“We live in a country where American kids are dying because we’re sending them overseas to kill people for oil. But when one sad, distraught child who doesn’t see the beauty in life goes and wrongly acts on his rage by shooting up a school, people start pointing a finger at heavy metal music. The problem isn’t with rock lyrics, it’s with the fabric of this society itself.”
Good morning - and good afternoon, to both groups of seniors. I'm sorry that I can't be with you today. However, just because I'm not with you does it mean that learning ceases today. Friday was somewhat of a lost day with most of you on the field trip to Kent. So let's talk about Thursday. If you think back, we were discussing the A&E video about Columbine, as well as the 3 articles I had asked you to read, the timeline, the 10 myths, and the posting about Ryan Patrick Halligan. From reading your work from in class on Thursday, I can see that this experience thus far is beginning to at least urge you into discussion on the matter, as it should. This type of information, and striking violence that exists in our lives on a daily basis, via the news, the internet and sources of the like, should push you to hold an opinion on the matter. So, let's take it a step further.
Your task for the day: Read the following excerpts below. After you have read ALL the excerpts, I want you to select the one that hits home with you the most - the one the really sticks out in your mind. I then want you copy and paste the excerpt and the questions that follow that specific excerpt into a text document (this will become today's blog post, but I want NO technical excuses). Re-read and respond to the excerpt of your choice. In your blog post you must answer all facets of the questions that accompany your excerpt. I want to read about what your opinion is to these sort of questions. I want to know how you feel, what you believe, what you agree and disagree with. Save it in the text document as you go. This will prevent any sort of technology "glitch." When you have completely responded to the material presented, then you need to post it to your blog. If there is any material NOT completed in class today, then you can assume it is homework for this evening. Your final blog post for the day should be posted by midnight tonight for full credit. For those of you without internet access at home, there is WiFi available at McDonald's and Dairy Queen, or you may wish to visit a friend's house. I won't be accepting excuses for the incompletion of this assignment when I get back on Tuesday. This is a serious assignment, please treat it as so - as your grade will reflect it.
19 Minutes excerpts and questions —by Jodi Picoult
EXCERPT #1
She expected the teacher to talk about a time-out chair, or some retributive punishment that would be handed out if Peter was again taunted by the in crowd. But instead, the young woman said, “I’m showing Peter how to stand up for himself. If someone cuts him in the lunch line, or if he’s teased, to say something in return instead of just accepting it.”
Lacy blinked at her. “I…I can’t believe I’m hearing this. So if he gets shoved, he’s supposed to shove back? When his food gets knocked on the floor, he should reciprocate?”
“Of course not—“
“You’re telling me that for Peter to feel safe in school, he’s going to have to start acting like the boys who do this to him?”
No, I’m telling you about the reality of grade school,” the teacher corrected. “Look, Mrs. Houghton. I can tell you what you want to hear. I can say that Peter is a wonderful child, which he is. I can tell you that the school will teach tolerance and will discipline the boys who’ve been making Peter’s life miserable, and that this will be enough to stop it. But the sad fact is that if Peter wants it to end, he’s going to have to be part of the solution.” (pp. 72 – 73)
Questions:
What does SAFETY IN SCHOOL mean?
Is it fair to ask everyone to advocate for him/herself?
Where does the responsibility lie for ending peer cruelty?
EXCERPT #2
He was staring in a way that cut her to the quick. Josie shivered. “I’m not,” she said quickly, and she took a deep breath. “I just…I don’t like the way you treat kids who aren’t like us, all right? Just because you don’t want to hang out with losers doesn’t mean you have to torture them, does it??
“Yeah, it does,” Matt said. “Because if there isn’t a them, thee can’t be an us.” His eyes narrowed. “You should know that better than anyone.” (pp. 218 – 219)
Questions:
What is your role to step in when you see others being treated inappropriately?
In a high school setting…talk about the “them” vs. “us.”
Can high school ever break down the barriers so that each and every student feels a part of the school?
EXCERPT #3
“Derek,” Drew picked.
“All right,” Matt said, “I’ll take the homo.”
Peter shuffled toward the back of Matt’s team. “You ought to be good at this game, Peter,” Matt said, loud enough so that everyone else could hear. “Just keep your hands on the balls.”
Peter leaned against a floor mat that had been strung on the wall, like the inside of an insane asylum. A rubber room, where all hell could break loose.
He sort of wished he was as sure of who he was as everyone else seemed to be.
“All right, “ Coach Spears said. “Let’s play.” (p. 228)
Questions:
What are the adults’ roles in helping diminish peer cruelty?
Discuss the pervasiveness of homophobic language.
What can you do to intervene when others are cruel?
EXCERPT #4
Ask a random kid today if she wants to be popular and she’ll tell you no, even if the truth is that if she was in a desert dying of thirst and had the choice between a glass of water and instant popularity, she’d probably choose the latter. See, you can’t admit to wanting it, because that makes you less cool. To be truly popular, it has to look like it’s something you are, when in reality, it’s what you make yourself.
I wonder if anyone works any harder at anything than kids do at being popular. I mean, even air-traffic controllers and the president of the United States take vacations, but look at your average high school student, and you’ll see someone who’s putting in time twenty-four hours a day, for the entire length of the school year.
So how do you crack that inner sanctum? Well, here’s the catch: it’s not up to you. What’s important is what everyone else thinks of how you dress, what you eat for lunch, what shows you TiVo, what music is on your iPod.
I’ve always sort of wondered, though: If everyone else’s opinion is what matters, then do you ever really have one of your own? (p. 241)
Questions:
Is popularity more important than anything else…dying of thirst?
What is the difference between being popular and belonging to the group?
Can everyone be popular?
