In this third chunk Miles Corwin continues to use imagery to describe the city, similes to help readers understand Ms.Little's attitude, definitions to to convey the meaning of the slang used in class, and anecdotes to tell the stories of these students' past and present situations they have to face while going to school. Ms.Little continues to be unstable in the classroom especially after a derrogatory statement was made about her and she felt no one was on her defense. Now as this chunk ended she is looking for a new school to transfer to, and the AP exam is in less than two months. What will happen if she leaves these students? Olivia is now being sent to Dorothy Kirby Center for nonviolent offenders, for the check scam she was a part of because her foster mother, who only wanted her for the money, said so many negative things about Olivia at the end when she was close to getting off. The things Fairconnetue said were false accusations. I feel she just didn't like that Olivia was not dependent upon her and did things on her own. Hopefully everything will go well at the center so she can go to college because then all her hard work would seem like a waste. While this was going on, others were beginning to receive their acceptance letters to the different colleges they applied to. Danielle and Curt are waiting for their letter from Stanford, and Naila has been rewarded a full scholarship to Stanford on athletis in basketball. As we are told about the different acceptances, we are introduced to the stories of Princess, who did at one time have a nice home with her mom and grandparents but after the death of her grandparents, she and her mother moved from one infested apartment to another. But just as she was about to give up on school and work, her mom was blessed with a full-time, well paying job that would allow her to graduate, take her senior pictures, get her class ring, and go to the prom. She was also accepted into UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside. Her struggle with finances and her mom trying to still provide for the two of them, reminds me of my family situation. Finances may not always be the best but God will make a way and we can't give up. That's what my mom tells me and it's the same thing Princess's mom told her. It's important that we students understand education is a priviledge, and we have to make the most of it. That is what Danielle's father, Tommie Smith, said while speaking to Ms.Little's AP English class. I enjoyed learning more about him and knowing about him before reading because it was breathtaking to read his story in this book and how he has guided his duaghter. She wanted to run track, and was good, but he wanted her to stay on her academics because she couldn't be as competitive in both. This helped her be number one in her class and that is great because she has that support. Willie is another student who had a rough childhood as his mother became addicted to crack cocaine, but his dad was there to encourage him. I'm glad that some of these students do have support of at least one parent if not both.
Determination is a constant in each of these students' lives as they strive for best academically. They are determined to succeed and excell and make a better life for themselves. They have a passion for learning. So no matter what obstacles they are faced with, whether it's needing a job, losing a friend or family memeber, being sent from foster home to foster home, or having a baby, they continue to work hard to get the education they know is necessary for them to compete and succeed.
Application: Who else other than Tommie Smith and those mentioned in the book, do you feel have showed "moral courage" for challenging prejudices and preconceived notions of their time?
Application: Do you think that what happened to Ms.Little when she was with the older guy caused her to have an unstable attitude towards her classes and administration? Why or why not?
Application: Tommie Smith makes a statement about black athletes depending upon their skills and talent to make their money, but having an eduction is still really important. If you are of another race, are there any specific recreational activities, viewed as a meal ticket to success, that are held higher than education by your family members?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
application : Other than Tommie Smith , Rosa Park too has set an example for standing up to their race. Like Tommie Smitth, Rosa Park remained sitting still on the bus when she was told to sit in the back of the bus and to get up her seat for a white man, Rosa PArk remained at her seat standing up for her race and her right. This little action is shared throughout the world as a sign of courafe and now rosa park is seen as a hero, just like Tommie Smith.
ReplyDeleteapplication#2 : Yes, i do believe that Ms.Littles past relationship did interefere with her future and now she is unstable mentally and that is whjy it is so hard for her to trust people and that is why she is so uptight because she has been hurt already and she does not want to get hurt again. I believe this is a resonable action. and the past can affect your future and since her past relationship with this man was so strong and she felt like she could trust him, and he turned around and just did her like that, it really messed her up and it shows especially towards her collegues and her students.
Application#3 : Yes and no. Some Samoans view that football can get them the tiket out of here, but they have no plan B to fall back on. But i said no because in my family education is the tiket to get out of here. But some samoans they turn to sports just like some african americans in the book turn to, to get out of here. Sometimes their successful and sometimes their not. But it is always important to have a plan B.
Outstanding work Alexandria! I like your blog layout- didn't you change it since we were in the lab? Also, be sure you and the rest of your group start thinking of the problem Corwin addresses in the text, and possible solutions. Thanks and keep up good work! Ms. G!
ReplyDelete