FIRGO

 I agree with the main idea of this article. I think many students of color do not always see themselves reflected in regular curriculum, and that can make school feel disconnected from their real lives, then history is told mostly from one perspective, it does not give the full picture.  I believe ethnic studies helps make education more honest and meaningful. It allows students to see their communities and experiences represented. When students feel seen and respected, they are more engaged and motivated to learn. Overall, I think this article shows why having a more inclusive curriculum is important for everyone, not just students of color.  

 After reading this article, I honestly agree with the main idea, I feel like schools focus too much on what students are doing wrong instead of what they are doing right. When students are always reminded of their weaknesses, it can hurt their confidence, I believe it would make more sense to focus on their strengths and help them grow from there.     I also think the part about leadership is important, if school leaders believe in supporting students strengths, teachers will follow that example. The section about middle school stood out to me too because those years really shape a student's future. Overall, this article matches what I already think: every student has something positive inside them. Schools should focus more on building those strengths instead of just fixing problems.  

 Reading this article really changed the way I think about educational policy because I used to see it as just laws or official decisions made by the government, but now I understand that it is much bigger than that. Policy is also shaped by funding systems, court rulings, accountability measures, and even economic pressure that influence what schools focus on every day. What stayed with me most is the idea that policy is not neutral; it reflects priorities, values, and power, and those things affect different communities in different ways, It made me think about how many inequalities in education are not random but are connected to how the system was originally structures continue over time. When funding depends heavily on local wealth, for example, it is clear that some schools start with advantages that others simply do not have. I also appreciated the discussion about how policies look one way on paper but can take a different shape when they are actually put into practice by t...

I agree with the author's critique of the traditional education system and how it limits creativity and independent thinking. When the author states that "Schools were designed on the model of the factory" it helped me understand why conformity and obedience are still emphasized today. The system was built this way from the beginning, and it continues to shape education across generations. I do recognize that nowadays there are efforts from school districts and teachers to make schools places where students can become more independent thinkers and less subordinate. Many teachers try to encourage discussion, creativity, and critical thinking. However, the system itself is still very strong.

Reading Alan Johnson made me rethink what really causes inequality in society. One line that stood out to me was when he says, "The trouble is not difference but privilege." This reinforced my thoughts that differences between people are normal and expected in any society, and that they are not the problem by themselves. The real issue is how privilege turns those differences into unfair advantages. Many advantages exist because of the way social systems were built from the very beginning, and this continues as a process that passes benefits from one generation to the next. Another part that stayed with me was Johnson's statement that "Privilege is not something we earn or deserve: it is something we are born into." At first, this was uncomfortable to think about, but it also felt honest, It made me realize that success is not only about effort, but also about access and opportunity that some people automatically have. Overall, this reading pushed...