Open Mind & Understanding Discourse

OPEN MIND: a mind willing to accept new ideas according to Google Define.

I have always thought that keeping an open mind is one of the most important things a person can do in order to help society to run smoothly. I think that things would be a lot different if only people were willing to give unknown ideas a try.

Anyway, I feel that these readings today just solidified that idea. Especially Peck et al. It was fascinating to read about their program and how it was able to make a difference in the school. Sadly this type of program would not be possible everywhere. And I fear that situations like this where one group of people doesn't understand the other is only getting worse with the "digital divide," not just in class, but also in generations.

Understanding Discourse.

In the readings for this week I was definitely able to understand discourses better. According the Higgin's piece "Community Literacy to them was "search for an alternative discourse" ...a way for people to acknowledge each other's multiple forms of expertise through talk and text and to draw on their differences as a resource for addressing shared problems. "

In Peck et al. "the aim of community literacy is to build a discourse in which people not only acknowledge difference (e.g., where urban teens and university mentors can talk about race), but in which people do productive work together."
Ah, in a perfect word, where minds are open :)

I feel that these definitions are pointing towards the same idea, which Jessica describer in her post---if I may quote her---"community literacy was being literate in the forms of communication of the community you are a member of." I agree and I couldn't have put it any better :) I Think these definitions are pointing to this idea. In Higgins they are describing community literacy as a building of a new literacy in which all members can understand and communicate in. In Peck, its is the same thing-finding a way for people to share a literacy and therefore be productive together.