Tracking- Jonathan

I think that tracking should be eliminated from schools, because I think that tracking either involves the use of pre-assumptions or makes no room for improvement. I think that students need mobility between classes because sometimes by not doing well in one class, the student is automatically left in the lower track. By being able to make one's own schedules or move between classes one is able to excel in the subjects they are good at, and try harder in the classes they are not as good at. Even more, tracking is usually decided by an individual's performance during a test, however if one is not a good test taker they are automatically put in a lower track, because of their actions during a 45 minute assessment. Later those 45 minutes would decide how colleges look at them, and by seeing that they are in a lower track of classes, they risk the chance of not going to a good college. I also think that in lower tracks, people risk not being given the attention they need, and sadly teachers think lower of them compared to those who are in the advanced set of classes. Hence, I think schools should eliminate tracking because once put in a lower track from one class, students are usually stuck in that track for all their classes. Thus, students should be given mobility, because although they might not do as well in one class, they might strive in another. So tracking should be eliminated, in exchange for a a schedule which incorporates the strengths and weaknesses of a student, so they may strive and be challenged in the according subjects. Lastly, mobility is the most important aspect so students can express their intelligence without being judged harshly or incorrectly, by race or any other stereotype, but rather by their intelligence and performance in that class.

On Microagressions

The weight of microaggressions is tremendous– but there isn't much that we can do about it. It is the unique background of everyone that creates microagressions, their biases, their skin color, their culture, their class. There is no way to erase these unique traits, thus there is no way to get rid of microagressions. Although this may be true, showing compassion towards other people can prevent microagressions from becoming a big problem. We can do this by catching ourselves as we notice that we are making insensitive comments and assumptions about other people. For this to happen we need to educate each other on different cultures and rid their minds of stereotypes; there is no way to know that we are doing something wrong if we don’t know what the right thing is supposed to be. I feel that this is the only way to cushion the blow that microaggressions make on people.

Microagressions continue to thrive because of the media. The media promotes stereotypes in TV shows and a white-dominant society by portraying whites as upper class citizens while other people as inferior to them. Stereotypes in the media assign roles to certain ethnicities, latching on to people’s minds, influencing them subtlety in their actions. 

Is the weight of micro-aggressions real or perceived?

Up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea what the word micro-aggressions meant. I was aware of what it was but, I didn't know it was such a pressing issue. Learning about micro-aggressions has made the controversial topic much more serious for me. I believe that the weight of micro-aggressions is definitely real. Even if a few people are being effected by them, then that makes it real. It's easy to say that someone is being hypersensitive, but there are some things that just should be handled with care or left unsaid. For example, saying that someone isn't the best at math because they're asian is an assumption that people shouldn't make. Then there is the case of asking someone about their cultural background. Sometimes it may be seen as offensive when someone asks "where are you really from" even if they have good intentions. In the end, the weight of micro-aggressions is real and should be handled with care

Micro aggression- Jonathan

I think Micro-aggression's perpetuate stereotypes, however because they are done unintentionally one cannot completely judge another for the assumptions. Micro-aggression's are  manifestations of customs from the past, and I think that these automatic assumptions are just ideologies from the past which are kept alive as parents share their customs with their children. Hence, I think that as a society we should focus on how to revolutionize the way children think, starting at a young age through their education in both, what they are taught, as well as who they are surrounded by. If a student learns about some race or some religion, yet is never exposed to it, they will continue to assume to fill in the space of what they don't know. I think another really important idea is to "push the envelope" on what is taught to kids, because of the fear in interfering with religion/ race as well as family customs. Nonetheless, we can't just avoid these topics because if we do, students will have to fill in the blanks spaces with what they hear at home as well as what they see on the media, which also perpetuate further micro-aggression's. Thus, as a school I think it's their job to expose children to the "real world" and teach how to appropriately respond as well as think when they a person who is different. Another important step, which might seem counter intuitive, is for the teenage generation now, to recognize our micro-aggression's and comprehend their faults. As people we need to know our errors and build from them, not ignore hem and do nothing to change. To improve this conflict each person has to recognize their false assumptions and move on from them. We need to expose ourselves to a diverse community and understand the different lifestyles of each one of us.

Matthew Boddewyn - Affirmative Action

Affirmative action in schools is a tactic that has potential to level the playing field between races immensely, but real world application can become a form of reverse racism. Accepting students based on their race to fill a quota is unacceptable as that makes less space for students who are more academically proficient. If the decision to accept two students of equal academic standing comes up and one is of a minority race and the school must fill a race quota I feel it is more acceptable to lean towards accepting the minority. The root issue is that schools system in general should not be racist towards minorities which would mean that there would not be a need for affirmative action. Affirmative action should not take president of academic standing for the reason that if it did it would become reverse racism. Another deeper issue that goes with affirmative action is the fact that minority students are not being given the same education as other students which means they are not getting equal opportunity. If minority students were given the same academic opportunities from an early age it would mean they would not need affirmative action because they would be able to have very good grades and have the same chance as other students to get into good collages.

Matthew Boddewyn - Microagressions

The weight of racially charged microagressions is very real. People have come accustomed to use these hurtful and offensive phrases without realizing their impact. Racial microagressions and purposeful racial insults are really very similar in how they impact people as both have similar connotations although one is intentional while the other is not. Saying a racial comment in a joking way can really hurt someone if they do not feel that it is a joke. Microagressions are rarely meant to hurt anyone but the fact is they can still hit a sensative nerve in someone that crosses the line between a joke and a hurtful comment. No one really ever means to be racist when they say a racist comment as a joke but because current society has been so exposed to social media like Vine and Facebook, making fun of someone's race has been common and to some extent 'O.K.'. The line between hypersensativity and a real offense has become somewhat grey because of this as some will find a joke funny while other will find the comment rude. To take out all racial comments would be to take one small, yet crucial, step towards ending racism. The fact that some might find a comment offensive means that no one should use that comment so that those who are hurt by it never have to experience it. People have come to be so 'loose' with the comments they make with one group of friends who is not offended by them, that they will make them with people who are affected by it and because it is not meant to be offensive, they will not realize that it is hurtful. Raising awareness is the easiest step to stop people from making bad jokes that can really hurt and realizing that racially charged microagressions carry a very real weight.

Microagressions

I think that the weight of microagressions is definitely real. When somebody uses a microagression, even if their intentions are good, it can still offend somebody, especially because microagressions come deep rooted racism in our society. Of course, there are instances in which people are being hypersensitive, and may be offended by a truly harmless comment, but even these occurrences are a result of all the microagressions that are constantly being used. Not everybody realizes that they're using a microagression or being insensitive, especially because nobody really comments on what the other person is saying. While some people think that the solution to eliminating microagressions is to rid society of its racism, I feel like this has been attempted and might not work for a long time. Instead, when somebody uses a microagression, we should gently let them know that their comments are offensive and untrue.