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Tiffany Reed
Tiffany Reed
10-7-2021
Dr.Holmes-Davis
Research in Music Education
Hip-hop Empowers
Amoriello, T. (2021). Hip Hop Empowers! – NAfME. Retrieved 6 October 2021, from https://nafme.org/hip-hop-empowers/The article Hip Hop Empowers was authored by Thomas Amoriello Jr. and is published on The National Association for Music Education (NAfME)’s website. Thomas Amoriello Jr. is the chairperson to NAFME’s Council for Guitar Education. He also doubles as New Jerseys Music Education Association Chairperson. Since 2005, Amoriello has served as a guitar tutor for Flemington Raritan School District in New Jersey. Thomas has also served as an adjunct guitar instructor for Cumberland County College for five years. He holds a Master’s degree in Classical Guitar Performance and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music from Shenandoah Conservatory and Rowan University consecutively. Thomas has written various children’s books including Ukelele am Strums in the Sand and A Journey to Guitarland with Maestro Armadillo. Furthermore, he also holds heavy metal records with artists including Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, and Yngwie J. Knowing Thomas Amoriello Jr diverse background in the field of music, only increases my trust in the content of the article. This is because the author has personal interests and professional experience in music-making him best placed to analyze whether or not empowers society.
This article was published as recently as March 14th, 2019. This increases my understanding of the topic of discussion because it helps me put the discussions into a modern-day context. Knowing that the article was published barely three years ago makes me see how important it is to delve into the topic of discussion as an emerging issue that is worth discussing. The article was published by an association known as The National Association for Music Education (NAfME). The main purpose of this organization is to provide a forum to share opinions and information on matters of music. NAfME’s mission is to advance music education through promoting the making and undertaking of music by people. Other types of writings that NAfME writes include blog articles, opinion columns in magazines and journals, and posting on the website that are used to amplify the membership portal. The intended audience of the text is members of the general public who have an interest in matters of music education (Amoriello, 2021). The article also targets educators in the music sector, rappers, and music students. This article was published for consumption of popular press hence it is not a scholarly article. In this article, the author appeals t the six elements of hip hop music including community awareness, conscious awareness, political awareness, justice, activism awareness, and justice. Thomas also speaks to hip-hop music as a genre that demonstrates society in various ways and how it has come to be termed as the music of the youth. The article bears no bias. The author makes logical arguments that are neutral and free of bias.
The findings, ideas, and arguments presented by the author in this article are sensible to me in various ways. I find them sensible because I can easily relate to them and that is how I find them to be authentic. For instance, the author speaks to how hip-hop music aligns with matters of social justice, intersectional feminism, and challenges that young people encounter growing up in various neighborhoods. Without a doubt, the issues of racism and violence have always been of concern in American society and they are also at the center of hip hop music. This makes them resonate with the article even more because I can relate with them.
After taking a critical stance at the article, I recognize various gaps as regards the education sector. Billy Thomas notes “I was accepted for Berklee for a second bachelor’s, I could not muster up the courage to spend $200k on a music education that was the same amount for a nice house.” This statement leads me to question the effectiveness of the education system. It makes me wonder why Billy decided not to attend formal college if after all is truly the key to success. This shows that he did not see value in going to college when could follow his music ambition. He saw it as a waste of money and states that being a performer have led him to network and cross paths with music legends which have helped him curate his own music.
The evidence I find to be most convincing is Billy’s approach in teaching a rap lesson for the first time. I feel that music is more of an art which makes it difficult for a person to be trained. I find his strategy convincing because I would employ the same method to teach a rap class. Before delving into writing lyrics it is important to set a mood that allows the students to understand, time rhythm and sound.
The evidence I find to be least convincing is the fact that Billy realized his love for music in grade 3 from his teachers. In my opinion, this allegation seems a bit far-fetched to be true. This does not rule out the possibility that it might be true. It is hard for me to believe that a grade 3 child can master such complex structures of music including syncopation and polyrhythm at such a tender age. All in all, this does not mean that Billy’s teachers did not lay a foundation for Billy in rap music.
This text changes my entire thinking about rap music from its history, its elements, and how it has evolved over the years. The text has changed my perception of rap music as being the music of the 21st century. Initially, I associated hip-hop music with negative issues such as objectification of women, gun violence, drug abuse, and crime in general. Now I see hip hop for what it is; a tool for social change.
Because of this article, I now know that rap music started in the 20th century and is a branch of other music genres like funk, discos, and blues that were popular at the time. Additionally, I can relate to rap music better because I now know that it is a movement that focuses on justice and civil rights movement, community awareness among others. As I listen to rap music, I am capable of telling how the lyrics bring awareness to society.
This source is similar to other previous texts that I have come across in the parts that talk about hip-hop music. Just like other texts I have encountered, this article maintains that hip hop has always and continues to play a critical role in transforming society. Although not all rap music will address social activism and awareness, most artists are expanding their expertise and rapping about the usual issues of love and women. Artists are now moving away from traditional topics of sex and love and addressing vices of racism and police brutality in their songs.
After reading this text, I think future research should focus on changing the perception that society has towards hip-hop music. For a long time, people have always had a negative perception of music that had to do with violence, drugs, and promiscuity. However, this is no longer the case, and members of society should be taught to look at the bigger picture; that hip hop is moving towards important matters of social justice, community awareness. Hip hop is impacting society for the better.
References
Amoriello, T. (2021). Hip Hop Empowers! – NAfME. Retrieved 6 October 2021, from https://nafme.org/hip-hop-empowers/
Three Year District Plan
Three Year District Plan
Timolin James
Concordia University
THREE YEAR DISTRICT PLAN
Data and Analysis of District Report Card and Local Assessment Data
Areas of strength and weakness
Strengths
Admission priorities should be given to the students who reside within the zone then to the students from other districts
Selection criteria should favor those who apply within the district
To provide students with disabilities support and services
Extracurricular activities and clubs-students to participate in arts and sports to help them increase their awareness of community issues.
Review of attendance and punctuality
Having a full academic curriculum
Having a personal and very supportive relationship between teachers and students.
Teaching students to engage in technology and how they can use this technology to be able to express ideas and thoughts (Farina, 2014).
Weaknesses
Absenteeism-This highly predicts low achievement, struggling academically or student failing to graduate
Dropout-This severely limits the student’s chance of succeeding.
There is weakness in training district leaders in which it was shown that there is lack of hands-on, technology access is inadequate and there is failure to link the content into practice (Farina, 2014).
Internal and External Factors Contributing to the Results
Internal Factors
Lack of adequate funding
There is unclear guidance about teachers being held accountable for students mastering the standards
Lack of school staffs participating in regional and district activities.
Resistance from teachers and principals
When information is not clear regarding the plan and when it will be implemented.
Inadequate curriculum materials (Farina, 2014).
External Factors
Resistance from the parents and community members and the parents
Insufficient support from both the community and the authorities
Lack of full cooperation and sense of responsibility expected from stakeholders
Shareholders being reluctant in advancing corporate social responsibility agenda.
Educator Qualifications, Staff Capacity, and Professional Development
1. The educator qualifications include
A bachelor’s degree holder
Certification or is licensed
Holds a teaching skill in any academic subject assigned and demonstrated knowledge about the subject.
2. Staff capacity
Staff: 239 personnel
104 Full time teachers
Pupil to teacher ratio: 13:1
47 Teachers’ assistants
3 Instructional coordinators
3 Elementary Teachers
4 Kindergarten teachers
4 Pre-kindergarten teachers
29 High school teachers (Farina, 2014)
3. Professional Development
STEP 1: Designing of a professional development-This will include an effective process and a strong content that helps to make decisions that should include participants and organizers during the designing process. It should be a clear plan that can be able to support the school/district’s long term plan and it should be shared with the school community.
STEP 2: Implementing the professional development-This should ensure the resources remaining available should organize and implement the professional development.
STEP 3: Evaluating and improving the professional development-Making the professional development being part of everyday life at schools and also incorporating the practices into learning, leadership and teaching
STEP 4: Sharing the professional development learning for example in instances where the award winners formed partnerships that enabled them to share professional development, and also helping for future references (Farina, 2014)
Parental involvement were documented in areas of development where they assisted the local authority in developing social amenities, implementing educational development programs, and executing corporate social responsibility. They also ensured that students acquire the necessary learning material, report to school in a timely manner, and pay school fees appropriately in order to ensure logistics of running the schools does not fail (Farina, 2014)
The documented parental involvements contributed significantly to the
student performance.
According to this data, the following areas were identified to be of great need.
-Increasing the staff capacity to suffice the student population and needs
-Ensuring staff has the necessary qualifications in order to enhance student’s performance.
– Absenteeism highly predicts low achievement, struggling academically or student failing to graduate and should be eradicated.
– School dropout severely limits the student’s chance of succeeding and strategies are needed to encourage students to complete school.
-There is weakness in training district leaders in which it was shown that there is lack of hands-on, technology access is inadequate and there is failure to link the content into practice. This area requires significant improvement.
-Other areas of greatest need which require strategic long-term programs to address include:
Availing adequate funds
Clear guidance about teachers being held accountable for students mastering the standards
Encouraging school staffs to participate in regional and district activities.
Addressing resistance from teachers and principals
Providing clear information regarding the plans and when they will be implemented.
Procuring adequate curriculum materials
Diffusing resistance from the parents and community members.
Mobilizing sufficient support from both the community and the authorities
Encouraging full cooperation and sense of responsibility expected from stakeholders
Shareholders being encouraged and advised in advancing corporate social responsibility agenda (Marzano, 2012).
Action Plan
Strategies to Improve Instructional Practice and Student Performance
Strategy 1: Be able to establish a focus that is clear and a framework that is strategic to core beliefs and effective practices and goals that help to improve student’s achievement for example ministatements like “striving for excellence”
Strategy 2: Be able to organize and engage district office and school board in the support of every school
Strategy 3: provision of instructural coherence and support
Strategy4: instruction related profession should be invested for principals, district staff and teacher readers.
Strategy 5: There should be data that links the student’s achievement in school and be able to assist schools to be able to use data effectively.
Strategy 6: Be able to use resources in enabling to improve student learning.
Goals to Improve Instructional Practice and Student Performance
The goals are expected to be:
-specific to improving education
-measured in terms of the number of students completing school and attaining good grades
-attainable by the resources and time available for the implementation of the strategic programs
-realistic in terms of being practical to both the shareholders and stakeholders
-time bound because the goals should be attained within the three years of this plan
The goals the plan is aimed at achieving include:
To be able to educate the entire community
Teachers should be set at high standards
Learning by staffs should be promoted continuously
Enhancement of leadership capacity and intellectual of staffs
Effectiveness of teachers should be improved
Student’s learning should be improved
Formation of study groups
Technology should be enhanced to support student learning
There should be use of poetry to support critical thinking by students.
Concerning the budget, the following should be achieved:
Seniority should be eliminated to be able to control staff layoffs
Ability to borrow at low interest and pay at high pension
Be able to eliminate competitive grants to enable all schools to benefit
School resource officers and safety equipment should be funded
Rejection of implementation proposal of new management system and accountability until details are in public
To be able to manage potential layoffs, retirement incentive for employees should be made.
The budget will be reviewed every six months to ensure financial and economic changes are addressed; therefore, in this plan the specific amount of money was not included pending review of school committees and management boards.
Application of Leadership Skills in Implementing this Plan
The power to listen-these leaders have respect and take their time to be able to make rightful decisions
Parents are well informed about the decisions made in the school that directly affect their children
They participate in accountability that enables satisfaction
Finding some new leaders
They should have knowledge about the curriculum
They should ensure cooperation and collaboration by ensuring that teachers have decision making regarding school activities
Instruction improvement should be continuous
School climate-in which the leader of the school is recognized.
Application of Leadership Skills in Evaluation of the Plan
Evaluation that monitors the district improvement plan
Office and department plans: the plans of district offices and department stand to serve as action plans that tend to implement the plan, identification of responsibilities, resources needed and activities that monitor performance.
Input that comes from various advisory bodies: input from bodies like citizens bond advisory committee that represent all the stakeholders and the ethnic, geographical diversity with broad interest found in the community.
Strategic performance dashboard that includes the sum total of students, student attendance and the rates of accountability.
Advisory bodies review and this ensures their effectiveness and orientation (Marzano, 2012)
People Over-seeing the Plan and the Actions
The school board will ensure:
That there is use of the strategic planning in setting educational goals and the means of accomplishing it.
Will work to ensure that there is adequate distribution of resources
Helping in promoting constructive relations between the employees.
All staff convocation in which at the beginning of every school year, they gather in a collective meeting and not only inform them on the needs and objectives for each new school year, but also sensitize every staff to the success of the district.
Start and end of school year reports and this will enable communication with the stakeholders by increasing their awareness.
Student, parent and staff surveys: conduction of surveys should be made with central office customer conducted
Program Evaluations should be made in which the reviewing of proactive reports for implementation of outcomes.
How the Plan Will be Developed Further
Be able to use credible process in involving community and school leaders in shaping up the vision that help to improve school performance.
Use of resources to be able to support improvement in learning like use data in identifying students that achieve poor standards and come up with interventions to help them.
Be able to create indicator systems and come up with criteria that can be able to rate district offices on how effective they are in policy creation, allowance allocation and provision of expertise that help to improve school teams in implementing proven practices which advance all student groups.
The above developments will ensure the needs of students’ groups, such as those who require special education, high achievers, and low achievers, are addressed sufficiently.
References
Farina, C. (2014). 2015 New York City Middle School Directory District 29. NYC Department of Education.
Marzano, R. (2012). Marzano Leadership Evaluation Model. Marzano Research Laboratory, (42-47).
Three questions on Chain supply
Three questions on Chain supply
Question 1
Factors that determine the success of a supply chain are many some can be controlled by the supply chain itself, and others is under the control of the customers, one of the factors under the control of the supply chains is making use of modern technology which can help the supply chain to tell what is in demand, instead of the supply chain management guessing what the customer s may need and the quantity. Use of Manugistics fore casting software and chain supply planning tools assists in knowing the right number of goods to be delivered, the quantity, time and customers who needs the product. As in the case of Perdue farms, which has made use of technology to their benefit as they can now know the exact number of turkeys to deliver, the right time to deliver, and the right customers who the turkey is to be delivered to. Another factor that can affect the success of a supply chain is tastes of the customer which can change overnight after the chain has already brought in the goods.
Question 2
Use of gift cards during the holiday is another way that the supply chains can improve their chances of success by taking advantage of the season of giving during Christmas. This can be done by the retailer giving cards to people around the supply chain business as many might be people living around and may come later to buy at the supply chain distributing cards to customers getting into the business premise as some may later come to shop and to redeem the gift cards. From a report, in 2006 from a research showed that the effects of the cards are seen during the months of January to February as only 20 percent of the cards are redeemed few weeks after Christmas, and the remaining 80 percent is redeemed later in January and February when many people who had received the gift cards go to redeem them. Many multi billion companies use this method to reach more clients and in the process maintaining the customers that they already have, as Haskins said a business dealing in supplies are as good as their supplier supply chain and the supplier’s ability to have a quick incorporated view of the total demand and supply.
Question 3
Prof. Brian statement implies that, information is more important than records because at times what is sold needs to coordinate with the inventory to make sure the company does not struggle to know what is needed and when, what is in short supply. Proper information can help the supply chain make split decision, if anything should happen to the supply chain. Flexibility is very vital and is a major tactic that helps both the retailer s and manufacturers to sell their products; at times, a product may be in demand in different regions of a country and is not in demand in another part of the country with the right information a company can make a kill by moving its product where the demand is high. A company without the right information may not be able to detect changes in the market, and it means they might end up taking goods to a region that does not need them. Which may result to losses as the goods if perishable might go bad or the company will have to lower their prices so as to sell the goods.