Week 3: Prompt 2: I Gotta Wear Dresses, All the Time?

Prompt: Read "The Wife-Beater"

Answer the question… Do members of your religious or ethnic group wear an item of clothing that is not well known to others? Define the article of clothing, and explain its significance and its history in terms that outsiders can understand.

“The Wife-Beater” is an exceptionally well-written essay by Gayle Rosenwald Smith about A-Shirts, also known as Wife-Beaters.  She breaks down the definition of the article of clothing in terms that everyone will understand and react to.  This essay sparks thoughts on articles of clothing that can be misunderstood.

Growing up, I was a member of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), a Pentecostal organization that, at the time, placed strict regulations on what the women of the religion could not wear.  One such item was pants.  This directive resulted in the interpretation of Deuteronomy 22:5 (ERV) which states, “A woman must not wear men’s clothes, and a man must not wear women’s clothes. That is disgusting to the Lord your God.”  This rule caused me complications as girl who was a total and complete tomboy.

I had to wear dresses no matter what I was doing.  I wore them 24-7, even in gym class at school, which was bothersome at times.  There was one time when we were learning about gymnastics.  We had to flip, tumble, jump, and the like to receive a grade.  I could not even wear shorts under my skirts, against the rule.

In one class, we were on the parallel bar, doing exercises, and it was my turn.  I got up on the bar, and did the required exercise.  I could not refuse to do it, I would have received a failing grade, and in my family, failing grades are not a good thing.  Thankfully, the young lady who was spotting me, thought to hold my skirt in a way that my undergarments could not be seen by everyone in class.

You would think the coach would have let me get an excused “absence” for this lesson because my mother wrote him a note explaining my religious beliefs, but he did not.  I had to participate.  I tried to talk to him, but he said that my excuse note was not sufficient to get me excused from the assignment.  So, there I was trying to flip on a parallel bar without showing all my glory.  I got a “C” on the assignment because I could not fully do the exercise without showing my glory, so I did a modified version.

As a child, I did not understand the rule, but as an adult, I realized why the church had this rule.  They wanted the saints to look a certain way, in order to portray what holiness looked like.  I have often heard people say that the forefathers of the church were ignorant, but I do not feel that way.  I think they were simply trying to help the congregants live a holy lifestyle.

The rules on dress has modify some, which is good, but I would not change my experience for anything.  It made me who I am.

Works Cited

Smith, Gayle Rosenwald. “The Wife-Beater.” Patterns for College Writing, edited by Laurie G. Kirsznek & Stephen R. Mandell, 9th edition, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004, 521-524, e-file.

Week 3: Prompt 1: Captain Kirk’s Leadership Lessons

One of the leadership lessons of Captain Kirk that Alex Knapp writes about in his essay, "Five Leadership Lessons from James T. Kirk," writes about is “Never Stop Learning” (28).  This lesson is valuable to me because it embodies one of my personal philosophies.  I believe that we should be lifelong learners.

Knapp writes, “You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, an irrational fear of the unknown. But, there’s no such thing as the unknown – only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood” (28).

The statement rings true for me because it is true.  If you do not know something, then, it is not a problem.  All you have to do is look it up, ask a question, or seek an answer.  There is not much that will remain unknown if you look for an answer.  Yes, there are times when you may not be able to find the answer when you are looking for it, but there is an answer, it is just hidden.

It is important to value knowledge because it helps us grow as a person.  It helps you become better.  It helps you be informed.  It provides data, evidence, facts, figures, and more that will keep you from being duped or deceived.  It is even biblical to be a lifelong learner.  Hosea 4:6a (ERV) states, “My people are destroyed because they have no knowledge.”  Without knowledge, your mind can be shattered, so, it is vital that you continue to learn, no matter what age, or station you are in.

As Knapp eloquently states, “The more knowledge you have, the more creative you can be. The more you’re able to do, the more solutions you have for problems at your disposal. Sure, you might never have to face down a reptilian alien on a desert planet, but you never know what the future holds. Knowledge is your best key to overcoming whatever obstacles are in your way” (29).

Works Cited

Knapp, Alex. "Five Leadership Lessons from James T. Kirk." Read, Write, Reason, Edited by Dorothy U. Selyler, McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. 28-32. e-file.

Week 2: Prompt 2: College Ain't Easy

Prompt: What advice can you give a high schooler who is preparing for college? Be sure to give specific, concrete, sound, helpful advice.

As a college professor, teaching Dual Credit classes, now, I would encourage high schoolers, specifically juniors and seniors to take Dual Credit classes, if available at their school.  Taking Dual Credit classes give students a chance to see what college is like.  It helps them understand the pacing of the courses, what is required, and how college is different than high school.

By taking a Dual Credit class, often on their school campus, students also have another advantage.  They get to take a college level course, and get college credit in the process, so when they get to their selected college campus, they will not have to take that class, because they took it as a high school student.  Most classes offered are core courses that the students will have to take for their degree requirements.

Dual Credit gives high school students a distinct benefit; they learn valuable lessons and skills that will help them when they go to the college of their choice.  They will be better equipped to handle certain aspects of college because they have knowledge that other college freshmen do not already have.

Many community or junior colleges offer Dual Credit classes, which I learned after getting a job as an English professor.  I wish I had this option when I was a high school student.

If your school offers Dual Credit classes, please check them out, but remember, you have to be ready to be a college student, because that is how the professor will treat you.

Blog Prompts...

Since I'm giving my students blog prompts, I'm going to post my responses to the prompts as well...

Wait, wasn't I supposed to do that last semester?  Well, here we go again.

I'll do better this time.

Spring 2017

It’s the Spring semester.  I’m ready to get to back to work.  I’m only teaching two classes.  I overdid it last semester teaching 6 classes.

ENGL1302 is usually fun because I don’t have to “baby” the students so to speak.  I can teach, and let them do all the hard work.  I have to remember to tell them that they need to be college students.

I’m loving Dual Credit, although I wasn’t sure about it at first.  It’s cool seeing the high schoolers learn and grow.  I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

As Jay Fever says… Let’s get it… Let’s go!