The Hobart Shakespearians

The Hobart Shakespearians film made me think about how children learn and what they are capable of when given the right role model or teacher. These children whose first language was not English, and lived in a neighborhood full of violence learned vital life skills and strong educational lessons as well. They were given the proper tools and teachings to be more than a statistic of a bad neighborhood and exceeded everyone’s expectations. The film made me feel inspired that if you find the right ideas and work hard that you can be better than the “average” person people think you are.

I thought that taking to children out into real life activities instead of reading them from books was a big impact. They did not only learn what they needed to, but for most they will remember leaving home and going someplace special to learn about something new. I also thought that playing games with the children helped them learn. It got them excited about getting the answer correct. They were more engaged in the lesson and would probably remember what they had learned better than just reading it. A quote I liked from the film was

“You have to be the person you want the kids to be,”

 Rafe worked hard to keep the kids interested and learning, in return they worked hard as well. This did not only stop at the classroom but also in the way the children behaved in the real world away from school. They were polite and understanding. When they didn’t understand something he took the time no matter how long to make sure that they understood it. Even if they had done something wrong he didn’t embarrass them or punish them in a way that be little them, he simply treated them like adults with respect. They all had picked up this good character trait that he was teaching them, and hopefully carry it throughout their life.

My goal for 2014 is to keep my grades up and have all of my student loans paid off in full by the next fall semester.

jOURNAL 6 The Hobart Shakesperians

In this documentary Film it made me feel a couple of different ways. One way it made me feel was inspired. this film really portrade the hard work that Rafe puts into his class room for his students. He mentioned that he worked four jobs in order to get his students on the trips to Washington D.C to really see what they  were learning outside of the text book. He build the students into caring for their grades and wanting to learn. They were very well educated in the shakespear language and enjoyed reading the books. The students even got emotional while reading. This made me feel almost sad but a mix of happy. They read books that were over people stuggling or having problems which is what the students could relate to. So this made it sad to see them crying while reading a book, but also happy because they love to read and WANT to read the book. This documentary shows compassion for the well being of the students. This film had me think about how my school did not have us reading Shakespear until senior year of high school so this really caused the students to miss out on opportunites in better vocabulary or better understanding language on its own.

Methods that seemed the most effective to would be the money method he had going, and also the musical part of class. The money method was a great idea because this helps the students understand the value of money and how important it is to earn money, while also spending it properly. He lets them know that it is okay to spoil yourself on something(such as the girl buying the guitar) but to also have enough money to pay your rent and other bills. It kind of reflects what it is their parents are doing for them.

Another method is the music. He states that the music helps the children with their mathemathics and also their reading. This is benefital in several ways. The children need to know how to read in order to do school work or live easily. Also Math goes along with science so if they are well in math it will help them with their science classes. Math is a stuggle for me personally and I know that it does cause problems with science such as chemestry. In the film rafe talks about the childrens future and their time in middle school was quickly approaching. He told them that it would be easy to fall into the bad crowd but he tells them one thing and this is "You've got to be strong". He means that they must focus on their education.


A goal that I would like to set for myself is to decide what it is I want to major in. It may not sound like much but it is very important to me to know what it is I for sure want to do so, I can take better steps to finishing my goals and finding myself.

Journal 6 Hobart Shakespeareans.

The documentary film The Hobart Shakespearean was a great documentary. I loved how Rafe was involved with his students and cared on what was happening at home, and how he wanted them to be Americans, if they go through all that work voluntarily ans still keep going they are doing more than what we Americans do today, we have gotten so lazy, we Americans just think we can do everything and not try. I feel that if we Americans had to work to become one we would be so much better, we should take these children as examples they have self-discipline to learn and become all they can be. I am not perfect, I am not saying that I deserve the American title, yes I was born and raised here but sometimes I am not interested in learning as those children were, I am attending college to make better of myself and the past couple days something slapped me in the face, I need to do better, and watching those children (10 years old) if they can do that why can't I as an adult? I am going to do way better in school so I can achieve my status as surgeon and help others medically so they can live their life more fully.

The teaching style of Rafe is that he is involved with his students, and feels that their education mean everything to them, he isn't teaching them because it's not just his job but also that he cares. Rafe also includes in his teachings a broad category of topics to teach his students, the money system, music, and arts & literature, so they are not going to class learning the same thing everyday, its always something new for these kids which keep them interested. I believe that its not just what goes on at home to keep the children in school its what goes on in the classroom also, if the teacher is a great character to be around and wanting you to improve that is what makes you wake up and smile about going to class.

When it comes to the goal in 2014 I want to do better in college, it might be simple for other people but for me its difficult for me, obstacles get in the way, work wears me down. There are people out there that do so much more, if they can do it, so can I! So my actual goal is to work my butt off to get where I need to, I want to graduate from college, and be the first Baer to actually do it, I want to make the money so I can travel and help out organizations that are in need society can be great we just have to help each other out, in the future I am going to encourage my children and my grandchildren to do the same, and learn that you have to work for what you want!

Hobart Shakespearians- Colin Visconti

At the beginning of the video, I really didnt know what to expect. The first thing I noticed right out of the gate was the percentage of minority race Hobart consisted of. There were a large amount of Asian and Latino children in Mr. Rafe's class which made me think that he was a specialist for kids with troubled lives. Though this though is not far from the truth i was still in shock how powerfully moving Mr. Rafe's teaching style was.

As the video went on, it never failed to surprise me with the success Mr. Rafe was able to achieve with the children. with his bizarre style, drive and passion he was able to make the lives of these children to take an enormous turn for the better.  in the end, the most respectful factor about Mr. Rafe is his loyalty to his job and the kids. Instead of going for the many opportunities for money and fame he stays with his promise and passion, helping the kids.

My personal goal that the video inspired me with is to find the same amount of passion in what i do for a living  as Mr. Rafe does.

Preston's Hobart Shakespearians

The documentary that we watched was about a teacher named Rafe who really got involved and taught his students the way that he wanted. He changed the way they looked at school, making them read novels that I read in High school. It made me think that we should put these kind of schools in elementary schools and show the kids what they can really do. A thing that really stuck in my head was that the kids got really emotional when they read the books and also when the last day of school came, it really showed that the kids loved his class and wanted to stay and they really enjoyed it.

The two methods that seemed the most effective to me was when he would take the kids to different places, he would travel with them and show them what they were learning about and to me that is great because in my old high school we never went and did stuff like that and so he making show what they are learning by letting them experience everything and really see it beside looking at it in a book. The second was that he really got into it with the students, he made the lessons fun and it helped them the kids out because he would never give up on them if they didn't get something, he would keep trying to get them to understand it even if it took him 500 times he would keep trying, and a quote that showed this was  when he was talking to Alan at the end and he said "never let a teacher tell you what you can't do" and that really stuck with me because he is right never bring a kid down always build them up.

A challenge that I will set for 2014 is to make the deans list by the end of the semester of school, I think it would be really cool to make it on the deans list and it would make people proud to see that I made it. And by making the deans list it will help me later on in the future when i'm looking for a teacher job after school and if I make it on the deans list it would really help me out getting a job. I would be very proud if I make it on the deans list because I have never been good at school so I think that would be a great goal for 2014!

Journal 6. Hobart Shakespearians- Lacie

This documentary film was very touching! My childhood was nothing like those children's. Many of them didn't speak English at first where it was my first language. They said they seen violence and drugs and alcohol on a daily basis and I didn't. I feel like i lived a sheltered life compared to them. It struck me the most when the kids got so emotional when reading Huck Finn because they were so involved and understood what was going on. When i was that young i never got involved with something like that, i would never cry during a book especially in class because where i came from you'd get made fun of for it. I love how they can be who they are and the rest of the class thinks its how it should be.

I think one of the best approach was when the teacher took the class to Washington D.C to learn about the History instead of learning it from the book. The book was coming to life for the kids and it helps them get a better understanding of what happened when they can see it in person. It's more fun to learn that way when you're actually having fun. Luckily for me i got to go there when i was in the 8th grade when we started learning about it but unlike the kids i didn't take it seriously and looking back on it i wish i would've been more like them, eager to learn! Another good approach was when Rafe took the children who were copying to the side and explain to them what they did wrong in a rational manor. This helps because the children don't feel humiliated in front of the entire class and they will be more likely to not do it again.

One of the children said that they loved the fake money system at school because it helps them get ready for the real world money system and i think it's great that Rafe does that because it really teaches them how everyday auctions and how money works!

My goal for 2014 is to really put effort into the classes I'm taking. Little work won't do me any good, i need to step it up. Last semester i totally failed at my classes. I stopped going to class and when i was there i didn't pay attention. My grades really reflected it and it put me at bad academic standing. My parents pay for my schooling out of pocket and i really feel like I've let them down.

chapter 16. journal 5. Lacie Benedict

The event that took me by surprise in this chapter was when Benjamin found the poem. Kozol asked him to read it out loud to him and the poem to me explained Ben's behavior from the beginning of the chapter and poem to the end of the chapter and poem. The poem was him. A lion in a zoo, Ben in his school. Shut up in a cage, Shut up in the classroom. lives a life of smothered rage, can't sit still and runs around the room.

The most important character is Benjamin because Kozol really talks about him the most in the chapter. Although he talks about the other kids, Benjamin stands out the most to me. He was held back and he could be held back again, he doesn't listen or try to learn but then he finds the poem and it's like a game changer because he changes his ways. He has a new mindset to learn and to move on into the 5th grade.

Kozol talks about class sizes and how they have an effect on the students. On page 215, middle paragraph, it states "Most damaging of all the factors that are truly in society's direct control, at least in my belief, is the large size of classes here, especially for kids who have so many worries on their minds and so much natural desire to receive a big share of the adoration and attention of a grown-up. This paragraph sums up what's happening in the book because at St. Ann's has so many classes that have more than enough students in them and each student needs attention. With so many students it's hard for the grown ups or teachers to give them all enough attention but they manage and they do it so well. the Suburban schools wouldn't know what to do with that many students.