Women's Ways of Knowing

This blog deals with analyzing a character in reference to Women's Ways of Knowing Developmental Positions handout we received in class. The character I chose to analyze is Mattie. Mattie is one of the few characters who does develop her own ways of finding truth to life. Mattie initially starts off as a received knower. She has little to to no knowledge of life and what certain things mean. One very important example i found while reading the assigned text was how she did not know that she was pregnant. Roy, his mother, and Eloise informed her of the life she was carrying.
After finding out she was pregnant, she had no idea how she was going to hide her pregnancy from school and make it after the baby was born. It was her family who helped her out and told her everything was going to be ok and that alone is what helped her get thru her pregnancy.
As Roy and Mattie's marriage progressed through the years, Roy became abusive toward Mattie. She stayed because that was all she knew from her mother's experience with Isaac. However, when Mattie became ill after Roy had beat her, she developed the strength to go live with family until she could get back on her feet and take care of her own family. This way of knowing to me goes between subjective and procedural knower. I say these two because she did what she thought was best for her family and more importantly what was best for her own well being.
Roy's apologies were no longer taken as sincere and she now demanded that he show her his changes; his word wasn't enough. She had her own strength to lean on and she was able to use that strength as an example to her children.

Crafting a precise thesis with meaning

I have grown to love writing over the years. However, one of my down falls is coming up with a thesis which will map out my story throughout my paper. When the class was presented with the assignment of writing an Educational essay, one topic that came to mind was the cost of books. This topic hits home for me and many other students and i thought it would be a great idea to craft an essay around the idea of exposing students to the many resources that exist as a means of decreasing costs of books which can for many reduce stress and promote academic progress.
With this idea in mind, I came up with this thesis: It is important to educate students on the many resources available when purchasing books to eliminate stress, low test scores, and promote academic success.

Color Me Butterfly

Initially i had no knowledge of Color Me Butterfly. As I read the first section assigned in class, I had a mixture of emotions for several reasons. I was angry that a man would want to hurt his family. I was upset that Eloise did not leave this "monster". I know from the first section that this will be a book of sadness, dispair, growth, and self- realization.
This book appears to address a never ending problem that many face today. That problem is abuse whether it be physical, mental, or verbal. It presents the age old question: Why don't they just leave? There are many reasons that people do not leave whether it's family , out of fear, or because they do not have the strength or resources to leave.
From reading the section assigned, it seems as if Eloise is a strong woman who feels overpowered by Isaac. She did not finish highschool and she has a large family who is dependent upon her. On top of this, Isaac seems to do everything in his power to break her and the family down. He did things to his children that little did he know would change their lives forever. I wondered if Isaac himself was abused as a child. And as i read along i discovered that he too was a victim of abuse. It is amazing to me how history repeats itself and I am curious to see how history pans out for the women in this book. So far, Eloise along with her eldest daughters have all had children before finishing highschool and I am curious to see if abuse will be apart of each daughters' life.
I admired Eloise for being able to pick up and do what she had to do for her family. I admired Dellar for leaving when she had the chance to leave. Mattie is innocent in more ways than one and it will be interesting to see where her side of the story goes.

My Educational Philosophy

Until now, I havent really thought about what my philosophy on education consists of. But I like to think I have had a philosophy and I have not thought of it as a philosophy; more than likely it was merely an understanding I had reached after being in school for so long. My journey starts off a little like everyone elses. I completed highschool and was well on my way to college. It was never a question as to whether or not i would go to college. I wanted to go to college and I wanted to go as far away from home as I could. I did not take the time to think about the huge life experience i was about to embark on but then again, mentally i was not on that level.
My first year of college consisted of partying from Thursday to Sunday. Class was an option, however, it wasnt a priority. Second semester rolled around and my grades showed how much I loved to party. I had a D average for a gpa, and I lost my full tuition scholarship. I was devestated and for the life of me could not figure out how I partied as much as my friends did and they were excelling in their studies. My mother and my professors told me countless times that I could do it; It was all a matter of applying myself to get what I desired. I heard them but I wasnt really listening. I was enjoying where i stood and didnt want to change my priorities around.
The wake up call began to sink in when i was in an accident and came out without a scratch. This was a message to me that I needed to get it together and finish what i came to school to do. However, I was beginning to feel as if this was a journey that would not be acheived overnight; it was a process that would change me for the better. I went through having my own place, being evicted, having a job and losing that very same job and i was crushed. I was also depressed. I decided to move home after going two months without work.
I am now at Ursuline College where I am happier than ever. I am surrounded by many positive people, students and professors included, who are just as dedicated to my success as I am.
I never really knew what my educational philosophy is but I now know that in order to get what you want, you have to be willing to fight for it! NOTHING worth having is ever going to fall in your lap!!!!