A Different Kind of Learning

What is an education apart from a diploma or a title? Why do we care about it? Is our educational system really just? These questions are among a few of the many that OSU Spanish students who were involved in the annual learning community discussed. The learning community is a 15 credit non-traditional theme-based class with the goal of creating a community setting within the classroom, as well as giving back to the greater community in which we live. The learning community encourages students to relate what they learn in school to personal problems and social justice. The class is made up of roughly half Latino and half Anglos students in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the perspectives and experiences of others.  This year’s theme focused on education within the Latino community. Some of our class activities included attending a legislative hearing about tuition equity, writing and performing a play about university life for students from Woodburn Elementary, and meeting with a panel of activists for education in Salem. Outside of class time we were required to do eighty hours of service within the community, as well as carry out a research project, which investigated the academic obstacles Latinos in our community face.

What we learned about the “Latino education crisis” both inside and out of class shocked many of us. While Latinos are the fastest growing minority in our country they remain far behind other groups in academic success. This could have huge ramifications for the entire society if we continue to ignore the fact that we are leaving many children behind. According to the books that we read in class, there are many factors that contribute to this disparity including a lack of social and cultural capital, lack of economic resources, and unfair treatment in school. The research that we carried out in the community supported much of what we read in class.

As our final project for the class we are organizing a local campaign to educate people about the issues we have discussed in class. We will be making and distributing brochures in the community to raise awareness about the results from our research as well as available resources for community members.

 This class has helped me better understand the real meaning of an education; a privilege that comes with a responsibility of giving back to the community and fighting for social justice. The true goal of learning has been lost in many forms of formal education, but being part of this learning community has been a great reminder of what an education really signifies. In the words of one interviewee who participated in our research, “Education means the knowledge and power to offer service to the rest”.  

 

            

I am sending this to climbing magazine...I doubt they will publish it but it's worth a try huh? 

Last April I was fed up with working, so I decided not to. Instead I moved all my stuff into my car and proclaimed myself “a climbing bum” until September. When people asked what my summer plans were I bragged about the life sans responsibility. I spent my days climbing, evenings drinking beer with friends and sleeping wherever I could find a spot for my sleeping bag. I loved living my life day by day, the biggest decisions being where to climb and what to eat for dinner. Oftentimes I went a week without a shower, but it didn’t matter, the only contact I had with non-climbers was going in to town to buy food., and I wasn’t too concerned with strangers seeing me in my stinky state.

Since this time I have reflected a lot on what it means to be a “climbing bum” and I have come to understand that it carries with it a lot of white privilege. I now recognize that a person of color would probably never proclaim themselves “bums” of any kind. I presume that if an African American said she was tired of working and would rather play basketball all day and drink beer with her friends, she would be called irresponsible and lazy, whereas I was not only supported in my decision but also envied. Furthermore, I have come to realize that others in my community may not have the same luxury of being able to frequent any store in whatever state of cleanliness they happen to be in. When I go to the grocery store, un-showered, dressed in dirty climbing clothes, I don’t receive suspicious looks, nor do people follow me around the store, sure I am about to steal something.  I have always known that racism still exists in our society but the truth is that I had never realized just how privileged I was, simply by being white…even with something so much a part of my life as climbing. I will always be a climber, but thanks to Mitch Wilkinson I see the world just a little bit differently.

 

I submitted some photos to the art magazine on campus and just found out that they have chosen to publish this one in the Spring edition. Other than that things are moving along and I thought it was about time for an update. I am about to finish my first year as a grad student...pretty exciting. I think back to how much I have learned throughout this year and cannot help but be amazed. I have taken classes that have challenged so much of what I "knew" forcing me to re-evaluate the world around me...yet again. This process has been something that was much needed in my life, since it has really taught me a lot about myself.  I am going to be working in NM for most of the summer. I will also be getting started on the documentary I am going to make for my thesis project about women, food and identity in Northern New Mexico. I am looking forward to some time to relax, reflect and get ready for next year.

HER NAME IS PHONETHIP,15 YEARS OLD, LAOTIAN. I NEVER KNEW LAOTIAN WAS A PERSON FROM LAOS, LAOS THE MOST BOMBED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, LAOS A COUNTRY IN ASIA; NEXT TO VIETNAM

SHE RISES BEFORE THE SUN, 5 AM DAILY. THERE IS STICKY RICE TO BE MADE. HER MOM NEEDS HER HELP, HER BROTHERS ALL AWAY AT SCHOOL, SHE THE YOUNGEST HELPS HER MOM. SHE WANTS TO GO TO ENGLAND. HER ENGLISH IS QUITE GOOD, MY LAOTIAN IS NOT EXISTENT, I AM HERE, SHE IS NOT THERE.

5 :00, TWO TIMES DAILY, IN THE MORNING MAKING STICKY RICE IN THE EVENING AT THE DOCK. SHE WAITS FOR THE FOREIGNERS, SHE USES HER ENGLISH TO CONVINCE THE ARRIVIES TO STAY AT HER MOM’S GUESTHOUSE. EVERYDAY SHE SEES THE WORLD PASS BY HER AND HER VILLLAGE, AGAINST THE CURRENT OF THE MEKONG RIVER. ALTHOUGH THE WORLD EASLILY HEADS UPSTREAM, DOWNSTEAM DOESN’T LEAD TO ENGLAND…WHERE THEY STARTED. HOW MUCH STICKY RICE (PRICE= 10,000 KIP) DOES IT TAKE TO BYPASS THE MEKONG TO ENGLAND? STICKY RICE IS NOT AS LUCRITIVE AS THE BURGERS AND BEER I SERVED WHICH BROUGHT ME HERE. BUT STICKY RICE IS WHAT PHONETHIP SELLS, ALONG THE MEKONG RIVER, IN LAOS, THE MOST BOMBED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD: NEXT TO VIETNAM.

 

I feel like I have been robbed of an education, an education that actually matters. I have been spoon fed information that ignores phonethip, that silences the majority of the world overpowered by the words of the minority. How can I know my beliefs, when I seem to know so little of the truth? The more I learn the dumber I feel, the more I question everything…

Important Lessons I have learned the past 6 months...

- Perception is 100% reality

- Our education system reinforces current systems of oppression

- Higher education is not as free as we like to think

-White privilege is very much present in our everyday lives 

...and a lot about myself...