What an awful group of teachers! One tests him and then gets upset when he does well on the test. What was the point of testing him? The other questions his health when he is on the way to the emergency room. It is clear that the students are not being put first. I am happy that after a couple of bad experiences with awful teachers he was able to come out on top as the Class Valedictorian.
This short story goes to show that even though you have a lot of bad experiences, you can still come out on top. This poor boy in the story was picked on by his on "kind" and others outside his reservation as well. He ended up coming out on top of not only his high school class, but also his rez friends. He was sports star and valedictorian in a regular high school, not even a rez one. He showed how he got stronger as the years passed and how much he over came. I really like this story, and found it sort of inspiring.
I think this short story shows how no matter how bad of situations you go through in life you can over come it and come out on top of everyone else. I liked this short story because I believe it shows how someone can get past the tough times and succeed no matter how negative people can be towards you.
As everyone has been saying, Sherman Alexie showed that despite being judged and put down constantly a person can pull through an achieve greatness. Alexie was constantly doubted and automatically judge by his teachers because of his heritage and lifestyle. When he arrived in the emergency room, the reason was instantly blamed on how he was raised. Alexie shown that just because people are constantly feeding you negative energy and doubting you because of your background, you can stay true to yourself and pull through on top. Alexie is an inspiring person proving that a person can pull through even the worst of times.
It is evident in this piece that the writer experienced many adversities and stereotypes growing up. In the end, he is triumphant and able to break the molds he is fit into. The story is sad because his success is often dismissed and down-played. I enjoyed Alexie's writing style. I found it interesting that Alexie recapped years of his life in short and profound snippets to create an overall picture.
Indian Education was very enjoyable to read. The author clearly displays his hatred of the Indian stereo types in the beginning. Then as the short stories go on, he ends up making fun of the stereotypes himself. I loved how the short stories didn't feel disjointed. Even though they were spread out through the years, Alexie made them all flow together nicely. The stories all had different meanings but in the end they told the single story of triumph over the Indian stereotypes. I was also captured by the style of writing because the short stories were to the point and written in a very comical way.
I was really glad that after all the years this boy has been humiliated, and stereo-typed he was able to come out of it all. He had to deal with tons more obstacles than an average person will deal with in their life. No matter how well he did it was never acknowledged as great as it was. It was inspirational to see a somewhat happy ending.
This was a great read because it left us readers with multiple lessons to be learned. It was sad to see how horrible the young boy was treated in the years of schooling, but it was enjoyable to see him be on top of the graduating class in twelfth grade. It showed us about adversity and overcoming all odds and obstacles. Also you must remain positive and keep pushing for a better life even when other aspects in your life are not going as planned.
I enjoyed reading this short story, it was interesting seeing Alexie's perspectives on his school years. I felt bad how every school year he seemed to be stereotyped in different ways for being Indian. No matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to catch a break. Even being the star basketball player and passing out during a game, it was assumed that it was because he was drinking. His teachers and acquaintances always seemed to be expecting the worst from him. I felt happy and proud for him that he proved everybody wrong in the end and coming out strong by becoming valedictorian of his class. His accomplishment just goes to show that hard work can pay off.
this story shows that no matter how many obstacles and hardships stand in your way you can achieve greatness. The boy had been put down since the beginning of his schooling career, and even when he succeeded in passing a higher level test he was punished. I like this story because the boy never gives up, even when he has no one to support him. The boy receives two educations, one from the school and another from the streets. He learned how to read at a young age because of books he was given, he learns about tradition when his parents refuse to cut his braids, he learns to fight from randy who tells him "always throw the first punch". without these life lessons alexie's character encountered i dont think he would have ended up in the same place
I mainly enjoyed this short story because I have already read it in high school when we were assigned to read "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," one of Alexie's novels about growing up on the Indian Reservation. I remember discussing in high school the element of satire in the short story and Alexie's use of sarcasm, however, I can no longer point it out in the story. I'm curious to discuss that element in class. Besides enjoying the story because it is familiar, I still find it a great piece of writing because of Alexie's depiction of the hardships he must face as an Indian AND because of his will to prevail. Though it is clear in his poem, 'Evolution,' and his novel I have read, that the Indians did suffer greatly simply for being who they are, it is clear in this short story that Alexie was still able to love and embrace his culture and move past the discrimination he was forced to put up with his entire life. It's a really inspiring and "feel-good" story.
I agree with most of these posts above, the teachers are scummy and just want the Native Americans to do poorly and leave the school systems. The story also has a great moral to the story in which, if you work hard and are determined to get through the prejudice. Throughout the short story the boy learns a lot through his education and possibly more through his heritage and family traditions.
I would also agree with Brian and everyone else. The teachers in this story are horrible and simply view their Native American students as lesser beings. Also this story portrays the typical "get through any obstacle" lesson. You see this lesson through the mistreatment of the protagonist of the story and how he struggles to fit in and to be respected.
I agree with most everyone above me. It is hard not to believe the teachers and the school system were totally unfair to the author of the story, just because he was Native American. Though I also liked what Brian said about the story being representitive of the age old saying if you never give up you will eventually succeed. The author of the story didnt give up and he didnt take no for an answer from his teachers and he eventually did succeed and did great things with his life. Though the story most certainly had a lot of sad and unfortunate elements to it, I enjoy knowning that the victim did overcome his obsticles and made a great life for himself as a now famous author.
This story truly shows what it means when someone says,"Words will never hurt me." Alexie never let the criticism his teachers and classmates gave him affect him from moving on and accomplishing his life's goals. Regardless of what he had been through with getting beat up by his classmates and discriminated against by his teachers, he still found a way to overcome that struggle and come out on top.
I liked the story, it was well written and inspirational. Truly a tale of overcoming life's obstacles. It told more, however, than the story of a young minority being discriminated against. It doubles as a valuable social commentary regarding the darker side of human nature. Discriminating behavior, as seen in this short piece, is what hampers the progression of humans as a species. It as a primal, primitive mindset that should have gone extinct centuries ago.
I'm a huge fan of this short story. I thought it was really impressive how the writer could get across just how much the main character went through even with the short excerpts from each of the years of his life. The descriptions of the main characters life didn't need to be long, and it was almost more serious with less words used.
What an awful group of teachers! One tests him and then gets upset when he does well on the test. What was the point of testing him? The other questions his health when he is on the way to the emergency room. It is clear that the students are not being put first. I am happy that after a couple of bad experiences with awful teachers he was able to come out on top as the Class Valedictorian.
ReplyDeleteThis short story goes to show that even though you have a lot of bad experiences, you can still come out on top. This poor boy in the story was picked on by his on "kind" and others outside his reservation as well. He ended up coming out on top of not only his high school class, but also his rez friends. He was sports star and valedictorian in a regular high school, not even a rez one. He showed how he got stronger as the years passed and how much he over came. I really like this story, and found it sort of inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI think this short story shows how no matter how bad of situations you go through in life you can over come it and come out on top of everyone else. I liked this short story because I believe it shows how someone can get past the tough times and succeed no matter how negative people can be towards you.
ReplyDeleteAs everyone has been saying, Sherman Alexie showed that despite being judged and put down constantly a person can pull through an achieve greatness. Alexie was constantly doubted and automatically judge by his teachers because of his heritage and lifestyle. When he arrived in the emergency room, the reason was instantly blamed on how he was raised. Alexie shown that just because people are constantly feeding you negative energy and doubting you because of your background, you can stay true to yourself and pull through on top. Alexie is an inspiring person proving that a person can pull through even the worst of times.
ReplyDeleteIt is evident in this piece that the writer experienced many adversities and stereotypes growing up. In the end, he is triumphant and able to break the molds he is fit into. The story is sad because his success is often dismissed and down-played. I enjoyed Alexie's writing style. I found it interesting that Alexie recapped years of his life in short and profound snippets to create an overall picture.
ReplyDeleteIndian Education was very enjoyable to read. The author clearly displays his hatred of the Indian stereo types in the beginning. Then as the short stories go on, he ends up making fun of the stereotypes himself. I loved how the short stories didn't feel disjointed. Even though they were spread out through the years, Alexie made them all flow together nicely. The stories all had different meanings but in the end they told the single story of triumph over the Indian stereotypes. I was also captured by the style of writing because the short stories were to the point and written in a very comical way.
ReplyDeleteI was really glad that after all the years this boy has been humiliated, and stereo-typed he was able to come out of it all. He had to deal with tons more obstacles than an average person will deal with in their life. No matter how well he did it was never acknowledged as great as it was. It was inspirational to see a somewhat happy ending.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great read because it left us readers with multiple lessons to be learned. It was sad to see how horrible the young boy was treated in the years of schooling, but it was enjoyable to see him be on top of the graduating class in twelfth grade. It showed us about adversity and overcoming all odds and obstacles. Also you must remain positive and keep pushing for a better life even when other aspects in your life are not going as planned.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this short story, it was interesting seeing Alexie's perspectives on his school years. I felt bad how every school year he seemed to be stereotyped in different ways for being Indian. No matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to catch a break. Even being the star basketball player and passing out during a game, it was assumed that it was because he was drinking. His teachers and acquaintances always seemed to be expecting the worst from him. I felt happy and proud for him that he proved everybody wrong in the end and coming out strong by becoming valedictorian of his class. His accomplishment just goes to show that hard work can pay off.
ReplyDeletethis story shows that no matter how many obstacles and hardships stand in your way you can achieve greatness. The boy had been put down since the beginning of his schooling career, and even when he succeeded in passing a higher level test he was punished. I like this story because the boy never gives up, even when he has no one to support him. The boy receives two educations, one from the school and another from the streets. He learned how to read at a young age because of books he was given, he learns about tradition when his parents refuse to cut his braids, he learns to fight from randy who tells him "always throw the first punch". without these life lessons alexie's character encountered i dont think he would have ended up in the same place
ReplyDeleteI mainly enjoyed this short story because I have already read it in high school when we were assigned to read "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," one of Alexie's novels about growing up on the Indian Reservation. I remember discussing in high school the element of satire in the short story and Alexie's use of sarcasm, however, I can no longer point it out in the story. I'm curious to discuss that element in class. Besides enjoying the story because it is familiar, I still find it a great piece of writing because of Alexie's depiction of the hardships he must face as an Indian AND because of his will to prevail. Though it is clear in his poem, 'Evolution,' and his novel I have read, that the Indians did suffer greatly simply for being who they are, it is clear in this short story that Alexie was still able to love and embrace his culture and move past the discrimination he was forced to put up with his entire life. It's a really inspiring and "feel-good" story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of these posts above, the teachers are scummy and just want the Native Americans to do poorly and leave the school systems. The story also has a great moral to the story in which, if you work hard and are determined to get through the prejudice. Throughout the short story the boy learns a lot through his education and possibly more through his heritage and family traditions.
ReplyDeleteI would also agree with Brian and everyone else. The teachers in this story are horrible and simply view their Native American students as lesser beings. Also this story portrays the typical "get through any obstacle" lesson. You see this lesson through the mistreatment of the protagonist of the story and how he struggles to fit in and to be respected.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most everyone above me. It is hard not to believe the teachers and the school system were totally unfair to the author of the story, just because he was Native American. Though I also liked what Brian said about the story being representitive of the age old saying if you never give up you will eventually succeed. The author of the story didnt give up and he didnt take no for an answer from his teachers and he eventually did succeed and did great things with his life. Though the story most certainly had a lot of sad and unfortunate elements to it, I enjoy knowning that the victim did overcome his obsticles and made a great life for himself as a now famous author.
ReplyDeleteThis story truly shows what it means when someone says,"Words will never hurt me." Alexie never let the criticism his teachers and classmates gave him affect him from moving on and accomplishing his life's goals. Regardless of what he had been through with getting beat up by his classmates and discriminated against by his teachers, he still found a way to overcome that struggle and come out on top.
ReplyDeleteI liked the story, it was well written and inspirational. Truly a tale of overcoming life's obstacles. It told more, however, than the story of a young minority being discriminated against. It doubles as a valuable social commentary regarding the darker side of human nature. Discriminating behavior, as seen in this short piece, is what hampers the progression of humans as a species. It as a primal, primitive mindset that should have gone extinct centuries ago.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of this short story. I thought it was really impressive how the writer could get across just how much the main character went through even with the short excerpts from each of the years of his life. The descriptions of the main characters life didn't need to be long, and it was almost more serious with less words used.
ReplyDelete