The students are all in the final stretch of the program and are working hard to complete final papers, presentations and their service projects. The next three days will give a true look at what it is like to complete college level work and prepare final presentations to show that you understand what you have been learning.
Sociology 101
- Course Work
- Students who are currently taking Sociology 101 with Dr. Bates are working on research papers on different topics they are interested in related to their service site. For example, a few students are looking at the impact of gender on kids in the summer program, while others are looking at the learning abilities and disabilities of students like those in the summer program. Here are some examples of class posts:
- "In present day society, people in higher-ranking groups usually receive larger shares of valued social items like wealth, power, and respect, while people in lower-ranking groups usually receive smaller shares of these social recognition and rewards. The term social stratification refers to a hierarchy of positions regarding ones economic production evaluation the ranking reward system that influences social rewards to those in positions (McIntyre 195)."
- "The most influential social system for determining the life chances of the people I am working with is the ascribed stratification. In an ascribed system, people have no say in what class they are born into. For many people, this unchangeable destiny chosen before birth affects them in a negative way. Being born into a lower class makes it more difficult for some people to achieve a higher status in life. These people will also be labeled everywhere they go in life by their clothing, housing status, or race."
- Service
- Pre-College students have been working with elementary school kids in the GGrant 94ft. summer camp. The first few days the students attended the regularly scheduled programming to get to know the students and then they moved into a leadership role in the classrooms. The students taught the kids mindfulness skills using the Mind-Up Curriculum. The students have bonded with the kids and said they are going to be sad to say goodbye to them tomorrow.
History 165
- Course Work
- Students in Dr. McGreevey's class have been learning about 20th Century Trenton and the changes that have happened over the years, and what effect those changes have had on the community and economy. Each student chose another city to compare to Trenton for their final research paper and presentation. Here is a taste of one student's research:
- "Before each of the cities declined, they were industrial
centers; Philadelphia was involved in textiles, navy yards, and electrical
equipment; Trenton was involved in steel, rubber, and pottery. Philadelphia
initially experienced job losses after the end of WWII (this was expected)
however the economy continued to slide. An economist identified the cause of
this trend as the gradual shift from manufacturing jobs to service jobs.
Trenton experienced a different cause of their issues, caused by the shift from
local to national capitalism. Although the trends were different, they are
national trends that effected many more cities across the country."
- Service
- Students started their service by learning about the impact of art on the community and in schools. They visited a local community arts organization called the Sage Coalition. Then the group began working on two murals for Foundations Academy Elementary and Middle Schools. Students were involved from start to finish of the project. They started by touring the school with one of the school staff, then they learned about the mission and vision of the school, met with a few students to learn what they thought, worked on a design, got approval from the school administrators, and began painting!
- "My proudest moment today was when I recognized all the hard work I have accomplished thus far in the program. From learning about Trenton’s past and working on my research paper, to learning how to open a paint can and paint a wall, I realized how much I have done in the first week. Additionally, I was really proud to see how I have developed my reading and writing skills into what I have written of the paper so far. By the end of the second week, I hope to see the finished mural(s) that our team has put a lot of work into designing, planning, and painting. I would also like to finish the research paper and have that over with! Overall, I can’t wait to hear a few reactions about the impact our murals will have on the charter school."
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