level, that corporations like "Coke" have taken over American classrooms. Sponsoring the schools for funds but in return that these big corporations, worth millions of dollars, sell their product on school campuses. Sold to over a thousand teens nation wide and only a slight percent of the money raised, which is still a sufficient load of money, goes to the school for maintenance or other materials needed to keep school in session and running properly. Also, he refers to our nations leaders in the legislature who refuse to fund the schools, hold teachers accountable for students education. But they do not take into account that the material and literature being taught is out dated and does not flow with former issues being taught in up to date facilities that have the proper funding. The politicians according to Moore are illiterate themselves, he gives many examples of high ranking officials; for example he mentions how an ambassador failed to name the country's prime minister and capital in a Senate confirmation hearing, "Not a problem" he was admitted either way. I would imagine that our nations leaders would give more attention to education because our "kids are our future leaders of tomorrow",so they say when they step in front of a camera or in an interview regarding education. So I feel that it would make sense to them to give American classrooms the proper sources to properly inform, teach, the students that in the mere future will be taking over their positions, doing the same line of work there doing now.

Week One

The poem " Para Teresa" by Inez Hernandez-Avila was written in both Spanish and English because she was a Latina female in Texas around the time of the Alamo in 1947. Also, the name of her school, the " Alamo" at the time when she was in sixth grade gives a clue of why she wrote the poem in the two languages, and some has to do with the history of the Battle of the Alamo. Prior to the Battle of the Alamo, Texas was a territory of the southern country, Mexico. Latinos at the time where known to speak Spanish, but when the battle began, some Texans where left to decide between rebelling against the troops of Mexico or joining the Texans in there rebellion. Those descendants who where bred in the new America after the battle took place had to adapt to a different kind of system. Education being one of the many, like Hernandez-Avila attended class learning English, grammar and writing, but when the author and her classmates got home from a day at school, they would practice there native language Spanish. So when she wrote the poem a couple years later, her background reflected that Avila showed emotion from my point of view in writing in both languages showing her pride in her culture. Other reasons why I think she might have wrote the poem in two languages is in the name of the title " Para Teresa" meaning, for Teresa. Inez Hernandez-Avila describes Teresa to be "Pachuca" (Zoot-Suit), to have teased black hair with a hint of red, wearing red lipstick and petticoats in the poem. At the time Zoot-suiters where identified as Mexican-American in a different class between civilians and United States servicemen. Pachucos' where relatively known as juvenile gangs. Gangs from my perspective have a character when speaking. They speak in combination of both English and Spanish, Spanglish, which was why I also thought that Inez wrote it in both languages, she wanted to reach out to her culture and to appeal to a larger audience than that of her roots.

I am and gifts

I am optimistic about many things. It is a virtue but can also be a bad trait that I have because not always seeing both sides of the conflict can help me out in a sense that I am making the right choices. I question myself about many things, even the smallest of issues can take me away from reality to try and unfold the problem. Although I challenge my own thoughts at times, I am focused on what I want to accomplish. My goals are clear to me and thats what matters most, but my family is above all. I am the man to this day in light of the way I was raised, incidents I have been through, and shit that I have seen that has shaped me to have an open mind; to accept the way things are and live day by day. Also, I am a fairly easy person to get along with, I am not much of a talker I mostly observe my surroundings, speak when I have to, but when I do sometimes I say more than I should on certain topics. Many of the gifts that I could bring to the classroom are being helpful, respectful, participate –rarely, mostly when no one will volunteer I will step-up.– An aptitude about me is I play football for cabrillo, and I am bi-lingual I speak both Spanish and English.