Fight for Your Rights to Education

“We are born weak, we need strength; helpless, we need aid; foolish, we need reason. All that we lack at birth, all that we need when we come to man's estate, is the gift of education.” - Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Brainy Quotes). In the neighborhoods of Lusaka, Zambia (Africa), children have limited opportunities to learn due to the lack of teachers, which makes children vulnerable, weak, and incapable. It is essential for the society to commit to fighting for children’s rights to education in order for them to have a bright future and to be successful human beings. Thandiwe Chama, a sixteen-year old sympathetic and tender girl, is doing active social work to create more educational opportunities for vulnerable children. She had even created her own public library to promote children to enjoy and experience learning like never before. After Thandiwe’s Chama’s school was closed down because of the lack of teachers in Zambia, she had demonstrated leadership to guide 60 other children to find another school to continue with their education.
 
A school is an organization or society, which provides education for children. Thandiwe Chama is making herself a notable by demanding for children’s rights to a proper education. Thandiwe assumes that the key to any child’s future is formed by education. Through this belief, she took the lead in walking to another school to demand for her and 60 schoolmates’ rights to education. “ …[Thandiwe] helps vulnerable children around her, both at her school and in her community, a role model for children and adults in her own country” (Kids Rights Video). On the other hand, Thandiwe not only made herself a remarkable person for helping out her community, but she also realized that fighting for her human rights can be beneficial. By fighting for the right to education, she asked the government to provide her some money to expand her organization. Thandiwe is from one of the poorest neighborhoods in Lusaka, Zambia (Africa), where education is limited. Although she is from a poor community, she was thriving in school and even does social work on a daily basis. When her school closed down, she couldn’t accept the fact and guided 60 schoolmates to continue on their education. Thandiwe carried out this act because of her firm belief that every child has a right to education. “I fight for the right to education, which is a basic human right for every child in the world.”(Kids Rights Video). Thandiwe perceives that there are children in Zambia who don’t have many educational opportunities, so she had been working to create more educational opportunities for children like her. She fights for basic human rights to education to fulfill one of her goals, which is to make children have the opportunity to learn. Again Thandiwe is an outstanding human being as she had made a difference to create a society where children can be educated.
 
Helping out children from her school shows that Thandiwe not only cares about her education but for others too. Thandiwe, a respected person shows care to her members of her society, as she wants the children to have the right to education. Even though she had leaded her schoolmates to a new school, she still wants them to continue on their learning but in living conditions. “She wanted to make sure that all of the children could learn inside a building, rather than outside in the burning sun” (Childrenspeaceprize). Her actions of setting up a building to make children learn more advantageous rather than learning outside in front of the hot sun suggests that Thandiwe cares for not only herself but for other children. She knows that learning in a place with shade helps the children be more focused and attentive. Not only did Thandiwe create a public library to give more educational opportunities, she even teaches children about health. Since she is successful at school, Thandiwe had the ability to spread knowledge about how to prevent HIV/aids, and other health issues to her students. “She gets the community involved to provide fruits to sick children...advises children and parents on testing for HIV” (Kidsrights). Thandiwe was aware of the devastating effect of HIV/aids, so she decides to become a teacher and inform her students about these dangerous diseases. Through her lessons with the children, Thandiwe explains how to prevent HIV and aids. She also gets the community involved by persuading them to give fruits to sick children, and gives recommendations to children and parents to get a test for HIV. Her lessons and social work proves that Thandiwe is like a mother to the children, a mother who dearly cares for her children.
 
Thandiwe carries on displaying leadership and making differences to light a path for the young vulnerable children living in one of the poor communities in Africa to have a better future. By offering children to experience education in a different style compared to their old schools, Thandiwe could lead the children to have a better future than before as they can be fond of education like reading and become successful human beings just like her. If the children then become successful people, they can also become like Thandiwe and help out the poor. Thandiwe is a great model of a person who fights for people’s rights which inspires her community to contribute helping out the children who are in a difficult situation. Thandiwe earned The International Peace Prize in 2007 for her achievements linked to children’s rights for education in Zambia. Furthermore Thandiwe shows a great deal of determination to fight for children’s rights for education. 

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4799036496_79079488e2.jpg

South Korea, The Home of My Pizzeria

I come from a society,

A society where our nation was divided.

In the past, people were suffering from anxiety after the war but now, in a short period of time, my country has totally changed. 

Before it was one of the most poverty-stricken country-- but thanks to one man, my nation has grown again after pain and hardship. 

I am from South Korea, where there are cold dingy winters that make your skin get chapped. From vast mountains to crystal-clear seas with fountains, those times were surely a great sight. The town where I come from had warm pleasant people, and a steeple just across the road. Evergreen forests, which spurt out of the flat dirt, 

deciduous trees are found everywhere,

 a great place to play a game of solitaire. 

A friend of mine with such a sublime confidence, introduced to me the alto saxophone, a great instrument to train my lungs. 

Yao Ming, a famous Chinese basketball player, inspired me to start playing basketball as his dunks and his rebounding skills made me feel stunned.

 A boy scout made me be influenced to participate in boy scouts as he told me that I wouldn’t have any doubts ,if -- I successfully become one of the 4% of people who make it to an eagle scout. 

Eating instant noodles with my pupils, mozzarella pizza like hyenas, and the rice roll similar to sushi feels nothing compared to a jacuzzi. 

Kimchi, the cabbage marinated with spices with a fair price is very widespread and is essential for an ordinary meal in South Korea. 

 “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘ Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali.

 This quote by Muhammad Ali makes me feel very inspirational and meaningful as this quote makes me think that I should not give up trying my best on training sessions so that I have a profession. 

 My family has unique careers like semi-conductor, businessman, doctor, and so on. 

My grandparents hope for me to cope with my academic studies and not go eloping. 

The most  important memory that I have is winning two gold medals for two basketball tournaments, as it is a part of my “ornament” on my memory.  

Source: http://www.abstractlandscapepainting.com/html11/2007/contemporary-art-spring-shadows.php

 

You need Courage to Stand Up to Oppression

                Standing up to oppression takes immense courage because you can risk your life and be hung like Thomas Baker, and other brave people. In the Middle Ages, John Ball, Thomas Baker and other people thought that they deserved more freedom and rights in life so the people joined together to overthrow the king. Thomas Baker, a baker was really mad because of the new poll tax created by King Richard 2 so he said something like "Why should I pay you? It's time that I should be treated better." and he was the one who actually started the Peasant Revolt in 1381. It must have took him immense amount of courage to stand up against the king and to risk his life but he is remembered as a "notable". For a modern day example would be Spanish workers standing up against the new government's cutbacks and attack on rights. The law that the new government created allowed employers to have huge power and to release employers at a low cost. So millions of people started to protest on the streets and created a demonstration which drew large support from the young people. They were successful and managed to let the government consider the demands of the people and the strengths of the workers.

http://www.ituc-csi.org/spanish-workers-stand-up-against.html?lang=en

1066: Who had the best claim?

Duke William has the best claim to be King because he has more evidence to be king than the other people. The evidence that Duke William had was the support from the Pope, Edward the Confessor who promised to name him as his successor, and Harold Godwinson agreed to help him become King of England but he betrayed Duke William. Nobody except for Duke William has a famous person supporting him like the Pope and lot's of people would support Duke William because if the Pope agrees to help Duke, then lot's of people will follow him. Although Harold Godwinson is a strong English leader approved by the Witan, he was an "oath-breaker" which makes him not trustworthy. Harald Hardrada was a powerful king with a large army and had support of Tostig, Harold Godwinson's brother and that his ancestors ruled England but just because his ancestors ruled England doesn't mean that he get's to lead England at 1066.  So by judging all the reasons from the three men, I would be think that Duke William has the best claim to be the king of England.

Value's and Choices Document

Q1. Think about a time you witnessed bullying/ostracism/peer pressure/exclusion/discrimination/violence. How did you respond? How do you wish you had responded? What stopped you from responding that way?

 A1: I have witnessed discrimination before in my life. When I was in fifth grade, while my friends and I were finished with recess, a female assistant teacher started to shout at a boy for not following her orders like when recess time was over, he still played. When another girl was still playing around with her jump ropes, the assistant teacher told her to come and line up behind the other people in a kind and soft tone. I didn't understand why she treated the boys like slaves and treated the girls like daughters. So when all of my peers and friends were sitting down in a line, I stood up and said "Why are you treating us boys like slaves and the girls like daughters Ms. __________? I don't understand. You are not following one of the three "melawati ways". " My speech grabbed all of the audience's attention as the assistant teacher went speechless. After school, I told my parents about the assistant teacher about her sexual discrimination to others. Then, my mom decided to contact the principal and other people. (Sorry but that's what I all remember about). After 2 years later, my brother had the SAME incident as what I had before so he told my mom and she had to report her again to the faculty and the staff at ISKL. Fortunately, the assistant teacher was fired and another teacher replaced her. Anyway back to the questions. "How do you wish you had responded? ". I wish I had told the principal and my teachers about this because if I had done that before, the assistant teacher could've been fired and my brother wouldn't have to experience the pain, torture, etc from her. "What stopped you from responding that way?". I was afraid that if the assistant teacher found out that it was me who told the teachers and the other staff members, I would be in big trouble.

1.Where have we seen examples of bullying/ostracism/exclusion occurring in texts studied so far this year- factual as well as fictional?

 This year, the Holocaust unit, the "Hunger Games" book, the "Shadow of the Minotaur" book shows ostracism and bullying. For example, in the Holocaust unit, the Jewish people were "bullied" by the Nazi and the anti-Jewish people. In the Kristallnacht, the Nazi and the anti-Jewish people "bullied" the Jews by throwing stones at their businesses, killing them, burning holy buildings,etc. The "Hunger Games" book shows some ostracism. For example, the other districts in the book ostracised District 12 because they thought that District 12 was a poor district and that they might win the Hunger Games. In the "Shadow of the Minotaur" book, Steve Adams bullies Phoenix by using violence,etc. 

1.Select one line/phrase/group of sentences that are significant to you. Explain why.

 "In most cases where children get picked on, it is because they aren't good at sports or they read too much or they wear the wrong clothes or they are in a different race" This is significant to me because this phrase clearly shows that who bullies bully at. It is important to me because I have to be aware that I have to be sporty, and read little books to not get bullied next time.


How is ostracism different from other forms of bullying? When does ostracizing or excluding someone from a group become part of bullying?

Ostracism is different from other forms of bullying because if you are being ostracized, it can change your mood, more aggression, etc. For example, victims of social exclusion can feel more negatively than other people. The victims can be more angry and more sad than other non-victimized people. In most cases, if you have the angry and sad feelings, you might have more aggression. If you have aggression, you might be a bully. Ostracizing or excluding someone from a group can become a part of bullying when it happens to you or someone else.


2.What surprised you?


What surprised me about this video was that how a popular girl in her school wanted to be friends with Eve S although she was being bullied a lot. Most of the people wouldn't want to be friends with a person being bullied but the popular kid stepped up and changed Eve S's life.


3. How does Eve’s story relate to bullying? Was she bullied? Did she bully? How would you explain her behavior?( perpetrator/bystander/victim?). make sure you justify( back up your answer.


Eve's story relates to bullying because she was being bullied by other people. She didn't bully anyone and she was being bullied at school. Her behavior would be considered as a perpetrator, and a victim. She is considered to be a victim because she used to be bullied at school with 2 other people. Since she mocked the girl by reading her diary, she is considered to be a perpetrator. 


4. How did Eve’s need to belong affect the way she responded when another girl was being mocked? Why does her response still trouble her? How do you like to think you would have responded to the incident?


I think that she badly wanted to join in the group so she didn't think her actions through enough until she found out what she did. The response troubled her because she knows that she did a bad thing by laughing at the girl's diary. I would have responded by stop laughing and saying to the girls that what they are doing is a bad thing. 


5. Eve concludes “Often being accepted by others is more satisfying than being accepted by oneself, even though the satisfaction does not last.’ What does she mean?


I think that Eve is trying to say that it's feels more comfortable and feels better if you are being accepted by others than accepting yourself. 

Rescuers

Schindler’s List

 What makes a person “heroic?” 

A "heroic" person does a selfless act . Not because it benefits the individual or that they had to do it but because they cared enough and chose to. A "heroic" person also might risk their lives by doing good deeds. By doing good deeds, like helping an elderly walk across a street, you can still be a hero for helping them out. 


Does a hero possess certain qualities? 


I would say a hero doesn't possess certain qualities because a strength, powers, costumes,etc but they need the willingness to help others in need. Not all heroes have powers, strength, speed, agility, costumes,etc. For example my mom was my hero. She helped me by making me escape from wild dogs and she didn't use strength, agility, costumes,etc. 


Or is a hero defined by his or her actions? 


A hero is defined by his or her actions because if you do something that saved their lives or helped them, they will think of you as their "savior" , but if you do something evil to them, they will think that you are a bad person like a villain. 


Was Schindler a hero?


I would think Schindler is considered to be a hero because he saved the Jewish people by stopping a train and put them into a safe camp. Schindler is a hero to the Jewish people because by making camps for them, they can be safe from the Nazis. Schindler also used a lot of money to help the Jewish people which is what a hero would do. "This time Schlinder was not concerned with making a profit. Indeed he now spent enormous sums of money to keep his workers safe. He began by turning his factory into an official subcamp of a newly constructed labor camp at Plazow." So this is why Schindler is considered to be a hero.

A Poem by Sonia Weitz

Which Sonia Weitz poem did you choose?


The poem that I chose written by Sonia Weitz is "Victory". 


 How can you make a personal connection to the poem?


The main personal connection that I can make to the poem is that I also spent a happy moment with my dad like Sonia Weitz and how she danced with her father in Aushwitz, the concentration camp. Last year ago, I was happy spending time with my father playing tennis. It was fun playing against a hard opponent as he would make me run around the court by using his precise accuracy to hit from left to right, up to down,etc. By playing tennis with my dad, I can have a better relationship and a bond with my dad just like Sonia Weitz. So this is my connection which relates to Sonia Weitz's happy moment.


How did it make you feel?


The poem made me feel very awkward and strange Sonia Weitz said that she couldn't see the ugly barracks, and there was no hunger and no fear. "The ugly barracks disappeared. There was no hunger...and no fear." Sadness also was a feeling because in the poem, she said that she was condemned to die and that her father might possibly die. " Little one, let us dance, We may not have another chance... And me, a child... condemned to die." I also felt happy and joyful that Sonia Weitz could have a good time with her father before anything bad happens later and I also could tell how happy Sonia Weitz was because she couldn't see the barracks, and that she wasn't hungry and scared. 


The annotations on the "Victory" poem by Sonia Weitz included some questions, messages, symbolism,etc. In the beginning, I had a question which was "Why did Sonia Weitz call this poem the Victory?". My group members provided me the answer which was that maybe Sonia Weitz called the moment of happiness the "victory" so I was able to understand it clearly. Towards the middle section, I had questions like "Why does she say My lovely father (once big and strong)?" I asked this question to my group members but didn't get a lot of help on it. There was some messages in the poem which were shown towards the end of the poem. "There are no tools to measure love and only fools would fail to scale your victory." I think this is some kind of message but I can't seem to get the message... There weren't any figurative language like similes. I like how Sonia Weitz used a creative way to attract peoples attention at the end of the poem which shape like tiny little feathers falling. So I think that "Victory" is a good poem to read.