Words From a Wise Old Man

On Febuary 20th, 2007, Nakoma Neil Volkom, came to Luther College to clear up confusing about the Native American culture and to give his input on how society should fix this issue.
He explain how Hollywood, created the thought that Native Americans wear lots of feathers and big head dresses, but that only chief do in really life. He also sang a song and drummed the beat that was not like the beat you hear in the movies. Lastly he explained that the "Indian Cry" children make when playing is only done by woman and is made with their tongues inside their mouths not with their hands and mouths.
Nakoma feels that if everyone was educated about the truth of Native American history and their culture, that people would understand that they are not that different and that we can all live in harmony. He also felt that those who are not Native American can learn from them on how to treat mother earth and the environment. He himself learned about this when he went to visit the Native Americans in the Amazon Rainforest.
If only everyone would take the time to learn that we are not that different from each other, we would be able to see that we can help each other out and make the world a better place.

Taking a Stand

What is the point of going to a school clear across town when there is a good school right next door? Students that are transferred to different schools not in their neighborhood, are split in half between neighborhood friends and school friends. It is also very expensive for schools districts to pay school bus companies to transport these students. Though integration is a wonderful idea on paper, having schools be divide within the city is not right.
In today's college, future educators told to create a "family", or a "community" in their classrooms. But how can this be done if the students do not live by each other. Students are able to live a fantasy live within the school building knowing that what happens in the school will not affect their social lives back in their neighborhoods. Another issue with this way of integrating students is that it is very expansive. Busing students from one side of town to the other. This issue is not helped by the high gas prices and the small population of people will to drive the big yellow buses.
Their has to be another way to practice integration in today's schools without splitting up neighborhoods, and raising expenses in schools that are already dealing with the issues of budget-cuts.

We Are Not All That Different

Letter from the Editor:
All talent shows are pretty much the same. There are singing, dancing, bands playing, and comedy. Then why is there so much emphasises on the talent show during Black History Month at Luther?
During Education 115 one of my classmates helped out with her school's talent show. The Luther students became the judges, because they would be unbiased, and they were invited to watch. Many of the acts were magic shows, dancing, reenactments, and stand up comedy.
This middle school talent show had almost the same acts as a the talent show at Luther. There was still singing, dancing, more bands and group acts, but they were still almost the same show with different acts. When comparing this two events their is really nothing different except that they were different acts and different maturity levels. So in the big picture, no matter what color or background one may be, we are really not that "different" from each other.

The Mystery of Becoming a Good Teacher

Teachers affect millions of people every day. Sometimes teachers give a person just the right push to become something great and important, and sometimes they are the people who scare others from any future education. But what makes a good teacher different from a bad one, and in what ways do they make sure the students learn and work in the classroom.

Why Do We Teach?

Luther College is full of future teaches, in primary and secondary education, from multiple states mostly in the Midwest, but according to two professors, they all have one thing in common. "They all had a teacher that they looked up to or vowed to want to be like," said one professor. The other one commented, "they also love working with children, and want to make the same impact that they experience or make the experience better." These students just want to become teachers. Not because of the "wonderful" pay or the high demand, but because they want to. "The only thing I worry about graduating students is when they leave Luther with all of these new and creative ideas, and they may forget that even though their first classroom may not be everything they wanted, they can still achieve the same goals that they went into education in the first place."

What Is The Difference Between School "Work" And Student "Learning"?

Good teachers know the difference between school "work" and student "learning". School "work" is the physical action in or out of a school, that a student does for school. This may include a worksheet, homework, an activity in class etc. The student does not have to understand the material or be able to retrieve the information at a later time. School "learning" is the action when the student comprehends and knows the material, and is able to recall the information at a later time. A teacher can be able to find out if a student learned the information by testing, applying the material to othere activites, or by asking question. Good teachers use school "work" to emphasises the information and refresh their memories. The student "learning" part comes down to the teacher who is to motivate the student to know the material, and teach it to their students.

What Makes For Good Teaching?

A good teacher depends on the persons perspective or individual definition. In the movie, "The Ron Clark Story", Ron Clark, the new teacher in an inner Harlem school, goes out to meet the parents of his future students.* Some of the teachers thought that he just wanted to see how bad they lived their lives, and others thought that he may actually care about his students. I person who believes that power is the only way to control a classroom would watch this movie and think Ron Clark is CRAZY. In general, most people will say that a good teacher helps students understand the material in many creative and fun ways, uses school "work" as a way to enhance their learning, and shows their passion for teaching in the classroom.



* Side note: Great movie starring Matthew Perry, from "Friends" and based on a true story, and book.

Wow, What a Movie!!!

Brad Pitt's new movie, "Babel" is "a door to the unknown of today’s society’s". Based on the Biblical story ideas from Gen. 11:9, "Babel" goes through multiple series of misunderstandings, and interweaves the unfortunate circumstances of a Moroccan, an American, a Mexican and a Japanese family.

After the death of their infant, a couple goes to Morocco to escape and relax. But after a Moroccan family acquires a rifle and their two boys go out to test how far it can shoot, the Americans vacation becomes a life or death situation. Back in America, their children's caretaker wants to go to Mexico to a wedding and takes the children with. The movie also takes a side trip to Japan were the audience walks in the shadow of a deaf-mute teenage girl who craves for human contact.

"If you want to be understood...listen"

Many different reactions have been coming out of the theaters. One history education major from Luther stated, "it demands your attention, and uses the camera as a medium to understand the cultures and to make you uncomfortable about the issues it presents." For the most part, the movie was not what the audience expected or were surprised on how well it was put together.

For more information go to this link, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/, and find out for yourself what this drama, thriller, Brad Pitt movie is all about.