Journals 6-20 for 2016-17

Journal 20: One of the First Times You Experienced Compassion for Another

Both George and Candy seem unique on the ranch on Of Mice and Men because they seem to be the only two characters who not only feel compassion for another (George for Lennie, and Candy for his dog), but who take compassionate action to help or protect another (George takes care of Lennie and protects him, and Candy tries to do the same for his dog). No one else on the ranch seems to feel, much less act, in a compassionate way.

• When is one of the first times in your life you can remember feeling compassion for another (whether a human being or an animal) as a result of witnessing another's suffering, or seeing harm, injustice, or cruelty done to another? Think of at least one specific incident. Then describe what happened or what you witnessed, as well as how this incident affected your feelings.

• Moreover, at the time, were you able to take compassionate action and do anything to help or protect the person or animal, or not? Why? How did you feel about this fact?

• At the time, did you learn anything from this experience? Moreover, in retrospect, can you learn anything important about yourself by understanding this experience?

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Journal 19: Freeing Ourselves from Prison & Widening Our Circle of Compassion

Read this quotation carefully:

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us 'the Universe,' a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest--a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” --Albert Einstein

1. Einstein uses an interesting term, "our circle of compassion," to describe the specific persons whom we actually care about. Who are the people (and any other living beings, as well) who are within your own "circle of compassion"--i.e., the people whom you actually care about? Why do you care about these specific people and living beings?

2. Einstein uses two metaphors (an "optical delusion" and a "prison") to describe the way we humans tend to perceive ourselves and others. He then declares that we must "free ourselves from this prison" or delusion "by widening our circle of compassion." Interpret Einstein's statements here by explaining his main ideas in your own words. What exactly does Einstein mean, and how can you tell? (It may be necessary for you to "wrestle" with Einstein's ideas and metaphors a bit.)

3. Evaluate Einstein's statements here. Are his words wise? Are they true? Do you agree that there are serious problems in the way we humans tend to perceive ourselves and others, and that we need to change the way we see and care about others? Why or why not?

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Journal 18: Sonder Video - The Realization That Everyone Has a Story

Video link: Sonder - The Realization That Everyone Has A Story.

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Journal 17: The End of Whirligig

Paul Fleischman's Whirligig does not focus on only one protagonist. While Whirligig is a story about Brent Bishop, it is also a story about many other people. It is also a story about relationships, about the bonds and connections between human beings and the ways in which these bonds and connections can bring us pain, separation, and suffering OR bring us joy, communion, and healing. It is also a story about the invisible forces that connect us to other human beings and to the world itself. 

Here are some of the key characters whom we meet in the novel:

• • Brent Bishop - during "Party Time"
  • Steph and Alexandra (from Weeksboro, Maine)
  • the Canadian bicyclist (from "The Afterlife")
  • the man from Puerto Rico who lives in Miami and drives a street sweeper (from Miami, Florida)
  • Emil (from "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star")
  • Tony (from Bellevue, Washington)
  • the beach kids (from "Apprentices")
  • Jenny (from San Diego, California)
  • the watercolor artist (from Maine)
  • Brent Bishop - during "Everybody Swing!"

Among the novel's many characters, which character or characters do you identify with or feel that you have something interesting in common with? Why?

Discuss one or more specific character from the novel, and explain how you and the character have one or more interesting traits in common (such as key personality traits, way of looking at the world, conflicts or struggles that you face, important relationships that you deal with, etc.). What is interesting or important to you about the personality of this character and the struggles and interactions this character must deal with in the novel? Moreover, how do this character's personality, struggles, and interactions relate to you and to your life? What does this comparison help you appreciate or understand about yourself, your relationships, and your life?

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Journal 16: "Change how you see, not how you look."

You may have already noticed this bumper-sticker, which is attached to a piece of furniture at the front of the classroom. It contains a command that can be understood as either a suggestion or a bit of advice. It also sets up a contrast between two key words: "seeing" and "looking." But what does this command mean, and is it good advice?

1) Interpret the command, and give an example of it.

What do you think the command means (including the contrast between "seeing" and "looking")? Moreover, besides explaining its meaning, illustrate the meaning of this statement by providing at least one specific example of how a person might actually take this advice or follow this suggestion. 

Two Sentence-Frames (if you need them):

• • I think this statement means ___________ because _________________________________________________.

• • For example, a person who follows this advice might decide to ____________________________________ instead of deciding to __________________________.

2) Evaluate (or judge the value of) this command.

Do you agree with this advice, or not? Does this suggestion express any wisdom about life, or not? Why do you think this statement is either good, wise advice for life; or bad, foolish advice for life? In particular, why might this advice be important for young people, who are in the process of "growing up" and who are forming an understanding of the world, its people, and themselves? 

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Journal 15: In What Ways Is the Natural World Your "Friend"?

Unlike other characters--such as Steph from "Weeksboro, Maine"--Brent Bishop doesn't seem to have much connection to nature or much knowledge of the natural world. Basically, nature and the natural world are alien to Brent at the beginning of the novel. However, during Brent's journey, he begins to change, and his relationships to other people and to the natural world also begin to change. During the "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" chapter, Brent buys an astronomy book in San Francisco, and then, as he begins paying attention to the natural world around him, the stars actually start to become like friends to him, especially when he has no one else to protect him after leaving the bus station in San Diego: "Through [the cab's] window he saw the summer triangle following him and felt watched over" (99). This development is just one example of Brent becoming more connected to the physical world that has always been around him.

What relationship do you have with nature and the natural world? Overall, would you consider your relationship with the natural world and nature an important relationship to you, or not? Why? Do you experience a meaningful connection to nature or the natural world through any specific activities or any places where you tend to go? Also, so far during your life's journey, in what ways have you gotten to know the natural world, and what have you learned from your experiences with nature that is valuable to you? Explain.

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Journal 14: Last Week's Performance Task

The reading-and-writing benchmark that we took last week is a complex task designed to give you practice in these four skills:

1. gathering information about a controversial issue from a variety of sources
2. evaluating which information and sources are most credible and trustworthy
3. forming your own educated opinion about the issue by looking at both sides of it, and
4. arguing your opinion in a clear, organized, and persuasive essay.

1) How did the process go for you last week, and why? Moreover, which of the 4 skills listed above did you find reasonably easy or manageable, and which of the four skills above did you find particularly challenging? Why?

2) Among the five sources you were provided, which sources were most useful to you, and why? Also, from the list of skills above, what do you think is one specific skill that you need to practice or learn better in order to feel more confident or be more successful on this type of reading-and-writing task in the future?

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Journal 13: My Life Journey

Take few minutes and think about your life as a journey, as a voyage that has already taken you through both good times and challenging times, as a process that has caused you to meet different people and get to know different places and activities.

In the journey of your life so far, what have been the important places you have been, the important people you have known, the activities and objects that have been significant to you, the high points or good times in your life, as well as the low points or challenging times of your life.

Brainstorm, list, or describe these aspects of your life in any way that works well for you.

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Journal 12: Friendship

So far, we have studied a number of stories in which friendship plays an important role for the characters. While some of the characters we have met are people who face their challenges on their own, many characters we have encountered this year are people who do not face their challenges alone, but who do so with one or more friends--whether for better or for worse.

What does the word "friendship" mean to you, and why? As you discuss this idea, also address the following ideas:

• What makes friendship important or even necessary in life? Also, in order for people to live a good life, what do you think are the most important characteristics of friendship that people need to understand? 
• In contrast, are there any ways in which you think friendship is misunderstood, over-rated, or not as important as people think it is? Explain.
• Finally, how have you learned this knowledge about friendship in your own life? Which specific people and relationships in your life have been relevant to this topic?

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Journal 11: Death

Stand by Me is about death, at least in part. In the opening scene, we learn of the death of the adult Chris Chambers (a death that is described in a newspaper article that the adult Gordie LaChance has just read). Moreover, when Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern decide to go on an adventure, their purpose is to see the body of Ray Brower, a boy their own age who has been missing for days. We also learn that, about 4 months before the boys go on their adventure,  Gordie's brother Denny was killed in a Jeep accident. 

1) The grocer, who knows about Gordie's brother's death (and who lost his own brother in the Korean War), tells Gordie: "The Bible tells us in the midst of life we are in death." What do you think this quotation means? Moreover, what do you think is the role of death in life? Why do you think so?

2) How has death affected you and your life? Has death caused you to lose anyone whom you were once close to? If so, how has this experience changed you? Moreover, what thoughts and feelings do you have regarding death, and why? Does death "make sense" to you, or not? Explain.

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Journal 10: How I Have Been A Support to Others

On Friday we considered the African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" and the question of whether a child needs an entire village--either literally or figuratively--to grow into a healthy, strong, wise, and kind adult. Now I want you to consider any times you can remember when you have supported others in an important way or when you have been part of someone's "village" by being present for them. 

In your life, when have you been an important part of someone's "village" because you were present or helpful for a person in a time of need? Discuss at least one time when you were present for a person who needed someone to talk to OR a time when you helped someone who needed help. What sort of help did you offer in this situation? (For example, did you do something, or did you just listen?) Was it difficult and challenging for you to be present and helpful for this person, or not? Why? Also, did your presence and help make a positive difference for the person involved? How could you tell? Finally, what did you gain or learn from this experience? 

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Journal 9: "It Takes a Village to Raise A Child"

An African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Do you agree with this proverb, or not? Why? In other words, in order for a child to grow up healthy, strong, wise, and able to live a good life, does the child need the support, nurturing, and guidance of an entire village, either literally or figuratively? Why or why not? So far in your life, which of your own personal experiences and relationships have been relevant to this issue?

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Journal 8: First Quarter of High School

Please look back on the first quarter of this academic year and consider both how high school has gone so far for you, as well as how you want it to go moving forward.

1) Academically, how have your classes gone so far, and why? What successes have you experienced, and what challenges or difficulties have you faced? Moreover, what do you think you need to do from this point forward to make sure that you experience the most academic success possible for the rest of the year? Be specific.

2) Outside of academics, how has your high school experience gone so far, and why? Consider social life, sports, extra-curriculars, friendships and relationships, clubs, etc. What successes have you experienced in these non-academic areas, and what challenges or difficulties have you faced? Moreover, what do you think you want or need to do from this point forward to make sure that you gain the kinds of positive extra-curricular experiences that you'd like to enjoy this year? Be specific.

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Journal 7: A Dark Time in My Life

In Speak, Melinda Sordino experiences a tremendously dark time that begins when she is raped at a summer party. This journey through the dark continues at school in the fall when Melinda is socially isolated, ostracized, and bullied; and when she sinks into depression, withdraws from her schoolwork and other activities, and struggles to cope with the traumatic memories and feelings that she keeps hidden within. In many ways, Speak tells the story of Melinda's journey through the pain, loneliness, confusion, fear, and sadness of this dark time--her struggle to not only survive this dark journey, but to thrive and emerge from it stronger than she was before.

1. What has been one significant "dark time" in your life--in other words, one situation or one time-period in your life when you have had to deal with a difficult, confusing, stressful, depressing, or even frightening challenge or problem? Describe the situation that you encountered and the aspects that made the experience a "dark time" for you--including the important events that you experienced, how you felt at the time, and whether this "dark time" fully came to an end or not. 

2. In Speak, for a variety of reasons, Melinda must face her challenges mostly alone. In contrast, in the Outsiders, Ponyboy often has the company and support of other people during his darkest times. During your "dark time," were you completely alone and on your own, or did you have the company and support of other people? How important was this fact--i.e., the fact that you were either alone or with others--and what difference did it make to you? Moreover, how has this "dark time" affected you in the long run? Through the experience, have you learned anything about yourself, or gained any wisdom or strength that you did not possess beforehand? Explain.

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Journal 6: Those Who Have Helped or Guided You on the Journey

In the journey of life that each of us takes, there are times when we may feel that we arecompletely alone, but there are other times when we may share the journey with another person or other people. Relationships with others can benefit us in powerful ways, and sometimes during times of confusion, chaos, or struggle, we may find that one person's help or guidance can make a world of difference. Sometimes having a person simply be present for us and listen to us can help us know that we're not alone and know that someone understands what we're going through. At other times, having a person share their knowledge, skills, or even wisdom with us can give us new hope and confidence for our own journey. 

Who are the people who have helped you or even guided you on your life's journey so far?

• Make a list of all the people you can think of who have truly "been there for you" in a significant way during your life's journey.  (Please list at least five people.) 
• For each person on your list, write one or more complete sentences to explain when and how that person helped you or guided you. Please be specific. 
• Think "outside the box," and try to honor those who have helped or even guided you in ways that may not be obvious.