Blog Archives

Let's Help Charllie

1/31/2019

Ariana "Charlie" Dewberry was an IB student at Lancaster High School. She graduated in 2017. I taught her English and TOK. She was a brilliant student. Bubbly, helpful, intelligent, academic and an awesome reader!

At the time of this writing, Charlie is classified as a sophomore at Sam Houston State University. She has maintained all A’s and B’s since enrollment, and accomplished her goal of being on the Dean’s list! She was excelling!

Then, life happened and it all changed.

Late in October, what doctors thought was a viral infection, and later, muscle pain and a UTI, turned out to be a rare illness that has caused Charlie to need around the clock care.

Just barely in her 20s, a once vibrant young girl who was living life, carving out her future and enjoying college was now back at home, wheelchair bound, unable to see or even bathe herself. She spent her birthday in December wondering, "why me?" To date, doctors still do not know what is wrong with Charlie.

But as it is her way, giving up is not an option for Charlie. Although she is able to walk again (sans walker), she still cannot see. Nevertheless, through it all, her mother has not left her daughter’s side. Like her daughter's, her mother's life was drastically changed. At one point, she had to feed and bathe her daughter all over again.

Although her job is protected by FMLA, her medical leave is without pay. While we do not know why nor how Charlie was struck with this mysterious illness, we do know that we can be there to support her mother with financial and food donations.

If you are willing and can, do something to help Charlie! Click her to visit her GoFundMe page and help give her family peace and light. 'Ase!

Click here>> Let's Help Charlie!

Read the commentary above, then make a decision. Also, comment intelligently, academically and with fidelity.

1. INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.

2. Respond in no more than 10 sentences and no less than five.

3. You MUST respond to at least TWO other posts from any student. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.
Be sure to--

Be clear about your position
Provide specific support for your argument
Use rhetorical devices and other grammar elements
Write EPIC Content-Engaging, Powerful, Informative, Creative

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school or your parents with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. It's all or nothing.

Due: Fri., Feb. 1, 2019 11:59 p.m. CST

Are You Prepared?!?

1/26/2019

It took me a while to write this post. It’s been difficult. I started it about a week after our government shut down. My struggle comes from mind-wrestling with my thoughts and what I want to shout out loud about the sufferers of this malady. Nevertheless, however sincere I may feel, my sentiments might be misconstrued as judgmental.

But then, our senior meeting at school happened. Demands were given and privileges were taken. The school’s leadership is providing FREE ACT, SAT, TSI and Advanced Academics study sessions on Saturdays and the students aren’t having it!

The administrators offered that they want to ensure the success of all students in this 21st century global market and economy. The students offered back that we are trying to force something they might not want.

Record scratch.

Who does NOT want success in their life! It saddens me to the point it’s almost laughable that many young people in vulnerable populations have rose-colored glasses on and cannot see past today! Why wouldn’t you want to be locked and loaded with as much education, training, stamina and preparation that you can get to solidify your success? You think luck and prayer is going to get you by? Newsflash: There’s no such thing as luck—just preparation meeting opportunity. And faith without work will not unlock any doors.

Complaints such as, “it’s Saturday” or “I have job” or “we’re going to protest” run the gamut of excuses that I hear students shouting about. However, a job is all they will have if they don’t receive adequate education and training to forge a career. And protest?? Because someone wants to give you an education?? (Go be okay with that.) Right now, I just don’t think students today see the forest for the trees. Their entitlement both startles and devastates me at the same time.

Unfortunately, instead of buckling down trying to be successful on these exams or retaking them to get a better score in order to compete in a 21st century market, our students have been culturally conditioned into believing that mediocrity is okay. That mindset needs to change, now.

When I was growing up, if I received a “B” on my report card, my dad would ask, “Oh yeah? Why isn’t it an A?” And in college, when I did get “A’s,” he’d want to know the points then ask, “Oh yeah? Why a 92 instead of a 100?” At the time, I thought that was harsh. But I realized soon after, is that he was breaking some generational cycles of complacency. The higher I earn, the higher I can go!

So with that, I’m worried that many of the victims of “the shut down” do not have the skills, acumen or wherewithal to just say, “screw it,” and go find another job or create their own wealth as entrepreneurs. Did they not take advantage of opportunities such as the ones our district is offering our students? Did they settle for mediocrity instead of consistently pushing themselves to improve? Did they not load up on multi-industry skills so that changing industries would be as breezy as changing clothes? We may never know. Do you know? How will you prepare to live your best life with the skills and resources that you currently have?

Alas, life is going to hit hard. All human beings will learn one way or another that you have to work for everything you get in this life.

Read the commentary above, then comment intelligently, academically and with fidelity.

1. INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.

2. Respond in no more than 10 sentences and no less than five.

3. You MUST respond to at least TWO other posts from any student. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.
Be sure to--

Be clear about your position
Provide specific support for your argument
Use rhetorical devices and other grammar elements
Write EPIC Content-Engaging, Powerful, Informative, Creative

Cultural Capital

1/13/2019

Martin Luther King Jr.'s bEARTHday is coming up. When I think about Martin Luther King Jr. and all that he sacrificed, not only for his children, but for all children, I cannot help but wonder whether all black men have a responsibility to protect, provide for and unconditionally love all black women.

Then, I think about Robert Sylvester Kelly and how he did the exact opposite of Dr. King when it comes to protecting little girls.

I'm biased. Period. So, let me start this post with, “I always thought Kels was trash." Me too Questlove. I never have been crazy about the over-the-top bravado in his throat when he sings. Nevertheless, I was compelled to talk about this article that I read in a national news publication about celebrity opinions on the entire ordeal.

According to Chance the Rapper, “We’re programmed to really be hypersensitive to black male oppression." Priceless! This is why so many black women and men can still support R. Kelly. And singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and dancer, Ne-Yo says what I believe it is past time for someone to have stepped up and said.

“Music is important. It really is. But it’s not more important than protecting our children, protecting our little girls. Period." What he's saying is Kelly's art imitates his life! (Go be cool with that), but that still does not justify supporting his wrongdoings.

“We’ve all been inspired by this man. We’ve all been witnesses to his musical genius. We have shaped and molded talent we sign after his musical image. We’ve invested so much of ourselves into this man that it’s hard for us to let go. I no longer have that issue.”

Thank you Tank. No one should. And and for those who are bird box blinded by his light and dollar signs. "There has to be a line drawn. Enough has to be enough at some point," says Tank.

Finally, for everyone slobbering about "where were the parents?" of all those young girls. While they do have major responsibility in all this, unless you were and had the Knowles clout to be a presence in that snake pit studio, Kelly's "compound" was iron-clad with goons. Broke, generic parents were not going to have access to the area, let alone their girls. Period.

Finally, Aaliyah's mama needs to sit all the way down! Destiny's children were in the same sex-slaved studio, recording their music too, but Daddy Knowles said even when Destiny's children had to use the restroom, they walked them there. So if Aaliyah's mama wasn't there doing that, or at the ceremony when her daughter was getting married and someone was forging her a fake age, she needs to stop with the "I was always around" song. She was probably getting paid like the rest.

It's sad that little girls get taken advantage by older men all the time. But I remember a time when all the grown men I knew protected little girls from all the predators of the world, even when they were not their daughters. I wish we could get back to that. Girls are pretty awesome, but not for the pleasure of someone who they should be able to look up to.

Read the commentary above, then comment intelligently, academically and with fidelity.

Be clear about your position
Provide specific support for your argument
Use rhetorical devices and other grammar elements
Write EPIC Content-Engaging, Powerful, Informative, Creative

McCareer or McFail?

1/10/2019

Recently, I had been thinking about franchising. When the thought occurred, I wondered, what restaurant could I own that would be the most profitable. The only one I could think of was McDonald's. In every city, in every state, in every country, they thrive. But as quickly as I got the thought, I became conflicted. McDonald's is not a plant-based restaurant. So, how would I justify eating one way, but selling foods that I don't stand behind? Maybe I was just thinking too hard. I let the thoughts linger.

Then, out of nowhere, I read an article about three black women who own a total of 18 McDonald's restaurants. One is the mother. The other two are her daughters. Initially, I beamed with pride. Wow. Black women doing their thing.

Then, I looked on social media. The comments ranged from, "Go girls!" to "Sell out!" I was confused. But when I looked closer at the comments, I was surprised by the number of people who feel that these women, no matter how successful, are doing their culture an injustice by selling foods to a demographic that statistically, keeps them ill with disease and obesity.

One commenter was unequivocally upset pointing out, "That's not something to be proud of. Feeding rubbish to our people. This is why folks are obese, have high blood pressure, or are suffering from diabetes. Who posted this? Why? Trippin." At first I thought, no worries, I'll change the menu and be the most different McDonald's there is on the planet!

Then I saw this: "McDonald’s has the worst food out of all the fast food chains. They own a franchise, do you know what that means? That’s means they follow what the corporation tells them to do. They can’t stop using the same “meat” that all the stores use, the same meat that is packaged from corporate. They can’t stop using the coated French fries that everyone tends to love. They can’t do their own promotional tactics and so forth. So it's dope that they own franchises, but they’re still working under the corporation and if the corporation isn’t liking how your numbers are doing they can cut you off completely."

And finally, "You blame the dealer rather than the junkie that can't control their habits."

And that was a "drops mic." So I'm back to square one with a lot of thinking to do. A lot of people are not happy about this. What does your moral compass point to?

Read the commentary above, then comment intelligently.

1. INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.

2. Respond in no more than 10 sentences and no less than five.

3. You MUST respond to at least TWO other posts from any student. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.
Be sure to--

Be clear about your position
Provide specific support for your argument
Use rhetorical devices and other grammar elements
Write EPIC Content-Engaging, Powerful, Informative, Creative

Mixed Ink

Mixed Ink is our class blog, the window into our souls. It was designed to improve students' writing, critical thinking and communication skills by giving them a platform to provide meaningful content based on their interpretation of what they see.

Although the students receive a grade based on a rubric for completing this assignment, they are not graded on complexity of thought. This is a place where students of all levels can freely, confidently and creatively express themselves and their opinions in a nonjudgmental platform. They are required to respond to and critique each other, but degradation, slander, lewdness, etc., will not be tolerated.

Bridge Builders

All subjects are vital to learning, but English is the bridge of communication. So let's build the arch, one word at a time...

Grading Rubric

Learning Objectives

Communicate effectively
Be aware of current events
Write concisely
Boost critical thinking skills
Be accountable
Follow directions
Have a voice about what goes on in the world around you