Speak

The book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, contains numerous symbols that relate to the problems Melinda Sordino is facing. The reader follows Melinda as she struggles with fitting in and dealing with sexual harassment. One very important symbol is the dying tree in Melinda’s front yard. The entire plot is based on things other than this simple tree. Then, all of a sudden, it becomes a key part of the book. Melinda had never felt any sort of connection or attachment to this tree - but once she noticed that the leaves were dying and it was looking more and more unhealthy by the day, did it become important to her.

The dying tree in the story symbolizes Melinda’s confidence. This tree, like most trees, began to grow, it was strong and healthy. As the tree aged, it became older and less powerful. In the end, people are sent to cut it down and put the poor tree out of it’s misery. Melinda went through a similar phase. She began the school year confident and determined. But once word leaked of her calling the cops on a party over the summer; she began to be shy and embarrassed and more of a target to bullies around school. Then she went into hiding, ditching class and camping out in an abandoned janitor's closet - hoping that if she just dissapeared, no one could pester her about busting the party. Slowly, just like the tree, she wilted and shriveled up inside, unable to change anything about how she was treated by her peers. In the book it says, “I have survived. I am here. Confused, screwed up, but here. So, how can I find my way? Is there a chain saw of the soul, an ax I can take to my memories or fears?” This quote clearly shows the reader that even though everything around Melinda is okay, deep inside of her - she is everything but okay. Melinda has no one she can really talk to and trust with her problems, everyone is constantly bugging her about how she called the police, and she is drowning in schoolwork. This dying tree in front of Melinda’s home is no coincidence. At one time, this tree was thriving in the sun, but now it is just a stump in the ground. Melinda once had a group of people who she could talk to whenever she needed support, but now she has been abandoned - she is dead inside. The tree’s leaves are falling off, and her confidence is disappearing by the day. This is why Melinda has such a hard time leaving this tree, even though she has had no connection with, she can’t just let it be cut down.

To sum up, people can relate to all sorts of bizarre objects. Trees, a gum wrapper, old tissues, these things go through the same things that people do - they are cut down, thrown away, lost in coat pockets. Melinda feels like this tree. No one ever notices her, and when they do, they  only whisper about her and tease her. She feels exactly like this dying tree, she wants to disappear and just take with her the good memories. Her confidence is falling like leaves - and there is nothing to do about that, unless, you can get another tree.

Gaokao

It isn’t fair that so much is riding on a single test for millions of Chinese students. There are so many different personalities and so many different people that it is unfair to simply grade them all on how well they can remember information. The Gaokao is not a test of creative thinking, but simply a test of memory. Some students might excel in music,  but before they can follow their passion, they need to also be good at english and math - good enough to get into a top school. If a student doesn't get into one of China’s top colleges, he or she is stuck farming and manufacturing cheap toys. But students who actually get into a top school can leave their small towns and get good jobs. It is wrong to assign them their future because of one test because some people can afford better test prep and the test itself doesn’t properly assess the student.

It isn’t fair to have so much riding on one test because different groups have advantages over others. People who have more money can buy their children better test prep materials and put them in better cram schools. Some parents sacrifice everything, such as quitting a job to devote time to helping their student, or even working extra jobs to pay for the better cram schools. The article describes the life of one such student, Yang Wei, whose mother quit her garment job to support him in his final year of cramming, Wei said, “It’s a lot of pressure.” This shows how big of a deal this test is. Parents are changing their lifestyles dramatically just to support their kids. No one should have to handle this much stress and pressure to do well on just one test. A better way to judge student talent is to base it on numerous tests, projects, or assignments over the course of high school. Students excel in different areas, and should be graded on their whole education, not just memorization.

The test itself doesn’t properly and accurately assess the student’s knowledge. Because the test is the only factor considered for college admittance, the students’ high school experience is nothing but memorization. As the article says, “Everything taught in 10th and 11th grade is focused on what the gaokao tests. … In 12th grade, students typically just review and memorize what they’ve already learned.” Classes can be 16 ½ hours a day, making some cram schools nothing but a “memorization factory,” the article says. Teenage suicide rates rise as the test nears. And in at least one case, students were hooked up to intravenous drips to give them energy to cram. Also, the students never get to experience anything but the studying and cannot live as normal teenagers. “The school prides itself on eliminating the distractions of modern life,” the article says. “Cellphones and laptops are forbidden. The dorms...have no electrical outlets. Dating is banned. In town...the local government has shut down all forms of entertainment…. ‘There’s nothing to do but study,’ Yang says.”

To sum up, it is not fair to have so much riding on a single test for millions of Chinese students because not only is the test a poor indicator of student intelligence, but it ruins the teenage experience for all of these students. And I thought the town in Footloose was strict.

Martin Espada Essay

There are countless famous poets in the world. Some well-known others not as well-known. But Martin Espada was neither one of these - he was an incredible poet who wrote about topics that other poets didn't dare to write about. The poems, “A New Bathroom Policy”, “Revolutionary Spanish Lesson” and “Two Mexicans”,  all demonstrate races them. Many people believe that racism is “dead” and doesn't exist anymore in the US, but that is an incorrect statement. Each of the poems, written by Martin Espada, deal with controversial topics, and they all explore these issues from the eyes of a Latino man/woman who is experiencing racism.

The first poem, “A New Bathroom Policy” tells a story about a principal hearing some students talk in spanish in the bathroom at school. The principal then gets anxious that he can't understand what the students are saying and then bans spanish from all of the bathrooms. There is a quote from the poem that states, “the only word he recognizes is his own name and this constipates him”. This line shows how uncomfortable people become when they can't be in total control over every situation. We, the human race, automatically assume the worst from everyone around us and we get stressed when we can't understand something. This is even more of a deal when it is from a language that we aren't familiar with. We all assume that we are talking trash about the other, when honestly we have no idea what we are talking about ourselves. This makes me feel like our views on others are unfair and out of date. Obviously, everyone has their doubts about each other, but what matters is how far we will go in order to support our suspicions. This makes me think back in history. For as long as anyone can remember this has always been how humans have treated each other. I believe that it's almost impossible to change this nature of living and trusting. The human race always questions others as a form of protecting themselves from dangerous people and surroundings. But throw in a totally different race and it will almost be impossible to prevent this. Therefore, the story with the principal is just another example of how often this occurs and how difficult it is to prevent it.   

The second poem, “Revolutionary Spanish Lesson”, is about all of the “accidents” that people make when addressing someone of a foreign descent. Humans in general, all seem to struggle with pronunciation of unusual words, after all, everyone makes mistakes. But to be in the shoes of someone who constantly has their name messed up, is a pretty difficult task to handle. In the poem it says, “hijack a busload of Republican tourists from Wisconsin”. This quote shows me the anger that all of these people have when it comes to the carelessness of the American tongue. I have a bit of a troublesome last-name myself and I do actually get frustrated when it is mispronounced. But to have everyone you meet screw up your name because of the stereotypical origin would make me furious. Espada wanted to send out the message that no one can magically pronounce everything perfectly the first try, but they could at least put in a little effort. Even a tiny bit of effort into someones name shows them that you care and respect their culture.

The third and final poem, “Two Mexicans”, is about the pure evilness and horrible things that Mexicans are forced to go through. Mexicans have been treated badly by the white man for as longs as anyone can possibly remember. We constantly take advantage of them and it is wrong on so many different levels. Throughout the poem, Espada states the events that Mexicans are forced into for our pleasure and entertainment. In the poem it says, “ some peering from the shade of bowler hats, but all crowding into the photograph.” This quote shows how horribly we treat them yet have no shame at the end of the day.We tournament these harmless and innocent people just because we believe that they are lesser than we are due to the fact that they are hard workers. There is a universal image of people with white skin are always in charge and the boss. We then feel the need to keep that image no matter what, but in reality, anyone can be at the top of the “chain” just like white people currently are. Everyone, no matter what race, has the capability to be at the top, they just need a chance. Therefore, the people at the top feel the need to shoot down anyone who tries to reach their full potential - this is shown in the poem.  

To sum up, there are countless examples of racism everywhere. Not very often is it brought to our attention by because the level of bravery needed to do this is outstanding. Martin Espada reaches this bravery and has absolutely no shame or problem pointing out the flaws in our world. And he gets the respect he deserves.

Shakespearean Sonnet

My future is inside an envelope,

It will be in my hands at 2:50.

My mind contains more dread than hope,

I wish I could relax and just be free.

I sit in spanish staring at the clock,

The only thought I have is “es malo.” *

I want to leave and live under a rock,

The beating of my heart is quite hollow.

My fingers tremble as I hold it ‘for me,

I feel my lunch slowly creep up my throat,

But there it is! The place I want to be.

It is funny now to read what I just wrote.

In retrospect, I had no need for fear,

I’m working up to my college career.

 

Jane Kuntzman ~ 808

* “es malo” translates to “it’s bad” in spanish

The Scarlet Letter - Symbols

Symbols play a key role in the book, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. One of the most important symbols is Hester’s daughter Pearl. When Hester got pregnant while her husband was not living with her, all of Boston learns that she was unfaithful to her husband.As a result, she is branded a sinner, forced to wear the badge of adultery referred to in the title. The townspeople and officials look down on her and she is shamed everywhere she goes in this Puritan society. Even though Hester’s life is difficult and dark, Pearl is the light and what she has to live for.

To begin, Hester named her child Pearl, a clear symbol of how precious of a gem she is to her mother. Hester goes through so much in order to have Pearl and keep her safe. Hester’s main goal is to protect Pearl from all of the horrors in the world, like most parents. But Hester differs from all of the townspeople because she doesn’t care about the things that are said about her and her daughter, she stands tall through everything and is rewarded with a beautiful baby because of that.  Here Pearl’s name becomes even more symbolic considering that a pearl comes from a grain of sand, basically dirt, yet becomes one of the most beautiful things known to man. Pearl herself symbolizes beauty, compared to Hester’s shame and scandalous history. Pearl is a bright and cheery child, almost the opposite of Hester, yet their relationship with each other tells a different side of the story. Hester had a dark and gloomy life before she had Pearl, In the book it says, “‘Our Pearl is a fitful and fantastic little elf sometimes. Especially she is generally intolerant of emotion, when she does not fully comprehend the why and wherefore. But the child hath strong affections! She loves me, and will love thee!’” This quote shows exactly how protective she is of her daughter and how much she loves her. Of course all mothers loves their children, but due to the events and horrible things Hester had to go through in order to have her daughter, one might believe that Hester would have low tolerance and would be impatient with her daughter. But Hester contradicts what the reader expects from her, thus supporting the symbol of Pearl being Hester’s gem and the thing that keeps Hester strong through all of the hatred and shame that is forced upon her.

To conclude, Pearl is so precious to Hester. Not only because Hester went through so much trouble in order to keep Pearl safe from all of the infuriated townspeople, but because she honestly needs Pearl. like her name, Pearl is quite valuable to Hester and Hester’s story. Pearl is that glowing creature that helps Hester along her difficult road of shame and disappointment. Yet, Pearl has such a positive vibe and leaves everyone shocked that such a wonderful child could even remotely be related to this woman that has brought such shame to the community.

Banned Books Letter

Dear Ms. Berner,

Recently, the topic of censoring students’ reading choices and options has become very controversial. Should schools ban these mature reads from the innocent minds of these kids, or should schools allow the students to discover and educate themselves? I support the side of letting kids have the freedom to read what they please. The student body agrees that when a book becomes banned from a school, it not only hurts the students’ knowledge on the true ways of life out in the “real world,” but it is an extremely faulty method of protecting kids from the truth. This is why I argue that banning books in schools is wrong.

To start off, many schools need to learn that there is a boundary between protecting and hiding information from children. We might never know for sure, but most people can agree that there is definitely a difference between the two. Protecting kids means to temporarily not teach certain topics until the time/age is right to acknowledge the information. But hiding information is extremely different from protecting. When you hide something, it means you have absolutely no intention to explain or clarify these issues. Banning books falls under the category of hiding. When a school decides to ban a book, all they are really doing is avoiding the truth. But as everyone knows, you can’t run away forever - someday you will have to face the truth. Banning books only delays this process, which isn’t helping, but hurting the problem. The American Library Association (ALA) once said, “Books usually are challenged with the best intentions - to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information.” What the ALA is trying to explain is that banning books is being done for the wellbeing of everyone and the people around them. But still banning books is an example of unnecessary security. The knowledge that kids come into contact with in their 14 years of schooling needs to become more advanced as they move along in their depth of understanding. This cannot happen when high school students are stuck reading fairy tales and never anything more thought provoking. Of course, kindergartners should not be exposed to some of the same concepts that college students are exposed to, but that doesn’t mean that we have to tuck them away and never let them see how the real world is until they are at an appropriate age. Everyone can eventually understand all of the imperfections of the world at the proper moment.

Furthermore, not only is the overall concept of banning books unjust, but the actual method doesn’t even do its job successfully. Banning books totally ignores human nature. When someone tells you you can’t do something, that only makes you want to do so even more. Someone might not even have wanted to do it in the first place, but the sheer idea of breaking the rules makes the temptation too irresistible, that they must do whatever they are told not to. Take chewing gum for example. Just because there is a rule that no one can chew gum in school, the amount of people that do so automatically increases.  I think there is a pattern forming here. As guessed, these exact same ideas apply to reading. If you are told that reading this book isn’t allowed, you are going to, read it. Lissy Coleman, author of the book Banning Books 101, stated, “When an individual is told not to do something or play with an object, the mind provokes this message, making ignoring the task nearly impossible.” In other words, banning books isn’t even a successful way of handling reading restrictions. There will always be things that aren’t ideal for teaching, but there is no way around it, and banning books isn’t helping out the situation at all. Moreover, with the stubbornness of the human race and the curiosity of some people, banning books is truly a poor way of censoring literature.  

 On the other side of the argument, many people claim that the books found in schools today contain too many inappropriate messages and are way too detailed and descriptive for most young minds to fathom. This is why these people feel the need to not permit these books. So, the only appropriate way to cope with such situations is to not allow these books in schools. But banning books doesn’t solve these problems. There will still be these “dark images” everywhere, so taking books away that have them is useless. These themes and images can’t be avoided from these children forever. Someday, everything will backfire, and your innocent little kids will be exposed to the horrors of the world. This is why it doesn’t make sense to ban books from all of these students. Maybe these messages might be too advanced for some readers, but that doesn't mean that they are too advanced for everyone and should be banned. “These great novels both teach important values and educate children about world affairs and classic themes. Unfortunately, each of these novels has been banned due to their slightly advanced messages.” said Neha Riley, author of the article Against Banning Books. This statement shows that these classic books must be pretty bad in order to be banned, or at least censored. Since books contain graphic and inappropriate themes sometimes, they lead people to believe that all books are like this. These books contain problems that one might not want to learn about in extreme detail, as a result, the reader also loses all of the answers that are included in these books as well. Of course, the people who ban these timeless novels and stories don’t have the intention of limiting the learning of these students. But that is exactly what they are doing to students everywhere. These books hold such important themes and issues, that it is a crime to hide them. If the banning authorities would take some time to read these books unbiased, maybe they would realize that these works of art should be displayed for all to see, not tucked away in dusty shelves of the school basement.

As you can see, banning literature puts restrictions on students’ understanding of problems that people face every day in the world. The result of banning books is like a domino effect of confusion for all students. Banning books not only stunts students’ educational development but it also leaves them unaware of the struggles of others. Furthermore, banning books isn’t successful by limiting kids’ reading resources, they are forced to discover on their own the troubles of the world. “Something will be offensive to someone in every book, so you've got to fight it,” - Judy Blume.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Jane Kuntzman

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