And We're Back!

Dear Reader,

As a means of communication and interaction that extends beyond the walls of my classroom, I started a blog last year to keep students and parents up to date on what is happening in the classroom, as well as post any thoughts or remarks I had that perhaps were not fitting for some reason during class. I have been slow in starting it up again this year, but I think I am finally up to the task. My goal is to post daily the activities that occur in my English 1 class as well as the homework or other upcoming notices that need to be mentioned. I will also use this forum to express my thoughts and ideas on various issues that we discuss in class or that pertain to education and what I am learning. I strongly encourage you to use this resource to stay connected with what is happening in the classroom and use it as a means to communicate with me about any issues that arise. Thanks for stopping by. I hope this proves to be a useful online resource for you.

16 Blocks: Rules vs. Relationships

Currently, we are exploring the theme of "Passages" as a means to learn and experience life. A key quote that we are looking at is, "Things do not change; we do." We think and read and write about this theme, we are looking particularly at the nature of rules and how they influence our relationships. Along side the reading and writing, we are also watching the film "16 Blocks" which deals with the same issues. Because of the shorter schedule, today was spent mostly on watching the film and discussing how the characters change.

One thing that I have noticed in many films that move us and have the power to draw us to something bigger than ourselves is what I call "The Ultimate Decision." I watched another film over the weekend where this was clear, and then I noticed it twice in this film as well. The ultimate decision is actually very simple: me or you. It is a decision between what is best and easiest and most convenient for me opposed to what is best and most helpful for someone else. In this film, both of the main characters have to make this choice. Detective Mosley has to decide between taking the easy way out of a situation by siding with his crooked cop friends or to help a criminal get to court and testify against his friends. And then Eddie, the petty criminal, must choose between saving his own life and taking the easy road by escaping from danger or to go back and help Mosley and finally prove to him that "people change." What strikes me about this feature in the film is how rare we actually see it in real life. It is interesting how such a sacrificial move does indeed draw out our sympathies and drives us to tears even, at times, but how rarely we witness or are willing to make the same move. It shows to me that we as humans have some innate understanding that we are not to live merely for ourselves, that giving of ourselves for the well being of another is heroic and right and admirable. I just hope that movies like this would drive us to really consider our own lives and help us see where we are overly focused on selfish gain instead of sacrificing our convenience and ease to simply brighten another's day.