Literary Luminator

Alison Getsloff
Blog #7
Pages- 204-265
"Literary Luminator"

On page 209, it states,
" It is useful to remember that our present culture, especialaly through media imagery, foces early mating, romance, and sexualization on children."
"They live in one of the most gender-competitive cultures on earth, if not the most extreme."
"Adults gear much of their lives toward competition with each other for resources and attention. Thus, boys and girls are pitted against eachother as well, just as girls are pitted against girls and boys against boys. Peer pressure is used as a primary tool for socialization for a vulnerable early-adolescent child into a competitive, toughened adult. Although peer pressure and social cometitiveness have always existed, they have not existed between genders with the present level of pressure."


I kind of see where they are coming from with the whole idea of how peer pressure has always been a part of our culture, but I think today's day and age has had the worst kind of peer pressure yet. The media does have a great impact on how children see the world, and it currently isn't a good look.

On page 219, it states,
"This policy (school uniforms) is important to dimish peer pressure, promote school unity, and promote school pride."
"Girls and boys alike benefit as they cut back on psychosocial attempts to impress each other, dress up, or dress down, and focus instead on learning."


I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. I found it difficult growing up trying to "fit in". There were always new trends and new places to show and so much money to spend that I didn't have, that if we had uniforms it would have helped me feel as though I fit in.

On page 224, it states,
"Teachers play a far more crucial role than we have wanted to admit. We play it even more strongly than we did a generation ago, for the extended family, family, and other support systems are now generally shattered-fathers gone, mothers gone, grandparents gone, and so on. For many middle schoolers, the teacher is one of a bare handful of the most stable presences in a child's life. Even for those middle schoolers who have stability and networking through home, family and other systems, the teacher is still a significant mentor."


I also agree very strongly with this statement. Growing up, I had a very great support system at home, but still felt as though some of my teachers played an important role in my learning and life. My favorite teacher, my 9th grade math teacher, Mr. Young, still plays an important role in my life to this day. Building those trusting character bonds with a teacher right off the bat is very important and all teachers have to realize how many different children are in their classes and how many different backgrounds they may come from. Accepting, understanding and loving each child is essential.