A Justice Site
Cheaper and You Can Create Your Own
RESOURCES: Community-Building - Visual Sociology - Message-Building
POST on YAHOO GROUP: Dear Habermas Discussion Group - Write Free
SEARCH: - Site Index - Topics Index - Archives - Online Sources
FACULTY ASSISTANCE: Susan - jeanne - Pat
UWP Criminal Justice Dept. - CSUDH Dept. of Sociology
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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: February 22, 2007
Latest Update: February 22, 2007
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu
Using Wire Embellishments for ProjectsI watch HGTV when I can. Their craft shows and trying out the crazy things they do with them help us to find ways to tempt our friends, neighbors, even strangers in our communities to join in sharing stuff that's supportive and caring. When I first introduced art into my classes, my students thought I did it to help them de-stress. I hadn't thought of that, but, you know what? It works. And, unlike making and listening to music, it leaves a reminder - whatever you've made.
Don't expect everyone to want to do the same thing. Some of us like bugs and machines. Some of us like flowers. Try to offer people choices. After all, everyone in our communities has a vote or will have a vote some day. We can't afford to not care about anyone. Even those that don't vote when they could are making a statement about how they feel about our local and national governance. And they make those feelings known in lots of ways. Up to us to teach them how to make their feelings known in ways that will build and strengthen our communities for all of us.
Remember, too, that some of us prefer to watch. We, too, are learning as we watch. Give everyone the space to be whoever they are. Rules push us into categories, like male and female for all of gender and sexuality; those categories almost never fit well.
Notice how varied the Klutz books are. Notice how varied crafts are. Diversity is the child of creativity and critical thought. Remember Robert K. Merton's theory that deviance occurs when those for whom the means are blocked find alternative ways to achieve the ends they seek.
Discussion Questions
- Why diversify the embellishments we use?
Consider that crafts and art supplies are expensive. Part of our goal is "each one teach one." We can't share the learning we gain in formal educational institutions with everyone. We have limited discretionary time. But if we make our projects to stimulate discussion affordable and easily replicable, those we share with can then share with others.
References:
- Carol Duvall's Crafts Show on HGTV. This is where I first saw the wire embellishments being made, the morning after I bought the Klutz book on working with plastic coated wire to make embellishments. jeanne
- Just Add Wire by Kristi Dailey. This is a book by the lady who appeared on the Carol Duvall show on HGTV.
- Library Search on Google Google will take your zip code and send you to library nearest you with book you need. Good for Google!
- Kids Shenanigans A Klutz book that offers names local libraries and information about how to find the Klutz books locally without having to buy them. Good for Klutz!
- A Klutz fund-raising activity for schools What a great idea for a PTA or club fundraiser. But, once again, everyone wants to charge for it. Susan and I insist that sharing education, parenting, learning are all something we need to willingly give to others in the spirit of building our community. Sure, buying the Klutz materials would make it easy, but not every family will see the need or be able to buy the Klutz books and materials. Make your own boxes, cards, wire embellishments, whatever, and share them with your own family, friends, neighbors. That's what makes communities. Then, sell the Klutz stuff to raise money for the PTA if that's feasible where your kids go to school. Just make sure that families that might not participate are reached and offered a chance to participate, even if they're not willing or able to afford the luxury of store-bought materials. Remember positive support works. Thorndike revoked his second law of learning that said that punishment works. He learned fifty years ago that it didn't. Give someone a taste of learning and they're hooked for life. Even white mice want to learn. Giving, freely, with the wish that good for us all will come from it, is like forgiving. It leads to a solid, happy community where we can grow happy, healthy kids. Jesus and Mohammed believed in giving and forgiving, too. jeanne
- Robert Merton: Anomie Theory (sometimes also termed strain theory or means-ends theory).
- Merton, Durkheim, and deviance
