Gaiko Essay

       For four years, Chinese students must prepare for the gaoko, a test that essentially determines their entire futures. Their admittance to colleges and universities is based solely on their score-if they don't score well, they are forced to work at a factory doing manual labor or as a construction worker. Needless to say, they are given unimaginable workloads and pushed to the breaking point. I believe that the gaoko puts too much pressure on students and shouldn't be the only factor that determines their admittance to universities.
       The gaoko puts too much pressure on students. They know that in order to do well later in life, they must score well on the test, therefore they feel a ton of pressure to succeed and put all of their time and effort into studying. There is no time to relax or take a break-all they do is study, which is just unhealthy. Some have even taken extreme measures which allow them to constantly study. For example, in the article, "China's Cram Schools" by Brook Larmer, it states "Two years ago, a student posted a shocking photograph online: a classroom full of students all hooked up to intravenous drips to give them the strength to keep studying." This shows that students will go to extreme lengths just to study. Also, the pressure of the gaoko has been so great that some students have even took their own lives. In the article it says "Its critics say it...puts excessive pressure on students. Teenage suicide rates begin to rise as the gaokao nears." Overall, the gaoko is too much pressure for students.
        It is unfair that the gaoko scores are the only factor that is considered in determining the students who are admitted into universities. Going to a university is really the only path to a good education and career for many Chinese students. As it says in "China's Cram Schools", "But for those of limited means, like Yang, there is no alternative to the gaoko; a few points either way could determine whether he qualifies for a degree that could change his life--or nothing." This shows that students who are less fortunate must score well on the test to get a proper education and have a promising future-otherwise they face the consequence of a lifetime of hard labor. This is very unfair for them-a test should not be the only thing riding on their chance at education and a good future.
        In conclusion, the gaoko and the preparation involved with taking it is flawed in many ways. It puts too much pressure on young students. Scoring highly on the gaoko is also many students only chance of a good future, which is not a fair system. A test that can decide the rest of a person's life is simply not a good idea.

      

Martin Espada Essay

       
         Discrimination is an issue that affects and has affected so many people in this world. It is too important to be ignored. In Martin Espada’s poems Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877, Revolutionary  Spanish Lesson, and New Bathroom Policy at English High School, the speaker explores the issue of discrimination in depth, showing us the people and cultures who are affected by it and helping us understand how wrong a situation where certain people arebeing discriminated against or victimized is.

The poem Revolutionary Spanish Lesson is about how the speaker feels hurt by people who mispronounce his Spanish name. In the poem, s/he says “Whenever my name is mispronounced, I want to buy a toy pistol, put on my dark eyeglasses, push my beret to an angle…hijack a busload of Republican tourists from Wisconson.” Although the actions that are described are very extreme and unrealistic, clearly part of some sort of fantasy that the speaker has had, this shows how disrespected and offended, s/he feels when people mispronounce his name, or don’t even try to pronounce it correctly. The speaker feels the even if people don’t know him, his name is the most basic piece of his identity, and it is the least they can do to make an effort to pronounce his/her name correctly. Clearly, s/he values name and culture and holds a certain amount of meaning to it.

The poem New Bathroom Policy at English High School is about how the principal of a school decides to ban Spanish from bathrooms because he overhears students using his name in their conversation and doesn’t know what context they are using it in. Although the topic of their conversation is unclear to the speaker, s/he is clearly afraid of the unknown and afraid of what people think of him. He had no idea what they were talking about, but nonetheless jumped to the conclusion that it might be rude, offensive or discriminatory. He chose to ban Spanish because of this.

 The last poem Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877 weighs especially heavy on the topic of discrimination, showing the readers the extent of discrimination in some situations. The poem elaborates on a moment where Vigilanties who have lynched two Mexicanos stand proudly afterwards, posing for a picture with the dead bodies. It says in the poem “…Gringo Vigilanties cheered the rope that snapped two Mexicanos into the grimacing sleep of broken necks.” This line gives us a quite gruesome image of this lynching. And while the reasoning behind this incident is slightly unclear, it almost goes without saying that discrimination is a part of it. They are of course, Vigilanties, people who take the law into their own hands, killing Mexicanos, people who worked for Whites. It is obviously their belief that they should do this, not the laws. Overall, this poem is a harsh truth, a reminder that there are people who can easily do horrible things free of guilt or remorse. This poem is meant to help the reader understand the pain that victims of these acts of discrimination are caused by them.

       In conclusion, Martin Espada’s three poems explore the topic of discrimination in a number of situations ranging in severity. They are told from the perspective of someone who has faced discrimination a lot in his or her life, speaking to other people who have been victimized similarly, while at the same time showing those who have not how much pain these people go through.

Sonnet

Shall I compare thee to a pretty song

Lines of a song are long and beautiful

Sometimes your words sound like they don’t belong

Your sentences are short and unusual

Sometimes when you talk you start to stutter

Though in a song, the words have this flawless flow

Gosh, it is really quite a wonder

Despite all this, I would hate to see you go

When I hear a song, I feel myself smile

When you are around, I really do too

I guess I shouldn’t be in denial

Maybe it’s just hard for your charm to come through

Music can sound perfect, which is so rare

I shouldn’t compare thee, that is just unfair

Scarlet Letter Essay

Angela Tanzer                                                                                                 808

            Symbols are often used to develop the readers understanding of a certain circumstance in a book. The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne, is a story set in a 17^th century Puritan community, about a woman named Hester Prynne who must face consequence for her deemed not only criminal but deeply sinful actions, by wearing a scarlet letter on her bosom, a marking that titles her “Adulterous.” Hester has chosen to stay in Boston, the place of her community, and has chosen to face punishment individually, unable to admit to anyone the partner in her actions. However by choosing to do so, Hester also creates a life marked by solitude, on the edge of town, her isolation interrupted mostly only by her little daughter Pearl, who is too, a major symbol of Hester’s actions-in fact the result of them. In the book, aside from the most obvious symbol, the scarlet letter, Hawthorne uses a number of symbols, which all serve their own important purpose in enhancing our understanding and interpretation of the overall situation. They help us understand the severity of Puritan law, and Hester’s relation to it, and to her community. 

           

            One important symbol in the Scarlet Letter is where Hester and Pearl live, a small cottage on the very edge of town. Overall, this serves to represent Hester’s isolation and seclusion from her community, however there are very specific ideas which Hester’s cottage brings about. Hester is of course, separated and isolated physically from the people in her community. Also, as described, “A clump of scrubby trees, such as alone grew on the peninsula, did not so much conceal the cottage from view, as seem to denote that here was some object which would fain have been, or at least ought to be, concealed.” This quote shows there is an aspect of living in this cottage, which Hester clearly desires, something sort of private and concealed. Aside from this, Hester living on the edge of town can also be a symbol of a sort of boundary between her and her community, as well as Puritan society in general, as Hester is not like them. It shows how little she shares with them. For example, on page 153, it says, "Standing alone in the world-- alone, as to any dependance on society, and with little Pearl to be guided and protected-alone, and hopeless of retrieving her position, even had she not scorned to consider it desirable,-she cast away the fragments of a broken chain. The world's law was no law for her mind." This helps to prove Hester's mental separation from society, from others, even shows that she is slightly indifferent and doesn't care to preserve her reputation. Lastly, the wilderness by which Hester's cottage is surrounded can represent Hester's passionate personality, and her opposition to what would be considered conventional Puritan, which was straightforward and strict. It can represent how out-of-order or different she might appear in comparison to people around her.

            Another central symbol to this book is the scarlet letter. A line that really showed how much Puritans in Hester's community thought of such a punishment as the scarlet letter was, "They averred, that the symbol was not but a mere scarlet cloth, tinged in an earthly dye-pot, but was red-hot with infernal fire, and could be seen glowing all alight, whenever Hester Prynne walked abroad in the night-time." It is made clear, throughout the novel, that people who do live in Hester’s community, at first scorn and look down upon her as the wearer of the scarlet letter, and even as time goes on, use the scarlet letter as a way to define who she is, whether or not in different ways than they first had. For example, when Hester is kind and helpful to people who are poor, they are unable to look beyond the meaning or power that they believe the scarlet letter has, and change it to mean "Able" instead of "Adulterous". While Hester has changed greatly as a person over time, and has chosen to do good things, they are only able to see her in terms of the scarlet letter, and think that it has worked in forcing Hester to think about her sin, and reevaluate her life, the only obvious reason for the positive actions she brings to others. What people in her community don't realize is that they are wrong--the two are completely separate, her actions are mostly independent of her punishment. Maybe she is able, but it's not really because the scarlet letter has "served it's purpose." Hester is a passionate and driven woman, as was her sin. She has channeled this passion, almost minimized it to her thoughts.  Maybe now her thoughts have led her to make these good choices. She is a changed woman, but not for the reasons they believe. 

           In conclusion, the author does a good job of using symbols to better the reader's understanding of circumstances in The Scarlet Letter. They give us insight not only into Hester's life and inner thoughts, but also into her relationship to her community and to Puritan society as a whole. People choose to judge Hester for her one big mistake, although we know everyone does make them, and most likely a number people in Hester's community. The phrase "The punishment must fit the crime," is a way of saying the severity of the punishment depends on that of the crime, and should be fitting of it. However, in this book, this doesn't necessarily always seem to be the case for the protagonist, Hester. Overall, this book is filled with lessons and messages about making mistakes, about the consequences of them, and about relationship between an individual and a society or community. Symbols help to add to this.

           

Banned Books Essay

Angela Tanzer                                                                                                         808

Banned Book Essay

Dear Ms. Berner,

I am aware of some recent requests you have received concerning the removal or “banning” of certain books in M.S. 51 classrooms. Many parents wish to shelter their children from dark novels, as they fear they might be damaging to them. They think that the dark themes and questionable language faced by these books make their content unfit for their children, or any child, to be exposed to. And these are only some reasons-people have countless reasons that make them think it’s a good idea to ban books from libraries. And critics like Meghan Cox Gurdon seem to constantly find flaws of allowing children to read dark young adult literature. However, I disagree with the concept of banning books. While young adult literature might uncover some very serious topics, it also helps children learn more about the world they live in, and possibly guide them through conflicts they deal with throughout their lives. Children should be allowed to read what they choose.  Therefore, I believe that books should not be banned from libraries.

To begin with, students should be able to read books that inform them about issues situations in the world they live in. Books involving issues such as drugs, violence, rape, and poverty can widen their perspective and teach kids that there are a lot of serious things going on in the world that can’t be ignored. As privileged children, and many readers of young adult novels probably are, it doesn’t make sense to go through life with a poor understanding of these issues-about what’s going on around them. I, personally, find myself empathizing with people who deal with these issues more, when I learn more about them in books. For example, the novel Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe really moved me and strengthened my understanding of the harshness and brutality of life on the streets, while The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie made me truly empathize with people who are a minority in this country. While some privileged children may not experience many of the issues in young adult books, reading about them can help them empathize with people who do. Also, we all go through something hard in our lives and reading about it in books can help people who feel like there’s no one to talk to make a connection with the great many people who go through the same thing, even if we don’t know who they are.

Furthermore, for people who have experienced these issues themselves, like victims of rape or abuse or people who have lost many loved ones, reading books about the issues can help them feel less lonely. In the article, “Yes, Teen fiction can be dark, but it shows teenagers they are not alone”, by Maureen Johnson, it states, “For teenagers, there is sometimes no more critical message then: You are not alone.” Having something very serious and traumatic happen to teenagers who haven’t been able to talk about their experience, or don’t want to, might make them feel lonely or more introverted in general. However, reading a book about their problem can show them that they are not alone, and that there are many other people who have gone through the same or similar thing. By reading a book, people are able to understand how widespread their situation is, and it can help them feel a bigger connection to people around them, that they might not have known existed before. And not to people they know personally or might ever have to know, but that have had the same experience as them.Young adult books can also be an outlet for children who lead troubled lives, the only way to escape horrors that they face in their everyday lives. For example, in the article "Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood", by Sherman Alexie, he states, "When I think of the poverty-stricken, sexually and physically abused, self-loathing Native American teenager that I was, I can only wish, immodestly, that I’d been given the opportunity to read “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” Or Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Speak.” Or Chris Lynch’s “Inexusable.”

             On the other hand, some parents and critics have raised concerns about certain young adult literature and think that banning it is an effective way to prevent their children from reading “questionable content”. Some even believe that reading books that deal with people who consistently make bad choices, such as doing drugs or self-harming might influence children to want to make these decisions, or just make it seem like a more reasonable option. While I can understand that parents naturally have concerns about what their children are exposed to and how it will negatively affect them, I don’t think this is the case. Any good author of a dark young adult novel wouldn’t set out to write their book with a goal to disturb kids or teach them to fall into precarious sets of mind. That’s not why they choose a dark theme or wrote about heavy issues. Many, if not most of them, show implications involved with making these bad decisions, and teach kids why they shouldn’t. Also, banning books doesn’t stop these issues from being a very unfortunate reality, and an accurate portrayal of what is going on in the world, even if it is brutal. In “The Bane of Banned Books”, Bill Moyer says, “Censorship is the enemy of truth-even more than a lie. A lie can be exposed, censorship can prevent us from knowing the difference.” He makes a good point. Censoring books doesn’t eliminate the issues in them-it simply ignores them and conceals them for people who have not yet reached that level of understanding. It avoids the truth. But children can’t be sheltered forever and the world that the kind of parents who ban books probably want them seeing is too often not the world that exists around them.

In conclusion, I don’t think any books should be banned here at M.S. 51, or anywhere at all. Books are a very important part of the world, and of many individuals’ lives everywhere. They are the foundation of learning for people of all ages, and the right to read them should not be revoked for anyone. I think it’s unfair for people to take away something that is helping others learn or grow or cope in their own lives, as books do. Children, as well as adults, face challenges in their lives, difficulties that can act as an obstacle that inhibits them from moving forward. Although reading may not be able to help these people survive or completely overcome these challenges, reading about similar experiences that other’s have had, imaginary or not, can help them get through them, in the least help them understand they are not alone. Overall, people should have enough faith to give children choice to read what they want to, and enough faith that they won’t make any terrible decisions when they have it. Of course this logic may not apply in other realms, but in this one I believe it should. Therefore, it is in the M.S.51 administrations’ best interest that they don’t ban any books previously allowed.

Sincerely,

Angela Tanzer