"A Vision of Students Today" Summary/Response

In the video, “A Vision of Students Today”, Michael Wesch evaluates the way in which schooling has adapted to the industrialization of culture over time, and how this adaptation has affected students.
Michael Wesch’s “A Vision of Students Today,” correctly defines the importance of efficiently using technology in the U.S. educational system, because if students do not control their devices, their devices will control them. This is exemplified through the use of a survey taken by over two-hundred students, each who contributed personal answers on what it is like to be a student today. Throughout the production of the survey, Wesch provides multiple illustrations of how technology is hurting education more than it is helping it. For example, “I Facebook through most of my classes,” (Wesch) and “I bring my laptop to class, but I’m not working on class stuff,” (Wesch) are only a few of the confessions made by his students, which confirm the negative influences of too much technological availability. When people are given unrestrained access to social networks or non-beneficial websites, and manipulate that access, any possibility of productive learning at the same time is canceled out. This idea is similarly displayed in an article by Robyn-Jay Bage, who describes the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in schools, “As an educator, I am dismayed at the number of students who sit in class and use their phones to text, answer email, watch videos and update their social networking pages. No matter the activity—lecture, large group discussion, or small group work— and no matter how creative and engaging it may be, these handheld devices command interest and attention,” (Klaus). The interest and attention which technology demands can be so forceful, that students can become addicted to the point where they cannot go without it. For instance, the participants in Michael Wesch’s survey averaged their results and came up with the schedule of a typical college student's day, “I spend 1.5 hours watching TV every night. I spend 3.5 hours a day online in general. I listen to music 2.5 hours a day. I spend 2 hours on my cell phone” (Wesch). Combined, the amount of time a normal college student will use consumed with technology equals out to around 10 hours. Assuming that each student will spend 8 hours sleeping a day and also holds a job, leaves barely any time left for leisure activities- much of which will be spent studying. This type of schedule results in lack of sleep and inefficient studying, and is unhealthy for people. Students are so addicted to technology, that they cannot pull away from it, which wastes time that could be used to further their education. As is clearly expressed by Michael Wesch in “A Vision of Students Today,” technology; alluring and easily abused, weakens the education of students everywhere when misused.

Bully Response paragraph

In the powerful documentary Bully by Lee Hirsch, the continual affliction of bullied children is exemplified through the lives of Alex, Ja’ Meya, and Tyler as they all respond to their situations in different ways. Being picked on, physically abused, and teased can affect a person so much, it can cause them to turn into somebody else entirely. Children who are constantly treated as useless will eventually begin to harden their hearts and believe it. For example, one of the kids  who Hirsch interviewed was a 12 year-old boy named Alex. For his whole life, the only people who ever accepted him and loved him were his family. Throughout elementary, middle school, and high school, Alex was seen as “different” and was treated as such. Kids punched him, threatened him, called him names, and abused him to the point where he was emotionless. Being interviewed about his circumstances, Alex responded, “I’m starting to think I don’t feel anything anymore.” Years of never-ending desecration without the support of one real friend had taken away parts of his humanity. “They push me so far that I want to become the bully.”- Alex. Those words are similar to the very reaction of a 14 year-old girl named Ja’ Meya. She became so tired of being threatened by boys on the bus that she stole her mother’s gun and brought it with her the next time she rode it. Some boys tackled her before she could fire, and she was sent to juvenile hall. Nobody was hurt in this case, but a 17 year-old boy named Tyler was not so lucky. After being terrorized for over 10 years because he was nonathletic, Tyler eventually took his own life. You see, these experiences are so damaging that they will cause a child to lose their innocence and react in a way that they never normally would. “I’m different- not normal. I belong somewhere else.” These are words that should never come out of the mouth of anyone, much less children. Yet they are said, along with much more, by many. To conclude, bullying will bring out parts of people that should be left unprovoked, and it not only damages their emotions, but it also damages the heart.

Bully Summary Paragraph

In the inspirational narrative Bully, Lee Hirsch makes it clear that bullying is a very evident problem that needs to be addressed, because the lives of countless kids could be at stake. The director uses real kids’ experiences to show all who are watching of the emotions, struggles, and everyday feelings that those who are bullied go through. By detailing the importance of hope, Hirsch battles prejudice, discrimination, and hatred in a story sure to bring awareness to the issue. He emphasizes the roles that family, friends, and faculty play in the life of every threatened child. Throughout the film, a common theme is knowledge. Most of the adult figures never know enough. The parents of the children typically assume that their son or daughter endures a little teasing at school, maybe a few fights. When they finally learn of the harmful things that are really going on, most of their responses are “I didn't know it was that bad.” When the parents know of the situation and are ready to do something about it, another problem arises; the faculty. A common place for bullying to occur is at school. Principals, superintendents, and teachers typically know that bullying does occur, but are in a quandary of how to stop it. This example leads to one of the main points of the movie; stopping bullying. How do we end it? Hirsch thinks the answer is up to us. As the figures of society, we have to stand up for kids that are bullied, so that they will feel supported enough to stand up for themselves. So that the bullies will be shown the destructiveness of their actions. So that this endless chain of events will finally come to an end. The bullied become the bully, and target another person. Another life is taken. Another community destroyed around the death. This is what Hirsch outlines in his film. Bullying needs to stop, and it’s up to us to stop it.

English 9 honors Class Expectations

In an efficient class, there has to be a sense of cooperation, respect, and the willingness to work hard. Students should try and give their best , with the help of their instructor. Good teachers are those worthy of respect: they rise above the students in academics and behavior, and bring those they are teaching up to their level. They are also ready to help when their students need, but they do not do the work for them. Good students are those with character traits such as responsibility, integrity, humility, confidence, and diligence. They should help their peers learn, instead of preventing them from it. Their attitude should be one of a learner. A good student will cooperate with their teacher to get the best education possible. A good class is one that works together as a whole and builds each other up: academically and socially. Since this class is an honors class, I expect it to be challenging, so I hope to work up to the level of difficulty and still make good grades. I expect I will sometimes be stressed when big assignments are put into the picture, but I will take them as they come, and try and do my best. Feedback from students who have taken her class, and from my own short experience, I honestly expect Smith to significantly improve my english skills. All in all, I believe this year of English will be a tough one, but I will do my best and look forward to how much i will grow with the help of my classmates and my teacher.