Blog Post #5
Okalow, S. (2022, May 18). What is poverty? it's not as simple as you think. World Vision Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.worldvision.ca/stories/child-sponsorship/what-is-poverty
Along with having a no-quit mentality, another theme observed in this module is that there is always an opportunity to lend a hand. As a community, there is so much power at our disposal to help those who are less fortunate and in need of a helping hand. This idea was primarily depicted in the film, The Homestretch. One of the methods carried out to help those in need came from a group named "The Night Ministry" The film depicted that this group would provide resources to the people in need so that they could benefit members of the community. It was noted that "The Night Ministry operates a youth outreach van two nights a week" (De Mare & Kelly, 2014, 0:25:02). This was honestly so incredible to see. It depicted that people are out there who look to make a difference in any way they can. In the film, there was much appreciation for the support and gratitude shown by this group which is beyond heartwarming.
As a diehard Rocky fan, deciding on a song that correlates to the abovementioned themes was easy. The song "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor encaptures the idea of going beyond your limits and never subjecting yourself to quitting. It was a staple song in Rocky's journey back to the top of the boxing world. One of the lines in the music that portrays this idea is "Rising up to the challenge of our rival" (Survivor. (2009). Eye of the Tiger). This line embodies the spirit of going beyond your limits and never stopping short of the objective, which was indeed on full display in Watson's journey to a degree.
In addition, as a student studying early childhood education, I had a couple of children's books come to mind that portrays the theme of helping others. The book "The Bear Who Shared" gives a really heartfelt story about the power of giving back to others. In this book, a bear, a raccoon, and a mouse are waiting for a piece of fruit to fall from the tree. The problem is this is the last piece, and three animals await it. As a solution, the bear catches the piece of fruit once it finally falls, and instead of keeping it for himself, he shares it with the other animals, so everybody gets to enjoy it (Rayner, 2010). This speaks volumes about the power of giving to others and helping whenever possible. The bear could've easily kept that piece of fruit for himself but decided to instead provide for the other animals and support them, which compares to what The Night Ministry did for the community members.
Between never quitting and always looking to help, there is a lot to take away from the issue of homelessness and poverty. It is incredible to see that efforts are being made to help others who face this struggle. This module truly allowed me to feel more thankful for what I have and to never take the basics for granted.
References
Band, S. (2009, November 14). Survivor - eye of the tiger (official HD video). YouTube. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://youtu.be/btPJPFnesV4
Cai, J. (2020, July 27). Homeless Students in Public Schools Across America: Down but Not Out. National School Boards Association. https://www.nsba.org/Perspectives/2021/homeless-students
De Mare, A., Kelly, K., & Taber, K. (Producers), & De Mare, A., & Kelly, K. (Directors). (2014). The homestretch [Streaming video]. United States: Bullfrog Films.
Rayner, C. (2011). The bear who shared. Dial Books for Young Readers.
Hi Anthony! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree that this unit involving poverty and homelessness is extremely important for us future educators. As you said, these topics are often overlooked. If someone if not in the situation, often times, they will not think of it. We must have an awareness of these circumstances, nevertheless, to best support our students and create a supporting, safe environment in our future classrooms. The never quit mentality you mentioned was one that I too noticed and was both impressed and inspired by. Individuals seen in "The Homestretch" who were deeply struggling continued to persevere through their troubles to best set themselves up for success. Like your chosen song "Eye of the Tiger" suggests, they rose above their struggles to tackle their obstacles head-on. As you had also mentioned, this subject is similar to our mental health module. Both topics reflect subjects individuals battle with that may go unknown or unspoken. It is up to educators to assist their students who may be struggling with any of the circumstances mentioned to the best of their ability, as it is our responsibility to provide care to our students to guide them towards happiness, health, and success in whatever they seek to achieve. How do you see yourself fostering community and comfortability in your future classroom?
ReplyDeleteHi Anthony,
ReplyDeletePoverty and homelessness, is an ongoing issue in society today. Your explanation of the song "Eye of the Tiger" is an example of how people battling poverty/homelessness should never quit. As future educators, being a constant role model for students is crucial in ensuring a positive and comfortable environment for all. There are an extreme number of children living in poverty today. Personally, teachers are someone who these students can depend on in hard times. School is not only about getting an education, but it is supposed to be a safe place. The film "The Homestretch" demonstrates the constant struggles for teens living in poverty/homelessness. When watching that film I realized that some of these teens stories were heartbreaking. Being kicked out of a house based on ones sexual orientation is extremely upsetting and not fair. Also, one of the teens Roque's teacher let him live with her which was really inspirational. As teachers, being a constant in students lives will benefit them in so many valuable ways.