Daniel Asher Greenman

802

Thursday, 4•9•14

Gaokao Argument Essay

Every year, millions of students in China take a test that will determine the rest of their lives.  The test is very long, and places a lot of pressure on students. It is also incredibly important for just one test. The schools that train students for this test, therefore, have to be extremely demanding. The gaokao is an unfair and overly demanding test for chinese students.

The gaokao is an unreasonably important test, and so the pressure placed on the students who take it is extremely high. Says the article “China’s Cram Schools” by Brook Larmer, “Failing the gaokao likely means ending up in a factory or construction job.” This would obviously be very stressful for students. The article also says that there is pressure from individual families on their children to help the family by achieving a certain score. This shows that the gaokao is often too nerve-wracking for children while taking the test.

The test schools created to help with the gaokao are extremely demanding. As described by a former student at Matochang High School, Yang Wei, the school has “nothing to do but study.” Matochang tries to eliminate distractions by having no electrical outlets, no forms of entertainment, and generally isolated lifestyles detrimental to the health of a teenager. In another testing school, students were using intravenous devices to stay awake to study. Extreme techniques like this lead to student suicides as well. The extremely difficult, and sometimes depressing environment of test schools are unfair to students.

The gaokao is not fair to the millions of Chinese students who rely on its scores for so much of their future. They do not fare well under the pressure, and the options that help them only create more stress, which might only further lower their score. Hopefully, a less stressful system will be devised.

Daniel Asher Greenman

802

Monday, 2•2•15

Martin Espada Poetry Essay

Martin Espada’s three poems about injustice against Hispanics are all very biased towards the viewpoint that it is caused by the ignorance of those in power.”The New Bathroom Policy at English High School” is about a principal wrongly taking away students’ privileges, “Revolutionary Spanish Lesson” is about others not knowing Hispanic culture. “Two Mexicanos Lynched In Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877” is about the lynching of two mexicans that occurred because of racism. Espada’s poems are about how the culture of Hispanics is neglected by others.

“The New Bathroom Policy at English High School” is about a principal banning Spanish in bathrooms because he hears his name mentioned in Spanish, a language he does not speak. He wrongly assumes that the mention is being used negatively. as shown in the lines “The only word he recognizes/is his own name/and this constipates him.” This shows that he is ignorant, as he fears that something he can’t understand is being used against him. He bans Spanish, selfishly, so he does not have to fear something he does not understand, and has more control. This is illustrate in the lines “So he decides/ to ban Spanish/ from the bathrooms/ Now he can relax.” A misunderstanding of Hispanic culture caused a problem for both sides.

The poem “Revolutionary Spanish Lesson” is about Espada’s rage at the mistakes people make about his culture. The example he uses is his name, and he uses this to show what the speaker wants to do. “I want to buy a toy pistol, / put on dark eyeglasses / push my beret at an angle, comb my beard to a point, / hijack a busload / of Republican tourists / from Wisconsin.” This shows also that he is angry at a specific type of person, a stereotype of a racist American. Espada feels that not taking the time to understand a culture is an insult to that culture.

In “Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877,” Espada shows the apathy to Hispanics expressed by “gringos” at the lynching of two Mexican prisoners. The poem is based on a historical photo, and Espada focuses in on the lynching victims. He accomplishes this by a linguistic version of a film zoom. The first three stanzas begin with the phrase “More than,” after which he describes a series of details in the scene. Then, at the beginning of the fourth stanza, he settles on the figures in the picture: “the faces of the lynching party…a high-collar boy smirking, some peering / from the shade of bowler hats, but all / crowding into the photograph.” He illustrates that the people are not remorseful about the death of the Mexicans because they see them as being  vastly inferior, and see their hanging as an spectacle.

Espada’s poems speak of an American culture where the Hispanics are disregarded as a minority. The oppressors, or ignorant people in his poems, are stereotypes themselves. He uses historical evidence in his poems to show how his views are supported, and also to spur the need for change. Martin Espada paints a realistic picture of being insensitive to other cultures.

"Mockingjay" Reading Response

          In "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins, a rebellion is being staged against the opressive government of Panem. Many lives are lost, and there is much sacrifice in the war. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, and her group of friends and her group of friends and allies, have to help make many important decisions on actions in the rebellion. Throughout the book, in many instances, the needs and wants of the many are chosen over those of the few, and sacrifices are made. The decision not to benefit certain individuals often is impactful and essential to the plot.

          In the book, one of the characters, Peeta Mellark is with Katniss and her group while on a mission. Peeta is suffering from mental trauma after having been tortured and brainwashed previously, and doubts his ability to stay sane. He tells the group many times that he wants to be left behind, and sometimes that he wants to die instead of completing the mission. But the group knows that he is a valuable member and friend, and refuses to let him die. In one instance, Peeta begs, "'Leave me,' he whispers. 'I can't hang on.'" But the group forces him to, and he provides emotional support, and helps gain the group help along the way. Not letting Peeta fulfill his death wish ends up benefitting everybody in the group.

          Elsewhere in the book, characters are debating how to overtake an army base on a mountain, nicknamed "the Nut." There are various plans on how to overtake the base, one of which including trapping all of the people inside, not all of which are enemies, some just menial workers. Katniss is against this plan, as she puts it, "'It'd be like causing a massive coal mining accident.'" It is agreed, with her coercing, that there should be given a chance for workers to flee the building. In letting more survive, they are looking out for the needs of more of the people, and helping all of mankind, since populations are relatively small.

          In District 13, which houses many refugees, there is a very strict policy on the distribution of food. An excerpt from the passage shows some of the rules: "For instance, if you don't finish something and want to save it for later, you can't take it from the dining hall." At another point in the book, Collins writes, "The people from [District] 12 are already getting slightly larger portions than the natives of 13 to bring us up to weight." These sections of the book show that the laws on food in District 13 had in mind the benefit of the whole society, and worked for all of the citizens,

          In "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins, the rebellion that is occurs is a major event that results in many deaths and monumental decisions. But over the course of the book, the characters often decide in favor of the majority, and abandon their selfishness. this contributes to their well-being, and helps them overtake the Capitol, the oppressive government. Collins shows that in times of extreme difficulty, it is best not to act only for yourself to make it through a problem.