In the last chunk, Miles Corwin does a marvelous job at ending the book and updating us on how the students success has overcome the society that they live in. Through all the things the students had individually went through they all come together at graduation. But we all know that it was hard to get there in the first place. Ms.Little has been mia right before the AP exams letting down the students leaving Miles Corwin, a newspaper reporter and author of the book, filling into her spot. With so many different substitute teachers that do not know what they are teaching and have no clue what Hamlet is, leave the students unprepared and several students leave the class. "Whats the whole point of us coming" says one student speaking about Ms.Littles unexpected absenses due to adminstrations reasons. The students are lost and several of them walk out of class or dont even show up. Its all going down hill. No one visits Olivia in jail, Braxton is thinking about moving to a different high school, and now Ms.Little is leaving the students stranded and not fully completing her job. But there can be some relief, Braxton is thinking of asking Ms.Moultrie, whom never taught an AP class before, has rwo other honor classes, her own buisness she runs, 5 kids, and a husband, she is willing to sacrifice her time for the students she love so much "like her own blood." Her rules may be the opposite of Little's teaching skills and what Little hates most, they have no other choice.
But to many of the students suprise just three weeks before the AP exam, Little returns but students think that she is to late. She rushes through the poetry section and most of the students feel highly unprepared. When the AP exam arrives there are more distractionsthan ever. Some students ease through it but the rest were being interupted byt the outside world; two guls fighting outside loudly, the intercom constantly making announcements, and a boy videotaping the students taking the test. Little is outragedand tries to get the best testing environment her students needs and deserves. Meanwhile its its all bad news for Olivia. Turns out that Olivia can not go to college and Babson College ( her first choice of college) had rejected her because of her criminal files. Olivia was highly upset "my life is over" she said in jail. She has nothing.
While back at school prom and graduation are the next two big events. Everyone looks elegant and beautiful even the school's jock who always where shorts and sweatshirts. The students at prom want to spend time with Ms.Little. Several students ask her if she will be returning back to Crenshaw and she replies that she has been looking elsewhere because Crenshaw is "racist." This means, Moultrie would have to teach the Ap english class next year. Finals are up and like every year Little writes a farewell letter, but this year, it has a more effect in her and her students; writing short stories about each student in her farewell letter touching everyone in the class emotionally. Then the students share their testimonies on how they feel about Little abd how much she has impacted their lives. Everyone share their stories that it is not enough time to work on their finals, which Little had decided that there would not be no finals.When the bell rings, the students all line up to hug Little , and leaving the classroom all going to go their seperate ways in life.
clarification; Why has not anyone been visiting Olvia while in jail?
application : Does your environment help you build yourself up or down? Do you downgrade yourself because you come from a low part of town? or do you over come all the stereotypical views?
application: "The whole worlds going to be judging you, not just byu the content of your character, but by the color of your skin" - Ms.Moultrie. Do you think this is true? Do you think peoploe now a days still judge people based on their skin color? Yes or No? specify.
application: if you were in Little's situation with all the threats and verbal abuse, would you return back to Crenshaw?
about me :; EMERALD :)
- e m e r a l d
- this blog is for my english class ONLY , . sooo if you are not in Ms. Guys' AP Language class(es) , then press that good ol' green back button &nd go write back home . My name is Emerald and i am currently in the 11th grade. I love going to school and playing sports.
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3 comments:
Clarification: I don't think anyone had visited Olivia because they just had other things going on. I don't think that they just didn't want to see her. Olivia may have felt that way but everyone else still had a life and other issues going on that they needed to take care of.
Applicatoin:For me, my environment builds me up. I see all the wrong that goes on in terms of the gangs and violence and drugs and unemployment, and I take that as a lesson for myself to not end up that way. I don't downgrade myself just because that is going on around me. I want a better life for myself and my family, so I'm going to do what is necessary to get out of the negative environments. I feel I have to overcome the stereotypical views and also be an inspiration to someone else. I think that's most important, to leave a story behind.
Application:Yes, people still do judge others based on their skin color today. I believe since judging others and racism has been going on for so long, most everyone views things in a color scheme. Sometimes I think people don't even realize that their comments are racist or have the possibility of hurting someone if they knew what was being said. Some people of other races other than Black, downgrade black people's intellectual ability and think blacks can not do anything other than stay on the corners or be thieves. So if a black male were to be accepted into Princeton or Yale, statements would be made about him making an accomplishment in his family, or friends of the same race may make a racial statement about the white people he'll be around, or other races may say something like "let's see if he can really compete" or "let's see what he can do" after he has gone through the same application test. Everyone makes comments and their view points are formed by what they have learned and experienced. But when it comes to high achievements, things are viewed in color. Because when something good happens, people say "oh that's good for a black man/woman". But if the same thing were done by a white man/woman, it would be like it was expected. It doesn't only happen with high achievements, that was just my example. But I do feel that since the black community knows the stereotypes that are made and said, as a whole, we should do something about it to prove those stereotypes wrong. If our community stopped all the gang and drug activity, comments wouldn't be made towards those who actually want to make something of themselves. High achievements would also be expected and negative activity would be looked down upon.
Application: I think that Little was not happy at Crenshaw in the first place, and the one threat that was made just sent her over the edge. If I did not want to continue teaching at the same location, I would leave but I would not have let it affect the students I was teaching. People will make comments but what you do after the comments are made shows your character.
Clarification:
Nobody is visiting Olivia because they are to busy with their own problems and issues, but im pretty sure they would like to.
Application:
I am surrounded by a great enviroment, that is constantly boosting my self esteem and never letting me give up on myself. I have downgraded myself because of where I live, but as I have grown up I realized that where I lived and have grown up has made me who I am and well I am proud of who I am so i longer let where i grew up and live downgrade me.
Application:
I agree with Alex, in the fact that Ms.Little was never happy at Crenshaw and that threat gave her even more reason to hate the school, but if I was that upset and didn't like the school, then i would leave. But again i agree with Alex i would not leave my students hanging to learn for themselves and prepare themselves for such an important exam.
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