Writing for HS, AM (Scalice, '07): Myron Lam

Extending School HOurs would Benefit Students

(mlam) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:20:58 GMT

Extending School Hours would Benefit Students

Extending the school day would benefit students academically, socially and physically from the extra time. Students would be able to increase their knowledge through the extra time they have in class. They would interact more socially as a result of more interactive classes added to the school day. Benefits from specific physical education classes would be possible because they could take sports they enjoy. Although these changes might be expensive, students would have a more enjoyable but challenging time at school.

Students would expand their knowledge in academics because they would learn more than the basics. For example, students would have a more in-depth study of their material. This is usually limited at schools because teachers do not have enough time to teach anything that is not required by the school district. They would also have time for more interactive or group activities during class. Discussion on a topic is limited to a few minutes after the lesson is finished. They would also learn multiple ways to solve problems, especially in math, when students only have time to learn the way the teacher solves these problems. Lastly, students with disabilities or lack of skills can have those problems addressed and fixed. Although schools already cover these areas of learning, it is not enough that they do it in infrequently. Students would be more challenged at school if they were able to participate more actively in class.

Students’ social skills would be improved through extra electives they could take. Examples of the kind of classes they could take are specific arts, exploration, robotics and language. Specific arts, such as painting, drawing and sculpture, are usually not available. Exploration classes, such as science labs, robotics and less popular foreign languages, are not available at all schools either. This is because schools want to conserve money. The school is condensing them into general classes that cover these topics. One might argue that schools cannot afford these classes. A solution would be to have students vote for what they want. The can take classes that they actually enjoy. These classes would encourage more student interaction which would teach students to be well rounded instead of focusing only on academics.

Physical education is also another course that is limited because there are not enough periods in the day. Some students do not like to take the condensed physical education courses right now because they are condensed to teach different sports of varying intensity and the social skills and science that these sports involve. By splitting these classes into specific sports, such as football, basketball, soccer, badminton and gymnastics, students will actually participate more intensely because they find that specific sport interesting. In order for this and the above-mentioned changes to be possible, teachers and staff members must change the way they work in school.

Teachers and staff members are a matter of concern because they control the students’ classes and activities. They would need to be paid more than they are currently being paid because they are on campus longer. Although it would be tiring for teachers to teach for so long, a solution is to hire more teachers and they could teach at different times during the day. Furthermore, teachers would also find it enjoyable to teach the extra activities and interesting material they do not have time to teach. In this situation, the cost may be a problem, but the benefits outweigh the costs.

In conclusion, a longer school day would benefit students more than a shorter day would. They would have more time for teacher instruction, and be more challenged. Time for electives that improve social skills would be possible. Students would also be healthier if they had specific sports as classes for physical education. Regardless of the cost to make all of this possible, the outcome and gains from these changes would make the school a better place to be.

What does “America” mean?

(mlam) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:17:13 GMT

America is a place that still intrigues people today. Some might argue that America has a meaning that not everybody understands. In “America is in the Heart” by Carlos Bulosan, Bulosan describes his experience in the Philippines and his years of hardship in America. In his book he uses the word “America,” which represents different meanings. America can mean hope. It can mean a promise of freedom and success, but that promise in unfulfilled right now due to the ways Americans treat each other. However, this promise has led the Filipinos of the younger generation to believe that it is easier to live in America than in their own country. In their own country, they could work hard by farming and not have any results, while America practically promised success from hard work. This was a main cause for his immigration to the United States. America was hope and promise for Bulosan.

Life was too difficult in the Philippines, and life in America was more promising. He wrote, “A poor boy became a president of the United States! Deep down in me something was touched, was springing out, demanding to be born, to be given a name. I was fascinated by the story of this boy who was born in a log cabin and became a president of the United States.” (pg. 69) This was when he had learned about President Lincoln who grew up in a log cabin and rose to become president of the United States. Through this example, he believed that almost anything was possible in America as long as you are willing to work hard. This, he would later find out, was not necessarily true.

There was also a false sense of security involved with the promise. He said, “I was already in America, and I felt good and safe. I did not understand why.” (pg. 104) This shows that he completely trusts his new home and is certain he was better off in America than in the Philippines. When he said, “I did not understand why,” he may have meant that he doubted himself internally. Later in the story, he would find out that life was harder than he thought.

Bulosan’s village in the Philippines was similar to America. In both places he had to work so hard to survive; in the Philippines he had to farm, and in America he had to find a job. In addition to that, he also had to make sure he had enough money to pay rent and buy food. If he and his friends and brothers run out of money, they must be forced to live outside and starve.

Wealthier people who were unfair towards people of lower class controlled both America and the Philippines. For example, his father had to pay the moneylender an enormous amount of money, and one day the moneylender took the land he was farming. He wrote, “‘There is something wrong in our country when a man can take away something that belongs to you and your family,’ he said, looking at his hands again and standing silently for a long time.” (pg. 55) This shows that both the laws were unfair, and America might have laws against taking away someone’s land. Unfortunately, in California there were powerful Chinese gamblers who demanded so much rent from people living in apartments, much like the wealthy in the Philippines. These similarities are what made Bulosan experience so many hardships in America.

American life is better than the Philippines in ways that do not relate to social life. For example, is more advanced in technology than in the Philippines. Luciano was dying of tuberculosis, but there was nothing he could do except to rely on a doctor who remedied his patients with incantations more than actual medicine. Contrary to this, there were modern hospitals in the United States who could perform surgery on patients to treat the disease. Although there may be racial oppression in jobs, it is easier to deal with it than to farm, harvest, and sell food. When the “primitive” way of life of the Philippines is compared to the more modern way of life of America, America would appear to be easier to live in, except for social part of life.

With so many hardships to overcome, he must still continue his life in America. Before he left for the United States his brother Luciano said, “‘don’t come back to Binalonan, Allos! Even if you have to steal and kill, don’t come back to this damned town. Don’t ever come back, please, little brother!” (pg. 89) His brother was urging him to have courage in America and never come back to his village. His brother had to marry and have children every year for the next ten years. By then, Luciano would have so much work to do to survive; it would be harder than to attempt to live in the United States.

Racial oppression was a negative side of America, and was a major problem that could not be easily avoided. “Years of degradation came into the Filipino’s face. All the fears of his life were here—in the white hand against his face.” (pg. 145) Murders of Filipinos were common. Whites had also hurt Filipinos for entertainment. Bulosan has experienced this once, when he wrote, “Another man, the one called Jake, tied me to a tree. Then he started beating me with his fists. Why were these men so brutal, so sadistic?” (pg. 208) He had been arrested and men took him and his friends to a remote location where they were beaten. With these events so common, it was dangerous just to live.
“I came to know afterward that in many ways it was a crime to be a Filipino in California. I came to know that the public streets were not free to my people: we stopped each time these vigilant patrolmen saw us driving a car. We were suspect each time we were seen with a white woman. And perhaps it was this narrowing of our life into an island, into a filthy segment of hating everyone and despising all positive urgencies toward freedom.” (pg. 121)

This quote shows that Filipinos were discriminated in California. This is disappointing because all people should be treated with equality, and Filipinos should not be the only people being harassed. If the whites would accept that Filipinos are different, neither Whites nor Filipinos would be so violent in Bulosan’s story. This racial oppression was the main reason why America’s promise for success was unfulfilled; this promise turned into hope for a better life in America, which was almost impossible to see through the way Americans dealt with some foreigners. This hope was not enough, and Bulosan wanted to attempt to tell how unfairly they were treated. He later expresses this brutality towards Filipinos and agricultural workers in a newspaper he and his companions publish.

“‘That’s it, Carl,’ Pascual would shout, storming around the room. ‘Write you guts out! Write with thunder and blood!’” (pg. 183) This shows how even in such a discouraging life, you can still have the freedom to express these issues because of your right to free speech. In other countries, one can get arrested for freely expressing their ideas, especially if those ideas are considered vulgar in society. With this freedom, Bulosan wrote about the violence in California and the agricultural workers. Although this did not immediately change anything, it did alert the people who read the newspaper. Those who read this newspaper could not do anything either, but a much stronger cause that led people to believe in Americas promise was hope.

This hope was from the whites that were polite and respectful of immigrants in the United States. “I almost cried. What was the matter with this land? Just a moment ago I was being beaten by white men. But here was another white person, a woman, giving me food and a place to rest. And her warmth! I sat on the on the couch and started talking. I wanted to explain what happened to me.” (pg. 210) Someone would have a difficult time trying to imagine such a contradicting society today. Today most people accept that others are different and do not resort to violence immediately. However, back in Bulosan’s time, good people right next to bad people must have been common. I would also have been puzzled at the behavior of whites if I were he. Why would one want to care for me while another tried to hurt me? Nevertheless, Bulosan has encountered this kind of situation, which gave him a sense that some people are still respectable. This was exactly what gave him faith in America.

In conclusion, America stands for hope and a promise for success. Although that is a dream that may not be fulfilled any time soon, it is still something that Americans can hope for in their hearts. One day all violence in America will cease, and all people will understand and accept each other. That would be an ideal life, which was what Bulosan was seeking for when he first moved to America. “I knew that no man could destroy my faith in America that had sprung from all our hopes and aspirations, ever.” (pg. 327) For the time being, people can only hope for that promise to come true.

What does “America” mean?

(mlam) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:16:34 GMT

(mlam) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:46:18 GMT

Why did they go to the Waig?

Did you see anyone on the way?

How old is Baldo?

Why is Baldo with Leon and Maria?

Why does Maria call Leon "Noel?"
His name becomes Noel. She is trying to make him sound urban because the name "Leon" is a rural name.

Leon said, "Ask Baldo, we have been neglecting him." (pg. Was that supposed to be an insult or an attempt to show respect for his brother?

His father said, "Did you meet anybody on the way?" (pg. 16)

"Maria--" my brother Leon said. He did not call her Maring. He did not call her Mayang. (pg. 5) Why doen't him call her by her other possible names?
Maria is also a name that is rural and usually gets a nickname. How ever

Does the song 'Sky Down with Stars' have significance? They were laughing earily, and now he started to sing this song when they were near the house.
Leon is trying to comfort her because she is not sure she would fit in with the family.

Castano is a horse. Calesa is a carriage. (pg. 10)
This is a test to see if Maria is will fit in.

Differences between city and rural life. In the city there are different false ideals that are portrayed as true.

Manuel Arguilla would describe this countryside as better than city life.

Themes: city and countryside
Question: What is the relationship between city and countryside in "How my Brother Leon Brought home a Wife" by Manuel Arguilla and "America is in the Heart" by Carlos Bulosan?
What does "America" mean to Carlos Bulosan?

A
City adapts to country in the person of Maria

B
Country adapts in person of Carlos.

Carlos Bulosan does not like these old customs and traditions.

Leon comes home. He immediately starts working when he gets home.

Assignment 2 Sin City

(mlam) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:57:45 GMT

David Walsh is making a valid argument on the modern American culture represented through the "porno-sadism" in movies such as "Sin City." In this case, porno-sadism is the enjoyment of torture and the hurting of other people through movies. Porno-sadism exists throughout different movies with people enjoying another’s suffering. Some Americans are enjoying these types of movies. David Walsh is trying to tell us that "Sin City" is an example of how Americans enjoy porno-sadism, and I agree with him. An example of this is Americans enjoying in torturing prisoners of war, which has been shown in pictures on the news. Those prisoners, no matter how bad, are not deserving of this respect. They have not done anything wrong and people are making them suffer for entertainment. This unnecessary torture is both the general public and filmmaker's fault.

This fault is through the fact that moviemakers want to create movies that the general public enjoys watching, such as porno-sadism, and the general public is watching previous movies that film makers have created relating to this torture. This dilemma could be expressed as the "chicken and the egg situation," says Joseph. People are now compelled to like these violent and senseless movies. This is because some people want to be popular. They think that these violent movies are popular, so they must watch it. If people would realize what they are doing is wrong, then they would stop doing it. After that, porno-sadism would eventually disappear. As David Walsh said, "In the future, looking back at the cultural landscape of our time, people will simply shake their heads."

Exercises

(mlam) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:55:47 GMT

anything

I am not able to see anything else so I start descending.

I am not able to see the the pine trees and the village below so I start descending.

computer
husky (dog)
ocean
Tolman Hall
dictionary
sun
fan
beach
diesel fuel
propane
oregano
water bottle
trees
chocolate

beauty
feeling
happiness
sadness
dreams
inteligence
wisdom
freedom
anger

The chocolate of happiness
The computer of inteligence
A water bottle of sadness
The ocean of anger
The trees of beauty

Yellow is a color pertaining to bananas. Bananas are edible fruits that animals consume. Bananas have a yellow skin, which is radiant in the sun. As the banana gets older, the yellow skin decays and the yellow of beauty disappears. An ugliness of brown replaces the yellow of beauty.

color,

Chocolate is a candy that pertains to sweetness and joy. People love to eat chocolate regardless of its fat and stuff in it. It is very sweet from sugar inside it. Sweet has two meanings: being good to a person and a taste.

Chocolate only pertains to sweetness and joy? :d
Sweet only has two meanings? What about the need to become obeise(sp?) :D

Water is a substance that is composed of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded with one oxygen atom. Water is often said to be, "neither created nor destroyed," but one could create water through the process of chemical reactions. In one case, you could burn a hydrocarbon, like natural gas or liqufied petrolum gas. These substances contain hydrogen, which reacts with oxygen in the air as it burns. The result is water and some other gas. Water can also be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can be use to power rockets. Water is power.

Yellow bananas, chocolate, and water are three different objects, but they all share one thing in common. The unifying idea in all three objects is that they all posses energy. Yellow is a color pertaining to energy because the present-day sun is yellow. Bananas and chocolate are two foods that are a result of the sun's energy. Water also has energy much like foods. We it is broken into its components, its seperate components can release energy, like a bomb. Water can also flow over a waterfall, creating enough enery to power a city.

radiant
sweet
energy

The radiant sun shines down on the tall trees.
The shortening my teacher ate was mistaken for sweet ice cream.
Energy is the ability to do anything within the laws of nature.

Exercises

(mlam) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:55:41 GMT

anything

I am not able to see anything else so I start descending.

I am not able to see the the pine trees and the village below so I start descending.

computer
husky (dog)
ocean
Tolman Hall
dictionary
sun
fan
beach
diesel fuel
propane
oregano
water bottle
trees
chocolate

beauty
feeling
happiness
sadness
dreams
inteligence
wisdom
freedom
anger

The chocolate of happiness
The computer of inteligence
A water bottle of sadness
The ocean of anger
The trees of beauty

color,

Chocolate only pertains to sweetness and joy? :d
Sweet only has two meanings? What about the need to become obeise(sp?) :D

radiant
sweet
energy

The radiant sun shines down on the tall trees.
The shortening my teacher ate was mistaken for sweet ice cream.
Energy is the ability to do anything within the laws of nature.

Heavenly Ski Resort

(mlam) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 18:16:49 GMT

I am at a base lodge in Heavenly Ski Resort, by Lake Tahoe, in Stateline, Nevada. When I first put on my boots, it feels tight because I had been wearing tennis shoes earlier. I savor the cool, fresh air with a slight scent of pine trees. I look at the people at the top of the run, moving like little ants because they are so far away. I get on my skis and slide over to the chairlift.

When it is my turn to board the chairlift, I slide to the boarding area, and the chair bumps my legs and I fall into the chair. I get off and I go two more chairlifts to take me higher up the mountain. The droning hum of the support cable moving bores me, but there is plenty to see. On my way up, I get to the elevation where the clouds float. The clouds look like fog that drifts away as I move past it. When I am higher than the clouds, they look like a white blanket covering the surrounding area. I get off at the top of the lift, which took me to the highest point in the mountain.

At the top of the summit, I see other mountains far away. The clouds cover everything else, with occasional holes where I can get a glimpse of Lake Tahoe and the world below me. The only other things I can see are trees that are bent due to the strong wind blowing against them. These trees with frozen snow on them look like little Popsicles growing out of the mountain. It is sunny up here, but freezing at the same time. The trail is therefore very sticky until there is artificial snowmaking. A calm wind blowing, so I can hear other people talking easily. This cold wind makes my face numb, and I cannot feel my face. Some of the snow lands in my mouth, and it tastes like pure water. I am not able to see do anything else so I start descending.

The narrow trail I am descending is next to a steep forest with trees spaced apart. Although it is not dangerous or hard to keep on trail I am on, I lose my balance when I am too near the edge. My legs may not turn fast enough to keep me one the trail. This trail merges into a wider run where more people are descending. In this run, I can go faster. The snow gets blown into the air as someone ahead of me makes a turn; the snow lands on my face and goggles, which blurs my vision for a second. When I get to the point when I am under the clouds, I cannot see anything above me, but I see the rest of the mountain below me, and a better view of Lake Tahoe. The sun diminishes to a little bright light in the clouds. This large trail ends, and I connect to another trail to the base lodge.

On my final part of the long descent, I reach the small bowl by the base lodge. At this point, my legs are tired from standing for so long, and I really want to get to the bottom as fast as possible. They feel like falling off my body, and my feet feels like pins and needles. My socks are wet from the melting snow inside my boots. I reach the bottom, and the sleet at the base lodge brings me to a complete stop. I take off my skis and knock the snow off my boots at a bench at the bottom. My journey has ended and I can finally take a rest.

Heavenly Ski Resort

(mlam) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 18:11:53 GMT

Descriptive Essay

(mlam) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:31:28 GMT

I am at a base lodge in Heavenly Ski Resort, by Lake Tahoe, in Stateline, Nevada. When I first put on my boots, it feels tight because I have been wearing tennis shoes earlier. I savor the cool, fresh air with a slight scent of pine trees. I also look at the little people at the top of the run, moving like little ants. When I am done putting on my boots, I get on my skis and slide over to the chair lift.

When it is my turn, I slide to the boarding area, and the chair bumps my legs and I fall into the chair. I get off and I go two more chair lifts to take me higher up the mountain. The droning hum of the support cable moving bores me, but there still is plenty to see. On my way up, I get to the elevation where the clouds float. The clouds look like fog that drifts away as I move past it. When I am higher than the clouds, they look like a white blanket covering the surrounding area. I get off at the top of the lift, which has taken me to the highest point on the mountain.

At the top of the summit, I see other mountains far away. The clouds cover everything else, with occasional holes where I can get a glimpse of Lake Tahoe and the world below me. The only other things I can see are trees that are bent due to the strong wind blowing against them. These trees with frozen snow on them look like little Popsicles growing out of the mountain. It is sunny up here, but it is still freezing cold at the same time with the cold wind blowing. The snow is not fresh, and therefore the trail is therefore very sticky until there is artificial snowmaking. The wind is calm, so I can hear other people talking quite easily. This cold air also made my face numb, and I can barely feel snow falling on my face. Some of the snow lands in my mouth, and it tastes like pure water without anything else. I am not able to see do anything else so I start descending.

The narrow trail I am descending is next to a steep forest with trees spaced apart. Although it is not dangerous or hard to keep on trail I am on, I lose my balance when I am too near the edge, and my legs may not turn fast enough to keep me one the trail. This trail merges into a wider run where more are descending. In this run, I can go faster. The snow gets blown into the air as someone ahead of me makes a turn; the snow lands on my face and goggles, which blurs my vision for a second. When I get to the point when I am under the clouds, I cannot see anything above me, but I see the rest of the mountain below me, and a better view of Lake Tahoe. The sun diminishes to a little bright light in the clouds. This large trail ends, and I connect to another trail to the base lodge.