The Indians know a hard life in their reservation, with so many problems as well for the children as for the adults.
Actually, the Spokane Indians were sent off in a reservationbecause of alcohol, white people were afraid it could have consequences. So they decided to make reservations. Their lands became smaller and smaller, and smaller again when the Whites decided to build the Great Coulee Dam on their territory. The Spokane river submerged all the long houses along he river, and detroyed the salmon trade which made a big part of their wealth. There weren't enough ressources, so they couldn't develop insutry and their economy collapsed, besides, the unemployment became trumendous.
The main prblem for the Spokane reservation is the poverty of its inhabitants because the have no fututre in the white world, so, they are low payed jobs or not jobs at all. Consequently, they try to forget their life by alcohol and drugs.
What's more, teachers are sometimes not qualified in front of hopelesss pupils
who can't find motivation for their studies.
Indians need money to repair infrastrutures, or to buy new books, new tables, new chairs... Moeny can also help the population to develop sport clubs. They will probably have to raise funds, as the governement refused many times to give money. They also need qualified teachers who are able to encourage students to stay at school and on't give up, by sports ( like basketball, football, soccer...) and make them stopping drugs and alcohol.
Saturday, 7 May 2011
The absolutely true diary as an autobiographical novel
We can deduce that it is an autobiographical book. Indeed, we can find many real elements, as the fact that he's Indian and grew up in the rez of Wellpinit: “for Wellpinit and Reardan, my hometowns” (acknowledgments). He also had a rough childhood: his parents were alcoholics (“Yes dad his a drunk, mum is an ex-drunk” page 46) and as Arnold, he was rejected by the others students(p.21). He was keen on basketball, to become a star-player, Sherman Alexie left the school to go to Reardan (p.45-46). However Sherman Alexie wasn't really born in 1992 (p.17) but on October 7th 1966. Moreover, he never met Penelope she's just a fictional character. “First of all, I ended up having 42 teeth”, he doesn't look like a “slobbering vulture”. Sherman Alexie is always exaggerating for example he says that “My feet were a size eleven in third grade!” (p.3). Sherman Alexie didn't want to become cartoonist, or a basketball player. In the real life, Sherman Alexie wanted to become star, a doctor.
The first sentence of the book said “I was born with water on the brain” That part is true, he was hydrocephalus. But even with this birth problem, Sherman Alexie has been able to make his dreams come true.
Indians' issues and problems today
First of all, most of Indians' problems are caused by the American government and its decisions. For example, The Grand Coulee Dam forced the water to flood into their territories. It is unfair from the government behalf because the Indians had to give up their main activity: the trade of salmons; furthermore, it did not give enough money to the Spokanes to permit them to rebuild their lives. So now, they haven't got money for the education, for examples: build new gymnasiums, have scholarship and scholar trips, and more qualified teachers; to make the students not drop out.
Then the alcohol, smoke and drugs are a part of children's everyday life because of their parents' addictions.
We think that all of those issues are caused by the racism of the white society which has been very present for a long time.
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Why are books exciting? What could be exciting about books?
Tips to enjoy reading a book
To have pleasure when we read a book, we must be in a calm place where no one will be annoying us and after that, we have to keep all our attention on our reading and be fond of the story. Bénédicte
To enjoy reading, students have to be interested by the book. Maybe they can choose one they love before to read another for school which might be boring them. They have to be concentrate on their reading, not thinking to another thing or looked outside! Elsa
If you want to enjoy your reading you must have chosen an interesting book. When reading is an obligation, it is harder to focus on it. You also need to be in a quiet place where no one can bother you. Marlène
In order to enjoy reading a book, try to find what could be interesting in this book, because, when a book appears to be interesting, it is easier to read it. I think when you are forced to read a book; it’s difficult to enjoy reading it, so, don't think you are forced to read it and just think you will dicover a new thing. Thomas
To enjoy a reading, I think we should be reading calmly, because when we have to finish a book fast , we read words but in the end we have not understood anything : we are just happy to be on time ! We should also be in a place where we feel good and relax, in order to get into the story. Hana
To enjoy a book ,you have to be in a quiet place. You also have to be in a peaceful humor, ans if it is possible, read it when you are free to do it, no when you have to. Marie Laure
If you want to enjoy your reading, you should be in a calm place. But you also have to like the book you're reading. It's not very interesting to read a book that you don't like. And it's better too to read when you have nothing other things to do because you won't be stopped. Antoine
To enjoy reading a book, the story has to be interesting for the reader, of course and the best is to be in a calm room where nothing can trouble you. Laurence
First of all, if you want to enjoy reading, choose a book that is intresting for you then read it in a place where you want to feel comfortable and peacefull, where no can disturb you. If it’s a book that you have to read, think positive, even if it annoyes you, think that you may will have a good mark and in books nothing is useless so it will probably be usefull. Annette
To enjoy reading, we should be focus on it and the story has to be captivating. We mustn't be forced and opening the book has to held a certain rythm. Opening the book should be natural. Marie
I think even if you don't love reading, you must. Because it could make you think another thing your problems. So, yes, you have to choose a book wich can interrested you like thriller, love story or I don't know. Whatever you want ! But, it's sure you can't be inside the story if you watch TV at the same time. ( Or the computer.. Or like said Elsa, look the snow outside or kids playing football.) And I also think reading must be a pleasure for the reader. So, if you dislike reading, choose something you could be freedom when you'll read it. So I think that's all I wanna say. Alice
To enjoy reading, you have to be in a quiet place and if you wish you can be alone and listen to music.When you read you have to be calm and not angry or bored because your feelings are something that alter the way you read. You don't have to consider the book as an object but more as an other word, as a way to escape from your own problems. Personnaly I prefer read a book in many times because you enjoy more reading when you have looked forward all the day. Elodie
To enjoy reading, I think there are most important things to do: First, have a good book that we love (a good story,a kind way of write ...). Then, to be in a place where there is no one who could disturb you from your book (in bedroom, saloon ...). And to finish, I think it's very important to be concentrated because if you're not, story's details could escape to your "brain". What a pity ?! Jeanne
To enjoy reading, i think you must be alone, with nothing which can disturb you. You have to like the book because you cannot take pleasere to reading if you don't like the book. Xavier
Profile of The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian
This book by Sherman Alexie is about the life of a poor Indian boy called Arnold. This novel is kind of an autobiography where Sherman Alexie describes his life and every Indian's life on the rez.
Arnold, the main character, lives on a rez with his family, his dog and his best and only friend. His main goal is to be rich and famous, that's why he has to leave the rez.
Since the beginning of the book, we discover a fourteen year-old-Indian boy who feels rejected. Because of water that he has in the brain, he has physical problems : in the first chapter, we learn that he is skinny with a big and fragile head that stops him from fighting with the others, that's why he is considered as the weakest.
Thankfully, he's got a gift : he knows how to draw wonderful cartoons for the pleasure of his close relatives, especially his best friend Rowdy who protects him from the others.
To make his dream come true, Arnold leaves the rez to go to Reardan, a white public school. This leads the tribe to consider him as a betrayer, his family is there to support him.
During the year, he learns how to integrate the white world: he meets new friends such as Gordy the wierd guy, Roger the basketball player and Peneloppe the beautiful girl of his dreams. His integration is partly due to his performance in the basketball team. Thus, he becomes the school's basketball star.
During the season, he will eventually have to “fight” against his old best friend Rowdy and his tribe on the basketball court.
This book is relating in a funny way the story of a poor Indian boy who starts from nothing and fights to make his dreams come true. It also lets people discover the living conditions of nNative Americans and the way they are seen and treated by white people. Filled with emotion, this book could open your eyes on the injustices of this world.
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