Thursday, October 31, 2013

Journal 7

In the novel, Ordinary Resurrections, Kozol incorporates his personal story throughout the novel. By doing this, it shows his personal experiences in life, both good and bad. Kozol often time relates to the hardships that many of the children face in their day to day lives. By him relating to the children, it shows how common these disadvantages really are. Also, this reveals Kozol's helpfulness to the children outside of Saint Ann's. After school hours he would go out of his way to get items for the children and even spend time with them.
I believe it was a strength of Kozol to write partly in first person. By writing in first person it shows to the reader his personal experiences with the children and it makes that hardships that the children face more meaningful.

In chapter 23, Saying Goodbye, the part that stood out to me the most was the amount of pay teachers receive by teaching at other schools. Kozol introduces us to Miss. Reistetter's who is leaving P.S. 65 to another school. "She'll end up with nearly $7,000 more. She has 28 children in her class here in the bronx. Next year she'll only have 22"(kozol 301). This part of the chapter was important to me because it made me wonder what incentive good teachers could have to stay at a school like P.S. 65. Without good teachers this will lead into poor teaching and a sub par education. Children who are born into less fortunate families are left with bad education simply because they weren't blessed to have parents with money to afford a better school.

The value of reading Ordinary Resurrections was it opened my eyes to the real world of children's lives and how harsh their living conditions truly are. It showed that there are children who actually experience horrific things at an age that people should experience their whole life. What influenced me the most in learning about the children of Mott Haven was it showed how easily children can be affected by there surroundings and how it can make something that they never wanted to become and  showed the importance for a strong role model in their lives.    




Journal Seven

Amal Osman
English 1109.01AT8:15Am
Mike Lohre
October 1, 2013                                             

Journal Seven
At the end of the book kozol goes in more depth about himself and his parents. He states a lot about his dad’s life, he shares that dad followed his dreams even though his parents never agreed with him. He tells us, how his father went to the Harvard Law School because his mother wanted Kozol’s dad to follow in the same footsteps his brother did. “Only after traveling to Europe on a fellowship one summer to investigate the work of specialists in schizophrenic and meeting a man who coined the term, the great physician Eugene Blueler, at his home in Switzerland and later taking with the elderly physician and psychologist Pierre Janet at the Salpêtrière in Paris, did he make up his mind to give up Law school and go back to Harvard College for two difficult semesters of organic chemistry, biology, and German (Kozol 287). He also talked about how he wished the children of St. Ann’s would have the same dreams his father did and that someday they hopefully will. Kozol has this goals that he expects from the children and things that they can do the same things his father did and he also heard many people tell him that it wasn’t possible because of the conditions they were in. “it would be nice,’ they’ll say, “if all these children could go to Europe someday, as your father did, and study with the great professors and attend distinguished universities and someday lead exciting, richly cultivated lives. Some of them might do it, four or five out of a hundred. The majority will not.” To hold up dreams like that, they tell him me, more or less in words like these, is “just not doing anyone a favor (Kozol 291).  They state it clearly, that kozol needs to face the reality and realize that there’s nothing he can do to change that. Even if he did, he could only help one child out of the thousands.
At the end chapter twenty-two Kozol questions is ok to let Pineapple continue with her dream of becoming a pediatrician or a surgeon or warn her of the rode ahead of her. He wonders about if he could help her by getting in contact with people of influence. But then questions himself “Then where does that leave Ariel and Elio and Stephanie? Why shouldn’t all these children have the opportunity as well? (Kozol 295)” and then all the way at the end of the chapter he states that “There should not a narrow gate for children of the poor, a wide and open gate for children of the fortunate and favored. There should be one open gate. It should be known to everyone. It should be wide enough so even Pineapple can get in without squeezing. I really agree with that children should have open doors so than their dreams would easily enter through.
When Kozol Ordinary Resurrection he chose to write the book in third point of view, I really respect and admire him for doing that. Because it made the book more interesting and its very understandable. During Kozol’s personal story, he chose to write in first person which I thought was powerful. It showed a lot of emotions.  What really influenced me while read this book, was the determination and passion the children had toward learning and sharing. Opening up to others was the biggest impact of the book, the children overcame a lot of obstacles that was on their ways.

                                                                        Journal 7




What I think about his personal story that influnces the book, when he tells us he does not believe in God and all the kids do was a big influnces on the book because just beause he dont believe he doesnt stop the kids from having faith. Kozol even prays with these kids and many  people that dont believe in somthing what have said no that shows he kind of puts aside his pride and did it anyway.another thing Kozol did was go out and buy Pineapple and her sister some toys that was a very postive influnce on the book to me because it really showed how much he cared.

I think it was a strength, because by him putting his pride aside and him going out his way to help these kids made them feel wanted and important. The most important things from the last two chapters was, that when they was saying their good byes how the kids and Kozol yu see how the kids and kozol really felt towards one another. In chapter 23 it shows how he was loved by the student.

Now we finished Ordinary Resurrections the values of reading this book, was to learn about the struggles the kids in Mott Haven face day to day, we got to get to know the kids home life's. In this book we learned about the drugs and addiction and crimes in Mott Haven. What influenced me the most about learning about the children in Mott Haven, was how these kids go through so much and still have faith and how these kids are so kind hearted and just want to be loved. That goes to show don't judge a book by its cover, cause where this kids come from you would expect them to be mean and bitter and they the complete opposite from that.

Journal Seven

        Kozols personal story in my opinion  influenced the book in many different ways. Kozol took different aspects from his life and related it to the children. By telling us these things he influenced how the stories of each of the children were portrayed. It showed how dedicated he actually was to the children in the different ways he helped them. For example when Kozol went and bought toys for some of the children it showed his compassion. This influenced the book because it brought life into the writing. In addition too we saw how many of the children really did struggle in their home life and school. Kozol talks about his life with the children and how he related with them. Since Kozol wrote partly in first person I believe it was a strength. It showed how little the children actually had, when he compared it to his own up bringing. Also Kozol shows how someone may handle being around such poverty and the things you can do to more benefit the children.
         The thing that struck me the most important in the last two chapters was the focus on the children and on the teachers more importantly. The teachers are a big part of these schools. Many of the children struggle with different issues at home and even in there learning experience. In the last chapter of the book Kozol shows how much the teachers really do care in what they are doing not only in the classrooms but outside them as well. Miss Dukes is a perfect example of a good teacher. Her dedication is shown when she is giving the children advice for their life even after they leave her classroom. She shows how much some of the teachers really do care about the children. When saying goodbye the children Miss Dukes says, "All right then...," the teacher says. "I love you"(313)." Miss Dukes saying I love you to the children shows the true compassion the teachers have for the children. I believe showing the compassion the teachers have for the children is very important to end the book with. Ordinary Resurrections is mostly about the children but it also about the people who help out the children the most and in many cases that is the teachers.  
           There are many different values this book shows you. Ordinary Resurrections shows you how important the children are and the things we should be thankful for in our everyday lives. It shows how getting an education may come easy to some people but others it is a struggle to do things differently like going to college. Ordinary Resurrections showed the young children going through hardships but still having positive attitudes. It is inspiring to see these children conquer many different challenges. The thing that influenced me the most in the book is the teachers and the different people that helped the children of Mott Haven. This influenced me the most because it shows that I should try to help others just as the teachers did. It is also influential because it shows how all the small acts of kindness someone can do for some means so much.

 

Sudi Isse

 

Mr. Mike

          

English 1109.01

October, 31, 2013

                                                                Journal 7

            I think kozol’s personal story telling was amazing. His personal life and beliefs really influence the book every good way; it really help the reader understand some of the issues that the kids had. It also helps the reader understand his personal life and his personality. He was telling stories about the children in Mott Haven and their background, so it was nice to know what his personal background in the book. I don’t think his strength of writing was party weak I think I was good she use many deals that he could in the story to help us understand what was going on the book.

            The most important parts that struck me in the last two chapters were the teacher’s salary. It was unbelievable that most the teacher that lives in make that much many. I wonder if the teachers here in Ohio make that much or less then. “In the riches suburbs of New York, he starting Salaries were over 40.00. At the other extreme, for veteran teachers with advanced degrees , the highest salary they could expect to earn in New York City was a little less than $60.00 “.

            The values of reading are book Ordinary resurrections were to understand what the poor people in different places go thought. To understand there are many kids that do not have parents and they go thought thinks that we don’t go thought in life. To understand the problems that the children in Mott Haven are having in school, and also the problems that many schools and teachers are having.

Journal Seven

Tong Lin
Mike Lohre Instrutor
English 1109
31 October 2013



Journal Seven

        The book Ordinary Resurrections written by Jonathan Kozol and he wired in first person by told different stories of the kids lived in the Mott Haven.  Mott Haven was a poor neighborhood located in the South Bronx.  There were many criminal things happened in the book such as shooting, raping, and drug issues.  According Kozol's description of the environment in the Mott Haven, the readers can realize how the kids were struggling and dealing with their own issues.  Kozol decided to spend a a lot of time lived in the Mott Haven.  He wanted know the kids more.  Most kids believed their own religions but Kozol didn't believe.  Kozol showed the respect to the kid in the book.  However, Kozol had some families issues just like the kids in the neighborhood.  Kozol's parents were very old and Kozol needed take care of them.  Kozol's dad told him how he was spending the time in his college life.    His dad got a lot of opportuintes to study and work.  It was all about opportunites and resources.  Kozol had an opportunity to study in the Harvard but the kids never had opportunities even finished high school.  Kozol and the teachers tried to get more opportunities and resources for the kids in the end of the book.  The another story about Kozol was he treat the kids as his good friend.  Kozol went to the shopping mall in the end of book.  He wanted buy some Christmas gifts for the Pineapple and other kids.  Kozol wanted the kids felt they would had a great Christmas.  I think it was a strength to write partly in first person.  I think in the book Ordinary Resurrections, by telling the stories of the each kid, Kozol expresses his thoughts in most part of the stories.  I think he wants tell the readers how he feel about the kids in the book and how the kids influence him.  It is important to see how the things happen in front of his eye and the real stories always powerful to influence people.  

        The most important part of the last two chapter was the teachers had hard time to said goodbye to the kids.  Most of the teachers could teach in a nice environment rather than taught in Mott Haven.  "There's no complexity about the reason.  Miss Reistetter's family has no money to assist in underwriting her career… She loves the children here at P.S 30, but she's not a saint and took no vow of indigence when she became a teacher"(Kozol 302).  Miss Reistetter was only one of dozens of good teacher that Kozol had meet before.  Most of her students were sad because Miss Reistetter would be teaching in New Jersey next year.  Most teachers had their own problems and some of them most solve the problem by leaving the students to find a better job outside of the Mott Haven.  Kozol knew that most of the teachers loved the kids.  Most of the teacher could paid more in the different schools.  They still choose to stayed in Mott Haven.  The big factor of the last two chapter was the connection between the kid and teachers.  

        I think the book Ordinary Resurrection is a great book.  There are many values in the book.  It is important to see how the kids grow stronger and mature.  We shall be happy with what we have now because there are many kids in the world don't have chance to go to school.  I think the environment of Mott Haven and how kids deal with the many issue influenced me the most.  It is hard for them but I see how the kids being positive and how they try so hard.  I think the kids are wonderful.    


Journal 7

I believe Kozol's personal story was needed in the book, not only to compare and contrast his life to that of the children's, but so he can include conversations he's had with other children. Throughout the book, Kozol wrote in first person, to include his thoughts as well as meaningful conversations he had with the staff at both Mott Haven and St. Ann's. These first person accounts, allow us to indulge more about Kozol's personality, his troubles, his theology, and his relationship with others. It also makes the book more life-experiencing, due to its reality-based plot and dialogue. I would consider the first person writing a strength on Kozol's part, because if the book and been written in third person, the read would hardly know anything about the characters.

I think the most important aspect of the last two chapters (Chapter 23 and the Epilogue) would have to be there differences. In chapter 23, Kozol writes of bitter-sweet moments, at the end of the school year, when the kids at Mott Haven either graduate, or otherwise say goodbye to the teachers. One teacher, Miss. Reistetter, was done teaching at Mott Haven, and due to her departure, many of the kids were sad but also joyess about it. Also, Miss. Duke's relationship with the kids is even stronger. Since she is staying to teach at Mott Haven, it will be harder for her to leave the children she spent teaching for so long. When saying goodbye's Kozol writes, "Saying goodbye to children in the final days of school is hard for teachers everywhere. In September when you meet them they are simply 25-30 little mysteries...By June..They're all your children now and you don't usually like to let them go" (pg. 307). Here Kozol is expressing the hardness for the teachers to let the children move on to another grade. Furthermore, in chapter 23, Kozol emphasizes the bitter-sweet relationship between the children's and the teacher's departures.
In the Epilogue, Kozol returns to Mott Haven and St. Ann's, while many of the children are still there. Although in the chapter, Kozol focuses more on the aspect of death and despair. While Kozol briefly mentions his asking the children for their Christmas gift ideas, and his relationship with his parent, more towards the end of the chapter, he focuses on the occurrence of bad things happening to the children; such as murders, the raping’s of 12 year old girls, and suffering.
Once more, I found the chapters to be somewhat similar but different none the less

Values throughout Ordinary Resurrections would have to be the influence children have on adults and the theme of hope. The children in the book give Kozol and other adults and helpers, the idea of innocence and hope. The children hardly know anything outside Mott Haven, so they ask Kozol and others questions, regarding life, religion, and what the world is like. Kozol takes the relationship that he has with the children and makes in know, that they influence him and teach him; instead of him teaching the children. And I think that was the main point of the book: the children are the ones who teach us (adults), instead of the other way around. This allows us to see the innocence and power the children have when they are young. Overall, I believe Kozol was trying to show us the influence and power of children.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Comments for Zach and Amal

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Is there constructive criticism that would help this group?  What might have been more clear?  What part of the Presentation seemed the least polished?

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Comments for Jasmine, Molly and Alexis

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Comments for Ilyis and Eri

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Comments for Lulu and Sudi

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Comments for Kyle and Jake

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Comments for Tong and Radika

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Comments for Mike and Marcus

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Floyd "Money" Mayweather

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Presentations on Tuesday

will be done in this order:

1. Zach and Amal: Grand Theft Auto
2. Jasmine, Molly and Alexis: Miley Cyrus
3.  Ilyis and Eri: LeBron James
4. Lulu and Sudi: Charlize Theron
5. Kyle and Jake: Oprah Winfrey
6. Tong and Radika: Eminem
7. Mike and Marcus: Justin Beiber

Journal Four




Amal Osman
English 1109.01
Mike Lohre
October 1, 2013                                              
Journal Four 
           
           The theme for chapter 12 “A Question of Value” is kindness and shame. In this chapter kozol shows the way Miss Katrice helps her community. He states the conditions and troubles the mothers of St. Ann’s go through to make sure their child survives; Even if it meant asking for help from others. She understands what all these mothers go through; she also feels the pain the mothers have, because she can relate her life to the situation.  “If a child’s mother’s using drugs, or sick, or in the hospital, or in some other trouble, and she can’t sustain, you have to take her place. You have to be the mother and grandmother. Not just for your own.  For all” (Kozol 148). She really is an angel to the children and adults of St. Ann’s. She doesn’t turn anyone away even if she’s ready to go home and is closing the kitchen. She welcomes those in need and helps them in anyway. I think Miss Katrice plays a big role in the children of St. Ann’s because they trust and depend on her.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Journal 4

        I think a major theme in chapter  12 of "question of values" is the care in choice of words and the role of giving for generosity.St. anns is a predominant church that has all types of people and kids coming in any time. Most people in the community are poor and in need of charity to feed for themselves and kids. But what people dont understand is the balance of need and hesitation or between wanting and accepting. Mrs.katrice is a generous person in the church and as she meets single mothers in need of food she cares for them, but when she see's them feeling afraid to ask or accept she is astonished. And the part that caught my attention in this chapter is how families show up very late for shelter and she sees them standing outside in the cold willing to let them come in. As Mrs. katrice says, a woman sometimes is embarrassed to accept it. "I'll say, 'Dont be embarrassed. This is here for you to have" (Kozol 148). This passage is a conflicting part and it shows how caring and affectionate Mrs. Katrice is for the people in the church. It also demonstrates how people should have no doubts over recieving what they absolutely need.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Journal 4

In chapter 11, Details of Life, Jonathan Kozol discussed how the residents of Mott haven's reputation gets crippled all the time by the stereotypes portrayed by the media. Every chapter Kozol does a great job breaking down the struggles they take on everyday and this chapters struggle is stereotyping. The media always reports on criminal corruption in areas like the South Bronx, making suburban people hesitate to help them out. He talks about how we need to invest in the childrens future now. Being such a wealthy country, it isnt fair for these kids to be so much more underfunded then other schools in America. Kozols writing on this topic was perfectly done and helps promote help now for the kids of South Bronx

Journal 4

In Question of Values (Ch.12) I think a major theme would be reluctance, or shame.  The kids whose mother has aids won't even hug or touch there mother as they think aids is a contagious disease.  Granted, they are young and do not understand fully how diseases work and such.  This also has a huge effect on the parents as well, when there kids are ashamed of them, you can only imagine how the parents must feel. A quote that I think best describes this would be on pg. 150 "Don't be embarrassed, this is for you to have".  This shows that many of the people who go to the church for food are reluctant to take food because they feel like they can give nothing in return. I think this is a normal human reaction as our sense of pride usually doesn't allow us to accept help from others, but in a case like this, there should be no doubts over receiving help when you absolutely need it.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Journal 4


A major theme from chapter 12, “A question of Values”, would be embarrassment. Many parents from Mott Haven are reluctant in accepting free food from people and organizations in general. Often times mothers will come into Saint Ann’s and Katrice states that “after coming here in need of food, she says, a women is sometimes is embarrassed to accept it”(Kozol 148). This is the most important aspect of this chapter because it really illustrates that struggles that parents, prominently, mothers have to go through on a day-to-day basis. They want the world for their children and be able to provide every necessity for them but they simply can’t and this is really hard for their parents to handle mentally. Often time’s parents have mental breakdowns and start to cry when given food to feed themselves and their children. It would be hard as a parent to not be able to provide for your child and have to revive other people’s offerings in order for your child to survive, especially from day one when these parents have the hopes and dreams to get their children out of poverty and allow them to have a flourishing life. When parents think about this concept, I feel as if this is what gets to them the most.  But if they truly need these offerings and helpings they shouldn’t be ashamed to receive these necessities. 

Sports Pop Culture

For my inspirational movie I would have to say Cast Away. The reason I choose this movie is because it portrays great bravery, wisdom, and fight. If I were going through what he had to go through I dont think I could last a tenth as long as he did. In the movie he showed great bravery the whole time he was on the island and cast away in the sea on his raft, he was stranded for years. This is why i choose Cast Away.

For an icon or icons that kids look up to today I would say this falls under the sports category. At least for me as a kid and still today I look up to a lot of athletes.  an icon today i think kids look up to today is Floyd Mayweather. The reason I choose Floyd is because simply he is a class act. Floyd shows great fight in him and courage. Floyd boxing at a gym 5 doors down from him starting at the age 5 shows his hard word determination. Floyd also had a big role to follow because his dad was also very good. So to me I think Floyd Money Mayweather is an icon kids today look up to.