Missing You!

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt as though your decisions were being made by the group instead of by you? How do you feel about it? What did you learn from it? Has this already occurred at Seneca?

High School Worries

As the summer dwindles to an end, high school is around the bend. Are any of you concerned about freshman year?

Phantastic!

What exciting things have happened so far?

Grads

What an honor it was for Ms. Carr and myself to stand with you at graduation last night. We will never forget the wonderful hugs and pictures. You all looked beautiful and distinguished. We shall never forget you because you are the bookend to our great legacy. Rest assured that the final chapter has yet to be written in the Giordano/Carr adventure. Feel free to comment and leave contact information

Exit Poll

Ms. Carr and Mr. G would like you to write a post to Mr. Carroll telling him about your year in our classroom. Explain to him why you think this class is important. Has this class helped you? Will you use some of the lessons taught and discussed throughout your life? Do you think it is important to continue this type of classroom for future students?

“I loved Matt. And I hated him. I hated myself for loving him, but if I wasn’t with him, I wasn’t anyone anymore.”

“I don’t understand…”

“How could you? You’re perfect.” Josie shook her head. “The rest of us, we’re all like Peter. Some of us just do a better job of hiding it. What’s the difference between spending your life trying to be invisible, or pretending to be the person you think everyone wants you to be? Either way, you’re faking.” (pp. 446 – 447)

Do kids “fake” who they are at school? Should they? What happens if they do?

Is your identity determined by whom you hang with? What impact is there socially for choosing to be with some peers over others?

Do all students see themselves as different and not truly a part of the school?

Code

“In Peter’s case, I saw an extreme emotional vulnerability, which, in fact, was the reason he was teased. Peter didn’t play by the codes of boys. He wasn’t a big athlete. He wasn’t tough. He was sensitive. And difference is not always respected – particularly when you’re a teenager. Adolescence is about fitting in, not standing out.”

“How does a child who is emotionally vulnerable wind up one day carrying four guns into a school and shooting twenty-nine people?”

“Part of it is the PTSD – Peter’s response to chronic victimization. But a big part of it, too, is the society that created both Peter and those bullies.” (pp. 408 – 409)

Questions:

Is adolescence really about fitting in and not standing out?

Is there a CODE OF BOYS at your school? And, is there a CODE OF GIRLS? What do these codes allow you to do?

Your peers who do not fit in socially and stand out…Do you have any responsibility to them?