Blog Post #12

The importance of play is simple.  "Recess provides children with the freedom to explore to find out who they are, their strengths, their weaknesses, and keeps them physically fit" (Research Paper).  However, the importance of play has shifted greatly in school systems.  School systems all over America believe that recess is not a neccesity for children.  "How did it become recess vs. education? It should be recess plus education. Time to play and get some physical activity will improve the education our kids are getting” (Hammond 218).  School systems need to realize that play is just as important as education.  Children need play inorder to be successful adults in the world.  All those bumps, bruises, and scrapes are good for children. 

Blog Post #11

Professor Rawlslyn Francis!  I love you!  You are such and amazing teacher and I am so happy to have been able to be in your ENC 1101.  Thank you for all you have done.  I am telling all of my friends to take you in the spring.  I look forward to seeing you again next fall.  Oh and make sure you are here this Thursday.  You are going to have your mind blown.  Have a good Christmas, Happy New Year, and summer.  I will see you next fall for your ENC 1102.

Blog Post #10

“You dream big, and if you’re given the opportunity to achieve that audacious dream, you do whatever’s necessary to make it happen. And you never let anyone down.” - Darell Hammond (77)


Paper Prompt:
Think back to when you were a child and how people would tell you that you can do whatever you want, only if you set your mind to it. Most of us grew up with that thought always in our minds and now we are achieving our dreams. However, in today’s society, children are growing up with the thought that everything will be handed to them on a silver platter. In this paper, analyze and evaluate how the parents and even the schools are supporting this negative thought into the younger generation and the harmful effects it is causing. Create an argument that demonstrates the link between the parents and the schools about the new way children are thinking.

Blog Post #9

Back in elementary school, I was a tomboy who thought I was the best at everything, especially on the playground.  The play ground that was at my elementary school was big.  The playground had everything from monkey bars to swings to slides and even more than that.  The only down side to the playground was the fact that it was made out of wood and the wood was old.  I remember just simply touching it and getting splinters all in my hands and then having to get them pulled out of my hands everyday.  It was very painful but worth it.  When it came to the monkey bars, I was the best at doing tricks and climbing them even though I would end up with so many blisters I wouldn't be able to close my hand.  I remember racing my friends to see who could get to the swings faster without wiping out.  I was a huge runner back then and would always get challenged by the boys.  The boys would lose most of the time.  I would have to say though, the one thing I remember most when I was playing on that playground was the sense of freedom to do whatever I wanted.

This is a picture of me in 4th grade at Sunshine Park in Jacksonville Beach.
I miss these days.

Blog Post #8

In "When the Levees Broke, Act 1 of 4," it talked about when the people of New Orleans got the first warning that Hurricane Katrina was coming.  The forcaster models showed Katrina quickly intensifying and making a turn for New Orleans.  Even though the governer and mayor both called state of emergency, most residances decided to stay and ride it out.  They thought they could ride it because of Hurricane Betsy in 1965.  Sadly, they were wrong.  Many people lost there lives because they dround and the ones who lived were slowly dying because of the heat while waiting on the buses to arrive to take them somewhere safer.

During the documentary, you can here people screaming for help and saying how much they wish the government would come faster to save them.  The New Orleans people even had days without food and water because the government couldn't get there fast enough with supplies.  It was just sad to see everything that these people held dearly gone in a flash.  The sadest part was when I saw a man floating in the water, because he dround.  Houses with notes on them saying "Dead people inside."  I can't even begin to imagine what they went through, but one thing for sure, is that this story will never be forgotten.

Blog Post #7

While reading "What Makes a Very Good Bad Guy" by Olivia Collette, I started to remember Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises."  In the movie, Bane plays a good villian, however, he is very obvious.  He shows what his weakness is, like the article said, when he simply just had his hands in two fists on his chest, poised to protect the mask.  Bane is a smart villian but sadly takes second place to his partner, Marianda.  Overall through the whole movie, Bane really doesn't have a set purpose.  At least the Joker had purpose and set of morals.  Anyways, I thought that "The Dark Knight Rises" was a good movie, however, next time they need to come up with a villian that has some kind of purpose and a set or morals.

Blog Post #6

 

In Sherry Turkle's presentation "Connected, But Alone?," she emphasises how much we are relying on technology in our lives.  These little devices in our pockets are so psychological powerful that they do not only change what we do, but they change who we are.  We are relying too much on these devices to make us happy, keep us entertained, and change our moods when we should be turning to actual people.  When you think about it, most Americans use their phones for email, social media, and texting.  They rarely call each other.  I can not believe that we are relying on our phone so much that we are letting it control our lives.  For example, I know that it is very hard for me to picture my life without my phone.  I use it constantly and I am always checking it 24/7.  I even sleep with it.  I am so ashamed at myself for not being able to put my phone down or turn it off.  Turkle just wants us to understand how much we are hurting ourselves and she wants us to unplug and turn to actual people versus our devices.

You can find out more in her book: