Erin Brockovich

As compared to the book, Soul of a Citizen, Erin Brockovich shares another experience of someone who came from out of no where and helped fight a battle that was at first not even in their plans.  Erin, like others from the book, was just living and trying to make ends meet for her and her children.  After discovering some information, she went further into investigating.  Realizing the harm that a company can do to her neighborhood really inspired her.  Many in Soul of a Citizen were the same way.  They discovered things that they wanted to help change.  Both also were very willing to get out and risk much time and effort to ensure that they could actually help enforce changes.

After reading the last chapter, Erin did spend alot of time fighting against this company and trying to get things changed in Hinkley, which in some cases took away time with her children.  The last chapter spoke on not stretching yourself thin.  Even in the movie, other families had other things to worry about.  Erin Brockovich did as well.

What Does Not Educate Us?

Name one thing that you can say does not help educate you as a human being.  After reading an article about how zoos and aquariums are places in the community that can be useful as teaching tools, it made me begin to think about what a teaching mechanism really is.  I am one of the people who actually go to the zoo and read the facts that are posted around the zoo.  While most people are walking and enjoying the area.  I am learning.
But I began to see that in some sense everyone is learning.  Everyone will once in a while go up to an animal and want to know what it is.  Many bring their children who will definitely ask questions.  A great example is when new animals begin to appear at the zoo.  At the Memphis Zoo, the pandas were a tremendous attraction.  You began to see people researching more about them and discovering things about the natural habitat that they are in.  I believe many places are like this.
I think of sports and the fundamentals and mindset it takes to play them.  I think of even incidents that are harmful.  They can lead to teaching for children and others.  I feel as though we should take advantage of all that we have and try to educate ourselves about them.

Educating in the Community

We seem to always perceive education as occuring in the classroom setting.  We fail to realize how teaching occurs in everyday life.  I think that we have to look into our communities and see how we pay attention to what is going on around us and educating ourselves about how to handle these situations.  I think of the Hollywood community of Memphis, Tennessee.  It is a community that has much pride from the residents.  For most people you would not know why the word pride would be used.  The neighborhood has many abodoned homes and no commercial retail places.  Crime tends to be high in the area and other problems also occur.  So why would I associate pride with this community?
Hollywood residents are working together to try and better the neighborhood.  The neighborhood gained its name because of the fashion stores that once were in the area.  The residents may not want that appeal anymore, but they do want to feel safe and know that their neighborhood is not seen as an eye sore to the city.  Community members have started planting community gardens and having community meetings about how to improve the neighborhood.  They are going to city officials about issues that they have.  Even though, they may not have done one huge thing, the small things continue to make a difference and is helping create a better life for all.