Most recent public comments by Colleen O'Hara https://nowcomment.com/users/94401 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2526000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2526000 This line connects really well to the line "An envious heart makes a treacherous ear.". The gossipers are butting into a life they know nothing about. They're using the rumors they heard to make assumptions about Janie, without hearing directly from her the full story. Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:38:16 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2525998 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2525998 This line sticks out to me because it sums up all the gossip. "An envious heart makes a treacherous ear" means that somethings you are the only one to hear or know from the past, essentially can become blackmail. All the women gossiping about Janie only know about what they heard, not what happened to Janie while she was gone. They only have part of a story. Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:35:10 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2525978 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2525978 Janie grew up around the white children and never felt or noticed that she was "different" from them. The moment she saw the photo, she couldn't recognize herself, but the other children could. Fri, 27 Aug 2021 11:18:19 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2525951 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2525951 I find this line to be powerful in the sense that Janie has given a bold statement. She flat out tells Pheoby that she can tell the others what she said, because she knows she can trust her to say everything that she told Pheoby. It shows she has no fear in what the others think about her. Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:04:42 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377134 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377134 The students are "burning" through books, unable to find something to represent them. The burning books filing the air, until finally they find something to represent them. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377133 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377133 She writes how even before her daughter was born, she had it set to make her feel connected. She "bookmarked her", which could be holding the place for when she does arrive and then the narrative will be hers to write. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377132 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377132 When we are young, daydreaming is showing imagination and creativity. As we get older, for instance teenage and up, day dreaming is classified as a defense mechanism to escape reality. It's saddening that we go from day dreaming about fun, to turning it into an escape from whatever conflict is occuring. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377127 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377127 the names give the children identity. Not just "a child" or "he/she/them", but almost a personality. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377124 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377124 This is an interesting thought. I never would have thought a rainbow could stand for "seeing over a circumstance or situation in the world your in". That is a really good idea, since the rainbow goes up over and around, covering everything under it Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377121 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377121 The tone and way Telina enunciates the poem really adds to the feel. It reveals the emotion behind each stanza, and each line Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377117 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377117 It is stated how he has a degree in social work. This makes me wonder if that is a factor in why he writes about his students experiences and cares so much for them. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377113 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377113 This part has a rough tone. You can sense the anger that the author feels. The sign almost seems like a contradiction. "you can do anything if you put your mind to it.", yet all the pieces allude to how that isnt true. How these children don't get the same treatment as the other kids. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377112 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377112 every parent has at least some thing that they choose to do differently than their parents did. He wants his son to grow up and not be diminished by reality. "holding down mop buckets to keep water running" seems like maybe he is or was a janitor. Taking a job that people see as low, to keep his power on and water on. He wants a different life for his son than what is currently provided Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377062 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377062 A butterfly starts out as a caterpillar, and cocoons into a butterfly. This could represent the children growing in their creativity and blossoming into beautiful butterflies Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:55 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377056 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377056 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377047 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377047 This line has both simile and imagery. Comparing house looks to cathedral looks. But it also provides an image of what the buildings look like. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377036 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377036 Literacy is still predominately white. With little representation of POC. Even animals have more representation. "what do they think the story is going to be mostly about....not us". That line is just saddening. All the kids knowing they won't be represented and if they are, it'll be a slim chance. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377027 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377027 He has tears as his student leave. Most likely fearing for them, and hoping they arrive home safely. Not affected by gun violence, or walk out, and not return. Fears that not everyone deals with, and not everyone will understand. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377006 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2377006 "crawled back inside the computer" My mind thinks that the computer is a like a black hole or cave. the girl is "crawling" back in or being sucked back into the testing, or back into the cave. Kind of like hibernation. Crawling back in, only to return after everything is over. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:56 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376991 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376991 This line stuck out to me. "...children should never arrive to school &stop daydreaming." The girl in this is only 7, which means she is only in 2nd grade. At that age, they don't understand what is going on outside. At that age, they still want to color, and play, and just be kids. They don't want to take tests and do homework. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:46 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376973 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376973 Before even reading the rest, the title caught my eye. This is something that my parents always say to me. Standardize testing shows what we retained, but not all people are good test takers. Some understand, but cannot take tests. They, like the 7 year old girl, want to give up because of the testing and difficulty. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:00:01 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376958 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376958 The tone of this one is different from the one above ("Ocean").This one has a sense of relief and joy. The words allude to joy. The last sentence alludes to relief that his students are still alive (this line could be to hint at various things, like gun violence, gangs, or even just he fact that the children are still bright and lively, not dimmed by the events of the real world). Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:46 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376916 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376916 I infer from the poem that his son is young. So his mind is still creative and not oppressed. The real world has the effect of a fog, surrounding the creative and smothering it, making it difficult to escape and keep the imagination alive. He doesn't want his son to grow up and lose his creativity and imagination. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:45 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376897 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263250?scroll_to=2376897 Judging by this, it appears his son is still young. He wants his son to grow up and not be constricted by the oppression of the real world. The author is shielding his son from the "swamps" or the fog that clouds young imagination. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:59:45 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374828 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374828 I agree with the fact that she is hypocritical to the students. She doesn't let them speak anything that isn't french, but its completely okay for her to practice her other language? I also agree with where you said it was bragging. She almost seems to be flaunting her ability to speak other languages while her students struggle to learn Thu, 11 Mar 2021 09:24:35 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374810 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374810 To get a better clarification (perhaps an exaggeration) Sedaris uses an analogy to compare his professor to a wild animal. He states that "...something completely unpredictable." Which leads the reader to a better understanding that her mood could change in an instant and each class was a different experience Thu, 11 Mar 2021 13:48:20 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374787 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374787 I agree with what you stated. To add to your response, if it weren't for her insulting him, he probably wouldn't have remembered as much. The repetition of her insults helped the words stick and not just go in one ear and out the other Thu, 11 Mar 2021 09:11:57 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374786 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374786 As someone who was in a french class before, I connect with his errors. It's confusing to learn a new language, especially when the language had feminine and masculine meanings for the same word Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:13:52 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374785 https://nowcomment.com/documents/263224?scroll_to=2374785 This line has a suggestion of sarcasm to it. Which could lean towards the fact that Sedaris is a humorist and could connect to the readers because everyone has atleast some form of sarcasm, or has heard sarcasm before. Thu, 11 Mar 2021 13:39:25 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/262700?scroll_to=2370694 https://nowcomment.com/documents/262700?scroll_to=2370694 I agree with what you are saying. From the moment classes begin to switch from everyone to honors and regular, it is already clear who's the "Honors" and who aren't. All the kids who become the "Honors" get swamped with twice the work as the "Regular" kids. I strongly agree with where you said "Comparing it to a training ground, not seeing the joy learning can have." The standards and expectations of Honors oppress the spirit and enjoyment of learning things that they find to be interesting. Fri, 03 Sep 2021 09:47:26 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/262700?scroll_to=2370676 https://nowcomment.com/documents/262700?scroll_to=2370676 I agree with what you are saying. There are people who are made to take charge and know what to do. And there are people who know how to use the "template" that the ones who take charge have created. Mon, 08 Mar 2021 13:08:38 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/260957?scroll_to=2356375 https://nowcomment.com/documents/260957?scroll_to=2356375 Douglass longed for freedom and wished he could be a "normal" child. He knew his new friends would be free once they are old enough, but he would always be stuck as a slave. His friends felt for him, and hope for change, probably not understanding the path to freedom isn't that simple. Maybe a potential social class? Mon, 13 Sep 2021 16:02:09 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/260279?scroll_to=2351842 https://nowcomment.com/documents/260279?scroll_to=2351842 At the beginning of the story, when Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones asks Roger is he is going to run, he honestly says yes. Now he has the opportunity to run, there's nothing blocking him from leaving. Yet, he hesitates and stays instead of running. Why? What is he afraid will happen to him? Tue, 20 Apr 2021 22:01:28 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/258111?scroll_to=2335006 https://nowcomment.com/documents/258111?scroll_to=2335006 "A permanent solution to a temporary problem". This is what my text book at Prosser states about suicide. Wiping away the problems that could be solved because of outside and overwhelming influences. Wiping away what could have pointed the need for help, only to be discovered after it is too late. Fri, 12 Feb 2021 14:05:25 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/258458?scroll_to=2335001 https://nowcomment.com/documents/258458?scroll_to=2335001 When we think back on a memory, we aren't remembering that memory. We are remembering the last time we thought about that moment. Mullen knows those changes happen and as time goes on perception changes, making that memory different. Fri, 12 Feb 2021 16:05:06 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/246973?scroll_to=2301990 https://nowcomment.com/documents/246973?scroll_to=2301990 Morrie has come to the last stage of grieving: acceptance. He knows that when his time comes,he'll be ready. He doesn't want to go out in fear, but rather in a place of peace and acceptance. People don't want to accept that it'll be their time, but it seems that Morrie knows it'll happen sooner, rather than later, so he's preparing and accepting it all. Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:09:10 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/246973?scroll_to=2301862 https://nowcomment.com/documents/246973?scroll_to=2301862 Family doesn't necessarily mean the one your born into. It could also be a close group of friends or a group who's cared for you. That bonded group of people that sticks around, and checks on you is family. It could be blood family, since most people have a strong relationship with their family. Yet, some people have a negative relationship with their family, which leads to creating one from your closest friends. Not just friends who visit, but those who actually stay to help you, and check in on you every step of whatever path or issue you deal with. Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:48:28 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/246060?scroll_to=2266513 https://nowcomment.com/documents/246060?scroll_to=2266513 I agree with what you are saying. Its a rough transition going from seeing friends and people everyday, to immediate family, or even no-one else. Fri, 08 Jan 2021 13:36:09 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/246060?scroll_to=2266505 https://nowcomment.com/documents/246060?scroll_to=2266505 COVID-19 has caused a lot of changes in our precaution methods. Before, we used to not think twice about someone having a cough or being sick. Now any sign of sickness can be a sign of COVID, so our methods for reducing contact have changed. Fri, 08 Jan 2021 13:32:59 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2185291 https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2185291 After Jack "blows-up" on the boys about them all talking at once, Barry comes in completely oblivious to what just went on. It seemed like as soon as we hear the front door close and Barry walk in, the mood changed, and the tone went back under control. No yelling, just calm voices when talking to him. Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:29:28 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2184668 https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2184668 We can clearly tell Jack is stressed at this point. He's had things thrown at him, such as marriage counseling, and now some of the boys are not taking their medication or as much medication as they should be taking (i.e. Arnold and Barry). He's also stressed over the fact of if he decides to leave his job and how the boys will react to him going. My question is, Why does Jack only Arnold why he isn't taking his medication? Could it have been the spur of the moment because Arnold was talking about surprises? Why didn't Jack wait for Barry to get home so he could ask him too? Mon, 09 Nov 2020 12:50:32 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/238756?scroll_to=2169802 https://nowcomment.com/documents/238756?scroll_to=2169802 "With no navigation to weather the storm" is like a metaphor. Here, "navigation" means guidance and tips to get through life, or "the storm". Life without help or guidance from others is like being on a voyage at sea with no compass, map, or navigation tools to help you find where you need to go. Wed, 28 Oct 2020 10:48:21 -0400