The best of this week, without a doubt, had to be the commencement of short stories.
I'm going to come out and be quite honest: this past week was v-show week, and I was thus averaging about four hours (if that) of sleep per night. Alors, devine quoi, I was very very ready to pass out in class almost every day, as Mr. Allen so truthfully pointed out after hearing my use of the name "Blobert". Under normal circumstances, I regret to say that I probably would have. I have a strong will, but I think my eyelids prove a tad stronger in the end (I've experienced it in French and Biology class, which I'm not proud of).
Thus, something of true greatness would have been necessary to keep me up and slightly energized, no? You are correct, and that something of immense greatness came in the new unit of Short Stories.
I've always been a fan of ictional writing, but never a fan of short stories. From an ignoramus point of view, of course; I've never really read more then on or two in my life. All I know is that I love to write fiction, don't have enough time to write a full novel (which I've had in the works since this summer), and that this was my grand opportunity. I'll just deal with the reading of short stories without protest; hey, it's better than heart of darkness, no? I thought. I was quite wrong. Not about it being better than HoD, because they are more enjoyable to me, without a doubt, but moreso wrong about me having to "put up" with reading short stories. I did nothing of the sort. In fact, I was opened up to a new world of short, meaning-unemphasized, literary candy (which is a very strange way to put it, and I'm slightly ashamed I just wrote that, to tell you the truth).
I've definitely enjoyed every short story we've read; I've enjoyed their craft, I've enjoyed thinking them over (and NOT for the purpose of finding the "hidden meaning"), and I've enjoyed the fact that, well, they're NOT long--they're NOT a chore. Oh, and did I mention I'm no longer a bumbling, truthful-opinionless ignoramus in this subject?
So, I have to thank Mr. Allen and his curriculum for this week. And though that has an air of suck-up insincerity-for-brownie-points to it, that statment is very sincere. Honestly, even when I dislike what we may be reading, I am always somewhat amused and interested while in class. I really enjoy lerning in there. And now, after months of books that are quite difficult and not exactly the most enthralling to a classroom audience such as ours, we are given this creative respite. Well, it may not be so much of a break for others. But for myself, at least, this is the most exciting part of the year so far. It's a gift, a time for indulgence. I had another, far superior word for it, but it vanished the second I looked into the sun and found myself doing an Obama-style "determined, sternly optimistic look into the future".
Anyway. Thank you, Mr. Allen. I have a feeling that this whole process may prove to be a "best of the quarter" as well.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
What If: Teachers were personal?
Well, this idea certainly didn;t come to me because of a discussion in class. But it's something that revolves around the thought we put into learning things outside ourselves and the teacher's "responsibility" to teach through dictation.
Now, I don't at all think that there isn't something to elarn, some experience to be had, some moment worth enduring in every second of life, and thus I DO feel as though every moment in class, as well, is in some way valuable. Just ebcause you are there and are being exposed to education, you will be formed into a different person, and hopefully for the better. And who's to say what the best method of teaching to get to that point is?
Well, I'm not going to assume as though I know.
But, I'd like to believe that there is a teacher out there, somehow, somewhen, sometimes, who asks his/her students what they are thinking.
No, not what they are thinking regarding a specific curriculum (unless that is, in fact, what the student is thinking about). I mean a teacher who comes up out of his /her essential time and asks a random student, maybe the one in the front row who's still not not (double negative) listening, but doesnm't seem to be all that enthralled, and says, "hey, you. Yeah you, the one wit' da head. Tell us what you're thinking."
It's entirely possible that the student isn't consciously thinking of anything. But say he has to answer. Or maybe, the appeal of hearing himself talk presents an opportunity that is just too good to pass up. Either way, he/she will begin talking, and number one, we can gather that the first thing he starts talking about may not have been what he was thinking of before, but something he/she feels is important. Or its' something being used to cover up what's really nagging at them.
Anyway, throughout the course of this ramble session, the students would hopefully enjoy the respite, and they may all learn something. The student, the teacher, and everyone around them.
After all, I've discovered that emotions are evermore present and affecting when spoken about.
You know what, I have a story coming on now about this, slowly creeping into my head (and for the record, I actually started thinking about it on friday).
Thanks, Mr. Allen. This should be fun times.
Now, I don't at all think that there isn't something to elarn, some experience to be had, some moment worth enduring in every second of life, and thus I DO feel as though every moment in class, as well, is in some way valuable. Just ebcause you are there and are being exposed to education, you will be formed into a different person, and hopefully for the better. And who's to say what the best method of teaching to get to that point is?
Well, I'm not going to assume as though I know.
But, I'd like to believe that there is a teacher out there, somehow, somewhen, sometimes, who asks his/her students what they are thinking.
No, not what they are thinking regarding a specific curriculum (unless that is, in fact, what the student is thinking about). I mean a teacher who comes up out of his /her essential time and asks a random student, maybe the one in the front row who's still not not (double negative) listening, but doesnm't seem to be all that enthralled, and says, "hey, you. Yeah you, the one wit' da head. Tell us what you're thinking."
It's entirely possible that the student isn't consciously thinking of anything. But say he has to answer. Or maybe, the appeal of hearing himself talk presents an opportunity that is just too good to pass up. Either way, he/she will begin talking, and number one, we can gather that the first thing he starts talking about may not have been what he was thinking of before, but something he/she feels is important. Or its' something being used to cover up what's really nagging at them.
Anyway, throughout the course of this ramble session, the students would hopefully enjoy the respite, and they may all learn something. The student, the teacher, and everyone around them.
After all, I've discovered that emotions are evermore present and affecting when spoken about.
You know what, I have a story coming on now about this, slowly creeping into my head (and for the record, I actually started thinking about it on friday).
Thanks, Mr. Allen. This should be fun times.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Connection: Marlow and Presidents
We may not like to think about it.
For some of us, it's motivation to become honest leaders.
But whether we like it or not, some people, be they on a mission (Marlow) or trying to govern a people (a President) will lie or hide actual facts from the people they are trying to serve in order to keep them calm, or feel significant, or endevour to guide their emotions at an enemy.
Marlow teels the intendent that Kurtz's last words were her name.
Leaders tell us that there is less to be worried about than we think, or make us think that there is more to be worried about than there actually is. And other things, mostly, one would think, under the assumotion that it's better for the public to hear a lie.
Be it from Marlow or "The government, man!", people tell us things that are untruthful, "for the best".
We all know this, and of course it can be seen as a good thing, depending on the circumstances, but lying is something that goes on everyday. Lying is something that, no matter what the intention, causes a cycle of misinformation, and of fighting for something that is untrue, and plain. Simple. Abject. Fighting. Wrongdoings against others, because many people are not of a forgiving nature. A lie can cover up a conflict that's been going on for years, caused by another lie, and a lie can cover up the horrible things one has done for he sake of comforting one individual who could now go on to live life as a lie, and have their entire perception about their to-be love affect their every decision and self-understanding throughout the future.
Evidently, we are not all bound to make these choices. Some of us know that lying, as a principal, will only further a cycle of lies, and stand against a principle of truth and trustworthiness. I was wathcing a film last night called Apaloosa, in which a woman and a man she was trying to court (and who was also very interested in her) asked the man, "You don't lie?"
"Whyever would I need to?"
"Well...everyone lies"
"And what purpose does that serve? I'd just as much assume tell a man the truth."
"What about a woman?"
"I've never told a woman anything"
That last bit was just for kicks and giggles, but it was a part of the dialogue.
Anyway, as we enter a new age where the president has promised to uphold honesty of his dealings and actions with the public, but we can never truly be sure, only hope
For some of us, it's motivation to become honest leaders.
But whether we like it or not, some people, be they on a mission (Marlow) or trying to govern a people (a President) will lie or hide actual facts from the people they are trying to serve in order to keep them calm, or feel significant, or endevour to guide their emotions at an enemy.
Marlow teels the intendent that Kurtz's last words were her name.
Leaders tell us that there is less to be worried about than we think, or make us think that there is more to be worried about than there actually is. And other things, mostly, one would think, under the assumotion that it's better for the public to hear a lie.
Be it from Marlow or "The government, man!", people tell us things that are untruthful, "for the best".
We all know this, and of course it can be seen as a good thing, depending on the circumstances, but lying is something that goes on everyday. Lying is something that, no matter what the intention, causes a cycle of misinformation, and of fighting for something that is untrue, and plain. Simple. Abject. Fighting. Wrongdoings against others, because many people are not of a forgiving nature. A lie can cover up a conflict that's been going on for years, caused by another lie, and a lie can cover up the horrible things one has done for he sake of comforting one individual who could now go on to live life as a lie, and have their entire perception about their to-be love affect their every decision and self-understanding throughout the future.
Evidently, we are not all bound to make these choices. Some of us know that lying, as a principal, will only further a cycle of lies, and stand against a principle of truth and trustworthiness. I was wathcing a film last night called Apaloosa, in which a woman and a man she was trying to court (and who was also very interested in her) asked the man, "You don't lie?"
"Whyever would I need to?"
"Well...everyone lies"
"And what purpose does that serve? I'd just as much assume tell a man the truth."
"What about a woman?"
"I've never told a woman anything"
That last bit was just for kicks and giggles, but it was a part of the dialogue.
Anyway, as we enter a new age where the president has promised to uphold honesty of his dealings and actions with the public, but we can never truly be sure, only hope
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