Richardson,+Maria


 * ASSIGNMENT #1**

Hi, my name is Maria Richardson and I teach ELD (English Language Development) at Ruamrudee International School in Bangkok, Thailand. I’m a third culture kid, originally from New York. I went to Singapore American School and graduated from Jakarta International School. I’ve been teaching for 12 years, this is my second career. My previous career was in hotel management, which took me all over the world. I became disillusioned with the hospitality industry and decided that I wanted a career which would give back to society. After a lot of soul-searching, I went back to school for my master degree, focusing on special needs. I have had the pleasure of working with students in Florida and in Qatar who have various exceptionalities. Recently, I completed the COETAIL program which has changed my teaching style on many levels and this course is a continuum of that degree program. I look forward to working with all of you in EDU 640- Cheers!!




 * Write a short statement (250 +- words) describing what you think a course in Conflict Resolution / Peaceable Schools should be about. Please list five specific topics you would like to see included in this course. **

What do I expect from this course?

I feel that a course in conflict resolution/peaceable schools should be about creating a culture at your school which fosters harmony amongst the students in the face of cultural differences, ethnic differences, sexual orientation differences and adversity/conflict in general. The 5 specific topics I would like to see included in this course should address the following: bullying, respect, tolerance, peaceful resolutions and a comprehensive curriculum used school wide in order to create a peaceful school environment. Conflict and hate are learned behaviors.

I once knew a man that rode a bicycle from the northern tip of Alaska to the southern tip of South America. He stayed in everything from tents to churches. People along the way were fascinated by this lone traveler and took him into their homes. They made him feel welcome by offering him food and giving him a place to stay for the night. In the morning, as he was leaving, the hosts and the locals would warn him about the people in the next town. They told him that the people in the next town were extremely violent and they would try to rob him, be diligent. When he got to the next town, the people invited him in, fed him and told him to be careful about the people in the next town. It was a cycle of fear. Most people fear what they don’t understand. That being said, if students are educated at an early age and taught to be respectful of others cultures, religions, and ethnicity, perhaps we could live in a more peaceful world. I feel that schools are microcosms of the “real” world. Various levels of disrespect and conflict towards others are carried out in every aspect of life around the globe. For centuries, we have lived in a world where we people have been separated by religion, culture, language and war.

At our school, we have a Second Step curriculum which teaches students empathy towards others and how to resolve conflicts without hurting each other physically or emotionally. The culture at our school is one of respect towards one another as we strive to create a harmonious, safe environment for our students.


 * Assignment #2 **


 * After watching the movie American History X have a discussion with those others who watched the movie on the role of nature and nurture in the film and the role of school, teachers and mentors in the film. Then, write a brief - 2- **page** (500 **word** + or -) report describing the influences you observed and discussed. **

Hate is a horribly destructive emotion as evidenced in the film, American History X. I am a firm believer that hate is the role of nurture and the only way to reverse that hate is through a nurturing, educational approach. Despite the fact that American History X is a very disturbing film, it’s also an excellent showcase of the many layers which make up racial hatred. It takes a village to create and deconstruct this level of radicalism, therefore, families, the school system, and teachers all have a role to play in making our schools and neighborhoods places of safety.

The main character is Derek Vineyard, is a grieving neo-Nazi who’s firefighter father is murdered by a black man. Derek is left as the head of the family, he’s filled rage and anger which is directed at anyone that isn’t white and Protestant. There are many flashes in the film showing Derek's past and how he was his ideology was nurtured.

When Derek's father was still alive, they showed a family dinner conversation. Derek was telling his family how he admired and respected his black teacher with two PhDs, Dr. Sweeney. He was reading a book titled the “Native” for Dr. Sweeney’s class and was discussing the novel and saying how it was interesting. HIs father, a racist, was joking about it being “Black History Month” and was disturbed that his son had to read such nonsense. Derek’s father then told an affirmative action story, about a black man who was given a firefighter job over a better qualified white man. Derek’s father continued to give examples of “injustice” towards the white man, which young Danny reflected upon in his research paper. This was the turning point for Derek, his father had planted the seed of racism in Derek’s head, which was exacerbated when his father was murdered by a black man.

Derek’s rage continued to increase with the help of Cameroon Alexander. Cameroon preyed on young, angry, disillusioned white youth and Derek was the ideal candidate to lead his crusade to rid Venice Beach of all the non-whites. Derek's younger brother, Danny, admires his older brother and follows in his footsteps becoming a very involved neo-nazi going to Cameroon for support and nourishing.

The school is operating under difficult circumstances, it is plagued by violence and gangs The school was a reflection of the prison, filled with racial tension and scenes in the bathroom of bullying and violence. Dr. Sweeney, the principal, and the local police were trying to dismantle these radical groups, in the end, they were asking Derek for help.

In the prison, Derek is forced to work in the laundry with a black man, Lamont. Lamont has a happy go lucky personality and eventually wins over Derek and they are able to communicate on neutral topics such as women and basketball. Derek couldn't believe that Lamont was given a 6-year prison sentence for stealing a television when he only got 3 years for manslaughter. He slowly pieces together the flaws of the justice system.

Derek’s dreams of a neo-Nazi future became shattered in prison when he saw another member of the group dealing drugs with a Hispanic man. He was willing to risk death in order to enforce his ideology. With nowhere else to go, Dr. Sweeney is his only hope. Dr. Sweeney brings Derek books and tries to re-educate him, which eventually works. Ironically, it is a black man, Lamont, who keeps him safe in prison and a black man, Dr. Sweeney, who educates him and comes to his aid in his darkest hour.

When Derek is freed from prison, he detaches himself from the neo-Nazi's and tries desperately to save his brother from becoming like him. When he tells Danny that about his life in prison, it clarifies the big lie of Cameroon’s rhetoric. Just when Danny is on the road to conversion, he is shot and killed in the school bathroom.

In the end, this film shows how there are many players involved in the making of a racist. When I think of all the time and resources that are spent trying to undo racism and conflict, I think about how that energy could be better spent trying to improve the world by eradicating poverty, diseases and advancing the world of science. As Derek said in the movie, always end a paper with a quote, because someone else always says it better.


 * “The bigger the lie, the more it will be believed”- Joseph Goebbels **


 * Assignment # 3 **

Post Journal Entry #3 on your web page. (250 - 500 words) Describe how if Hank (your professor) came to your classroom or community he would observe the elements of a peaceable community.What evidence would he see?How will you promote peace in your community?

__What would a peaceable school or community look like?__ A peaceable school is one in which the students feel safe. It is a place where there is no violence, bullying or hatred towards others. Any conflicts are resolved peacefully through diplomatic methods. The peaceable school will have a clear outline of the policy and procedures and the students will learn this the first week of school.

__What elements of communication would be included?__ Student’s would feel safe to talk about any injustices. There would be a safe place/person where the students can air their grievances. Students would be able to sit with others and have a civil discussion in order to come to a resolution for any conflict.

__What would be tolerated and what would not be tolerated?__
 * Kindness
 * Tolerance
 * Acceptance
 * Freedom of speech
 * Ethical behavior
 * Morality
 * Hate, racism, bullying, cheating.

__What would the rules be?__
 * Be kind
 * Keep your hands and feet away from others
 * Allow others to express their opinions
 * Report inappropriate behavior

__What would the expectations be?__ The expectations would be that everyone is kind and that school will be a safe place for all students to learn.

__Describe how if Hank (your professor) came to your classroom or community he would observe the elements of a peaceable community.__ Hank would see a school that has a clear policy in place- Hearts, Hands and Minds- a policy which has educated all the students about expectations at Ruamrudee International school. A policy which promotes peace and kindness towards their classmates, teachers and community members. He would see International Food Day when parents from all nationalities come to school and cook amazing foods and wear their national dress. He would see a school with a beautiful well manicured campus with palm trees and colorful orchards abound. He would see a group of dedicated teachers who support a peaceful community.

__What evidence would he see?__ He would see signs around the school that reinforce no bullying, tolerance for others and steps to resolve conflict around campus. He would also see signs that promote peace and diversity around campus in social areas such as the cafeterias and break areas. He would see happy students who enjoy being at school. He would see teachers that are content and enjoy their work environment. He would see students who have raised money to help the less fortunate in the community or those struck by tragedy. He would see students selling products such as coffee or tea, to support education in the hilltribe communities. He would see students making a real difference in the lives of others.

__How will you promote peace in your community?__ I promote peace by modeling appropriate behavior in public and in the classroom. I will encourage my student to do volunteer work on behalf of the school by working with people who are less fortunate.

__What would the responsibilities be?__ The responsibilities would be for the students to follow the rules and to act with kindness.

Do a web search for Oscar Arias (use a minimum of two sites other than wikipedia) 2 Sources for Oscar Arias: [|__https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1987/arias-lecture.html__] [|__http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/voices-for-human-rights/champions/oscar-arias-sanchez.html__]

I really enjoyed reading Oscar Arias’ speech, what an interesting man! I particularly enjoy his vision for history classes and how we should have a paradigm shift and focus on the peace process, rather than wars.


 * Assignment # 4 **


 * This is an interesting video on Waterboarding. This is an "enhanced" interrogation technique. Write a brief comment about what you think about using torture or other "enhanced" interrogation techniques. (less than 250 words). **

I just watched the video on Waterboarding, very disturbing to think that our government doesn’t feel this is a form of torture. The definition of torture according to Merriam Webster is :  something that causes mental or physical suffering : a very painful or unpleasant experience.

According to the torturer in the video, inflicting physical pain such as whipping and drawing blood is the only form of real torture. What ever happened to the fine art of Chinese water torture? There is no physical pain involved, yet the word torture is part of the title.

The man who volunteered to undergo the Waterboarding was certain that he could hold his breath for a minute, not realizing that being upside down traps carbon dioxide in the bottom of the lungs, which intensifies the need to breathe. After 7 seconds he felt like he was drowning and felt like he was having a heart attack. I’m not sure which part of this isn’t considered torture.


 * Then, write a brief (250 word+ or -) report describing what you observed or experienced from session #4. **

I learned from session #4 that our perceptions of violent crime in America are much higher than the actual crime rates. When my colleagues took the crime quiz, we all felt that the crime rate would go up exponentially with the increase in population. I found it interesting that criminologist were predicting; along with the rise of the Industrial Revolution and increasing populations in the cities, would come an increase in crime rates. They felt with increasing anonymity, there would be an explosion in violent crime. Fortunately, it has been steadily decreasing.

 It makes me think about the news and how we are constantly being bombarded with stories about murder, school shootings, and any other violent crime. When I watch the news and hear how fearful my fellow Americans are of Muslims, I think about Oscar Arias’ speech and what they really need to fear is what they can’t see-such as bacteria and disease. I remember when I was moving to the Middle East to teach in Qatar, I had friends and family telling they were worried that I’d be attacked or blown up because I was American, yet I never had any problems.

 The video on Waterboarding was a disturbing reminder of how we are treating our prisoners. I also watched the next film which was on force feeding. A volunteer had a tube put up his nose and into his stomach, the same technique used on prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, to prisoners who go on hunger strikes [|__Force Feeding Video__] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.3333px; vertical-align: baseline;">. How is possible that our government is allowed to violate the human rights of others and inflict violence on them? Are the 120 prisoners in Guantanamo Bay really the ones responsible for the 9-11 attacks or are they just scapegoats who were rounded up in order to satisfy a revenge hungry country? It’s sickening to think that a country which values human rights and monitors the rights of others around the world, has the nerve to turn a blind eye to it’s own interrogation techniques.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">“ Every punishment which does not arise from absolute necessity, says the great Montesquieu, is tyrannical. A proposition which may be made more general thus: every act of authority of one man over another, for which there is not an absolute necessity, is tyrannical.” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">― [|Cesare Beccaria] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">, [|Of Crimes and Punishments]


 * Assignment #5 **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: baseline;">Describe a time when you saw someone's brain get "Hijacked" by their Amygdala. Then, write a brief (250 word+ or -) report describing what you observed or experienced. **

I once had a colleague, Jane Doe, who felt that she was under constant attack by administrators, and fellow teachers- you name it, they were attacking her. I would watch how someone would ask her a simple question and she would go immediately on the defence. She also had a daughter at the school, whom she felt was being bullied- yet another attack on this woman. I’ve watched her hop to two other schools, one in Europe and another in Asia- she’s still being attacked by administrators and her daughter, who is quite outgoing and a nice kid in general, is still being bullied. Her emotional IQ is exceptionally low and it continues to hurt her career; her amygdala has been hijacked!.

Jane was constantly under the watchful eye of the administrators, because she was reckless with her comments and would go on defence and attak administrators for any deficit she could find. She was also passive aggressive as she tried to get even by wearing inappropriate clothing/shoes or writing her reviews in the international teachers forum. When she found out our principal was off from school because he was interviewing with a school in another country, she contacted the school and let them know about how he was a bully and perhaps they need to talk with his staff before they hire him. She got a response and went on to talk with the owners of the school and gave them her interpretation of his management style. She told me she was just leveling the playing field.


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Your Assignment: After watching this video is to share it with at least one other human being. A whole class would be better. Then, write a brief (250 word+ or -) report describing what you observed or experienced. Post this entry on your individual wiki page <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is Journal Entry #5. **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ted Talk by Amy Cuddy- I’ve actually seen this video before, very powerful. I’m sure everyone has had that feeling of doubt before venturing off into a new field, school, holiday, or anything that takes us out of our comfort zone. It takes courage to speak up in class, and to know that you’re being judged by others. There’s always an extrovert in the room and feels they are in charge, and tends to monopolize the conversations.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">I like the attitude of “fake it, till you make it”- I think this is something we can instill in our students who are having a difficult time, whether they are having a tough time with other kid’s or feeling shy in general. I have had second language students who walk into class and they are cowering from day one. It’s so difficult to pull them out of their shells. Eventually, they relax and they start contributing to class discussions. Put the same students in with the mainstream classes and they will be silent for the rest of the school year. They are so fearful of speaking in front of their peers and sounding like a food, they would rather say nothing at all.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Every year, I start the school year riddled with anxieties about what I’m going to teach, what will the students be like, the parents, etc. Only once have I started a school year without feeling anxious and that was after spending a month at an ashram. I was so calm from eating right, meditating and being in shape from a month of yoga that nothing seemed too difficult. Perhaps this might be another emotionally healthy alternative. Schools might look into offering meditation and yoga at school for a healthy body, healthy mind.


 * Assignment 6A **

Define:

**What is a conflict?** According to Dictionary.com, conflict is: to come into collision or disagreement; be contradictory, at variance,or in opposition; clash:

**What is conflict resolution?** (Texts, Web and personal observations are permitted.) According to Wikipedia, conflict resolution is: Conflict resolution, otherwise known as reconciliation, is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of [|conflict] and [|retribution]. Committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of the group (e.g., intentions; reasons for holding certain beliefs), and by engaging in collective [|negotiation]. [|[1]] Dimensions of resolution typically parallel the dimensions of conflict in the way the conflict is processed. Cognitive resolution is the way disputants understand and view the conflict, with beliefs and perspectives and understandings and attitudes. Emotional resolution is in the way disputants feel about a conflict, the emotional energy. Behavioral resolution is how one thinks the disputants act, their behavior. [|[2]] Ultimately, a wide range of methods and procedures for addressing conflict exist, including but not limited to [|negotiation], [|mediation] , mediation-arbitration, [|[3]][|diplomacy] , and creative [|peacebuilding].

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1. Analyze one conflict that you have observed or participated in in terms of a "Hijacked Brain". This would be a conflict that started and escalated because of an emotional engagement. Family is always the best place for an emotional engagement. My family has a tendency to create conflict about my summer vacations. Mostly because I live overseas and they want to spend time with me. Feelings are always hurt, if I don’t fly back to NY and spend a specific amount of time with each family member. =====

2. Describe what happened in the conflict, Who was involved in the conflict, and how the emotional engagement of the Amygdala were all working to hinder the conflict. My brother and sister are the ones involved in the conflict. They feel entitled to my time and the amygdala makes them think that they can justify their actions by creating guilt trips to soothe their low emotional intelligence.


 * Assignment 6B **


 * Read the article then watch the video. Then search the internet and read at least one other article or website about swearing and or cursing. Finally, post a reflection, observations, and comments on your wiki page. **

I am the quintessential potty mouth! I have to watch myself when I’m in public and especially at school. I do find that when I am stressed out, I tend to curse more and my words become increasingly vulgar. According to the [| __Association for Psychological Science__], people who swear tend to be more honest. It is used as an emotional arousing stimuli, used for jokes, frustration and dealing with pain. According to APS, the same curse words have been around for hundreds of years and people will continue to use taboo language.


 * Assignment #7 **


 * Identify and deliver 3 - I Messages (1 correction or negative "iMessage & 2 positive or Rewarding messages) Post your "IMessages on your wiki page. **
 * Tell what the reaction was to your "I" messages! **

1.Bob, when I say my back is sore and you call me a moaner, I feel like you don’t take my pain seriously and you think I am seeking attention, which hurts my feelings.

2. Jane, I can see that you're focusing on your classwork and talking to your classmates as much, this is improving your test grades, I’m so proud of you.

3. Pete, I notice that you’re contributing more to your group discussions and speaking more with your classmates, you have so much to offer in terms of your opinions, this is making such a difference in the group dynamics, I am so proud of you.


 * On your wiki page give Gigi an "IMessage" to help her change her behavior. And after she changes her behavior give her another "IMessage" to reinforce her behavior change.Your assignment is two final "I Messages" One corrective and one positive! **

1. Gigi, when you go through my fiance's’ personal belongings and walk into the house uninvited, it makes him uneasy because he is very private. Please respect his feelings by knocking before entering and also please don’t go through his papers.

2. Gigi, I notice that you’ve been respecting my fiance’s privacy by not walking into the house and going through his papers. You are respecting his privacy and that makes both us so happy.


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline;">Assignment # 8- Section B- Bullying **


 * After reading these articles write a journal entry of about 250 words about what you learned and how you might use this information in your school. **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline;">My school kicks off the year with 3 days of team building activities, which involve lessons on bullying. It provides steps of what students should do when they witness bullying, the ramifications of bullying, the damage that is done to the students, the classroom and the school in general. We also look at “netiquette” and bullying behavior online. As stated in the article, “How to Cultivate a Bully Free Community”, these lessons need to be part of the curriculum and not taught by teachers who are unprepared and unsupported. I’m an ESL teacher and I remember those first few days thinking- how am I going to successfully teach this material? Teachers need to be properly trained on this subject and how to successfully implement the materials.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bullying no longer takes place in the school courtyard, it’s everywhere and students who are being bullied are constantly under attack. From social media to text messages, there’s no real break from it. I had several ESL and non-ESL students who were caught bullying online and they couldn’t go on the school field trip as punishment (not much of a punishment, it was over 100 degrees that day). This took place in May at the end of the year. Perhaps if my school had modeled the Odyssey Community School and followed Rosenbergs Compassionate Communication model, the bullying wouldn’t have occurred. I was actually shocked to see the list of students who were bullying, they were some of my nicest students.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to Dr. Jennifer Frasier, bullying is detrimental to a student’s mental health and can cause irreparable damage to the brain. MRI scans show scarring and an increase in PTSD. Stress from bullying increases cortisol in the brain, which places students at greater risk for depression, mental illness and a decrease in neuron brain connectivity. It appears that research into bullying by psychologists’ didn’t begin until an incident in Norway during the early 1980’s when 3 teenage boys committed suicide due to bullying. I used to live in Japan, where school bullying was epidemic. There was a constant stream of suicides from teenage boys who just couldn’t take the bullying any longer.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline;">As a society, we need to address the problems associated with bullying and make it unacceptable on all levels from adults in the workplace to children at school. I agree that this needs to be part of the curriculum and needs to be a part of a weekly lesson with constant reinforcement, in order to achieve success.

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**In a short 200 word (+-) tell if you agree or disagree with your Personality Profile from the test you took. Are you a People Person, a Practical Manager, a Learned Expert, or a Creative Problem Solver? Comment on your wiki page.** ======

After taking the personality profile test, I found that I am a combination of all four. My scores were as follows: 25 for PP, 26 for LE, 23 for CP, and 26 for PM. I find that most of my decisions are based on mood and how much energy I have at the moment. I’m definitely a self-proclaimed people person, I’m surprised that I only scored a 25.

I can see where these different personality types can lead to a frustrations. Personality clashes are the number one reason for the conflict in my family. I have one brother who is like Oscar Madison from the Odd Couple. He is completely clutter blind and could eat off of a dirty floor and think nothing of it. He will eat just about anything, including anything that comes in a can. I remember as a child, if he took a sip from my drink, I would be so grossed out, that I threw the drink away. His house is a mess and he’s a sloppy dresser. He has a happy go lucky personality and nothing really seems to bother him. I have another brother, same parents, who is the polar opposite, he’s the Felix Unger. He’s very clean and orderly. He is a vegan and will not eat anything that isn’t fresh. His clothing and his grooming is perfect. He gets stressed out when things aren’t orderly and has a field day picking on my other brothers sloppy traits.

In the classroom, the different personality types become apparent within the first month of class as the students start to relax and open up. It’s these different personality traits that can either make a kid feel confident or stressed out in the classroom. If the student is different from the others, this can be a trigger for bullying. I’m going to give the personality test to my students on the first day of school, and use this as a tool to make them aware of how personality differences are to be embraced and not made fun of.


 * Assignment #10 **

**The role of nurture by the families of the two main characters, Derek and Homer were very different.** Derek's father was focused on racism, while Homer's father was obsessed with his work in the coal mines. Homer’s father believed that his job was responsible for keeping the American steel industry alive, which made America a powerful country. Derek’s father believed that the blacks and hispanics were taking away jobs and making America weak.

**The role of the mother in the development of each of the two main characters Derek and Homer.** Derek’s mother played a passive role in the film, she would change the subject when the racist conversations became too intense. She wasn’t a very strong personality in the film, she was more of a victim of circumstance. Homer’s mother was a strong personality, she was very supportive of Homer’s education and his rocket building. She was confrontational with her husband and walked out of the room when he thought Homer should work in the mines, rather than complete his education. Homer was a nice, easy going teenager compared to the Derek, who was filled with hate and anger.

**The role of the teacher Murray in Derrick’s life and the role of Miss Reilly in Homer’s life.** Teacher Murray had already witnessed the level of racism and hate when having a dinner date with the family. He watched as Derek attacked his sister and then called Murray a filthy Jew and kicked him out of the house. Teacher Murray wanted brother Danny expelled because of his anti-semitic essay on Hitler. Homer’s teacher, Miss Reilly, was polar opposite, she had so much faith in Homer and his rockets that she wanted him to enter the state science fair. She wanted to make a difference in Homer’s life and in the community, she also wanted to know that her teaching had not been in vain.

**The role of the two principals in the lives of Derek and Homer.** Derek’s principal, an African American dedicated to enriching the lives of students, was an activist working with the local police to clamp down on gangs in the city. He was an amazing principal who took a personal interest in Derek and visited him in prison during his darkest hour. Homer’s principal was more concerned with rules and regulation. He gave Homer a hard time and it wasn’t until the end of the movie that he actually accepted Homer’s genius and gave him the recognition he deserved.

**The role of the community in the lives of Derek and Homer.** Derek’s overall community comprised of mixed races all competing for power in Venice Beach, California. It was a community filled with hate and violence. Homer’s community was an all white coal mining town in West Virginia. This small town was very supportive of Homer. The adults would break the rules to help him build his rockets, mostly because he was such a nice kid, with big dreams of building a great rocket.