We all feel that as consumers we should have the responsibility to know how and where our clothes are being manufactured. However, to many people, it would be a huge inconvenience to track where everything they buy is being produced. No company would ever put a tag on a garment that said, “Made in a sweat shop.” It is a big hassle to try and research where our clothes come from. In order to boycott buying all goods that are made in sweatshops you would have to do extensive research. This would also cut out many of the cheaper options in today’s society and your everyday life would probably cost a lot more. It is better to be aware of sweat shops, and find alternative clothing stores or clothing within the shopping market that you know for a fact, by research, that manufactures, produces and sells clothes that stayed within the same company. If all sweatshops were shut down, clothes would become more expensive. Although people care, we feel like people would be in an uproar if there was that much inflation all at one time. Even if we were to stop shopping at stores whom run their business with the help of sweat shops, it would not make much of a difference; because they will still be around no matter if the four of us were to stop shopping at these establishment, others would continue. The people that work inside of sweat shops don't know any different because that is the environment they are used too. For some, that is what they grew up around and have been surrounded by for years. If the shops were to close down, hundreds of people would be out of a job, which would cause even more problems for the people who work inside of the sweat shops.

     Yes, the thought of children making our clothes in sweatshops is haunting. However, that is the cultures way of life. These people don't have the job opportunities that Americans have. Other cultures don't know any other way of life, they just want to make a good home for their families. In America we do the same thing, only we have SO many more opportunities to make a decent living, and in better conditions. I don't think the real argument is about the keeping or doing away with of sweat shops because it it very clear that those companies are a staple in those culture's economy. The argument that seems to present itself is the bettering of sweatshop conditions and how they can be a little bit more accommodating in physical aspects and monetary aspects as well. 

Remember when...

Ahh the glory days of learning how to read. Do you remember your first Cat in the Hat, or maybe Junie B. Jones book? This marks an important stage in a little one's life. Here are our stories.


Paige- My parents always strived for me to learn how to read and write at a young age. They were always reading me books at night before bed, my older brother also would read to me at times. My first memory of reading is a time when my parents thought I could actually read, when in reality I had the book memorized. Eventually they saw that I had the book completely upside down and was just saying the story outloud because I had it memorized already. When in Kindergarden I remember my teacher always making us sit down and have story time with the other kids. This was a time when you got your favorite book and sat somewhere in the room and read for a period of time, this was always hard for me considering I would much rather talk and play than read even as a young child. Reading is very important no matter what age you are, and no matter what profession you are in. Without my family and teachers throughout the years I would not be in college today. Learning to read and write is a huge right of passage in everyone's life. It is something you will remember for as long as you live.


Christina- Honestly, I can't say that I remember the exact moment I learned how to read. Although, I do remember the early stages of my newfound skill. I remember reading the books with the "dots", or the Accelerated Reading program. Passing a test and moving on to the next level of dots was the most rewarding feeling. The feeling of success and triumph motivated me to keep reading and excelling at this task. At the time I didn't really think of reading as a building block to my future, simply because kids don't think those thoughts when they are 10 years old, but it is so true. I tried to imagine what life would be like if learning how to read was optional, or left up to our parents. As much as I would like to think that all kids would still learn how to read under those conditions, lets be real; they wouldn't. This is going to sound so cheesy, but I guess all I can say is that I'm so thankful that I grew up in an environment where our teachers taught us how to read, and I lived in a home where my parents supported me. If not for these circumstances, I probably wouldn't be writing this blog because I wouldn't be in college. Haha Okay that was a bit dramatic, but I didn't want to end my section of the blog like an Oscar awards speech.

Alyse- I remember always thinking before i could read how it seemed impossible that i would ever be able to read. It just seemed so hard to me. My parents were always reading to me before i could read, and encouraging me to read more and challenge myself. When i went to kindergarten and started learning even more letters and words and really figuring out how to read, it was the greatest feeling on Earth. When i was younger i was constantly reading,i took a book with me everywhere. Not only was reading a big accomplishment, but in elementary school, reading your first chapter book was something to brag about. I never realized then how lucky i was to have the parents and schooling that allowed and encouraged me to read at such a young age, at the time it just seemed like a really fun, cool thing to do. I didn't know that Junie B. Jones was going to prepare me for high school and college, but if i wouldn't have had the opportunities i did to learn to read then, who know where i would be today.


Rachael:
I remember the first time that I began to start reading. I was in first grade and I was sitting in a yellow bean bag and I was in my own corner. I don't remember the book, but I remember that I was trying to make out what the words said. I finally began to comprehend the words that were on the page. I was so excited because I finally read through a whole book. I remember being six years old and being so engulfed in the book that the teacher had to basically pry the book ot of my hands because we had to move onto the next subject in the class. It was an awesome experience because I finally had acomplished how to read!

Learning to read was a very different experience for everyone, yet we all have many similarities. We all were privileged enough to go to school from the age of five. We all had the desire to learn how to read. Most of us wanted to read so bad that we even pretended to read at one point or another. All of our parents read to us from a young age, and helped us develop our reading skills. All of our parents greatly influence and supported us in our journey to learn how to read. Great kindergarten and first grade teachers also made a huge difference in our ability to read and write. With out those people and the privileges we had growing up we would not have the reading skills we have today.