English Language Learners and Education

We have been visiting different places, including Global Neighborhood, the Refugee Parent's Panel, Jack Anderson, the Kennewick Public Schools, Mea Moore at the Professional Educator Standards Board, etc. From what I have learned from some of these visits about children who have English as their second language is how important it means that they can master their first language.


Many researches shows that for children with English as their second language they can achieve great successes. It can be done by these children, if they can master their first language.
Therefore is it important that teachers keep parents reminded about how much it can help their children if they could master their own language.

That´s how they do it in the U.S. Unfortunately it is the exact opposite in Denmark. Since I am a secound language learner, I found it easy to compare these two countries. Unfortunately, my parents and I were told in the parents' meetings that my parents should speak Danish with me and my siblings at home so we could master the Danish language but from what I've learned in the U.S. on how it actually helps the kids  I feel sorry for my country. When they could easily use this system and may have helped many children. I like the American way to teach their bilingual children and it's certainly something I need to work on with my children when the time comes.  

Disability and Education

Disability was not somthing I was familiar with terms education. What I have learnd in Domino Preschool and Assistive Technology Workshop and from our visits to other schools was how important it is to give each student their own tools to become successful  in school. It is our job as teacher to seek the newest technology to increase our students capacity to learn and funktion normaly in school. for example we met this unique man named Paul.


His handicap is that he can not speak or move normally, however he is very intellegent in my opinion. He understands everything that is said and I was pretty impressed with the way his father had developed a program for him to communicate with other people. His father found out that Paul could use his legs and based on that developed a system using it to communicate. So when he stepped on some pedals he sends some code to a computer which then reads it up as Paul would say. For me it was something completely new and quite impressive to see. 

I must sadly admit that disability in my home country is not something I'm familiar with, and therefore unfortunately can not relate or compare what we have learned in the United States to Denmark.

How ever I am glad to have this unique opportunity to see what's being done for people with disabilities. When I think everybody has the right to be able to do their best in school.

Socio-Economic Status and Education

What I found out by our visit to Holmes Elementary was how important it actually means to be poor or rich. A large proportion of the students came to school without breakfast the family was so poor that they could not give their children breakfast or lunch. But I really look up to the Principle. He does a great job with the children in terms of food he makes sure that the children get food at school. The reason I mention the food is that food is an important factor for the student to learn, so they can concentrate, learn more easily and naturally not be hungry because no child deserves to be hungry during the day and night.  
Another thing I've noticed is that the poor families on average do not even have ONE book in the entire home according to a statistic from the Principle of Holmes Elementary. These factors and many others do the poor far worse they have, for example not the same opportunities as a rich student to choose the most expensive and best college. That means, the poor students must take a cheap college which means that the college is not that good as a rich college. This is just few examples for why poor families and poor student don’t make it as good as the middle class or the rich people.
Of course we have our problems in Denmark, but nothing compared to some of the examples I just gave. In Denmark, all have the right to receive benefits from the state and which should be enough to live reasonably well, obviously it will be hard for a single mother and three children, but no one goes to bed hungry or goes to school without food.
Moreover, the costing of schools, high schools and universities is nothing in Denmark. You can go there absolutely free, you actually get what we call the state education aid, which is money the state gives you per month which is 500 - 1000 $ after you are 18 years and this wealth process system works because we pay high tax. And public schools have roughly the same standard and therefore students will be treated in school and not have the same problems as they have in the U.S. Plus, the individual learn to get his students to the library to borrow one or two books at least once a week.

Hello everyone

My name is Mohammed Osman and I'm 22 years old.
I study public administration in Denmark in a city called Aarhus. I have just finished my second semster and remains now only 5 semesters. Public administration is a new education, so it is very exciting to be one of the students that are involved in shaping this education. I can specialize in several categories, one of these categories is economics, and it's the one I strongly considering taking.

I was born and raised in Denmark, but originally I am Palestinian.
My family consists of both my parents and five children in total of which I am the middle.
I am a very open minded and happy person who always seeks new challenges. I am looking forward to meeting you all.

Best greetings
Mohammed Osman