1. Every holiday season the NYT runs profile pieces called The Neediest Cases. These profiles are about New Yorkers in need. Here's the first one of the 2010 season. What are your thoughts on this profile? What does the writer do to present a full picture of the person?
2. Another piece from the NYT about efforts to end bullying and how some community sees these efforts as an agenda to push homosexual beliefs. Might this issue become a First Amendment fight? Can you make a school or office safe for everyone without a common vocabulary or belief system?
LOVE the over-heards going up. They're hysterical. Nice work!!
4 comments:
At 102, Outliving Friends, Family and Her Savings
I thought that this account of Ms. Mary Spencer was touching, heartwarming and fascinating. I enjoyed how Masica, the writer, included commentary by Ms. Spencer, while explaining her life story. Although this piece was short, it was thoughtful and thought provoking. Also, by completing this piece we know that Ms. Spencer is an independent, strong woman who has encountered massive struggles her entire life, yet has managed to live her life to the fullest–and longest– at age 102. A very good start to profiling New Yorkers in need.
In Efforts to End Bullying, Some See Agenda
This article was upsetting and frustrating. If students are being increasingly tormented or bullied at school, children should be taught from a young age to not be prejudiced against homosexuality. Take Harlan Reidmohr's quote from the article. He was bullied and abused by his classmates at his school where homosexuality was never discussed once. This is a problem! We cannot let our religious beliefs get in the way of a child's safety. We need to stop being so selfish and make sacrifices for the students who are being affected by bullying, whether we believe they should be gay or not.
1. I really liked this article!! It was interesting to read about Ms. Spencer and how much she has been through. I like how the writer begins the article with the present, and ends it with the present too. The writer does a good job of using Mr. McCarron's quotes to give the reader more of an idea of Ms. Spencer's personality. I also think its nice that the writer didn't say something for each stage of her life, but said the important things (such as when she was divorced, when she retired, etc). This definitely made the article an easy read because it did not bore you with meaningless facts. It was interesting to hear small details and quotes of her past, such as when her neighbors thought that her black would rub off on the milk so she had to put a cloth in between. This really shows the difference in the times in which Ms. Spencer has lived/is living.
2. I think that this article makes a really good point and is something that all middle schools should consider. I think it would benefit kids so much to be educated that different family structures are not weird or bad. I think it would make a lot of kids who live with two moms or two dads a lot more comfortable about living in a different family structure. I wonder if there is proof that educating kids at a young age about gays and lesbians subsidize bullying. I think that it makes sense to make that conclusion, however i think that if there was proof more parents would be willing to allow schools to teach a curriculum that includes an education about gays/lesbians. I'm not sure that this will become a First Amendment right, however i do think that boundaries will be pushed and there will be some unhappy parents no matter which direction schools decide to go in. I truly believe that if an education [stating that people are going to and do love people who are the same sex] starting from a young age and progressing up into middle school was provided then kids would feel safer at school. I don't think it's OK for parents to decide to take their kid out of the class if they don't approve of the lesson being taught because I believe it is important for all the kids to receive the same knowledge for it only takes one kid and one comment to create an environment with bullying.
Bullying article:
The issue of protecting homosexuals from bullying is a huge religious issue, which could get really complicated. On one hand, people want to end bullying that has caused recent suicides, but in doing so, many religious families feel threatened. By teaching that homosexuality is normal, and shouldn't be frowned upon and bullied against, many could argue that the Christian religion is being threatened because of the fact that the Bible denounces homosexuality. This means that this attempt to end bullying is a violation of Christians first amendment right to practice religion freely. In my opinion, the lives of those being bullied is much more important than the comfort of those apposed to homosexuality. Instead of teaching that homosexuality is normal and a part of life for many, it should be taught that some people are different from others. This way, people won't feel personally threatened, but children will just be taught to accept those who are different. It is ridiculous for Christians, and others apposed to homosexual teachings in school, to argue that children should not be educated about homosexuality (In my opinion). I think that it something that should be taught.
Outliving Friends, Family, and Savings:
This article was really enjoyable. I find it impressive to think about how many different life experiences a centenarian (person who is older than 100 years old) like Ms. Spencer has. The quotes from Mr. McCarron contributed to a general feeling of happiness that I got when reading this article.
Bullying:
This just makes me mad. The quote from the pastor about how the Bible says that homosexuality is wrong, and that Christians don’t want the schools to teach subjects that are repulsive to their values made me particularly annoyed. The Bible is open to interpretation, and while the Christians are entitled to their opinions, their opinion isn't the only one that matters. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why the people opposed the curriculum are so scared. The children are going to learn about these things anyways, and homosexuality is a part of life, whether the parents want to acknowledge it or not. Informing kids about this stuff at an earlier age is vital for its acceptance.
Post a Comment