Tongue Tied

Tongue Tied

Aria

Richard Rodriguez

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-JcBFAuLc-0MW5DdnZyVnpGSHc/view

ARGUMENT:       This author, Richard Rodriguez, argues that school is unfair and much harder for children who's first language is not English. I agree but I also would like to acknowledge the fact that teaching ESL learners, or English as a Second Language learners, has come a long way from where it once was. He explained the story of his family and how the school and its lack of resources for ESL learners changed his family. His teachers had given him issues inside of the classroom due to him constantly loosing interest in the topics and they proceeded to visit his home. Once at the home, his teachers told his parents that they had to change their lives at home to suit the schools needs. It is now proven that it is more beneficial for any ESL learners to have their lessons or classrooms changed to suit their needs, rather than the schools. Many teachers and schools did not support these children or give them the resources they needed to succeed. The children who did not grow up with English as their first language were forced into a classroom where this new language was thrown at them without warning or help. They were drowning in words they couldn't understand and they were stranded by those meant to support they futures. Now, teaching has evolved and new ESL classrooms led by specialized ESL teachers are becoming more common in areas where this type of specialized learning is needed. Teaching ESL learners has come a long way and I believe that it will continue evolving in amazing ways.

An article that supports this post: https://blog.esl-languages.com/blog/learn-languages/language-teaching-has-changed/

"Black Children Don’t Have Nick Sandmann’s Rights"

"Black Children Don’t Have Nick Sandmann’s Rights"

Elie Mystal 

https://www.thenation.com/article/black-children-nick-sandmann-savannah-guthrie/

"Some white people explaining away the racism of other white people to make white people feel better is a constant feature of the Trump era." (Mystal).

Many people today decide it is not worth it or that they just don't feel like fighting others when they express things in a racist way.  Instead of dealing with the problem or trying to fix it, many people just try to push it off as nothing. They pretend that it was not something that caused a problem. They play it off as though it was a one time event or that it doesn't matter. The problem with this is that, anytime anyone does something wrong, it matters. It matters especially when its issues involving inequality with things that people cannot change. When someone is acting in a way that is racist, and there are others around them not fighting it, they are saying that the problem is not a problem.

"Black children don’t get a PR firm and a softball interview when they are in need of redemption. They get an open casket and a good sermon when it’s time to appeal for grace. 
Black children have their side of the story too, but they don’t get to go on Today and explain their actions, because they are dead." (Mystal).

As seen in the media, it is seen that more white people are not fully penalized for the wrong doings they have committed. Many of those who are white and do something wrong are seen as misunderstood or are explained away as having emotional issues or childhood issues. These people have made mistakes and others are explaining away what they've done no matter how bad what they've done was. This is even happening with white teens that shoot up schools. It is unacceptable. 

"White children can “walk away.” They can “avoid the whole thing.” And if they don’t, well, they’ll probably live long enough to reflect on their actions “in hindsight.”" (Mystal).

Many black kids that are not doing anything wrong are being shot and killed for no reason. white children are killing others and mocking others cultures and tormenting others and are essentially getting slaps on the wrists. There are killers that are going to trial that people are trying to say are just misunderstood or were bullied so they shouldn't be getting punished for what they've done. There are black children who are being murdered by cops for walking down the street or for "looking too suspicious" or for being in their own apartments. Then, these cops are being told that what they have done does not need to be punished. 

Those who need to be punished are not being punished. Those who are innocent are dying. We need to start seeing those for who they arena treating them accordingly.

Nicholas Kristof, U.S.A., Land of Limitations

Nicholas Kristof

U.S.A., Land of Limitations

Quotes

• "A child born in the bottom quintile of incomes in the United States has only a 4 percent chance of rising to the top quintile, according to a Pew Study," (Kristof).

This quote is just beginning to explain the issue of unequal opportunity that is present in the United States. Many people don't like to acknowledge that these issues are occurring every day all around us because it doesn't directly affect them. Many people don't want to even look at the data that has been collected about these issues because many think that it will never affect them or that someone else will deal with the issue. A child who is not necessarily from a bad background, but of a background that did not give the child an ability to express themselves or to make their talents and such known to the outside world outside of their towns or cities. Many of these children are seen by their immediate peers, but no one else, so  they may fall behind compared to others who have broader connections.

• "talent is universal, but opportunity is not," (Kristof).

Many people are talented, however they don't have the resources to expand or show off their talents. They are forced to keep their abilities and their lives to themselves because, compared to those who have more money or are just all around more fortunate, they will not bet the same experiences or opportunities. Many children who are wealthier or are from better towns, or have experienced better upbringings may not be exposed to the same or even similar challenges a less fortunate child will face. A less fortunate child may not have the ability to a nicer school such as a private school. They also may not be able to have all of the possessions they might want or need to succeed.

• "What distinguished Rick wasn’t primarily bad choices, but intelligence, hard work and lack of opportunity. So let’s just drop the social Darwinism. Success is not a sign of virtue. It’s mostly a sign that your grandparents did well," (Kristof)

Many people gain the opportunities they due, due to the people around them. This mainly includes family members who are also well off or who also have connections. These connections can start with one person but many times they have a way of trickling down the family. This is one great reason as to why people in higher-up families end up in higher-up positions down the line. They begin their lives with these great opportunities and these opportunities never fade.

We should provide all children the opportunities to excel way past where they've come from. They all deserve to have the ability to grow as much as they can and to strengthen their futures.

Me!

My name is Julianna Esposito. I am 18 years old and an Elementary Education major. I am a freshman at Rhode Island College.

This was me at my senior prom. I loved my dress because it reminded me of both Beetlejuice and Alice in Wonderland and I love both movies greatly. I did my own makeup for my prom because I like to spend my time doing makeup.

I am a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority and I spend a lot of time hanging out  with my sisters and as a group we put on many events and fundraise for different organizations such as ANAD and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

I spent a lot of time this summer hanging out with my boyfriend, Josh, and we worked together at Bayview Fun Park, went to Six Flags, and went to the beach a lot.

This is my best friend Sierra. We also work together at Bayview, but we've known each other since middle school. We played lacrosse together for about six or seven years.

This is just a little bit of my life!