To be changed by ideas was pure pleasure. But to learn ideas that ran counter to values and beliefs learned at home was to place oneself at risk, to enter the danger zone. Home was the place where I was forced to conform to someone else’s image of who and what I should be. School was the place where I could forget that self and, through ideas, reinvent myself. (hooks 1994 p3). Read this article about the perspectives of scholar and community leader, bell hooks. Barry Burke assesses the contribution that bell hooks has made to thinking about education and sets this within the context of her biography and work.
Write a short summary and analysis based on the prompts below.
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86 Comments
Elena Saldivar
1/20/2016 12:15:03 pm
Two perspectives that I learned from Bell Hook that can relate to what I have learned in the class room is the idea of teachers needing to help students grow in there thinking, and her idea of the learning process is a tool into helping students expand there minds. Two experiences that I had though my education is mostly that the teachers are there to help in any way possible to help you pass the class and give you advise for life. The second is that some teachers are there because they want to be there and want to help the next generation to students achieve there goals or there dream job. These two experiences through my education help me a lot in knowing that it is ok to go and get help from your teacher if you are struggling in the classroom or need clarification. This what I have really learned though my education. Now if these experiences are political, I say they are not at all. The reason why they are not is that this is more of what I believe teachers are here for. To me there are just those teachers that you can connect with and they can be someone that a student can talk to both academic and personally. But they are here to help students in any way to see the student graduate and knowing that the teacher has had a hand in helping the student get prepared for collage and the adult world.
Melissa Nevarez
1/21/2016 05:35:27 pm
I agree that teachers really do care about their students and want to continue on teaching the next generation. That's why they let the students know there are tutoring hours if they are struggling. In any way possible they help no matter what. No teacher wants to see a student fail.
Andrew Luft
1/23/2016 06:21:36 pm
In my experience, and I’ll assume everybody else’s as well, that not all teachers are really there to help their students. I have for example had a professor for an English class that gave almost no constructive feedback when I turned in my essays and would just grade very harshly. With teachers like that I hardly remember any of the subject material and as such consider it very close to wasted time. On the other hand, those special few teachers who truly care about their students on an individual basis and express a genuine sincerity are the ones that not only help us in the classroom, but in life altogether.
Yunlin Xie
1/23/2016 11:09:37 pm
I agree that not all teachers are so responsible. I believe most teachers are very responsible, there might be other reasons except his deep love for this career. In my country, students' scores or the numbers of students can be admitted by a famous university or high school have lots of relation to do with teachers. Such as bonus, titles, or reputation. .
Yunlin Xie
1/23/2016 09:34:14 pm
I quite agree on the two experience you said. After being in America for two years, I do feel American teachers will decide to be teachers because they love this career. I feel I am so lucky to have the chance to be here. Teacher is a critical component of education system. This may be why there will be so many parents all over the world wanting to send their children to study in America.
Trevor Davies
1/24/2016 12:49:08 pm
I agree that it’s not entirely up to the teacher if you pass or fail the class. It is all about the effort you have put in. I have learned this first hand that it is important not to blame the teachers for your mistakes of not putting in the time. The teachers, I’m sure, care about your progress and abilities of their students but the same respect should go both ways.
Chrissy Bishop
1/24/2016 07:07:40 pm
I'm not the only one here that agrees with you about teachers being passionate not only about what they are teaching but also their students. Its almost kind of rare to find a teacher who sees eye to eye with the students. Unless we are taking about Craine.
George Boxberger
1/24/2016 11:54:28 pm
Teachers are an important resource for students who wish to learn more, or do better in their current curriculum. Our education system needs significant reform, in order to achieve Hook's goal.
Eskarletl Ruiz
1/20/2016 09:59:12 pm
Bell Hooks is a women who became a teacher against all the odds. She had wonderful teachers that helped her realize that she wanted to become a teacher and writer. Two aspects of Hooks perspectives that relate to what I've learned in class is the learned process and how teachers must simply not teach to spread information, but to spread intellectual and spiritual knowledge. The other aspect is holistic education where teachers must put themselves in the place of the student to fully empower them. One example of an educational experience is having the teacher repeatedly remind me that they were once in my place before. It really helped make them more relatable to me, and when they became relatable I took their advice more to heart. Another example is teachers being always available and invested in students academic career. I never had to, but many of my old teachers always gave extensions to papers if needed and became personally involved. By doing that, they made the student actually try harder because they showed that they are worth the attention. When someone honestly believe you can achieve greatness, it really helps motivational-wise to get to your goal. Because of this, I believe that it can be related to politics because you need to become personally involved with politics to develop feeling that will make you want to try harder to achieve something politically. Also when people believe in you it gives a person in politics that same empowerment feeling.
Amit Waissman
1/21/2016 11:12:56 pm
I like how you brought up that you had a teacher that reminded you that they were once in your place, since I agree that that is a powerful thing to do since it makes students feel less alone, and be able to know that they truly can succeed. I also agree that teachers just need to keep their students success close to them, and doing things like extending deadlines is worth it if it means you can spark an intellectual light in a student
Trevor Davies
1/24/2016 12:50:24 pm
What teachers can give to students is an incredible gift of education and experience. In a perfect world we wouldn’t have 50 students to 1 teacher. But because we do it’s important that the students keep their head up high and know that their not alone. Seeking help from a teacher or tutor will empower you to succeed in this crazy world we live in.
Justine Calso
1/24/2016 08:20:06 pm
I can relate to your experience of a teacher saying they were once in your place. A few of my teachers became teachers because they wanted to change the system. They didn't want to teach, just to teach. They wanted to teach to make a difference in the education system. It was those teachers who helped their students and went above and beyond in helping us learn the material.
Justine Calso
1/20/2016 10:46:05 pm
Bell Hooks really enjoyed school. From a young age, she realized that what our family wants us to pursue as a career, can greatly differ from what we actually want to do. She was greatly influenced as a young girl, to absorb as much knowledge as she could from her enthusiastic teachers. However, once she transferred to an integrated school, she realized that being too eager to learn could be a dangerous thing. She picked up on to challenge white authority would land you in trouble. She got her bachelor’s degree from Stanford, master’s degree from Wisconsin, and her PhD from UC Santa Cruz. From there, she became a teacher and published books. One aspect that I was able to relate to is that we should make the most of our education. To have access to an education that not only teaches you, but challenges what you think and expands your horizons is a big blessing. The second aspect I was able to relate to was the importance of literacy. I agree with Hooks on the idea that being literate can make a great difference for those who are marginalized and discriminated against. Being literate is a powerful tool. Firstly, from my freshman to junior year in high school, I thought it was all pointless. I didn’t enjoy my classes and I hated how we had to sit and listen to the teacher teach for 50 minutes, five days a week. Senior year, I took some elective courses that interested me, which led to my love of physiology and anatomy. There are teachers who are just there to teach, and there are teachers who make us grow. They share their compassion and interest on the subject, and that is something I’ve greatly experienced since starting college. Secondly, I’ve learned that not everyone has access to the same things when it comes to school. Some schools have books, others don’t. However, that doesn’t stop someone from making the most of their education. I’ve learned to be thankful. Though the idea of school bores me, I’m thankful and consider myself lucky to learned all that I have. Everyone teaches differently, and everyone teaches different things. I would consider American history a political class because I feel like it pumps up patriotism. We go over things like the American Revolution, the Civil rights movement, etc. but it covers up the cracks in our system.
Brandon L
1/21/2016 09:28:19 pm
I like the idea of being thankful even though I also didn't persay enjoy school a ton but still make use of it on a daily basis. Whether it bore us or not we are stuck with it and will just keep progressing and learning. Whether from a bias teacher or not knowledge and perspectives are all around us.
Chrissy Bishop
1/24/2016 07:11:43 pm
Its terrible to hear that the people that actually want to go to school and learn don't always get the supplies they need to do so. How schools sometimes won't have books for everybody or if the parent of he student doesn't make enough for the child to have a back pack. To me Its the same as Bell Hooks going into an integrated school and her not enjoying it as much as she did before. 1/20/2016 11:03:04 pm
After reading this article, I found myself doing more research on Hooks because I was very inspired. I enjoy reading stories about people working hard and succeeding because it gives me motivation that you can really get what you want out of life if you work for it. A couple things that i learned from Hooks that relates to our class is that the classroom is a place where you should feel safe and able to give and receive knowledge. Dr. Craine really made this class in such a way where she does not just feed us information and say "This is how it is," but instead she gives us information and allows us to interpret it on our own. Another thing I learned from Hook that relates to our class is discrimination. No matter who you are or where you come from, there will always be people who push you down, attack you, bully you, etc and I have learned that if you can mentally get through being discriminated against, you can get through anything. Some experiences that I personally had was with teachers that didn't care about teaching versus teachers that did. On the first day of class, you can tell so much about how a class is going to be just by how the teacher talks. When the teacher is passionate about the subject, you can see it in their eyes. This will make you want to listen and do good in the class and actually learn something. Other times, I've had experiences where teachers were teaching for a paycheck and it pissed me off because im paying to learn something, and to be honest im not going to learn anything in a class where the teacher doesnt even want to teach. I feel like college needs more classes that have open discussion for the majority of the class period. This lets people share whats in their mind and learn from each other. When you have a class that frowns upon talking and just wants you to sit there the whole time, it becomes stressful and tiring. I personally wouldn't mind being a professor some day because i want to provide students with topics and allow them to discuss it, similar to Dr Craine. This is how all classes/subjects, except math, should be. I believe that when you are allowed to create your own opinion and do your own thinking, you learn to have an open mind. Unfortunately, many people and students are taught something at a young age and told that there is no other way or alternative, which results in a closed mind when they are older. I also think that education is somewhat political, because after all it is funded by the government through taxes. Also, education is one of those things where there is no answer to it. The sky is the limit.
Kaysie Nassman
1/21/2016 03:51:52 pm
I agree with the fact Dr. Craine just doesn't teach, but she gives us information and allows us to interpret it on our own! I feel when teachers do this as I also mentioned in my post that, I understand material/ subject a lot easier. Also agree with class discussions. I am not one to speak out, answer questions, ask for clarification, but when you have a teacher who teaches like this, it makes the intimidated more open! Teachers now a days do it for the pay check, I've had a handful of teachers who I have felt like "NOW THIS, is a class I want to be in for almost two hours" lol Great post ! :) 1/22/2016 05:51:40 pm
Thanks for your reply. Yeah honestly to be able to sit two hours and not get bored in a class is extremely difficult so I'm happy to be a part of this class. I once had a teacher that would share a topic and ask for opinions and then basically told me my opinion was wrong. I was shocked because why would you ask people to express what they think and then tell them they are wrong instead of teaching us something. But in our class, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and we can all educate and teach each other.
Yunlin Xie
1/23/2016 11:17:58 pm
Personally, I like her way of teaching. I am not a political major student, so for me this is just a general education course. As a general education class which is open to everyone. I think her way of teaching is very good. she try to get everyone involved in this class, she let us talk and express our own opinions. Politics sounds like boring for me, but she makes it interesting. I can feel she loves teaching.
George Boxberger
1/24/2016 11:58:12 pm
I agree with your point regarding education, that teachers tend to want to force-feed information for you to memorize, rather than giving you information and helping you come to your own conclusion. Ideally, our education system would provide various opportunities for students to think for themselves, rather than regurgitating information from the professor. Rather than teaching its students what to think, our educational professors must focus more on teaching students how to think, in order to achieve ideal outcomes in school.
Melissa Nevarez
1/21/2016 09:14:14 am
After reading this article I was extremely inspired. Bell Hooks is definitely a strong unique woman that never loses hope on any situation that came across her when it cam down to education. Two aspects of Bell Hooks's perspectives that relate to what I've learned in class this summer would have to be the teachers and freedom. Teachers teach students not just to get the point across, but to make sure the students understand things. Bell Hooks shows that quote "The academy is not paradise. But learning is a place where paradise can be created." That tells everyone that whatever school you go to it's not just amazing because you have to go and it's gonna do good for you. It's amazing because it's a place where you can learn so many things you've never knew before. Now Bell Hooks shows you have the freedom to learn whatever you want. Professor Crain would be a great example for this because she is the only professor that I've so far had that allows us students to speak our mind and we can speak whatever opinions we have. There is no right or wrong answer. Seriously an incredibly amazing professor. First example of experience would be having my teachers asking me to stay after class and they explained and let me know they wanted to help me succeed. So they offer me tutoring. To me that shows me they really do care about my education. Second example experience would be the teachers telling me not to give up. They let me know their stories and experiences when they wanted to give up at one point on things, but also explained why they're so glad they didn't because once you accomplish what you've always wanted you won't regret anything, it'll all be worth it in the end. I believe these experiences are political because if others heard Bell Hooks's story or any other people's personal experiences it can help motivate them to enjoy and accomplish their educational goal.
Adriana Serna
1/22/2016 12:27:34 am
I agree with you Melissa Nevarez in that Professor Crain is a unique and inspiring teacher because she makes us feel free to express ourselves and to actually have an opinion, especially if it is not what she believes. I remember her saying in the first week of class that we shouldn't be afraid to speak up in class because we are worried it might be wrong or because it doesn't agree with what she says, "if you are thinking of something and not expressing it then it's worth saying." (Sorry if I slightly misquoted.)
Nancy Park
1/24/2016 10:30:42 pm
Hey Melissa! Yes I agree that Professor Crain makes her class a great place to learn and grow. These are the teachers that place the most knowledge on a student. They encourage self- actualization, which is one point that Hooks brought up. A learning environment always thrives in an environment where an individual can learn from each other while attaining more knowledge.
Kaysie Nassman
1/21/2016 03:32:54 pm
Melissa Nevarez
1/21/2016 05:30:19 pm
I completely agree when she said that each teacher had a different way of teaching because in a lot of schools that I went to, each teacher taught in many different ways. Some were bad and some were good but it also depends on how the students want to learn. Because some students prefer talking notes while listening to the teacher speak, some students learn better and prefer looking at the teacher write to take notes than hearing. So I guess it depends also on the students as well. But overall I agree.
Kerem Celik
1/25/2016 09:13:02 pm
I really do think that despite a teacher's teaching capabilities and experience, they do it for the good of the student. I don't think that any person would voluntarily become a teacher if they didn't care about reaching people. However, certain teaching methodologies are not as good as others when it comes to properly exciting students and getting them involved in the subject matter.
Elena Saldivar
1/22/2016 11:24:41 am
Yes it is true that any students who is transferring schools of going into high school for the fist time, will have a experience that might seem to be intimidating at first, and yes teachers all have different ways of teaching but I say its all the students perception,attitude
Nadia Villanueva
1/24/2016 07:07:16 pm
I totally agree with you about the student to teacher partnership, which is the better way of learning. An the example that you gave about your own experience is good. Also the reason about why is it political because its under funded makes more sense to me because i didn't thought about that maybe that is the reason of the lack in passionate teachers.
Justine Calso
1/24/2016 08:24:36 pm
I agree with teachers just "dumping" information onto us without applying or interpreting anything. It's sad that that's how our education system is. We have to learn things and memorize it just for the sake of taking a test, passing and getting a good grade. We aren't exercising our minds if we cannot make the lesson relatable.
josue monroy
1/21/2016 05:56:30 pm
In response to Bell hooks readings. Hooks had a dream and that dream was to become a teacher and a writer. Despite of all the odds against her she managed to graduate and achieve her goals
Amit Waissman
1/21/2016 11:09:23 pm
I agree that teachers should relate more to their students and understand when they are going through a difficult time. That makes people feel more welcomed and more inclined to learn. I also agree that people should only become teachers if they want to make a difference, that way they truly try to benefit the students as much as possible. 1/22/2016 05:57:03 pm
Great post! To add onto what you said, I believe that teachers should also be able to learn from the students. When a teacher has a open mind, he/she will definitely listen and take into consideration what a student thinks/says/believes in. A classroom shouldn't have to be just a teacher talking and students learning but it could also be both ways. Even in my math classes, I've seen students teach the teachers new or faster shortcuts to solve problems .
Andrew Luft
1/23/2016 06:35:31 pm
I agree in how you believe that a teacher should try to cater to every student’s needs, as we are all different. However, that is kind of an unrealistic expectation. What I mean by that is it’s a two-way street and if a student doesn’t really want to learn and grow then it would honestly be a waste of the teacher’s time to focus on that student rather than another. Also one has to take into account the fact that teachers see so many students come and go they probably get discouraged at times despite wanting to make a difference. So really students need to be considerate as well and take some initiative themselves in order to foster any significant change and growth.
George Boxberger
1/21/2016 07:10:29 pm
One aspect of hooks perspectives that I can relate to is the divisions in society that racial profiling and categorizations causes. Despite our common opposition to racism, it remains difficult to fully integrate people from all different races and get them to intermingle. As a half Asian and half white male, I have always found it difficult to ‘fit in’ a particular race, as I feel that I do not fully identify with either side.
Brandon L
1/21/2016 09:31:59 pm
The idea of society as a whole and its needs, socially aware of issues, and challenges really speaks through from education. And the perspectives gained from schooling, as well as anywhere in life really tell a person that "as a whole" we should be thinking more, and a lot less about personal, probable selfish ideals.
Chelsea Payaqui
1/21/2016 07:43:34 pm
Two aspects of Hooks perspectives that I’ve learned in class is having that mutual respect with the teachers as well as the students, and also having the teacher be in a place to expand my mind. I believe that the classroom environment is very crucial to the way we learn. It’s very refreshing whenever you have a teacher who doesn’t treat you like you know nothing and that they possess all the knowledge. I think when you have that connection to your teacher, you become more willing to open yourself up. I would consider myself a shy person when it comes to my ideas. If I feel like I’m just going to be shot down, I’m not going to ask questions or speak up so it’s comforting to hear things like “I won’t ever make you feel like you’re dumb.” I’ve had a professor that made me feel so incompetent it was insulting. I had to go out of my way and find a new class because I couldn’t put up with it. If you can trust someone with your mind, it opens up new possibilities. As we learn, we grow into better people, people more aware of ourselves and the world we live in. I think knowledge is one of those things that are truly priceless because knowledge equals power. It’s an even bigger thing of what you do with it though. Being educated means you have knowledge and new insight as to how things should be. Everyone has different ideas, similar maybe, but still different.
Adriana Serna
1/22/2016 12:42:38 am
I am the same way in the fact that I keep my idea's to myself because I'm constantly worrying about what people might say or think of me. I had a teacher once that would literally yell and practically call you dumb if you got an answer wrong so I became so afraid of raising my hand in that class and all subsequent classes after. I became super shy and now it takes a lot for an instructor to make me feel open and free from judgement. I think I have opened up more in this class then most others because Professor Crain creates this safe environment where everyone is free from judgement and is encouraged to talk and have an opinion which I think is wonderful. This has been one of the few classes that I have felt safe to speak up.
josue monroy
1/23/2016 07:37:31 pm
I completely agree with you. Mutual respect from both the students and teachers it’s a must in order create a good learning environment in the classroom. And I am also kind of shy when it comes to sharing my ideas and speaking openly to the class, that’s something that has hunted me for the longest time, I’m afraid I’m going to share or say something dumb and be laughed at or something but I do believe that being in a class with a good vibe or atmosphere sure does help and makes it easy to share your thoughts and ideas more openly.
Van Truong
1/24/2016 10:30:22 pm
I agree with you about teachers who have mutual respect for you as a student, because teachers like that really expand your mind and teach you more than any other teacher who just lectures and goes over notes all day. Teachers who allow class discussions and take in students opinions are the most enjoyable teacher because they have an interest into your opinions and values.
Kerem Celik
1/25/2016 09:14:24 pm
I agree with your statement about how mutual respect is necessary but unfortunately I find that teachers, especially those with teenage students, are almost often a target of a student's angst and anger. The teachers are seen as an authority figure who cannot stop the student...
Chrissy Bishop
1/21/2016 08:06:01 pm
The two things that I can relate from both Bell Hooks and what I’ve learned from the class would be teachers play a big role in how the students learn. If one has a teacher that is just reading off slides or out of a book it doesn’t soak in nothing is obtained. If you have a teacher that cares about you and just doesn’t see you as an object but as a human being wanting to soak up any knowledge is when you pay attention, you learn. I’ve had amazing teachers in my past who keep me wanting to come back the next day. I’ve also had the teachers who just keep reading slides and don’t really answer questions that you have but you still push through. Dr.Craine doesn’t just teach the class, we also teach her. It feels so free to be in her class. That makes me think about my second thing I’ve learned in the class. Everyone is different. We all learn differently and to me it seems like both Bell Hooks and Dr.Craine get that. When we had the group conversation the 1st week of class, I not only learned of others past but also about how they learn or soak up information. The way Dr.Craine teaches is the way all professors should teach. Both visually and non visual. We all get to share our voices about almost everything, to be able to speak freely in a safe area is amazing. I want to be a history teacher when I grow up. Having professors that are passionate about their profession is the reason I want to teach. It hurts me when I get teachers who don’t care much about the material only about getting the class over with. I want to teach because I’m passionate about history and want fill minds in a way that boring ol history is exciting and very much alive. I think that schools are political in a way not only because it is funded by the government or state as others have been saying but also how it is set up. Dr.Craine even pointed out how the rooms are always looking at the front and we can never see who's behind us. It almost reminds me of military thinking. Sit down, be still and always listen, don’t speak unless told to. Sometimes you don’t even have a name you are a number or a desk. I wish classes looked more like it did when I was in kindergarten.
Lorena G
1/22/2016 12:53:19 am
I totally agree! I love Crains class especially because she lets us speak our mind with out judging and very understanding. Getting into groups and listen to other ideas is not something you get to do very often in college. The way Crain teaches list by listening to her makes you want to open up to her, she always has a smile on her face and clearly loves her job. We need more teachers like her and Bell Hooks.
josue monroy
1/23/2016 08:06:58 pm
Great blog!! And I completely agree with you! I also enjoy Crain’s class. She has a very unique way of teaching; She definitely loves what she does. I like how she makes everyone feel comfortable in the classroom and that’s definitely why most people are willing to open up and speak freely.
Trevor Davies
1/21/2016 08:50:22 pm
"It is imperative that we maintain hope even when the harshness of reality may suggest the opposite"
Charbel Mawad
1/22/2016 05:03:23 pm
I’m speaking for everyone when I say we all have been there… meaning that we all run into obstacles in our life, school being a major one of them. Personally, I have encountered numerous struggles where my classes were very difficult, I was swamped with school, work, and other personal things happening in my life, but I found ways to overcome those obstacles. That is why I liked when you quoted Hooks about marinating hope because I believe with hope (and faith) anything in life is possible to overcome.
Brandon L
1/21/2016 09:22:46 pm
Two aspects of Hook’s perspectives that I can relate to in especially your classroom is not so much being a class of strict authority. The vibes in class come more from the students, and the learning experiences aren’t solely being resonated from the teacher but as well everyone. As well the idea’s put forth in class closely reference some of the things addressed in this article; things about sexism, the government, white supremacy and some others. Personal experiences from my education that reflect back to the article really shine through not from an early age but during high school. More of my interesting and challenging ideas arose when I was taught less about soaking information and more about questioning it. One example definitely would be how accurate can history be told, because obviously not everything read in a textbook can be truthful. There at some point could be potential bias depending on author, location, language, and many other factors. An example that comes to mind; is think about how you were taught some of the wars in history, then think about how Japan was taught these same wars, or France, and so on. These different national perspectives shape the learning curve of its own people. These perspectives impacted my life both politically and in everyday values. The varying perspectives really tell you that ideas even though you learned them might not be truthful. Re-evaluating things should be a constant process you do. Whether it is believing what the student next to you said was true, or what the president says is true, you were given tools of thought to process these words and determine for yourself whether the idea portrayed is something worth believing.
Van Truong
1/21/2016 09:28:13 pm
Two Aspects of Hooks perspectives that appeal to me which can be applied to my life are that teachers can play a vital role in a students learning process. I feel like even though we are in a university level of education some teachers still do not engage themselves with their students. For example many teachers that i have taken before care more about moving forward with lectures than actually slowing down and explaining the lectures to the students so they can understand the material instead of just getting a lecture done. Another Example would be hooks perspective on how education is limited to a certain level. Everyone in this country is entitled to an education as far as they please, but since we live in an industrialized country, the people who run our country believe that education has a price. Hook states that education should be taught through community and should be taught if a student is willing to learn and engage, but why are students charged great amounts of money for wanting to expand their knowledge. I just believe that education should not have a price to it and that if a student has the capabilities and the prowess to learn and continue their learning then they should not be charged great amounts of money to gain this knowledge. Well In my family i am the first to go to college because my mom is an immigrant from Vietnam and although she is a citizen now, she did not have the time to go to school here and work here way up. As soon as she came to this country she had to start working in order to provide for the family, and she always tell me to work hard and go to school for as long as possible because education is the key to a better life and she isn't wrong. In this country we value intellect and through education you gain better jobs and experiences and from what I've seen so far those who do decide to further their education are the ones who have the better jobs and wages. Another example would be that since I'm a political Science major I've taken many courses that really gives me a perspective of how this country is ran. Before i always thought that my everyday life was affected by the President, although this has some truth to it, my everyday life is more affected by the major of the city i live in and the representatives of california. These figures are the ones that decide what goes on in our cities or states on a domestic level and they affect our everyday lives. These perspectives affect my life because I am part of the social working class, that will soon be put into the work force, and my education and goals in life are based on these perspective. I need to get my degrees in order to find a job that supports my everyday life and my future, and Im also affect by the decisions of these local leaders because, i live in a community thats ran by them and the laws and regulations they put in place are the ones that I must follow.
Elena Saldivar
1/22/2016 11:31:42 am
I half to agree, it is hard for anyone coming to this country to get a proper education to make a living for themselves or there families, and then kids would also have limited education, but today in our evolving teach world and the need for a degree it’s hard.
Andrew Park
1/21/2016 10:31:58 pm
After reading this article, the two aspects of Hook's perspective that I learned in class, is the commitment of teachers that do whatever they can in their power to help you succeed and the will of an individual to soak in the knowledge teachers try to spread. I think teachers should do whatever they can to help students learn, but also students should have the will to listen and learn. Not all teachers have the same strategy of teaching and not everyone learns the same. If a teacher is doing all she can to teach you, you can't expect to learn without giving your effort to what she is teaching. What I learned from Bell Hook's article is that although there were obstacles, she overcame those obstacles and kept an open mind to the knowledge her teachers were spreading. I think it was inspiring how she didn't accept failure to learn from her teachers and how she thinks the teacher to student relationship is important and impacts the way students learn.
Charbel Mawad
1/22/2016 04:35:54 pm
It is hard nowadays to find a teacher that is truly passionate about teaching. And it find one that just bonds with his/her students in a comfortable way is rare. I like how you said students have to also partake in this relationship but actually wanting to learn. If there is that aspect, along is a teacher who wants you to succeed and educated you properly, the road ahead is one to look forward to.
Van Truong
1/24/2016 10:33:45 pm
I agree that teachers who do a great job of teaching and understanding their students are the ones who help the students gain the most out of their learning experience, but it is also a students job to help the teacher by engaging themselves in learning what the teacher has to say and is teaching.
Andrew Luft
1/21/2016 10:36:52 pm
The first perspectives of Bell Hook’s that I can relate to after reading the article is that the best teachers are the ones who invest in and nurture their pupils. She specifically talks about those who nurture the intellect of their students and encourage them to become scholars, thinkers, or cultural workers. I can relate to this because these teachers, who are not only in classrooms, often times are the motivational force in pressing on when I find my resolve waning and interest lost in the robotic routine of daily life in our society. Personal relationships and simply expressing a genuine care and concern for another can often time be what makes the difference in persevering and losing interest completely. In this way I feel as though her philosophy goes much further than just the classroom, but deeply into humanity altogether. This then translates into another point in which I can relate upon perspectives. That being the method in which she writes her first major book on education, Teaching to Transgress. The reason I say I can relate to this perspective is because “she writes it in a very personal style, often anecdotal giving examples from her own experiences.” I say this because I have found that the greatest teacher in life and the thing of supreme value as said by Henry Ford is experience. I have found through my experience that the best teachers are those who use a combination of the two perspectives I have briefly mentioned, a genuine sincerity for the betterment of others and the use of their own personal experiences as they pertain to what their students are going through have helped me the most, as they bear the most depth and weight. In turn I try to pay the same respect to others as has been shown to me in order to pay these people back for the care they have given me and hopefully to contribute a little bit of good humanity to the world in which we live. I believe this could be viewed as political in the simple sense that I consider sensible and judicious, which is the definition of the word politic.
Caitlin Hoover
1/21/2016 10:46:58 pm
During freshman year High School, there was this formula my math teacher deemed necessary for us to learn. Try as I might, I could never understand it, but I could parrot it back enough to pass a quiz. It wasn't until I was in my junior year trig class that we went over it again and I finally got it. Despite supposedly “learning” the formula two years prior, it took me that long to have an epiphany on how to do it.
Matthew Mullen
1/24/2016 07:14:03 pm
I completely agree with you. A human can only retain so much information in their lifetime. It is absolutely ridiculous to think about how much educators expects you to learn and then to think about how much you actually remember from all the information that was thrown at you. I think educators should be more focused on creating lessons that focus a long time on few subjects to really let the information sink in so it becomes actually applicable to life. That is how I feel about this class. I find myself remembering a lot of what has been taught so far. I can’t say that for my other classes this quarter unfortunately.
Amit Waissman
1/21/2016 10:58:37 pm
Bell Hooks is an incredible lady and an inspiration to anyone trying to overcome something to achieve their goals. I particularly love the aspect that she believes in educating people holistically. I agree with her entirely, since our system is based on one mindset, and like she says, our education system isn't based on instilling a love for learning or genuinely learning the facts. One system of education will not work for all individuals, and she knew that. Aside from being a writer/educator, another aspect is Bell Hooks was an activist, fighting for causes that are still very prevalent today. She witnessed the change from segregation to integration, and also fought the great amount of sexism going on in the world. We today are still fighting racism and sexism, although thanks to people like her we have already made leaps and bounds.
Matthew Mullen
1/24/2016 06:54:24 pm
I agree with you that the education system discourages writing and the arts. Being someone who is pursuing success in screenwriting as well as music, I have experienced my share of backlash. Sometimes I was made to feel inferior and foolish to those pursuing careers that are generally considered to be more stable such as business and engineering. But I feel that art is equally important and has more of an impact on society than many people realize. I wish educators would but more of an emphasis on students utilizing their creativity.
Matthew Mullen
1/21/2016 11:19:36 pm
I definitely feel as if things I learned at school, especially starting in middle school, were different than what I learned at home. One perspective I have known that I learned at school and could not quite learn at home was how important collaboration is. My Dad is 64 years old and while he is a very kind hearted and smart man, he was kind of domineering growing up. I ended up kind of latching on to his ways of thinking and he would always have me help him with handy man jobs around the house, which is all well and good, but I feel as if I didn’t really learn to develop my individuality until I was in middle school. I learned to do things for myself and in turn helped me help others when it came time to, such as on a group project. My favorite class in middle school was jazz band and there is when I feel I really found myself, not only through music but through what playing the music required. It required me to be creative while being disciplined. It required being relaxed while persevering. Most of all though, it required me to work with others in a way I had never really experienced at home. My bandmates gave me good ideas and I tried to do the same for them. Playing music with others, in my opinion, develops individuality as well as good teamwork skills. I do not play music in an academic setting anymore, but I am in a band on my free time because I crave the same feelings I felt when they were forged in my middle school jazz band. Another perspective I learned to have was that I am not good at everything, no one is. I had a middle school Algebra teacher, Ms. McNeil that I would stay after school with to work on my algebra home work. I was struggling and she could tell. I am terrible at algebra, but worked very hard to make sure that I passed the class. She would tell me that she admired my work ethic. This experience taught me that even if I’m not skilled at something, my perseverance can get make me succeed at whatever I’m trying to accomplish. These experiences could be considered political because at home, my Dad, without really trying to, constricted my abilities to complete certain task, just like the government does. The government thinks it is doing right by whatever it’s governing, but there are aspects that get overlooked.
Nadia Villanueva
1/21/2016 11:30:48 pm
Bell Hooks is an exceptional women who dedicated her life to learn, teach, and share her knowledge and thoughts about education and how the educational practice should be. She came from a poor family and cursed her first years of education between schools with black people. Since she was a child she loved to be a student, but overall she loved to learn because she could feel the passion from her teachers and how they really wanted to students to learn. She got her bachelor’s degree from Stanford, then she got her master’s degree from Wisconsin, and finally her PhD was from the University of California on Santa Cruz. Hooks wrote many books about education and teaching but always emphasizing on feminism movement, and anti-racism. A couple of thinks that I learned from Hooks but also from this quarter, is the importance of education in order to make things happen; everyone needs and deserve to have an education since is a right. Also the way of teaching, how she proposes her ideas about how we should learn, students interacting more with teachers. I was really inspired by her one of her thoughts, “both teacher and students can learn together in a way that no one acquires the kind of power to use the classroom as a space of domination.” because I do believe in interactions and that teachers also can learn from students. I came from a country where the education is very conservative, there is a big discrimination specially for girls, for example, there were strict rules only for us, where we had to use white ugly uniforms, our hair had to be tied and we couldn’t use rings or earrings, but for boys there weren't any rules at all. Reasons? I guess because it was a catholic school.. So Hooks is concerned about the modern society, and the way how she talks about the issues of race, sexuality, discrimination, and the potential for new learning environments its really inspiring. Her experience, her books or at least this article should be read by all teachers and students from everywhere, so helpfully teaches can be more passionated and students can love learning. Finally, education can be compared to as being political because it is under the educational system, and follows certain rules which the rest has to follow. We have right and obligations inside this system which in my opinion makes it political.
Antonio Villa
1/21/2016 11:33:38 pm
It's tough to grasp this passion for education. I would love to live in a place where it is valued and practiced in such a manner described by Hook, but I get really overwhelmed by the ignorance and the lack of willingness and interest to learn. The banking system we have in our k-12 system is a large reason why our communities are the way they are. It is simply a place of dominance and authority; a sort of day care for the minors to be taught to listen to instruction and go by the bell while the working class adults are hard at work.
Nancy Park
1/21/2016 11:44:05 pm
Two aspects that stood out were the fact that teachers ,as well as the students, need the sense of self realization and teachers must be interested in transforming the minds of their students instead of just transferring knowledge.
Antonio Villa
1/23/2016 11:21:50 pm
It is true that our opinions and environment are shaped by the impact that education has with each student growing in each class to be productive members in the community, but it pains me to see that the education provided and available to certain communities could be so undervalued to the extent that the schools only output more counterproductive members into the community. Education is a currently a privilege for those who are lucky enough to be born in a home with the proper/preferred class or race.
Nadia Villanueva
1/24/2016 10:55:29 pm
I agree that teachers also need to be interested in transforming the minds of their students. Most of the teacher that I know just focus on transferring knowledge as you said instead of helping students to develop their own ideas and think in other possible answers instead of choose one of the options given. And yes, the best educators are those who learn with the students.
Noel Alejandre
1/25/2016 11:11:00 pm
I agree with you, that teachers need to be really into their class and be willing to learn with the rest of the class. It will make it an environment that students would want to go back to and learn. Some students just like the topic of the classes so they are drawn automatically back to the class because that is what they are interested in. I think that when you have passion for what you do, it shows and everyone enjoys it as much as you do. The energy that the teachers bring to the class, that is the energy that the students are going to perceive.
Lawrence Erispe
1/21/2016 11:54:57 pm
Bell Hooks is an African-American women who went through the changing school system in the 60’s. She comes from a poor working class family and she liked learning and from a young age she knew what she wanted to be when was older; become a teacher and writer. Despite her struggles, she was able to go to Stanford University where she got her BA, University of Wisconsin where she got her MA, and UC Santa Cruz where she got her phD. She went on to become a teacher and a writer publishing numerous books over the years.
Nancy Park
1/24/2016 10:35:12 pm
Hi Lawrence!
Nimsy V
1/21/2016 11:57:01 pm
I found this article to be really interesting to read about, the way Bell Hooks views the importance of education. Two aspects of hooks perspectives that I have learned in this class is that first of all the students that are being taught by a teacher who is actively involved and committed to their education will see them have a success in life. And secondly is that the teachers must teach not just to spread information but to spread intellectual and spiritual knowledge. One example of an educational experience is that when I was in high school, I had this math teacher who noticed I was struggling with math and she offered to tutor me after school. That really helped improve my math skills. After that school year she retired but she gave me her phone number just incase i needed help the following school year I would just call her. And I had never had a teacher who genuinely cared about my education and being able to succeed.
Antonio Villa
1/23/2016 11:35:03 pm
It is unfortunate that the idea and pedagogy of connecting and learning with students both intellectually and spiritually is primarily found in the higher-education university level courses. It is critical that these tactic of education are available to our youth with their minds still developing and unraveling, but it is difficult for a k-12 teacher to stay motivated in a public school system that tells them to abide by authoritative class settings, bell schedules and distorted lessons/curriculum. This golden education is in the big leagues where few are lucky/privileged enough to be a part of a university or college class due to the expensive price tag on higher education.
Noel Alejandre
1/21/2016 11:57:17 pm
Bell Hooks is a teacher and a writer who started from the bottom and worked her way to the top of education. In her first major book about education, "Teaching to Transgress" she believes that learning process comes easiest to teachers who have values and morals and believe their work is sacred. That teaching is not just about sharing information, but sharing intellect and spiritual growth for students. I truly believe in this too, because teachers need to motivate students to learn and have personal and spiritual growth. This motivates students to want to go to class and learn. Another aspect on her perspective is that she believes that there should not be an authority persona between teachers and students. And it goes the same way to students, there should not be any differences based on gender, age, race, or class between either one, or any differences at all. They should work together to learn from one another and grow. Some of the things I have learned about education is that all the teachers teach different. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and teach different topics so they have ways of teaching differently. Some put more time into students and worry about what they have to say and others worry more about having the students focus more on the work. Some believe that teaching students values as they were taught will help students learn and others believe that they will only learn by reading straight from the books. The purpose of this experiences is that i have to learn how to adapt to all the teachers i encounter. I have to learn the way they teach and what is expected from me. Some teachers are more demanding then others, so I have to be able to understand how they are. I do not think this experiences are political because everyone has a way of teaching. We learn something from everyone. even though we do learn more from some teachers then others. at the end of the day most of the teachers just want to teach their class to students who are willing to learn. But it is nice when teachers show appreciation towards what they do and towards students.
Adriana Serna
1/21/2016 11:58:27 pm
Throughout my educational years I have learned how to follow the rules set by others and believe that getting good grades is what matters most. And for most of my years I have strived to get those A's and to be a "perfect student" by doing all the assignments on time and by following all the rules made by the professor/teacher/instructor which I see as the highest on the pyramid of success. To me what they say goes. But what I have learned from this class is that you have to see yourself as equals to your professor and peers. Your professor has to also treat you as if you were not just another run-of-the-mill student that they have to spew information and then move on to the next batch of students like a factory line. Professor Crain has taught us to have an opinion about what we discuss in class, that it is okay to disagree with what she believes (if that's the case) and to always treat everyone with care, respect, and as equals. What bell hooks believes in is the same aspects of teaching. As I move on in my academic career I can not shake off the years of being taught to follow the rules and to get good grades. I was taught that way all through elementary, junior high, and high school as well as at home because my family is very traditional in the sense that you should not have an opinion that goes against your elders. But I have started to open up, speak up, and form opinions about the world around me from how I see it and hopefully that will push me further towards success in which I could not reach if I keep staying silent. Maybe it becomes political in the way many of us are taught today because in politics it is crazy to have a different opinion and may be labeled "radical". And how we must be taught to believe in the same things, to think in the same way, and that way change will never happen, which the government would love because they are not very keen on change. We need to start being the change that needs to happen to end oppression, racism, sexism, and to start treating everyone like equals.
Lorena G
1/22/2016 01:07:10 am
Well I wish I was as fortunate as you were when you were young having your parents behind you when it came to school, unlike my parents they didnt even know I was struggling i school. Im usually quite in class because I don't want to be embarrassed if i don't answer right, but being able to share in class is a god way to involve yourself and meet new people in class. So i totally understand where you are coming from.
Chelsea Payaqui
1/24/2016 02:32:49 pm
I can relate to your situation so strongly, because my family also has taught me to always respect your elders and of course that included not speaking back. It's weird that after so many years being taught by teachers to obey, once you get to college the professors all tell us to expand our minds. There's this huge gap in authority that I feel needs to be fixed. Also, your statement of school being like a factory line reminded me of this video! Maybe you'll find it interesting!
Noel Alejandre
1/25/2016 11:03:05 pm
Its nice when students and teachers have respect for each other because it tells that both are trying to make the best out of the situation. I think they both learn from each other but the students learns more because he is being taught something he does not know yet. and I agree with you that the professor makes everyone feel equal in the class and make them feel welcome. Speaking up our minds starts with us if we want to see a change for the better.
Lorena G
1/22/2016 12:45:41 am
One perspective that i took from bell hooks is she is the kind of teacher you want to have.
Nimsy V
1/24/2016 11:51:29 pm
I can relate to you in the fact that i wasn't able to turn to my parents to get the help that i needed for my homework and at times it was frustrating. It would have been so stress relieving to be able to have a teacher to whom i was comfortable in asking for help. But thankfully i have been able to meet so really great teachers and professors who truly care for their students education.
Yunlin Xie
1/22/2016 02:01:10 am
Eskarletl Ruiz
1/24/2016 12:31:34 am
I did not realize how different education system are in different cultures. I don't think it's right to just train students like robots when it comes to education, but maybe that's just because of what I've adapted from my culture. Student do learn and adapt what they can from their teachers when they are not with their parents. So I agree that if you're teacher is shy you are bound to be the same. When we have an energetic teacher, it makes us want to pay attention more! It's really great when you get a professor who is passionate about what they teach because it makes you want to learn it more.
Lawrence Erispe
1/24/2016 03:10:54 pm
I feel like students in other countries that have strict rules and regulations in school have more respect to the teacher. My cousins in The Philippines ask me if students really talk back to their teachers like in the movies and T.V shows. Then again The Philippines is different culturally, specifically you cannot talk back to people older than you, you have to call them a certain name depending on how much older they are than you, which translates into school as well. So, I see where you are coming from in terms of the education system in your country.
Chelsea Payaqui
1/24/2016 02:25:21 pm
Wow! I also had not realized how different the education systems are. Education is something that is truly a privilege and I feel like in America we take it for granted since it's become so normalized here. I'm glad you shared your experience as it's motivated me to work more towards gaining knowledge again rather than working for a good grade.
Nimsy V
1/24/2016 10:15:01 pm
It's so interesting to read about how in other countries the education system is so different to what we are used to. And i think that it is just a reflection of what their culture is like. Its intriguing to think that there are countries where the government accepts mistreatment towards children. Like my parents would tell me that in Mexico the teachers were able to hit the children and not get arrested for it and also be able to punish kids by making them clean the bathroom.
Charbel Mawad
1/22/2016 04:29:22 pm
This was such an inspirational article to read about how hard work can get you anywhere you want in life. It does not matter where you start, but what you do with your life is what actually counts. The first aspect of Hooks perspective has to be racial discrimination. Similar to the Dredd Scott case we talked about last week, we learned how back then, black people were treated as property rather than human beings. It sickens me knowing that there are people out there that still believe that. God created us all as human beings and as equals. We all put our pants on one leg at a time. Everyone is going to die one day. Regardless of color, religion, appearance, etc. we are all God’s creations. The fact that Hooks was judged by her white teachers because of her skin color alone… regardless of how eager to learn she was or how brilliant she was, they looked at her appearance and judged her negatively. Another perspective that I can relate to the class based on Hooks is the student/teacher relationship when it comes to education and how important that is. I have had some amazing teachers in the past that love what they do and bond with the students in a very unique way, and some that were just there to count the hours and get paid. I have only had one class with Dr. Crain so far, as was immediately hooked to what she had to say and how passionate she is about her teachings. As Hooks explains, regardless of race, it should be ta quality learning environment where “teacher and student together work in partnership” (Hooks, 2003 p.xv). Two experiences I’ve had in class that have helped me because of education is getting my first job and socializing with people in the real world. Having gotten my High School Diploma way back when, I was able to acquire a job due to my knowledge and skills. Additionally, my people skills has gotten a lot better because of school. It is amazing the conversions you have with other individuals when you have knowledge on a network of things. Politics aside, education is something I have always believed strongly in. I strive to become the first person in my family to get a college degree in the United States, and that would make me and my family extremely proud.
Eskarletl Ruiz
1/24/2016 12:25:35 am
I didn't realize the immediate connection with the dred scott case until you mentioned it. It's a good thing I decided to read yours. I also agree that the student-teacher relationship is a good bond to have and that it helps students want to do better and it helps to have a teacher who is passionate about what they're talking about, just like Dr. Crain. I also have only had one class with her so far and I actually look forward to politics class!
Kerem Celik
1/23/2016 12:07:04 pm
Two aspects of Hook’s perspectives that relate to me, especially in my classes at De Anza, are the fact that the students must be well-invested in their own learning, and that the teachers must actively try to transform the minds of their students. Especially in Poli Sci 1, I can see that the classroom is more like that of one geared towards instructing and shaping the way we think, instead of being class focused on authority and discipline. I also see how my peers' experiences really shape the information being passed around in the classroom, and I feel that is a major key in creating a successful classroom environment. Hook's point about the teacher-student relationship really spoke to me as well, because some of my professors this quarter really do adhere to her ideal teacher model. This accompanied with the fact that everything is being taugh objectively, really gives the student an opportunity to think about and understand what they are learning about. For example, in most classrooms all around the world, you will learn about specific wars, while they are based on facts, obviously, they will be slightly biased depending on whatever culture you are in. Providing only the basic information to students and allowing them to form conclusions on their own is the key to learning successfully. Teachers could just blindly read information from a textbook or recite facts, or they could actively get students to engage in discussion and demonstrate a different perspective and point of view. Personally, I thrive in an environment much like the second.
Lawrence Erispe
1/24/2016 03:21:02 pm
I also agree with you that for this class Professor Crain just does not throw information at us and expects us to retain it. She wants us to be influenced by ideas and for us to think on our own. I like the fact that she is okay with us having our own opinions on matters and that we do not have to agree with her or the class. From experience with past teachers and my friend's experiences with their teachers, they do not respect the students opinion and do not even hear them out. It is also a different dyanmic of teaching that I like because instead of learning and writing down information, we are more involved. But with certain subjects it is understandable why some teachers are just throwing information at the students because there is no other way.
Shawn Park
1/24/2016 07:01:45 pm
I agree to the points that you have brought up in your post. Unlike many classes I have been a part of, Poli 1 has definitely been a class where I feel welcome to sharing my ideas and experiences. This is especially made easier because of Professor Crain and her willingness to listen.The learning environment is also very different and I feel as we are being not being influenced by a book but our own ideas.
Shawn Park
1/24/2016 06:56:19 pm
When reading this article, two perspectives that relate to me is the fact that the teacher should not be a person of dominant nature and should be nurturing not regurgitating information. These two perspectives grabbed onto my mind, because in high school I had numerous teachers who held a dominant position in the classroom. I would ask about conflicting ideals on what the teacher maybe speaking about, and I would get defensive responses instead of a respectable discussion on why I may be asking such questions. Especially in math class, when I had trouble with a problem, my teacher would just tell me to refer to the book instead of asking him. I truly believe that a teacher is in a position to nurture and care for his/her students, and instead many of these people in power neglect the eager minds of the classroom. In our adult lives, we are always told do not question the status quo and live an obedient life. This is deeply political in a sense where we are not allowed to think for ourselves and are shown on a daily basis what we want with our lives with subliminal messages shown on mainstream media.
Janet Cisneros
1/28/2016 10:07:02 pm
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Poli 1 - DeAnza
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