WEEKLY ARTICLE SUMMARY

http://www.aasa.org/uploadedFiles/Publications/Journals/AASA_Journal_of_Scholarship_and_Practice/Winter09FINAL.pdf

This article talks about how principals need to be sure that they are providing equal and adequate education for all students, including special education students. It states that most principals don't quite know how to successfully provide a good curriculum for them, so they turn to administrators who specialize in special education. Tying into leadership, the article says that by gaining a better understanding of special education needs, school principals can assume a greater leadership role throughout the school.

Educational leadership is the focus here. When a school principal can successfully provide education for all of their students, it makes them an even better leader, by doing their job for the whole school population. This article is definitely intended more for older people- school administrators, other principals, teachers, etc. When those people read this article or ones similar to it, they may think twice and look into learning more about how they can help special education students. If this article really does affect school administrators and other school principals, then it should be considered a very important article. Influencing teachers to help students even more is great; the teachers should know as much as they can.

I think this article IS important. Not necessarily will many people read it, because it's not in some huge publication, but I believe in equal rights for everyone, including students. If my principal were to learn how to better help all the students in his school, I might have a bigger appreciation for him. It is extremely necessary that all students, no matter their education level, get the same, adequate education.

WEEKLY ARTICLE SUMMARY

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33290495/ns/us_news-weird_news/

A man was found asleep in a closet, along with another man, who was dead. The owner of the houses heard noises and saw "signs of forced entry," so the police were called, and that's when they found the men in the closet. Apparently, before they fell asleep, they were doing some sort of narcotics, and one of the men had died from them. The man still alive, Cody Plant, 21, is being charged with multiple counts of possession.

This is news because it is extremely weird; it is an oddity. It isn't a big deal or anything, but many people are probably just laughing at this story. This may not affect many people, but most likely a lot of people will read it just because it's so dumb. It may affect a small number of people who know the people involved with this case.

I think these people are extremely stupid for doing hard drugs in the closet of someone else's home. If you're going to do hard drugs, at LEAST do them at home, where you have such a smaller chance of getting caught, DUH. But also, don't do hard drugs in the first place! They kill people...obviously.

thursday, october 22nd :D

FINALLY, the social workers are going to some lengths to take action with Antwone and his abuse at home. For years, they were lied to and didn't investigate any further, but finally they start to get involved, by letting Antwone go with Keith and his mom when they go on outings. The social workers also make Mrs. Pickett take Antwone to a psychiatrist to see if he is being abused or not. This is a big step for him, and it really makes me happy to know that things may be looking up for him.

I'm not very close to anyone really, so I can't decide who lives like Antwone does, which would be- knowing whats right, respecting and obeying authority, etc. Hmmmm. I'll come back to this if I make some more friends.. :D .

Studying leadership and how other people lead is extremely important for people our age. Many teenagers are stuck thinking they can still do whatever they please and it won't affect anyone else, but they'll be in for a rude awakening the moment they step foot on a college campus. Its important to study and learn how to be a leader early, so that when we become older, its just a natural ability and we can lead our generations and future generations. :) :)

tuesday, october 20th

Whats been most interesting to me is the way foster kids live. I'm not sure how it is normally, but in Antwone's foster home, he lives with other foster kids and they all get mistreated. I totally disagree with all types of abuse, and there is definitely child abuse in this home. I applaud Antwone for being able to deal with it all.

Antwone is beginning to show his true character when Keith enters the story, a younger foster brother who is lighter skinned, and therefore more well liked. Antwone sticks up for him when he is picked on, and in turn Keith befriends him. Its amazing that Antwone can put up with so much rejection and mistreatment and still find a place inside his heart for people who are nice to him.
p83, Antwone discusses a time when Keith is being picked on for his light skin color, and Keith tells the other boy "Here comes my brother, and he's gonna get you."

"Keith gave a loud yell and burst out crying while I calmly walked up to the boy and punched him Pow!, in his face, knocking him to the ground, where he lay dazed.
Keith's tears stopped in their tracks and his face broke into a huge smile as he began laughing harder than I had ever seen him laugh before."

Important quote so far... on p83, Antwone is talking about why everyone fights the way they do in the household.

"It was a poisonous cycle. We were on the same battlefield, each dodging what we feared most, retaliating in those same modes. With Dwight, everything was external and physical. His pain was written on his face and in the nervous jump of his movements. He was hands, fists, kicks, hitting, running, shouting, crying. With me, it was all on the inside. I was hands-in-pockets, watchful, quiet, and hidden tears."

It just says a lot about what Antwone went through and how he handled things, and how this later affected his character and they way he would grow up.

Hmm, ethical desicions...
I can recall many times in school, or just anywhere, where I've stood up for someone when others weren't going to. You'll be with your friends, talking or whatever, and your own FRIENDS start teasing someone who is less-liked than them, or so they think. When this happens, I get extremely angry. In most cases I'll stand up to my friends, even if they think I'm weird for it, and tell them how it is. More when I was younger, I didn't do this as much, and I would feel guilty for letting things like this slide. Everyone is equal, really, and there's no need to put others down just to make yourself feel better.

friday, october 16 :)

My book has slightly changed; it talks more now through the eyes of Antwone. He speaks of how he obeys Mrs. Pickett, his foster mom, even when she smacks him or makes him clean. The book is getting more interesting since he describes more about his home life. He also explains how the nanny molests him, which really stands out to me. That would really mess somebody up for the rest of their lives

My views haven't really changed, I'm sure they will though when he gets older. Right now, I'd say he already possesses leadership qualities; they're shown when he obeys Mrs. Pickett when he is supposed to, even if he doesn't want to.

Similar situations have happened to many people. There will be a teacher or someone who you don't want to respect and don't agree with and would rather argue back, but you know you have to anyway for the sake of the class. Whenever I'm in that position, which used to be daily, sometimes, I just have to suck it up and be a respectful student because it gets me farther- if I sit there and complain, I'm just going to get in more trouble and I'd learn nothing from being disrespectful to someone.

p48
"I'm not sleepy, but I've learned better than to say it, so I obey quickly, replying, "Yes ma'am," going upstairs, and curling up in the army cot I share with Dwight."

wednesday, october 14 2009

Good Morning,
Today I want you to write about:
1. Your reactions to what you have read so far since last time you posted. Have any of your thoughts about the book changed? What has stood out so far? What do you agree/disagree with?

2. Have your views of what you thought leadership was changed in any way so far? If so How?

3. Can you relate a time when you were put in a leadership position. What was it? How do you feel you did in this position? Is there anything you regret? What would you do differently?

4. Following up from the question above, citing particular quotes or passages from the book, write about something you can use that the author said or did when you are put in leadership role now or in the future.

My book hasn't yet gotten deep enough into the whole "leadership aspect" yet, so I'll read some now and POST LATER! :)

first blog - "Finding Fisher"

This book is great so far. I love most the descriptive words and phrases the author uses; it really helps me get a feel for what life was like for him and his family at that time.

Characters:
Antwone Fisher - son of Eddie Elkins, Eva Fisher
Eddie Elkins - father of Antwone Fisher, killed shortly after the beginning of the story
Emma Elkins - mother of Eddie Elkins, along with 8 others
Horace Elkins Sr. - father of Eddie Elkins, husband of Emma Elkins

These are the main characters so far. I finished after 29 pages, and Antwone was just coming into the story, so I think the main characters will change a bit since the story will be told as he grows up.

So far, good book. I can't wait until I'm done so I can see the movie.

first post!

loooooook attttt myyyyyyyyy postttttt
:D