A Brief History of Lawns

I did not think having a nice lawn was associated with political power, social status, and wealth. It makes sense though, you often see the prettiest and groomed lawns in the big houses. If I was to drive around River Oaks in Houston, all I would see is big, neat lawns that just sit there.  Those lawns probably haven't had a kid kick a soccer ball on it, kids running around, or someone walk on it because of how pretty it is and must stay that way. After reading this article I was in shock because I didn't know lawns were this important around the world. I always saw myself wanting a nice front and back lawn not because I want people to know I have money but because they are beautiful. Lawns are what make your house come together and that's the reason I wanted a nice/big lawn but what if none of my thoughts are true and I really have been shaped by the past? What if I am just part of the European and American craze and all I care about is money and power? I don't want to repeat history, I can still have my lawn but can shake off the cultural cargo. I can be creative and shape my own yard in a different way. I want to imagine alternative destinies, free myself from the past, and have some kind of freedom when it comes to my home.

I love this.

A Brief History of Lawns Reading 

Social Studies Content Exam

In class we talked about the social studies content exam and studied some questions that could possibly be on the test. The professor showed each question and told us to choose our answer in our head, and then she would tell us the right answer and explain why the other answers were wrong. The first question was about demonstrating to the students how the price of gasoline had increased as the uses of gasoline had also increased and what was the best graph to help visualize the concept. The best answer was a bar graph because it showed change over time and in my head that was my answer. The second question was to choose the three main physical processes of the water cycle and the right answer was evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. During this question someone had asked why this wasn't a science question and it was because water is a big part of geography. The third question was about the PRIMARY purpose for the settlement of the first Europeans in the San Francisco Bay Area and a lot of people thought it was because rich oil deposits or gold deposits but the right answer was that the Bay was a natural harbor that protected ships from turbulent weather. This was the right answer because back then their first priority was to be in a natural and safe harbor where goods could be shipped in and out of the region easily and safely. These questions were easy to answer but were tricky, I just think you have to pay close attention to what is asked so that you choose the best answer.

Is teaching a political act?

If someone was to ask me this question, I would of probably said no. I would of said no because when I think about the word 'Political' I think government, laws, democracy, etc. but in reality teaching is very political and I learned that from the discussion we had in class. There is a picture that really stood out to me during this discussion and here it is

it is a mural with the quote "Ser profe y no luchar es una contradiction pedagogica.", which in english means 'To be a professor and not fight is a pedagogical contradiction. This means so much to me because being a teacher means you fight for your students, and which means you can also fight for DACA students without making them feel any less or criminalizing anyone. As a future bilingual teacher I know I will have students with different situations, stories and I will make sure to fight for their rights because at the end of the day we all have to support each other.