Extra Stuff

Sheslow, David V. "Learning Problems." Kids Health November 2008: 1-3. Web. 25 Feb 2010 kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/learning_disabilities.html#>.

This article is about how you can identify learning disabilities, what they are, and how to tell if you have one. It makes sure to explain that people with learning disabilites aren't stupid.

This magazine article is used to explain what learning disabilities are, by names. There are different types and not all of them are the same. It also gives us symptoms for every learning disadvantage and how you can control it. The article really emphasizes that people with learning problems aren't slow or stupid they just take longer to learn things.


"Learning Disabilities." MedicineNet.com 1-6. Web. 25 Feb 2010. www.medicinenet.com/learning_disability/page2.htm

The article talks about all different types of aspects relating to learning disabilities. They give statistics and more research.

I actually think it was very interesting that the article said 1 of every 5 people have a learning defficiency. That to me is a very high number. But then again I think back to how 7 people in our class of like 20 had a learning disability. This also brings back what Andy said about docotrs diagnosing everyone with learning problems.


Geergaard, Lauren. "Psychiatrists propose changes in how doctors diagnose and name mental disorders ." Feb 10, 2010. associated press, Web. 25 Feb 2010. www.newser.com/article/d9dp52k00/psychiatrists-propose-changes-in-how-doctors-diagnose-and-name-mental-disorders.html>.

Article based on how some illness diagnosis should be revised. Also how they name them.

This article caught my attention at once because it's about the overdiagnosis of not only learning disabilities but also other things such as binge eating (which is different from bulimia). Also it says that antidepressants, medication, and all that stuff's prescriptions have soared. Very interesting. Here's the link to the draft.
http://www.DSM5.org


Drugs.com. Web. 25 Feb 2010. .

Ritalin is used for ADD and ADHD. It should be used with other forms of helping your disorder as well.

So I decided to look up medicines treated to help learning problems. Ritalin seems to be the most common one. It says Ritalin should be part of a total treatment plan which also includes social, psychlogical, and educational measures. This is all good and dandy. Then I started looking at the side effects and umm they're serious. Hallucinations and dangerously high blood pressure sound extremely serious to me.


Drugs.com. Web. 25 Feb 2010. .

Adderall is also used for ADHD. It's also used to treat narcolepsy and other things that might not be mentioned in that article.

"Some stimulants have caused sudden death in children and adolescents with serious heart problems or congenital heart defects." WOWOWOW then why are we giving this to kids? We're giving kids with learning disorders drugs that might kill them. Why not just let them suffer some in Math?

P.S. This info has nothing to do with my paper. My paper is personal experience so there was nothing to look up but I found this interesting.



"High School Graduation." Florida Education Associtaion. 2010 Legistlative Program, Web. 4 Mar 2010.
Article names graduation rates in Florida by races and total. The total number of graduates is 76%.


Einhorn, Erin. "Study shows New York City has one of the nation's sorriest graduation rates." Daily News (2008): n. pag. Web. 4 Mar 2010.


Article says that using 2004 numbers, NYC's graduation rate is 45.2 for city public school kids earning on time diplomas. Ummm WOW.

School Blows Mine

Teil 1
Questions:
1. Why is school more about social status and acceptance rather than about learning and education?
2. Why have schools become so digitalized?
3. How can we help make schools a better environment for all students and teachers?
Ideas:
1. School isn't as important as it use to be to kids.
2. Curriculum is being tampered with by the teacher's own ideas and thoughts.
3. SOF is not a normal school.
Experiences:
1. Drunk students in school.
2. Teacher/student relationships.
3. Fights with students over little things.

Teil 2
So in every class we are doing some kind of digitalized work. In History it's this blog thing, English we have to type whatever we hand in, Math we are using calculators to solve work that should be done by hand, and Science we use all those gadgets and we have homework on UTexas, which is a website. I find it remarkable how quickly teachers are to point their long, greasy fingers at us for using our phones and our "addiction" to electronics yet they don't realize they are playing into it by digitalizing everything we do.

Who needs a blog? Why can't we just hand in written work? Why type something when most people write it first in class? Teachers are buying into this addiction and then are quick to say that we are dependent. But then aren't they as dependent? They also depend on these electronics we use all the time to get their grades done or to communicate with other teachers for whatever reason they may have to do that. It's like we get blamed for adapting to this changing world when they are part of the reasons we adapt.

Personally I wouldn't go on the computer in my house unless it was to do homework or update my ipod. While I'm on the computer though doing this digital homework I see things that distract me and it takes me on tangents to do and google other things when at first I just went on to do homework. Not everyone may be like that but for me personally I think homework of this sort makes me more dependent on electronics because I have to use them to get it done.

This may just be me but I like doing things by hand. I like seeing all my work out especially in math. Now we have those freaking T9 or some number calculator that does all the labor for us. We insert numbers into this little computer and we don't even know what the numbers mean. I think we should just go back to the old days where my equations were written out and my English homework written neatly in pen.

I Want In

When I first started this project I wanted to make a music video that showed the idea of what cool is to students. This project however was a complete fail so instead I am going to do a writing piece. So I guess here it goes:

"I'm so fat." said Kiara.
"No, your're not. Your sexy." said Jonathan, Kiara's boyfriend.
"Yeah, you're right. I am." replied Kaira. She then giggled.
I put my head down because they began kissing and I didn't want them to see me staring. They were such a beautiful couple. So talented and well known. I wish I had a boyfriend or someone who even liked me. Instead I'm sitting here just staring down at my half eaten pizza and the untouched banana. I picked up my tray and just as I turned around, I bumped into him. He was tall, muscular, and hot.
"I-I-I am soooo sorry." I said, on the verge of tears. How could I be so clumsy and such an idot to bump him.
"Hey no it was my fault. I'm sorry." he said with a smile. "Why don't you let me throw that out for you?"
"Umm oh well thanks." This is so not happening.
"Your name is Kristen right?"
My name Kristen, umm wait is it? Oh yea it is. Talk before he thinks your retarted. "Yeah it is." Try to sound cool. "And your Max Wilson." Omg did I really just say his whole name. I'm an idiot.
"Yup that's me. What's your next class?"
"I have hell on wheels Ms. Thomas."
"Hahahahaha"
Omg is he really laughing at my joke? I made Max Wilson laugh! This is the best day of my life.
"That is too funny, Kris. Do you mind if I call you Kris?"
I actually hated when people called me Kris but when he said it I heard wedding bells. "No sure go ahead"
"Well let me walk you to class."
"REALLY?! I mean ummm yea of course. I mean sure why not?" Please stop talking Kristen. Please just shut up.
"Haha your cute, Kris. The right kind of girl for me."
Shocked face. Did he really just say that? I must be in a dream.
"Well here is 304, Ms. Thomas."
Why does this have to end? "Yeah thanks for walking me though"
"Hey no problem. Listen a couple of us are going out tonight. Do you want to come, you know, like as my date?"
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Max Wilson just asked me out. I'm dreaming. I'm dreaming. My alarm is about to go off. No way no way. "Yea I would like that."
"That's great. Pick you up at 8, ok?"
"Yeah, that's great."
"Bye, Kris" and then he leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye, Max. See you tonight at 8!" My life is complete now.

Later on that night,
"Hi, Kris."
"Hey, Max. How are you?"
"Great now that your with me. Listen before we go to Jonathan's house I have to stop and pick up some things, is that ok with you?"
Still dazed by his reply to how he was, I managed to mumble a "uhuh, sure"
"You look beautiful, Kris. Sexy and perfect."
"Thanks. You look great too." I am in a car with Max Wilson, the most popular guy in school and he just called me perfect. WOW!!
We drove in silence for a while. Then he stopped at the liquor store.
"I'll be right back baby. Try not to miss me too much." he said with a smile and then just got out of the car.
What are we doing here? He can't get alcohol. We're only 16. I can't drink. My parents will kill me. I'll just say no if he asks. He won't be mad I hope. Will that make him not like me? There's no reason for me to bug out anyways. He can't get it.
He came out of the store with 2 bags. Omg he got it. They gave it to him.
"I got Bacardi, Patron, and Vodka. That should be good right? Do you like those?"
"Oh no I don't drink. Thanks though." Please don't get mad please.
"Hahaha there you go again being cute. But for real, do you like those?"
"I am being serious. My parents are anal about stuff like that." Wow I sounded like a total nerd.
"Ohh" he said "Well listen maybe I shouldn't have invited you tonight. There's gonna be lots of drinking and if you can't hang, you can't come. Don't worry though I'm a nice guy. I'll take you home."
Nooonononono Kristen you cannot let this happen. He likes you and your about to blow it because of one night of drinking. You cannot let this happen. "Hahaha I was kidding. Of course I drink. Duh who doesn't?!" Please let this work please.
"Oh ok good. I was about to say your a loser." he leaned into me "I didn't think someone as pretty as you could be a loser though. Your too perfect." And then just like that he kissed me. It was an amazing, powerful kiss that lasted all of 3 seconds until he tried putting his hand up my skirt.
"Woah wait. Don't you think this is too soon?"
"Hahaha Kris, baby you're too cute. All this good girl nonsense though cut it out before we get to the party. They won't like you if they think your a straight edge." And just like that he started to drive.
Ok so now what? Do I wanna put my pride aside and just do whatever it is they wanna do or do I ask him to take me home? That's like asking do you wanna live alone forever or be a superstar? It's just one night right? Nothing that serious is going to happen. I'll be fine. This is the price I have to pay if I wanna be in with this crowd. Once I'm in though it'll be better. I won't be forced to do anything. Yea that's right. I just have to prove I'm chill and down for whatever. Then it won't matter. With a smile and that mindset, I opened the car door and stepped out of the car prepared to do anything it took for them to like me.

1. What insights about cool does the art integrate? What do you hope people will realize or question from their encounter with your art?
I think my art shows the lines some people will cross to be cool and accepted. My character was a young girl who just wanted to be cool according to some boy's standards so she was willing to do things she didn't believe in to just be accepted. Once she was in with the crowd she thought she would be able to be herself again but this is not true. Once you create a cool face with people you must keep this face in order to still be cool.
2. Describe the process of making the project - how'd you do each step? If it was a group project, what did you contribute?
It first started off as a group video project. We had too many people however with too many different ideas so that didn't go well. So I decided to write a story about how I felt at times in middle school. Not this exact thing but more dramatized version of it.
3. Does making art seem cool to you? Why or why not?
I think it is because you get to express your feelings and let people see what you really think about cool.