Struggle By: Phil Christodoulou

You wake up dark and early,
Hoping for more sleep.
You go to school to be successful,
Yet what you want most can't be taught in school.
The pattern just goes on and on.
Then one day you realize that the naps you take,
along with all the hate,
stops you from expanding.
The breaths you breathe are limited,
You only have one life to do what YOU want,
whatever that is you push for it,
cause in the end not doing what you want,
is full of regret.
And if you're okay with settling for less,
Just remember that you were never your complete best.

Ashes Review by Claire Riley

For the PARCC, I've been reading this book called Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick. So here's a brief summary:

A girl named Alex leaves her grandmother and travels to Michigan wilderness, determined to leave her life that's been contaminated by a terminal brain tumor. She soon meets a young girl named Ellie and her grandfather, when suddenly something crazy happens. Tons of electromagnetic pulses, or EMP's as the characters call them, are sent out all around the globe. Most kids and adults ranging from 13-60 drop dead. Except a few...Some people are left unchanged, and unharmed. Others, however, become the Changed. AKA, this books version of zombies. Smart, agile zombies that is.

Okay, so I didn't really know what I was getting myself into when I took this book from a friend. I honestly just forgot to bring a book on Monday so I asked a friend who was still home to bring me something quick. She handed me this, and I ran off to homeroom to begin reading. The little blurb on the back doesn't give me much of a hint as to what the book is about. The first chapter was a bit cliche. Actually, the entire BOOK is cliche. It started off with this poor girl with not only dead parents, but with a brain tumor. She has lost her sense of smell, and is kinda all grumpy about it. Now, just a reminder, this is a girl who literally carries her dead parent's ASHES in her bag with her. As if that's not already a weird protagonist, she also survives this brain-zap moment and gains back her sense of smell. So now, she she this super power where she can smell feelings. I feel like this was just a plot for the author to be able to add more description in his book while keeping the reader interested. It seemed a little too fake too me but I kept reading. 

So she is trying to survive these zombie dogs with this OBNOXIOUS little girl Ellie. She not only hates Alex, but simply refuses to cooperate. Right before this zombie guy pops out of nowhere and almost eat her for dinner, this hunk of a man comes out of no where and shoots the dude! The second this god-like guy showed up and was described, "He was much younger, closer to her age..." I already KNEW there was gonna be a love interest right there. Super cliche. So this Tom guy saves her and cleans her up, and they eventually adventure out of the woods and into civilization. They fight some Changed, and meet some other people. Eventually, Alex gets split from Tom and Ellie, and then finds her way to this town called Rule.

Rule is like this cult like town who doesn't trust younger kids her age because it means they will probably change at some point soon. Although the town "president" guy finds out about her power after she sniffs out his: he can sense feelings and unnatural things through touch. So at this point I sorta figure that there must only be like 5 "special" people with different sense powers, right? 

I haven't quite finished to book yet, but It's interesting to read a book and think about what tactics are used so often in dystopian novels that I can already predict the future. I suppose in the end it isn't necessarily a BAD book, it's just utterly predictable. 

Why Parents/Students Are Refusing the PARCC By Grace Becker

By Grace Becker
This week, students across New Jersey are taking the PARCC test, many of which dread. Of course, like any standardized test, students moan and groan about the approaching days of sitting at a desk for continuous hours of a test that really may have no affect on any aspects of their education. When it comes to the PARCC in particular, many students, and their parents, are refusing to take it. However, this reaction is not uncommon. Students and parents are opting out and refusing this standardized test, many of which have good reasoning. Here are a few reasons why...

1) Emotional Toll On Students- Just like any standardized test, the stress toll on students definitely is a contribution. However, this test is unlike any other due to the fact it comes in a very different format. Completing math problems on the computer while trying to graph, show work, and explain your reasoning, is one thing that does not get easier through technology. In fact, it makes it harder. Learning how to use online calculators and not being sure how to use the symbols given can be very confusing for students and increase stress while trying to complete the test.

2) Less Instructional Time In School- While schools are taking this time for the PARCC to take place, hours of education in class and quality leaning time are being thrown away. The test, taking up the majority of the morning to complete, results in the rest of the schedule being affected, causing class time to be wasted. This time can be used more effectively in the classroom learning the curriculum, instead of testing students on some topics they haven't even learned yet.

These are just two reasons why the PARCC has some major negative aspects. Of course it is up for debate and hundreds of parents across New Jersey are coming together to try and stop this form of standardized testing in their child's school. Is it really as negative as everyone makes it out to be? But is it also providing any benefit to our students either?

Christ-Like Characters in Modern Media by Julia Young

Christ-Like Characters in Modern Media

by Julia Young

In the most recent discussion in class, it was brought up that Simon could potentially mirror Jesus in The Lord of the Flies. To start, like Jesus, Simon was very compassionate and kind. For example, when Piggy's glasses were hit off of his face, Simon gave them back to him... Also, he tried to comfort Ralph when he was in distress by saying, "‘You’ll get back to where you came from…You’ll get back all right. I think so, anyway’” (Golding 111). Another parallel between Simon and Jesus would be his intellectual thoughts and understandings of the real truth. Rather than go along with the other boys and fear a physical monster inhabiting the island, Simon proposed that they themselves were the real beasts, he says, “‘What I mean is…maybe [the beast’s] only us…we could be sort of…’” (Golding 89). However when he begins to receive confused looks and doubt he trails off. Just like Jesus, Simon was seen as almost ludicrous for his views; no one believed him, even though what he preached was true. The most similar aspect between Simon and Jesus, however, would be their moments before death. Before Jesus was crucified, he went through solitary mental suffering at the Garden of Gethsemane. Similarly, before Simon was killed, he was faced with the very horrifying experience with the Lord of the Flies. Furthermore, like Jesus, Simon died trying to save the boys; Jesus died for our sins, and Simon died for theirs.
After making these connections, I wondered if other characters I knew could be considered Christ-like figures... And these are the ones I found:

Mufasa from The Lion King

In The Lion King, Mufasa can be portrayed serving as a Christ-like figure. Right from the start of the film, he consistently shows wisdom and insight on life, which is an an attribute that is often associated with the Messiah. Like Jesus, Mufasa also sacrifices his own life for the sake of others-- in this case he is trampled by a stampede in order to save his son. Furthermore, not only does Mufasa provide life lessons for Simba while he's alive, but he also appears in the sky during Simba's 'teen years' to provide even more insight (shown in the picture above). This scene can also be related to Jesus' resurrection.

Gandalf and Frodo Baggins from The Lord of The Rings

Gandalf can be closely related to Jesus in many ways. Throughout the story of The Lord of The Rings, Gandalf serves as not only a prophet, but also a teacher. He guides the dwarves/elves/men on their journey and brings them together to maintain peace. Also, similar to Christ performing miracles, Gandalf is able to use magic and enacts seemingly miraculous gestures. His death also follows very closely with the conditions of Jesus' crucifixion. When faced with his adversary, Gandalf stands firm and sacrifices himself in order to save everyone else.

Alongside Gandalf, Frodo Baggins can also be considered a Christ-like figure in The Lord of the Rings... but in a completely different way. In the Christian faith, although he himself was sinless, Jesus carried the sins of everyone on his own back, eventually dying for these sins at his crucifixion. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo is faced with a similar burden: he was the bearer of the ring, which was created by the greed of mankind.

Iron Giant from The Iron Giant

Growing up, The Iron Giant was one of my all-time favorite movies that I watched pretty much every other week. And just now looking at the relationships between this character and Christ, I can really see the connections. To start off, the Iron Giant essentially comes down to Earth to save the state of Maine during a time of war; this can be related to when Jesus is sent to Earth to save mankind. The Iron Giant also shows attributes of gentleness, kindness, and innocence, which mirror many of Jesus' characteristics. And like most of the characters on this list, the Iron Giant's death is a key similarity between this robot and Christ. The Iron Giant sacrifices himself by throwing himself in front of a missile to save his young boy companion. His death can also be said to reflect the sins of mankind, considering he died through nuclear warfare.

Works Cited

Heard, Sam. "10 Greatest Christ Figures In Film." WhatCulture.com. N.p., 07 June 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.

Golding, William. Lord of the flies. Place of publication not identified: Hodder Education, 2016. Print.

Stories of Survival- Josh Williams

Over the past week or two, we have been holding student led discussions in class.  These discussions hold a central question that relates to the novel we have been reading independently, Lord of the Flies.  This book tells the story of a group of British schoolboys who are stranded on a desolate island.  The author, William Golding, portrays the boys fight for survival and their downfall into barbarism.  Subsequently, the six topics that we have conversed about reflect on human nature in regards to survival.  These topics include whether or not it is human nature to be moral and what duty bystanders have to those in peril.  Specifically, the group I was in led a discussion on whether or not there are any actions that can truly be deemed “out of bounds” in life-or-death survival scenarios.  During this discussion, we talked about many different survival stories, including the Donner Party and the Essex, in which drastic measures such as cannibalism were taken.  I would like to share some other survival stories that I found interesting while doing research for our discussion.  In these specific stories, people were able to survive without the use of measures such as cannibalism.

Aron Ralston:

Aron Ralston was mountain climbing at Blue John Canyon in Utah on April 26, 2003.  During his descent, Ralston disturbed an 800 pound boulder that fell and pinned his right arm against the side of the mountain.  He spent days trying to free his arm, but was unsuccessful in doing so.  During this time, Ralston used up his meager supply of food and water, and resorted to drinking his own urine.  He ultimately decided that he would have to amputate his arm.  He spent nearly a day doing so as all he could use to cut through the flesh and bone was a dull multi tool.  When finished, Ralston still had to finish his descent using only one arm.  He was rescued a few hour latter.         

Slavomir Rawicz:

Slavomir Rawicz was a member of the Polish Army when he was captured by Russian forces in 1939.  He was brought to Moscow where he was given a biased trial.  Rawicz was found guilty of war crimes against the Soviet Union and was sentenced to 25 years of labor.  He was taken to a Gulag camp in northern Siberia where he endured a year of harsh and laborious activities.  During a blizzard, Rawicz and six others escaped the Gulag camp and began an over 6,500 mile trek from northern Siberia to British occupied India.  Along the way, the group of seven had to avoid civilization and faced treacherous conditions.  Two members of group died during their journey through the Gobi Desert, and two others died while crossing the Himalayas.  The rest of the group, including Rawicz, were rescued by the British military when they reached India

Ernest Shackleton's Expedition Team:

          Late in 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his expedition team left Great Britain on the Endurance.  The team was attempting to cross the entire continent of Antarctica, traveling through the south pole.  The Endurance became stuck in ice in the Weddell Sea.  The men had no forms of communications and were stuck on the ship.  They remained there for nearly a year before the Endurance was destroyed by the ice.  Subsequently, they were forced to travel across the frozen ocean.  After months of travel, they reached the uninhabited Elephant island.  The expedition was presumed to be dead since they had gone missing more than a year prior.  Shackleton knew that they would not be rescued because of this.  He therefore made the decision to travel 800 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to the Southern Georgia Islands; where there was a small whaling outpost.  Six members of the team, including Shackleton, made the 800 mile journey in a lifeboat that they had taken with them from the Endurance.  Shackleton and his team were able to make it to the island and sent a rescue party to save the remaining men on Elephant Island.  Amazingly, only three men died throughout the failed expedition.    

We would all like to believe that when faced with adversity, we would be able to overcome the feats that lay before us.  However, when it comes to survival, it is not always practical to do so in a socially acceptable way.  Often, it becomes necessary for those near death to break from the norms of society to stay alive.  This means committing atrocities such as cannibalism.  The stories of Ralston, Rawicz, and Shackleton, although heroic, are uncommon.  Much too often, disastrous circumstance lead to tragic stories rather than heroic ones.      

Book Review

Review of Chicken Soup For the Teenage Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberley Kirberger

by Hannah Transier

Chicken Soup For the Teenage Soul is a book that consists of 101 different short stories from all different people. These stories are about all different things that other people have gone through and what they have learned from it, and it is meant to help you out when you are going though things similar. They have stories about family, friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, self-confidence (and things like that), and many that are just funny if you want to laugh.

I got this book a few years ago, but just recently read it all. It was always good to read one of the stories at the end of the day to just help me relax before I go to sleep, and not stay awake worried about something.

The reason I think this book is so good, is because when you read it, it reminds you that there are many other people out there who have experienced the same thing that you may be going through, which can make you feel better if you were upset. And even if you weren't upset, these stories can just make you laugh.

So overall this book was very enjoyable and if you are looking for something that you can just occasionally pick up when you have extra time, then this is definitely something worth getting.

Lord of the Flies, a poem by Liz Ukstins

Lord of the Flies

A Poem

by Liz Ukstins

They started off in a ruined civilization

And now are lost at sea

These children created their own nation

Without adults, they can be free

The boys gather at the sound of a conch

A leader is elected

Soon the boys will become raunch

All except one - Piggy is rejected

What is it about Piggy

that causes others to hate?

Is it his pygmy

or slightly larger weight?

He only wants to help

and always gets shot down

He is see as a useless whelp

Plastered on his face - a frown

Jack simply does not care

and Ralph is too distracted

They may be found ne'er

as they too harshly acted

Who will die and who will live?

That is the question

There will be no peace left to give

and all will end with depression

Will Piggy get murdered

or will he thrive?

Piggy is always unheard

To do his best, he strives

What atrocities are yet to happen?

Will their society become misshapen?

How much time will cease?

Will the hunter become the beast?