Discuss the bumper stickers that are given in the final scene. Which one was your favorite? Why? Whose is the best match for them? How does it reflect who he/she was at the beginning of the book, and who he/she was at the end?
Do you think the change will be permanent? Why or why not? Is it realistic to expect people to change in response to an "Alt Ed" experience?
7 comments:
My favorite bumber sticker was Randy's, which read "Straight but not narrow". It showed that he, in the end, was open minded about being kind to gay people. At the beginning of the book, he was a jerk, although not as obviously as others. He signed a petition to exclude Brendan from P.E (twice). Also, he did not stand up for what he believed in and others paid the price. As a boy, he couldn't even save a cat from Kale's wrath. he made his dad do it. i think the sticker will hep remind him of his values and moral obligations to the less fortunate and oppressed.
I don't think he will always stand up for others and will often look past bullying, but I am sure, after awhile he will mature more and learn the importance of speaking up. He is not a strong enough person yet to effectively handle peer pressure and always do what is right. It may take a few more wake-up calls, but Randy does have potential to be a leader and show the world what realy matters.
It is likely that being in a program like this one could open minds and make room for change and new ideas, but it will take more than just talking amoung peers to develope tolerance if you have had prolonged exposure to intolerance. Tolerance needs time for acceptance and experience with many types of people to develope into something you can truely learn and prosper from.
Jade Kestian S1
entry H
My favorite bumper sticker was Randy’s, straight but not narrow. To me it tells that he is not gay but he is not narrow minded about them and that he accepts now and wont make fun of them. In the beginning he was very mean to anyone who was different, including Brendan even though he has an uncle who is gay. I think that after this group Randy will most likely keep the changes that have occurred in his life because he has finally learned to stand up for what he believes in and he will stand up for it. Before he was always afraid to express what he really thought and he has paid for his mistakes and learned form them. I think that it is realistic to expect people in a group like that to change but it won’t always happen. It depends on what their problem was and how they react to the problem and the group. Over all I think that they will have some changes even if they are small but the changes will matter.
Randys- "Straight but not narrow". Was also my favorite bumper sticker. Although the book remained centered around Susan, Randy was one of the characters, besides amber, that troubled me the most. At the begining of the book, I considered him to be two faced, because of the way he acted. It seemed as if he could be totaly calm, ice, and innocent to peoples faces, (exa. brendon) but once they were gone, he allowed himself to be pushed against them. Later in the book though, I found it that, perhaps he wasnt aiming to be two faced, perhaps he was just a simple person, who had made the wrong deciscions. When seeing the effects of bullying from an outside view, how hard must it be to stand up for others knowing you might become a victim too. In cases such as these people would find it much easier to go along with the wrongdoing, than to be victimized themselves, although they are going against what they morally believe.
"Straight but not narrow"- signifies Randys ability to change, his knowledge of what he has done and what he can do to become a better more accepting person. Tracee to me was an example of someone who was streight and narrow, she could not keep an open mind and actually hurt Brendons feelings numerous times. Randy through this bumper sticker lets us know that he sees the hurt that the caused and others caused, and what brendon is, isnt so bad that they need victimise him daylie.
During the course of this book, I think that in one way or another all the main characters of the book have changed their behavior toward other individuals in the novel. Susan realized that she did have a voice that she wasn’t invisible, and that being sweet wasn’t so bad. Randy realized that it was just cruel to laugh at jokes about Brendan, or sign a petition not to allow him to dress for P.E. in the boy’s locker room. Randy also came to call Susan and Brendan his friends, and stood up for them when Justin and Eddy were giving them a hard time. Amber came to believe that she was strong; Tracee learned that she isn’t perfect, and Kale realized that his words do have an affect on people. These changes occurred in Mr. Duffy’s group, as they shared their feelings of the other group members and realized how much damage they had caused each other. I think that once people really come to realize the extent of their actions, they will change permanently. It is realistic to expect people to change their behavior when they see what harm it is causing people and how negatively their words are portraying them.
Melissa Kinsella
Journal Prompt: H entry
December 2, 2006
Brendan's idea of giving them all bumper was very creative. I especially like the one he gave to Randy that said "Straight but not narrow." I think that is a very good match for him. At the beginning of the book he was very prejudice towards Brendan. He was just like the other boys and made rude comments and jokes about Brendan. Towards the end of the book he became more open to homosexuality and Brendan's lifestyle. He could relate to him better because his uncle was gay. I do not think he will ever sign the petition against Brendan again. I think the change in Randy and the others will be permanent except for Kale. I still do not think Kale will learn to be nice to others. He may be a little less cruel but he is still not open to different kids of people. I think his attitude towards Susan has changed a little. He realizes that she has feelings and will be more kind to her. He will probably still show off in front of his friends but when he is alone, I think he will be nicer. He still thinks he needs to try and impress everyone but he does not. I do not think it is realistic to expect people to completely change after "Alt Ed." However, I think that there will be subtle changes in people and they will think more about their actions towards others. They are now more open to new ideas but still have the old ones.
Haley Cook
Journal Entry H
# 3
When Brendan gave everyone their different bumper stickers, I agree with everyone else and would have to say the “straight but not narrow” one for Randy was my favorite. In the beginning of the book everyone was prejudice against Brendan’s homosexuality. Towards the end everyone gets used to it, and Randy even sticks up for Brendan and Susan. The bumper shows everyone that Randy is straight, but doesn’t mind gay people.
I think Brendan did a great job of getting everyone’s each bumper sticker because each one matched that person’s individual personality. Each one also shows the change of their personality from the beginning of the book. They each have accepted one another and have seen who they all really are—regular people who have problems.
I think the change in them will all be permanent. They might not see each other and act like best friends, but they will at least respect each other. It could depend on the person if it is realistic or not. Some people get affected, and others don’t. But I’m pretty sure that people would think more and respect more.
Laine Smid
Entry H
i also agree with the "straight but not narrow" one. it was a good choice for randy because he wasnt gay but he didnt have anything against them, his uncle was gay. also he started out just being mean so people wouldnt think he was like that to but then he started getting tired of doing whatever the other guys did when most of the time it hurt someone. so he started not taking part in the making fun of and he said he wouldnt sign the petition the next year. i just think it basically means hes not narrow minded and he doesnt hate brendan for being how he is, he just accepts it and doesnt make a big deal out of it.
i think that the program was good because it got those kids to talk, they were so different and they found out things like how one another felt and how they thought their life was, and in some cases they helped eachother through some things. i dont think thats gonna mean theyre gonna hang out all the time but i think it means that if anyone picks on any of the people the others will be there to help try and stop it.
jordan stork
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