Dead Poets Last Hoorah

    Have you ever had someone that pushed you beyond your limits? Did it make you step out of your comfort zone without your consent? Mr. Keating in "Dead Poets' Society," directed by Peter Weir, explores methods that are against Welton Standards. However these unorthodox methods are the very things that are helping students.  He tells the students that they may call him "O Captain! My Captain!" in reference to a Walt Whitman poem, if they feel daring enough. Dead Poet Society does however show the positive influences a teacher can have on the lives of students with helping them become more social, and help students speak up for themselves.
    Firstly, Dead Poet Society does show the positive influences a teacher can have on the lives of students by showing that interactive classes help the kids learn. Mr. Keating’s students, at first, thought that his teaching methods were bizarre. They didn’t really understand what he was trying to show them. Slowly throughout Keating’s classes they began to finally understand. They began to speak for themselves and they didn’t notice that they were changing, but the people around them did. Mr. Keating’s method helped him connect better with his students and shows that changing the teaching methods from sitting in a seat to interacting helps kids.
   Furthermore, the influences a teacher can have on the lives of students by showing that it’s sometimes good to try new things and understand different experiences. When the students went up to Keating about the ‘Dead Poet Society’ he didn’t just ignore them, he discussed exactly what it was intrigued the students so much they wanted to re-open the club. He even went as far as to give them the book that he use to use even though he didn’t know how serious they were about it.  Keating showed faith in his students by giving them that book and believing they wouldn’t rat him out which shows how healthy the relationship between the teacher and students have become.
   Finally, Dead Poet Society does show the positive influences a teacher can have on the lives of students by showing that teachers do have an impact in our lives and they do help us to speak up and use our voices. We may not always notice it but we are always changing and teachers help students to use their voice. Without the support from Mr. Keating and teachers now a days kids from Welton Academy and other schools may not have learned valuable lessons that have shaped their lives in numerous ways.  
   In the end, Dead Poets Society was a truly remarkable movie that not only captured the positive impacts that teachers mark on students but also showed valuable lessons. For instance like  helping students speak up for themselves. Mr. Keating made a bond with his students right away because his teaching style, which may be different from other teachers, made his students think. Being pushed outside of their comfort zone was the first step of positive impacts that helped his students. Teachers and their power of authority used properly saves more than it kills.

Confessions for the bullied and beautiful

1. Sarah Kay – “The Type”


     While all of her poems are wonderful, this particular piece has a message for young girls to let them know self-worth and self-value. Sarah Kay explains how "[we are] born to build." She sets a mood that is light  and comforting. The quote"[we] are not the poem, or the punchline, or the riddle, or the joke" portrays just what Sarah Kay is trying to get through to others. Through her poetry Sarah tells the story that convinces teenagers that it's ok to be affected by emotion. It's ok to be scared. It's ok to be impressed. It's ok to have these things that shake your world up a little bit and that's why this poem has such a positive affect.


                               
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/15-videos-that-will-make-you-rethink-everything.html#ixzz2yWKon8zD



2. Shane Koyczan: "To This Day" ... for the bullied and beautiful 


      Shane Koyczan puts his finger on the pulse of what it's like to be young and ... different. "To This Day," his spoken-word poem about bullying, is such a powerful poem that makes you stop, take a breath and just listen. I feel like Shane Koyczan was trying to get through our minds about how just because others judge you, make fun of you and bully you doesnt mean you have to believe everything they're saying and doing. If you can't see the true beauty look deeper because our lives will continue to be "a balancing act that has less to do with pain an more to do with beauty" and we are all beauty. To me this shows how we shouldn't let people put us down with their opinions. Take a moment and look farther because "we kept walking the tightrope [for] practice" and there's a reason for that. There's a reason why we try so hard to keep going on with your life and that's because we want to make the most of it and we no matter what people say. Shane is a prime example because this poem is from his real life and it's ok to be young and different.



3. Kevin Breel: Confessions of a Depressed Comic at TEDxKids@Ambleside


      In his heartbreaking, personal speech, Kevin explained what it felt like to grow up with a mental illness and what he thinks we're getting wrong when we put mental health and young people together. He creates a mood that seemed sad but had a very positive side to his depression because it was explaining how he pushed through. For years Kevin Breel hid his depression behind jokes and laughter because the fact is "depression isn't chicken pots you don't beat it once and its gone forever its something you live with" and that needs to be heard. The aspiring stand-up comedian couldn’t talk to anyone about his pain until it got so bad he considered taking his life. On the video Kevin states “[I] was one of the lucky ones, one of the people who gets to step out onto the ledge and look down but not jump."

A Moral Dilemma

Madison Cook


192 Dartmouth Place


 Penticton, B.C.


V2A 7S4


 March 31, 2011





Inspector Clouseau


Chief of Police


123 Rue Justice


Paris, France


1A2 R3T

 

Dear Inspector Clouseau:

      To save an innocent life or to save a priceless portrait this was a decision hardly difficult to make. The reason I chose to save 92 year old Ada Artlover was because alike her I have a family and if anything would happen to them it would be devastating. When the smoke started filling the gallery room I knew how Adas' family would feel if they lost her so I wasn't going to be the reason she passed away. I couldn't live with myself knowing that I just let someone with a family and a home suffer a horrible death. Maybe it was selfish to those who would have chosen differently but never will I second guess or regret my decision.

     I do know that I have destroyed the priceless Mona Lisa and I am sorry but it's not like she's gone forever. The painting was just an inanimate object that attracted people to a museum. Fortunately the Internet has exploded allowing so many pictures of the Mona Lisa to pop up so she's not that hard to find. On the other hand Ada Artlover is a not going to show up everywhere and how am I suppose to let someone go who is irreplaceable.

   Every day the human race is faced with a tragedy and not only the humane thing to do is to help but it's  also the right thing. Today I saved a life for no reward or because I was forced to I did it because it was the right thing to do. Inspector Clouseau I hope you see this as a great decision on my behalf and do not regret it just as I do.

Sincerely,


Madison Cook


Madison Cook


 

Tomorrow and Today

Close your eyes and imagine you're sitting in a hospital waiting room. How are you feeling? Are you nervous? This morning, I was going through a stack of papers on my desk when I came across a wrinkled sheet from an old notepad. At the very top I had scribbled, "One hour in the hospital is like a full day anyplace else." The remainder of the page was filled with observations I jotted down while my 12 year old son John was in an intensive care unit for so many days I lost track. There was just a continuous clock that never ended. Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick I feel tired. For many years I have spoken with scared families camped out in the pale waiting rooms of hospitals, surrounded by blankets, empty drink containers, and the taste of  hideous stale odours that never leave my tongue. At times it looked just as a war zone would after all the battle.  I tend to associate hospital waiting rooms with the aroma of fresh coffee and disinfectant. Suddenly I heard my name being called and my heart beats hard like a drum in a marching band. My stomach sunk, the room started spinning and all I could hear are muffled echoes in the halls of painful cries from other families. They could only say one thing. He won’t make it. My baby boy will not graduate, become a engineer, or even dance at his wedding. In that very moment all I wanted more than my son to be healthy was to scream. However I just stood there deep in my thoughts and looked around the waiting room. Families from all over simply bowed their heads. The important yet difficult decision still waits for me as I enter his dark, grim room. Even the bright blue curtains couldn’t cheer me up today. Softly the doctor whispers "have you come up with a decision?" It shot through my ear and I think do I let him go or should I keep waiting? The problem with waiting is it may never end. So I tell them 'pull the foul plug."  Close your eyes and imagine you're sitting in a hospital waiting room. How are you feeling? Are you nervous?

Heads Up Bears Up

What is the most terrifying thing that you have ever seen in your life; what are you going to do with that? The short story "Bluffing" by Gail Helgason describes a grizzly attack in Jasper National Park. One of the main characters, Liam, claims that he ran away from the bear so that his girlfriend Gabriella would remain safe. Is he telling the truth? Is he bluffing? Liam is unpredictable and a difficult person to understand. Gabriella on the other hand is committed and wants to continue living her life with Liam.  He shows how unpredictable he is when he discloses his plan to go to New Mexico for three months along with Clive for three months during the winter, leaving Gabriella. This news shattered her dreams of continuing to live together. Annoyed, she simply "[pushes] herself off the rock and [strides] as fast as she can without running." Gabriella doesn't pay any attention to Liam until she comes face to face with a grizzly bear standing twenty paces ahead. However, Liam is unaware of the situation that lies up ahead and even though Gabriella cautions him not to come forward he does. The grizzly watches her movements and "she knew if she retreated to quickly, the bear could be on her like a cat on a wounded bumblebee." On the other hand Liam had a different idea. He started to retreat. The bear instead of pouncing on Gabriella ran straight after Liam. The rest of the story remains unknown until Gabriella finds Liam. Finally, when she sees him at the hospital his first reaction is a false smile and a arrogant remark that "[he] wasn't trying to run away" and that he sacrificed his life for her. There is no way to be fully convinced whether he is bluffing or telling the truth, accept that throughout the story everything was always about him so why would that change now. Gabriella feels that he is bluffing and just pays Liam's insincerity back by returning a smile.

One of the Boys

 

  Vivian is a classy old broad. Yes, a broad. I'm sorry but she can't be described as a girl or a woman and certainly not a lady, she is simply a broad. At 85 years of age, Viv still likes to get gussied up for a poker game. She pulls her favourite hat down from the high shelf in her wardrobe, because "a gal should always cover her head." She takes the time to clip her earrings to her ears, as they go so well with her blouse. Years of two packs a day have taken their toll. The wrinkles on her face are a world map of her life, some etched deeply and others faint. Vivian doesn't care though her life has been good sometimes crazy good. Always ready for an adventure she simply puts the rings on her fingers, the necklace on her neck and heads out to play with the boys. Wow, she's definitely a proud peacock and she takes satisfaction in looking the part. Viv has no regrets and no secrets, well maybe one. A straight. Yes, Vivian is a classy old broad.

Madi's Life Part 1

     Born on a warm radiant afternoon, Madison, a girl who has only dreamt about being No. 1 at everything, had her world shaken when she was introduced to her No.2. She is the OLDER twin to her sister Brooklyn, and though some might assume they are exactly the same, through their twin telepathy they know they are two very different people. Madison has a passion unlike many other teenagers however her passion may be the only thing that continuously makes her strive for success. She is an avid runner and hopes to one day run as fast as a speeding bullet with an university track team. Another strong attribute but perhaps a weakness Madison contributes is never settling for second best . Diligently she works on her projects just hoping she can work her way up to the top and become a mountain nobody can knock down. This whole experience has just started and Madi is enjoying this first part of her life but, she is excited to experience the adventures that "Madi's Life Part 2" will bring her.