Impacting+Our+School's+Identity


 * media type="file" key="Changing Identity.swf" align="right" width="360" height="270"Music, Literature, and Technlogy Have the Power to Influence Change! **

//Understanding the big idea:// There is no question about it. Throughout the course of American History, the vehicles of music, literature, and technology have transformed our nation's identity. With each shift in eras, we see cultural, social, and historical transition. Someone's identity can be changed based on outside influences. This is true for America. This is also true for our school.

Here's the equation: // why + how = a change in identity //. If we understand the reasons (the why) music, literature, and technology have influenced American Identity in the past, then we can develop strategies (the how) to make a positive change in the identity of our school.

Are you ready to change our school? Let's go for it! (Perales, "Changing Identity")

Developing an Action Plan Part I: We decided to survey students in our school to see how you feel and what you think about music, literature, and technology, the way that they are used in our school, and the changes you would like to see. Your responses were overwhelming! You did your part, and we listened! We compared and considered your observations, reflections, suggestions, and requests. Because you are all individuals, of course, your responses varied greatly from one another, but there were some consistencies that cannot be ignored. For a full compilation of the "Your School Identity Survey", view this document: [|Facebook Survey Results.pdf].  Part II: Not only did we take your ideas into consideration, but we conducted research with the purpose of learning to use our findings to make a positive impact on our school. Our group's mission was to uncover the way that music, literature, and technology affected the identity of three eras in America's history. Ultimately, the result of our research indicates nine plausible applications of these areas to impact identity. We've taken into account the unique identities formed by music, literature, and technology in each of the three eras (3x3=9).

** Our Action Plan ** **Based on your answers and our research findings, we now answer the question:** //** How can we make a positive change in the identity of our school? **//


 * With Music**:

=
media type="custom" key="6407161" align="right"You're sitting in the school auditorium. Lights out. Waiting. And all of a sudden the curtains come up and your school's band orchestra is playing 'Ode to Joy'. The 9th symphony has been called 'beautiful', and has been known as one of the best symphonies ever created. Don't you think that would have a positive impact on the audience, who happen to be students who live in the community? Music itself can inspire people. One of the most beautiful pieces of work may churn something deep within you that hasn't been touched before. The will to help others. The feeling to make others happy and help the school is memorable. 'Ode to Joy' may reveal the beauty of the world to people whose eyes have been shut for their entire lives. The 9th Symphony truly is an 'ode to joy'.=====

=
Jazz music has been around for ages. It is one of the most emotional music genres still alive today because its foundations were built around the pain and injustice of slaves. I believe we may be able to use jazz in modern day to do similar actions. Writing and making jazz music about modern day problems may be able to stir emotions and initiate our school or community in attempting to make it a better world. Our school has a jazz band whom have a high degree of talent. Working together with them, we would be able to hold fundraiser concerts where this emotion-evoking music would be played. This way we may be able to raise money for causes and get our message across the community. Of course, this is all just an idea. No one is for sure it will work, but jazz has been around for years stirring the emotions of thousands. It may be the genre for which our school has been looking.=====

=
Using pop music on the contemporary error can be re-developed to send a message to our school to prevent bullying. For example simply re-creating a familiar song using audio applications and record your own words to send a message of the effects of bullying and cyber bullying on others. This message can be posted via internet, school brodcast/website, and local broadcast for the community. Bullying is a growing problem in our schools and communitty. A positive message can help thousands of students and citizens cope and prevent future bullying victims.=====

=
Most of the students in our school seem to be genuinely interested in music and think it plays a big role in today's community. Music has been around since the beginning of time and continues to inspire people in many ways. Most of you agreed that music brings people together in for many reasons. For example, people listen to music during times of mourning and celebration. You also agree on the power of musical expression. People use music to express their feelings and reach out to others who can relate to their feeling as well. It can also be used in competitive situations, as one of you suggested. For example, schools use music to compete in marching band competitions, talent competitions, and even through the form of dance and cheerleading. Through musical competitions and sharing the same feelings, music brings out school spirit that creates a closeness our school needs to create the peaceful living we crave.=====

Almost all students who completed the survey described our school as fun, unique, or creative. You agreed that literature is either important or very important at our school. Perhaps that’s because English is a required course. Sixty-seven percent of you believed literature could positively impact our school’s identity. One student offered that literature has changed because, “through observation the human condition has become more evident and through conversation and interaction, language evolves”. Certainly that is supported by our research findings. According to what you said, we can use literature in our school to expose one another to alternative ideas and perspectives, open our minds to different ways of reacting to literature, make the school feel more academically-driven, enrich students, and come out well-rounded on the other side. One complaint regards essential literature, or a pre-determined body of literature from which teachers must select their novels for a particular level of English. In our school, we are limited by the novels that the district mandates. While some of you are fine with literature the way it is currently being used, we have to take in the needs of the school as a whole. Keane's right: Everybody's changing, and if we don't want to be left behind, we have to understand why ("Everybody's Changing by Keane Stranger").
 * media type="custom" key="6403953" align="right" With Literature**:

Literature of the Revolutionary Era helped America cut ties to its past. It impacted the identity of the era by instilling it with a sense of pride, patriotism, and nationalism. It united Americans while laying a solid foundation for us to grow independently from our mother country. In high school, a lot of kids begin to have trouble in their relationships with their parents and guardians because they are “coming into their own”. By studying literature of the Revolutionary Era in our school, we can equate nationalism with our own pride in our school. By mimicking the writing of the era, we know that our words have the power to persuade and change the way that other people see the way things are now.

Literature of the Harlem Renaissance compelled Americans of all colors to see our world through the eyes of the minority. African-American writing was respected for the first time in our nation’s history. It impacted the identity of the era by driving America to be a country that is culturally aware and that respects those who may be different from the norm. Out of that literary movement came a boom in African-American art and music as well. By studying the literature of the Harlem Renaissance, like Hughes and Hurston, we, as students, can learn how writing is empowering. By imitating Harlem Renaissance writers, we accept that words have the power to change, and we begin to influence change through our own writing. Our school’s identity is impacted positively because we all have conflicts like racism, sexism, persecution of homosexuality, and we now know that through writing about these issues, we can help other students and teachers in our school to see things differently, and maybe respect something for the first time.

Literature of the Contemporary Era continues to follow the changing identity that Americans have of themselves, and the way that they are viewed by others around the world. The great works of the era take risks, cross boundaries, question the past, and give voices to any American who wants to contribute. This impacted the American Identity by promoting both diversity and individuality. By studying Contemporary literature, we are able to track the continuing changes in cultural norms and values. Desegregation of race, age, sex, class, and station are all the result. Contemporary era literature asks us to not to take anything at face value, but that that there should be a search for meaning. By imitating Contemporary era writers like Didion, Gaines, Tan, and so many others, we make a conscious decision to use our own voice to expose and entertain.Our school’s identity is impacted positively because you told us you were a unique school, both original and different; Contemporary literature celebrates those qualities!

Clearly, studying literature alone does not make change occur. Writing is an essential component. Reading, responding critically to what we’ve read, and writing our own pieces in similar form opens doors that expose us to things we did not know before. The human condition evolves through observation, as one of you put so succinctly, and language evolves through conversation and interaction. If we want to evolve and positively change the identity of our school using literature, one more thing needs to occur. We want to be a fun school, and essential literature is “not” fun for many of us. One student responded, “Being forced to read certain classical works ruins the story.” Since essential reading isn’t going away, don’t let these novels replace your personal reading explorations, but instead enhance them. Each novel was picked for a reason; there is something to gain. Don’t see that as a bad thing! It’s an excellent opportunity for us to read something that our peers are reading too, because no two of us will ever see the same novel the same way, making for profound class discussions and debates. Take advantage of these “required readings” by taking whatever you can get from them, the good and the bad.In our survey, you told us you want to be well-rounded when you graduate, that you want to see alternative ideas and different ways of reacting to literature. Well, here’s your chance!


 * With Technology**:

=
Technology continually evolves as time goes on. What we once thought was technology is not even really considered technology anymore in today's terms. If you think of a shovel, at one point in time, that was technology because it helped farmers dig the dirt to plant crops which was easier than using their hands. In today's society, technology is more so considered some type of electronic device such as a computer or cell phone. Just like the shovel, our current technologies make our lives easier, but now we are able to have more entertainment in our lives instead of just work.=====

=
In our school, technology is drastically changing how we learn. A school system used to be soley based around textbooks, paper, and pencils. Now, our school system is straying away from traditional methods and incorporating technologies that are important in the work force today. Knowing how to use a computer is one of the most valuable tools to acquire in today's society. Almost every single job revolves around a computer some way or another. Therefore, the school system now has to teach what is important to know for the current workforce. However, after watching the YouTube video provided on the technology page, it is clear that what you are learning in schools today might be obsolete in the future and that you are preparing for jobs that might not even be available. This just goes to show how important education is; never stop learning because our world is constantly changing!=====

=
Many of you noted that the use of technology in our schools is not at the level which you would like. Most of your teachers have you using word processors. You told us there are teacher computers, a mobile computer lab, projectors, and a variety of other resources, but that teachers aren't giving you the opportunity to use advanced technology themselves. You want learning to be fun for you! Most of you are using social networking, cell phones, and iPods when you get home, but what are you allowed to do during the school day? We need to urge teachers to give us the technological skills to be successful in the future as well as content knowledge. Petition our school administration to give students opportunities to learn and apply valuable 21st century critical thinking and technological knowledge that you want to use. You, as an individual or part of a group, can make a change in your school's identity by asking for what you want! You might be surprised at the results.=====