: Leadership

• Topic:  Leadership
• Introduction
• Chunk 1:  What are the Top 5 Qualities in a leader?  Why these?
• Chunk 2:  Who is the best leader you know?  Why?
• Chunk 3:  A Chunk that uses Julius Caesar as an example.
• Conclusion
• Underline one vocab and the context clue.
• Underline one compound sentence.

5: Banned Books

Should books be banned? Why or why not?

5: Banned Books

To ban books or not to ban books?  That is the question.  Or is it? As with most controversial topics, the answer contains layers of meaning.

According to the American Library Association's top banned book list of 2017, I have read three of those on the list (Thirteen Reasons Why, The Kite Runner, and To Kill a Mockingbird) and have two waiting on me to read (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and The Hate U Give).  Based on this, I have a 50% rate of supporting banned books!  These books range from classics (TKM...which we teach to our sophomores) to recent releases (The Hate U Give).

Of the three I have read from the above list of banned books, I do see why some parents or concerned persons would consider these books not being appropriate for certain age groups.  This is where I stand.  I respect a writer's choice of topic, setting, conflict, culture, theme...but...these topics are not always appropriate for brains that are still developing.  I have chosen to not teach particular texts that my students should have the choice to read when they are more mature and are mentally more capable of deciding for themselves whether to accept or reject the beliefs being presented.

Banning books does an positive effect on sales, for just tell a person he/she cannot do/read...and that then becomes the goal to contradict!  Hummmm...need to use this reverse psychology more!  Blessed, we are, to be able to choose...or not.

Blog #4: Teiresias of Thebes

Even though Teiresias and I serve different gods, I still admire his willingness be faithful to his understanding of what is right. Adherence to a creed is the essence of Teiresias’ loyalty.

Teiresias risks the king’s anger to warn the people of Thebes of the gods’ coming wrath. This shows Teiresias’ loyalty to the gods and to his calling as a prophet for the people. Unlike many others in Thebes, he stands up to Creon and explains the king’s faults. Teresias is trying to save the people, because he believes the actions King Creon is taking now will harm the city in the future.

Teiresias makes the right decision to foretell the future of Thebes according to the course Creon is setting. If he had known what the gods said, but he had not prophesied out of fear of the king’s anger, Teresias would have been disloyal both to his religion and to the people of Thebes. When Creon does not listen at first, Teresias could have gone even further by crying his prophecy in the streets, as the biblical prophet Jonah did in ancient Ninevah.

Teiresias is a hero in Antigone because he tries to turn the course of history set by a self-absorbed leader. He does this even though he is old and blind, qualities that might make him weak and vulnerable. This teaches me that I should do what I can, even if it seems small.  Having faith I can make a difference is the first step to making a real difference in the world.

I recommend reading classic ancient literature, such as Antigone, because of its value for enjoyment, for education, and for understanding the human condition. First, readers feel a kinship with the many millions of people who have enjoyed the story. Second, writers ever since Sophocles and even today still allude to these characters; we cannot understand many other writings if we have not read the ancient writings that survive. Third, Antigone, like all great literature, contains timeless themes about the condition of man. When we thoughtfully read the classics, we wrestle with why people act the way they do, coming to terms with the faults within ourselves and others. 

Note from Mrs. Fletcher:

This post was written in the assigned format (below), giving students ideas for how to develop their own posts about other characters..

Introduction

Chunk 1:  How did this character display being "loyal to a cause""?

Chunk 2:  Do you agree with this character's decisions?  What would you have changed?

Chunk 3:  Your opinion/connection to this character

Conclusion:  Why should students read this play...which was written 2500 years ago?

4: Chorus/Choragos

Introduction: To some people, loyalty is a character trait that ranks in the Top 1. While some might debate this ranking, loyalty remains important to most, as is the case in the drama Antigone. Should the Chorus exhibit this attribute towards the king, one with whom they do not always agree? They should definitely respect the king, all the while standing on their own principles.

Chunk 1:  How did this character display being "loyal to a cause""?
The Chorus remains loyal to the cause of Creon.

Chunk 2:  Do you agree with this character's decisions?  What would you have changed?
This group had little choice but to remain loyal to the king and follow-through with the mandates of Creon. This, I would not change. Just as in this country, when a person wins an election, that is exactly what has happened, and the other side should then respect the winner for the title he/she holds, even no support can be given that person.

Chunk 3:  Your opinion/connection to this character
The Chorus/Charogos are to be appreciated, for they provide valuable insights into the background of the play/drama.

Conclusion:  Why should students read this play...which was written 2500 years ago?
Students should definitely read this drama. Of course! Absolutely! Why should students read this play...which was written 2500 years ago?

3: Top Five Books to Read over the Next Year

In my future, I foresee myself reading the following:

1. The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer:  I do not even know what this books is about...I just know she wrote The Twilight series and The Host (which I LOVE!), so, of course, I would want to read this book!  For that reason, I chose (okay...I subtlety asked the BHS Reads Faculty Book Club if they might want to read this book.  They said, "Yes!"  Yay!)
2. The Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds:  This book has been on every suggested young adult book list for a while...because of its diverse topics.
3. 180 Days by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher:  LOVE this book! AND these authors...written by teachers STILL in the classroom.  I so much more can handle someone telling me how to teach...from someone who is still in the trenches, not from someone who has been out of the classroom for years (although I will still buy and read their books...BUT I might talk about them differently!)  This book is the title/content being discussed in two of my book clubs.
4. Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo:  Quite the popular title right now...
5. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Hunt:   A peer on Arkansas Reading Association Facebook page recommended this book to my young adult readers
6. The Man Who Invented Christmas`by Les Standiford:  This book is on two my book club lists for December 2018.  This one tells the story of Dickens and his The Christmas Carol (btw, I own several versions of this play...which we attempt to watch...yes, all of them...every year!)  The Christmas Carol IS Christmas!
7. Misery by Stephen King:   I plan to read this book because a student recommended this particular King book as a first read of his books.  Hummmm....I hear these books are scary.  How timely...as this is the "scary" months.  (NOTE:  See RIP Book Challenge here).
1. For the RIP Challenge, I am reading...drumroll please...The Chemist and Misery!