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.

Daniel Asher Greenman
802
Thursday, 2•5•15

Reading Response: "1984" by George Orwell

          In the book "1984" by George Orwell, an oppressive government named "The Party" rules over the country of Oceania, accounting for every possible mistake in its rule. Its citizens are under constant scrutiny, and are brainwashed from birth as to not be able to question the government. If a citizen does step put of line, they are seen, captured, and killed or brainwashed. The Party's airtight rule ensures that they will stay in power indefinitely.

          The citizens of Oceania are taught that the government is never wrong, and that they must always do what it tells them to. In the book, people idolize Big Brother, the symbolic leader of the Party, and to hate Emmanuel Goldstein, the enemy of the Party. Daily, there is a ritual called the "Two Minutes Hate" in which propaganda of the enemy is shown, and the people rally against it to raise feelings for their own government. A line from the text reads, "But [after Goldstein's image disappeared], the hostile image melted into the face of Big Brother, black haired, black mustachio'd, full of power and mysterious calm, and so vast that it almost filled up the screen." Illustrated by this is how Oceanians must seek refuge in big Brother from the thing they are forced to hate the most. Most people need something to blame in times of extreme tension, and the Party offers that, while also making them dependent on the image of big Brother for solace and hope.

          The Oceanians are always being supervised, and if caught engaging in anything even possibly contrary to the Party's beliefs, are taken out of society. In the book, Orwell writes from the point of view of the main character, Winston Smith, "Winston kept his back turned to the tele screen. It was safer, though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing." This shows how citizens fear doing wrong by the government's rules. If  someone is caught by the government, they killed, or tortured before being released into society. This ensures that everyone fought by the Party stops being a problem for them.

         In "1984" the Oceanian government will always be in power. Most of the citizens are devout followers of the Party, trained to be so for their whole lives. If a citizen is against the Party, at the first sign or show of opposition to the government, their will to oppose the government will be eradicated, or they will die. Nobody can act on their death, as they too would be terminated. If most of a group has the same ideals, it is a simple job to see who stands out among them. This is why governments that truly support free speech are just. change is the only path to progress.

Reading List

September:

Disalmanac by Scott Bateman

Arkham Asylum: A Serious  House on Serious Earth by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean

October:

Slaughter-House Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd

The Religions Book by DK Publishing

November:

Batman: Knightfall Volume One by Detective Comics

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

The Philosophy Book by DK Publishing

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

December:

Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller

Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville

From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell

We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut by Eric Davidson

January:

Give My Poor Heart Ease by William Ferris

The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Daniel Asher Greenman

802

Wednesday, 1•7•14

Banned Young Adult Fiction Books Letter

Dear Mrs. Berner,

I understand that some parents of children in this school have complained about mature content in certain books in the school library, and have requested that those books be removed from M.S. 51. Censorship is what happens when people are not confident in the mental capacity of others. In a school, you can teach children how to understand certain material so that they will learn from it, and not be offended by it. Therefore, there is no need to remove titles deemed controversial from the school library. These books, while introducing some children to darker topics, are enlightening and enhance empathy.

Young Adult fiction books with touchy topics teach children about the problems of the world. Titles like Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games teach kids about inequality and corruption; John Greene’s A Fault In Our Stars deals with loss, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon talks about mental disabilities. Says the Alan Review in the article  “A Case for Cultivating Controversy: Teaching Challenged Books in K–12 Classrooms,” “When we deny children access to stories about people who have faced struggle and trauma, who have felt different and alone, we deny them the chance to learn about–and talk about with their teachers, their peers, and their parents–struggles from a place of safety, and we deny them the chance to learn that the struggles they themselves have faced are shared.These books all discuss important issues, teaching children about essential problems on a personal level.” This is why these books belong in an educational environment.

These books also increase empathy, a necessary thing for the emotional advancement of all children. According to a study conducted by the University of Buffalo, children associated more with literary characters after reading J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Says Gabriel Young, one of the conductors of the experiment, "My study definitely points to reading fulfilling a fundamental need – the need for social connection." This illustrates that the situations described in books of this genre help children develop emotionally. hen growing up in the world, which is expected of a child in the transitional period of middle school, they should be able to understand the feeling and opinions of others so that they can revise their own.

However, some argue that exposure to texts with themes like violence, drug use, and the sexual activity encourages participation in them. For example, in the article “Does Constant Violence Desensitize or Bore Teens?,”Jordan Graffman, head of the cognitive neuroscience division at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Maryland was quoted as saying, “‘...in the course of life with repeated exposures to violent media, you are shaping your brain networks to be more accommodating to aggression...‘“ This would seem to suggest that exposure to mature topics makes it alright. But if they were taught correctly, they would know what is wrong and what is right. They would aso be encouraged to do the right thing if they were taught how to correctly interpret the books’ messages.

In conclusion, Young Adult fiction books are educational, and should be in a school. They teach empathy and understanding, which all people need to have a functioning adulthood. If taught not to impersonate characters with bad morals, children will have a well-built moral compass. Therefore, these books should be available to children at M.S. 51. When you censor, you limit minds.

Sincerely,

Daniel Asher Greenman

Daniel Asher Greenman
802
Wednesday, 11•19•14

Reading Response Essay: "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

          War is an experience that few can truly understand. In the book "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Billy Pilgrim, experiences the firebombing of the German city of Dresden during World War Two. He later claims to have been abducted by an alien race from the planet of Tralfamadore. The book shows how war desensitizes people to death through Billy Pilgrim realizing that death is not the end of knowing somebody.

          Billy Pilgrim is desensitized to death in the book from his otherworldly experiences. When he describes his abduction by the Tralfamadorians, they tell him that they pity humans for not being able to see time more than one moment at once. It is illustrated in the book how Tralfamadorians do not mourn the dead:

          The most important thing I learned on Tralfamadore was that when a person dies, he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral...It is just an illusion we have here on Earth that one moment follows another one, like beads on a string, and that once a moment is gone, it is gone forever."

This shows how Billy does not look at death as the end of experiences with a person, and therefore is not saddened by death. In addition, whenever death is mentioned throughout the book, he thinks of the Tralfamadorian mantra "So it goes," which is meant to illustrate that every event is just another point in time, no more important than any other. Billy Pilgrim is desensitized to violence because of his being abducted by the Trafalmadorians.

          Billy Pilgrim is also desensitized to death from war. When describing a war reenactment, Billy thinks, "The umpire had comical news. The congregation had been theoretically spotted by a theoretical enemy. They were all theoretically dead now...What a Tralfamadorian adventure with death that had been, to be dead and to eat at the same time. This shows how Billy looks at death casually, relating it to an experience that is so routine. Also, Billy is not disturbed by death multiple times in the book, showing how he is not saddened by it because he has seen it happen so nonchalantly.

          Billy Pilgrim has been numbed to the sadness of death. He has been led to believe that death is routine by constantly being exposed to it, during the war, specifically the firebombing of Dresden. He thinks he was abducted by the alien Tralfamadorians, and taught that death was just another event, not the end of anything. This book taught me how even though death is the last you will se of a person, you can always experience more things about that person. In battle, people's lives end often, and instantly. But they exist just the same to you if you do not know that they are dead. People are only to you what you remember of them. People are only gone when you forget them.