#5

This video gave me a sense of desperation in regards to Chicago's educational institution. There seems to be problems everywhere! The lives of children outside of school are afflicted with teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and homelessness. Additionally, the teachers are overworked and lack the resources to do something about this issue. The parents themselves cannot afford to be actively involved when they are concerned with feeding their children. Inadequate education only continues the cycle of poverty. I really liked the overall message of the video: not finding who to blame, but what can we do about this issue? This vague ending frustrated me initially because I just wanted to hear a simple solution. However, I realized soon after that there is no simple solution. Rather, there is a complex web of solutions to these problems. Family life, environment, schools, teachers, and laws all play a role in the educational inequalities in Chicago. We need to work towards improving each and every one of those factors instead of trying to pinpoint a single source of the problem.

Watching Malcolm X. London perform "High School Training Ground" brought chills down my spine. I felt the power and frustration behind each line he recited. I relate to the labeling of honors students versus regular students. At the middle school that I attended this was a big division like this. I was an honors student who hung out with regulars so I can relate to what it is like for London. However, it saddens me to think about how much more he has gone through living in Chicago. He touches on more serious incidences involving substance abuse and sadly, he is only one of many students experiencing similar struggles. He sees society as what it is and he realizes that the world around him is not right.

This video is very inspiring. Although the visuals show an athlete working out, this theme can be applied to any activity-or just life in general! I think that many times people get so caught up with their social lives that they lose track of what their goals are. The idea that stood out to me the most was about wanting something as bad as you want to breathe. This motivates me to focus more on what I want out of life and to relentlessly work towards achieving it. This is a valuable lesson that we all can learn from.

Seeing as how Malcolm X didn't mention a significant role any teachers played in his life, it seems the public education system is failing students in multiple ways. The educational institution does not provide a supportive community for children afflicted with many other problems outside of the home. Given the inadequate resources and extreme lifestyles of its students, public education has the possibility of offering a means of escape and a safe haven for these underprivileged children. However, by not establishing this positive environment for young adults, public schools fail their students. 

I hope that the students who come to visit us have open minds and are willing to listen to what we have to say. I hope to encourage them to succeed and continue on to college. After watching these videos, I see how difficult it may be to overcome the educational inequalities in this system. However, I hope that by lending an ear to these high school and by offering them support we can motivate them to strive for higher education. I hope that we can all be inspiration for them!