After School Reflection Paper

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The after school program at Oakland International High School also offers resources to its students. Throughout one of my after school visits, I observed the other resources the school offers. For starters, during after school hours, it is hard to tell whether school has ended, since most student stay for a variety of activities. Many join afterschool programs and others just stayed and use the computers to finish their class assignment or practice their English. On November 31, the day I stayed after school, was when 4 year college applications were due. That day, the counselor stayed after hours to continue helping the students with their applications. The counselor had been helping student for the past few weeks, therefore, not many students …show more content…

In Mr. Johnson’s, 12th grade, U.S. government class, I observe how students were sitting in groups depending on how advanced they were in the class. In the front tables, the students who we were less advance were sitting in two groups, while the two back groups were full of students who were more proficient in English and more advance in the class. Throughout the class, I was able to observe how the sitting arrangement affected the students not only because of the lack of support they received from other student but because how each group was treated. For instance, while Mr. Johnson was given lecture he was speaking and giving instruction to the groups differently. Also, when two students arrived late to class. One of the student who arrived late was from the front group, the less advanced, while the other from the back, the more advanced. The student from the front was immediately told to go to a specific seat, while the student from the back table was not given any remark. Mr. Johnson seemed to be more strict on the students sitting in the front tables and punish them more than the students in back table. Some of the students in the front table seem to feel more controlled. In the article, “The means of Correct Training” by Michel Foucault, he argues a person 's behavior changes if they are constantly watched and punished. Clearly, many of the traditional schools use that to try to change the non-normal attitudes of the students because what is not normal or expected is seemed as negative. Due to the lack of support Mr. Johnson receives, he is forced to use this method in attempt to get all the student in the same level. However, it was very counterproductive. As I observed, I notice that the more the student are controlled and punished, the less motivated the student are to participate in class. In conclusion, the lack of support teachers receive can cause a differentiation

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