Reading Response

Many people have different meanings of the word "fair". The book The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp, is about how high-school-er Stutter tries to open up one of his classmates, Aimee, to the "real world". I believe that the characters in this book are treated unfairly in many ways and put in many unfair situations.

Many kids parents might say "I don't care" but the main character's parents really don't care. They don't care about them. The first example of this is when one of the main characters, Stutter, blacks in the middle of town after a night of drinking and driving. "And that's the last thing I remember before waking up under a dead tree..." (Page 69, Chapter 15). His parents don't call him or worry about him at all. He never said he was staying with a friend so they have no idea where he is and they clearly don't care. Another example of parents not caring is when Stutter goes to Aimee's house for the first time. "As for the inside of the house, it's an absolute sty-clothes piled on the backs of the faded sofa and recliner, fast-food sacks gaping open in the coffee table..." (Page 108, Chapter 25), This shows her parents don't care about how they live or their health. Aimee also does her mom's job on her own most of the time and get barley any allowance out of it. Stutter and Aimee's families need to care for their children and make sure they have the support they need. These kid didn't do anything to cause being put in this situation, so why should have have to support themselves?

A lot of people also do things with out asking other's permission, which is exactly what Stutter does to Aimee. One example of this is when Stutter decides he want to help Aimee become less anti-social and be able to stand up for herself. "See, by letting her help me, I'll be helping her. She gets confidence and I get the satisfaction of bringing confidence to someone who needs it..." (Page 104, Chapter 24). Even though Aimee does open up that could also be worse for her. Before Stutter "helped" her she had a certain way of thinking that could help her have more structure. Stutter has no structure and a girl like Aimee needs a lot of structure in her situation. It was very unfair that jsut because she wasn't like Stutter means he has to "help" her.

Stutter and Aimee's parents don't care about them but Stutter also doesn't care about Aimee. Even though he thinks he's helping her and all he really ends up hurting her worse than he could have ever imagined. After they start hanging out Stutter and Aimee start to date. After they graduate Aimee has plans to move to St. Luis and want Stutter to come with, but after just having a visit with his estranged father he hesitates. He knows that he is going to end up like his drunk, unemployed, and horrible dad and doesn't want to bring Aimee down with him." (Page 284, Chapter 64). Stutter is completely wrong. He was the one who made her motivated enough to move and now he's going to bail. This is unfair. You can't help someone in a time of need and bail on them when they most need you.

Reading and writing about this book has made me think that if yo don't want to end up exactly where you started, you need to treat others fairly and make sure you are treated fairly to. What you do is what you'll get and that's exactly what happened to Stutter. It also makes me think about how there are everyday things that aren't fair, but sometimes you just have to try your best even if it doesn't work out.

Author's Note Fisrt Draft

          Since the year 2000 twenty five more states have enacted felony laws that prevent animal cruelty, but just because its illegal doesn't mean people won't do it. Every year almost two thousand animals are involved in abuse. Over fifty percent involve dogs and eighteen percent involve cats. 

          My family has always loved animals. I have a cat, my sister does,  my grandma has a dog, and so on and so forth. I care so much about this subject because all animals are equal and deserve to be treated with the same respect that humans have. Half of the time, when I eat dinner my cat will sit at the table with us if he wants.

         This can change. Studies show that most animal abusers were abused when they were young. They fail to develop empathy, and with out this they cannot recognize their victims pain. If we don't stop kids or anybody from abusing animals they will be most likely to hurt humans and not just animals. Human abuse is already bad and we can't let animal abuse get out of control either.

Synthesis Page

The Perks of Being a Wallflower should not be banned in schools even though it explores controversial subject, such as sexual assault and drug use. While exposing students to characters who have been raped or encouraged to use drugs in literature, it might be disturbing for them. It is a way to prepare teens for the fact that people in the real world are often hurt by other people, even by people they love and trust. The book was easy to read but hard to write about and would be better for discussion with parents and teachers and other students. The Perks of Being a Wallflower teaches, and explores the truth, that people often don’t suffer any bad consequences for their actions, and it is up to people to figure things out for themselves, with the help of good friends, family, teachers and psychiatrists.

An example of date rape is when Charlie was younger and he witnesses sexual assault. Years later he talks about it with his friend Sam to try to understand what happened. “Sam just shook her head this time. She then explained about all the things you need to go through to prove it, especially in high school when the boy and girl are popular and still in love.” (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, p.32). This shows kids that staying quiet doesn't help but telling doesn’t always change the situation either. In the article “University of Virginia Fraternity Rape Case: Stopping Sexual Assault on Campus” (written by Brad Knickerbocker, published on Christian Science Monitor), Ms. Erdely writes "Rapes are kept quiet, both by students - who brush off sexual assaults as regrettable but inevitable casualties of their cherished party culture - and by an administration that critics say is less concerned with protecting students than it is with protecting its own reputation from scandal”. Erdely reports, “Since 1998 183 people have been expelled for honor-code violations at UVA such as cheating on exams, but not a single student has ever been expelled for sexual assault.” Don’t expect everything to work out if you just ignore it. This shows readers that there are no benefits from staying quiet and there are no downsides for telling the truth.  

Another example of not saying something when something happens is when Charlie was younger, and he is molested by his aunt who he remembers as his favorite person. For most of the book he doesn’t even remember it happened but knows he has emotional problems. Years later, at the end of the book, when he is in the psych hospital he says “But I kind of figured out that everything I dreamt about my aunt Helen was true. And after a while I realized that it happened every Saturday when we would watch television. The first few weeks in the hospital were very hard...But the doctor has helped me work out a lot of things since then...The thing that helped the most though, was the time I could have visitors.” (page 209) Talking about things helped Charlie get better. If he had said something when he was young he could have prevented a lot of his problems he has currently. Most of the book is Charlie trying to fix these problems. This shows readers if they see something say something, because if they don’t it can produce bigger problems later on in life.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower explores Charlie’s decision to try drugs when his friends offer them to him. Although LSD makes him feel good temporarily, he discovers it isn’t worth the disorienting after effects. While the viewpoint of Charlie seems to be that there’s nothing really wrong with drugs, the book also shows that the use of drugs has no real benefits because they don’t really make him feel better. The article “The Other Teen Drug Problem” (written by Sharon Sloane, published on Christian Science Monitor), even though it’s talking about prescription drug abuse, it confirms this idea that a lot of teens think drugs are ok, “The Office of National Drug Control Policy reported last year that 3 out of 10 teens don't see pain relievers as addictive, and one-third of teens believe that there is "nothing wrong" with occasional abuse of prescription medication.” Even though drug use is not a good idea, it does happen. The book challenges readers to come to an independent decision for themselves, about this important subject matter regarding safety and health issues around drug use.

Sexual assault and drug use are examples of controversial issues that are depicted in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The author; through his characters’ difficult choices about their own involvement with sexual assault or drugs provides a real life example, that teens can relate to, that might help readers to be more prepared to manage these problems in their own lives. I think reading and studying novels such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower should not be banned but is more beneficial if it is read in reading groups or the whole class rather than for a student to read it alone and write about it because you can take more from the experience if there are viewpoints other than your own. 

Social Awareness Project:

By Theo Gold

812

Table of Contents: 

Community Service in the Teenage Life:

My experience at my local bike park and how working with people in a community changed who I am.

(Page 2)

Changing the World One Baby at a Time: 

Notes on an interview with famous midwife Julie Gold.

(Page 3)

Observing the IMPACT of Looming Homework:

The problems and solutions with everyday homework.

(Page 4-5)

Overview:

My project is about how it takes time and dedication to be deeply involved and connected with what you love. Even if you have to manage your work to get through, it takes time to learn new things and expand what you know. We all change the world everyday if we take our time and listen to our needs and the needs of the people around us.

Community Service in the Teenage Life:

Teenagers deserve time in their busy schedules to do community service. Community service is a way for students to develop their dedication to things they care about and learn how to work cooperatively. I believe that opportunities for community service make the world a better place and provide participants with a sense of belonging. 

The thing that I am most dedicated to right now in my life is the reopening of the Brooklyn Bike Park in it’s permanent location. I am part of a group of BMX riders that wants to share their passion for riding with other New Yorkers. The Brooklyn Bike Park was a place to have a good time. It opened spring of 2013 and closed the fall of 2014. The lot was donated by developers for a little more than one year in hopes to make the local community happier before they built condos there. And it did. 

When I decided to help rebuild the park I put my name on the group mailing list. I never would have thought I would be designing a concept myself. I was just sketching some drawings of a bike park and my Dad asked me if I could make a 3D model on a computer. I found a program called Google Sketchup™ and soon had a giant model. I didn’t stop there, I found several concepts of other bike parks and I visited as many parks as I could get to. Of course, my Dad and I wanted to take it one step further and decided to build a jump at our cousin’s house. We went to Home Depot and got some two-by-fours and plywood sheets. It took six hours and then we got to ride it. The experience definitely set me up for the rebuilding of the Bike Park and changed my whole perspective on skateparks and dirt jumps alike.

The reason I’m so committed to the Brooklyn Bike Park is because it is what introduced me to BMX. When I discovered the park I immediately fell in love with it. The layout was great and smooth transitions topped it off. But what really made it awesome was the community around it. Everyone was so nice and the mood was awesome. Strangers would give you tips and I made so many new friends. By the fifth time I had been there I started to volunteer. After storms, we would repair the dirt jumps and build up what had been destroyed. I also would teach little kids, and I made sure that if someone fell they were OK. That made me even more involved. I finally felt part of something bigger. I wasn’t just riding, I was changing the way other people experienced the Bike Park and I think that’s what made me so dedicated. 

Throughout my childhood I always rode on the front on my Dad’s or my Mom’s bike traveling throughout the city. I think that’s where I get this idea of loving to ride a bike. After spending years in the passenger seat I have now finally taken control. I’m making models, researching, riding and also planning things like writing letters for participatory budgeting for a new Brooklyn Bike Park. Without it I would have never shared the joy of BMX with so many amazing people.

Changing the World One Baby at a Time:

“My job as a midwife is to change the world one baby at a time. This is not a statement I came up with. This is a phrase that midwives use to describe themselves and the work that they do.” says Julie Gold, Solo Practitioner in Brooklyn New York. I didn’t know until I spoke with her that being taken care of by a Midwife isn’t common and that when midwifes deliver a baby, they are also helping women feel empowered about their strengths and their right to have choices. Because of her skills and her unique training she can help women feel safe by giving them lots of options including delivery in the hospital or at home. Unlike doctors, and many midwives, Julie does all of her prenatal visits in her client’s homes establishing a deep connection with her patients and their families. Everyday she helps women discover their strengths. As woman go through a massive change in their bodies and bring a new life into the world she helps them feel safe, understood and loved. She helps them understand that they can do their best even in the hardest of situations. She says earnestly, “My hope is that simply by being present, unrushed and focused when I care for each and every woman that she will the develop some of the confidence she needs to trust herself as a mother.”

Observing the IMPACT of Looming Homework:

Right now…I’m worried about Christmas Break. Why, you ask? Because of schoolwork. I’m worried that my Christmas Vacation is going to be ruined by projects, essays, and homework. Part of me would rather skip vacation just so I don’t have to feel crushed by the work load. The problem is teachers don’t understand that when you give us homework and projects over the weekend and especially over breaks, that we often end up spending the whole time distracted by looming assignments. It’s unhealthy and not making us better students. We need to have time to enjoy ourselves, learn different things, and catch up with our families. If we are always assigned work then there is no point in having a weekend  or having breaks. I just finished Thanksgiving Break and my family time was disrupted by schoolwork. Thanksgiving is not just three hours on a Thursday, some families wait all year to get together and relax. No one wants their time off ruined by thinking about schoolwork.

The solution is simple, all schools should have scheduled, homework free breaks during the school year. Schools can adapt to this requirement in a variety of ways. For example, one solution is for every three weeks of school, there is one week with no new homework, or looming projects. Another option is no homework at all. If we spend six hours a day at school why not just make it seven and get all the work done in school. An other easy option that some schools use today is to have no homework and projects assigned over the weekends and over school breaks. The point is that homework without a break teaches us to not fully engage with our work, because all we want to do is get it done and it never stops.

          "Take a 15-minute trip to a Big-Box store and you'll see the Girls' aisle dominated by pink toys" says Anne Mayoral in her article 'What is a "Girl Toy'?", published in MAKE magazine volume 41. According to her, most toymakers unintentionally send the message that girls cannot be good at math and science by rarely making toys directed to girls, that encourage play concerning these traditionally boyish subjects. Girls' whole lives can be determined by the toys they play with, she suggests. Her article primarily describes several ways in which toymakers and parents are trying to change this toy-making trend. In addition, she includes a thoughtful list of "STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math)" toys, that are good choices for girls.
       
          The author writes this informative article with compassion and a true belief in her subject. The author has direct experience in the sciences and technology as a rocket scientist, industrial designer and teacher in a hands-on STEAM program for girls. In this concise article she presents two solutions used by toymakers. One option is to make STEAM focused gender neutral toys, or STEAM toys, focused towards girls. She also presents her own personal immediate solution, "instead, the goal is to offer a variety of toys and a chance for hands-on discovery and making, either at home or in the local maker space, and then we let them choose for themselves". Without parents giving a label to girl and boy toys the children get a non-biased opinion on what to play with and who they are supposed to become.

          Even though this article is opinion based, with no scientific evidence, Mayoral's authoritative tone is strong and persuasive. Having no scientific evidence is okay because her professional expertise is evident by her credentials. It would have strengthened  the article however, to have included a personal narrative. What toys did she play with when she was a kid, and what was her parents opinion on gender based toys?  I personally agree with her suggestion, because I have an experience of my own. One of my summer camps involved a lot of woodworking and using power tools. Regardless of anyone's age or gender every camper had the same opportunities. What might come as a surprise to most, was that more boys, including me, participated in the knitting activity where as there were more girls participated in the welding activity.

          No one wants woman and girls to think they can't pursue careers in math and science just because when they grew up as kids they were deprived of these play opportunities. To make her point Mayoral quotes The National Institute for Play, "Play shapes our brains, creates our competencies and ballasts our emotions." I agree with her in every way possible and would add that boys should also not have limits placed on them and have  the freedom to choose what they want play with. She doesn't leave you hanging with her opinion alone, she provides a creative list of toys and projects that will help your daughter expand her imagination way beyond barbies and dollhouses.

          The book Perks of Being a Wallflower has been a controversial topic for teachers and parents for a long time. I myself have read the book and I understand that the book has lots of sex, drugs, and curses. The book, written by Stephen Chbosky, is about fifteen-year-old Charlie who is starting high school. The reason schools might want to ban Perks of Being a Wallflower is because it may make kids think its OK to use or abuse drugs.

          Most people Have experience with drugs and alcohol at parties where they are peer-pressured or just given the option. During the party at Bob's house after a football game, which is any other day for Charlie, he is offered a brownie. Being very naive, he ate  it not knowing it was a pot brownie. When he starts to trip out, people start laughing at him because he is really confused. The people around him are not shocked at all, and act as if it is normal. This makes young readers think that doing drugs is normal and no big deal. Drugs are dangerous and can very easily ruin your life. Though you may think its cool and normal, as portrayed in the book, it’s not and should be something taken very seriously.

          Another time someone may take drugs is if they think it is an "escape". One example of drug abuse is at Bob's house, for a New Years Eve party. Charlie takes some sort of tablet and soon starts seeing things. Some people do drugs for fun, which is still bad, but he is taking them so he can ignore the fact that someone he loves doesn't love him. Once again he is taking drugs at a party which may influence kids to think that you have to take drugs at parties. After reading this section of the book I felt a tiny bit influenced but soon shook the feeling off. I also have no experience with drugs whatsoever and I personally do not agree with people taking them. This just shows that if one naive teen comes across this book they could be seriously influenced.

          This book might influence some one to do drugs and make them think its OK. This is just one of the reasons that teachers want to ban The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Another reason is that some teachers don’t feel comfortable about talking to their students about drugs. I can understand why some teachers are scared. It’s a big deal to talk to kids about drugs, and they don’t want their students to take it the wrong way.  I know that some parents don't want their children from reading certain books, but that shouldn't prevent everyone else from reading them.