Chapter 3- The Textbook in this chapter discusses your brain on culture. This part of the text gives the blueprint on why your brain works the way it does when it comes to identifying different cultures and how it reacts without knowing it. The best example is seen most present in microaggressions. Microaggressions are seen by little nic-nack attacks towards a minority in most cases trying to assert dominance or in a defensive manner if the microaggressor feels uncomfortable. This chapter also breaks down the chemistry and science of the brain such as the neurons, grey matter, neuroplasticity, and nerves. The chapter is a great read to see the things we cant control sometimes and why that is the case.

Many different stereotypes are directed throughout the show with Bubbles who would be on the spectrum. J-Roc who is white in the show but appropriates black culture (which has a whole episode on that topic) and Don/Donna who is a cross dresser who appears in later seasons and has a relationship with Randy. Mr. Lahey and Randy’s relationship is hinted at early in the show in its first season and drops more hints until they finally both come out officially in season 3. In the show, they are directed like any other couple in a TV show where they have fights and talk it out and help each other’s problems such as alcoholism. Randy and Lahey will break up and get back together through the entire run of the show. No one who is from the trailer park bats an eye at their relationship except for people outside of the community like visitors and police.

This is best portrayed in the episode where they come out as lovers publicly (S3 E6, 20:15) There is not much of a reaction from the towns people which is not something Lahey was expecting growing up his whole life being in fear of his sexuality coming out. Considering this episode at the time of its release in the mid 2000 and the target audience of the show being teenage to 30-year-old men who especially at the time would not be exposed to gay characters in a positive way considering other media targeted to them. This for sure challenges the social norms of how a homosexual relationship are portrayed in media. For me personally and other fans of the show I have talked to Lahey and Randy are some of the most beloved characters fans of the show see them just as any other character not needing to bring up the fact, they are gay, they are just Lahey and Randy.

The depiction of Lahey and Randy along with other LGBTQ members in the show how it should look in a learning environment. The teacher and students should all just recognize each other as people who are them to learn or educate and what they do outside of the class is up to them and should not be judged by anyone like the characters in the show. If a form of media is shown in a classroom and depicts characters in a negative or in a positive stereotype it should be addressed using contest of the time of its release and how it should or should not have been included. If educators are going to show different cultures in media, they should screen it first make sure it is not to offensive but if it is with showing let students know ahead of time of the up coming stereotype.

A negative that could show itself could end up affecting a student's cycle or mental state could be a microaggression. this microaggression could be made by a few things. a fellow student, something provided in class like a video, or even something the teacher says or does that was not meant to be taken a certain way. this could destroy a student and take them out mentally for the whole day. With more awareness this can be brought to a minimum and hopefully to not at all. with this done it will help students stay focused and on task.

Affordability/ Access to Technology- these two topics go hand and hand with each other. If families can't afford different forms of technology in the household due to the price they may end up not being able to expose their children as children. If children are not exposed later in life this will delay their development in that field. Going into access to tech due to affordability some areas that these families live in may not provide the opportunity to have children/ students be able to have technology in a meaningful way even in some cases the public library.

Digital Redlining-  some families live in an area where they may not have access to the internet due to the area they live in. This could cause a conflict if they need to work on an assignment from home that involves research. This could lead to multiple problems when in addition to the last points made this problem could be an endless cycle.

One strategy that can be implemented to lower the effects of these external effects in schools is to get students comfortable using technology. Two examples of this would be at the elementary level have students go 2-3 times a week to the computer lab and get used to using different programs to get first-hand experience using the tech since it is easier to learn at a younger age. Once students are older they could receive a Chromebook or laptop to use. With this older students can uses more daily assignments on the laptop and they may become more proficient with technology improving their digital literacy skills to potentially aid them in the job market or college work post graduation.