The recent exceptional times and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have necessarily required everyone to make changes to how we live, how we socialise and, in particular, how we think and learn.
At Good Samaritan Catholic College the Newman Selective Gifted Program’s teachers and students have repeatedly demonstrated great resilience and an impressive ability to adapt and problem-solve so as to not only maintain but maximise opportunities for diverse quality differentiated learning experiences that engage and extend our academically capable students.
Examples of the work students and teachers have completed throughout the year exemplify the outstanding effort and dedication of Newman teachers and students during this challenging time.
Year 10 Religious Education: Christian Unity Poster
Year 10 Human Society and its Environment: History Multimodal Presentation
Year 9 Mathematics: The Clinometer Manual
Year 9 English
The following is a sample of a critical response to text on blogs that students have used to express their ideas about Challenging Authority and using peer review strategies to comment and critique each other’s texts:
Dulce et decorum est VS "I have a dream"
When it comes to challenging authority there are many text forms that have been used to protest the higher powers of others. Text forms which are very similar and very unique in their own rights. Text forms which inspire others to stand up for what's right but have wholly different context. Today we look at two contemporary texts, popular throughout history for the message they spread and concepts they explore sharing similarities and differences.
‘Dulce et decorum est’ by Wilfred Owen VS ‘I have a dream’ by Martin Luther King Jr. Two contemporary texts which explore the concept of challenging authority back then when they were made and still today in a modern context. ‘Dulce et decorum est’ by Wilfred Owen explores the concept of challenging authority in the context of war whilst ‘I have a dream’ by Martin Luther King Jr explores the concept of challenging authority in the context of racial discrimination and segregation.
The Similarities
Both text forms were made to be told, told to the public and inspire others to fight for what is right. Both were made to inspire others to challenge authority. They challenge the government as an authority and societal norms. ‘Dulce et decorum est’ challenges the government's portrayal of war and ‘I have a dream’ challenges the systemic racism found within the government. ‘Dulce et decorum est’ was made to inspire those who were being told and taught that war is all good and glory to fight against the lies and ‘I have a dream’ was made to inspire not only the African American community but the Latinos, Asians and the Caucasian community to fight to end segregation and racial discrimination brought upon by the lack of fight from the government to pursue the end to discrimination.
The Differences
Of course both seek to challenge authority but they also have wholly different context. Both texts do challenge the government but Dulce et decorum est seeks to challenge the past generations perception of war. It seeks to challenge their truth whilst ‘I have a dream’ seeks to challenge the thoughts of the present people. ‘Dulce’ aims at the short term future whilst ‘I have a dream’ longs more into the long term of the ending of segregation.
Conclusion
Every single text form may share similarities with others when challenging authority but are unique in their own way whether it be through the context of the text, the issues they aim to fight against and the audience they target. No one text form is the same but they can share the same message with the same ability to enact change.
Year 8 Technology: Built Environment - Concept Designing
Year 8 English: Picture This - Environmental Sustainability
Picture books from formative assessment. Students had to design a picture book for a particular age group in order to promote environmental sustainability:
Year 7 HSIE: Historical Investigation
Year 7 English: Slam Poetry
I’m Sorry
Do you know why I’m sorry?
I’m sorry for not throwing my rubbish in the bin,
I had no idea that it would make the air thin.
I’m sorry for throwing away paper in year one,
that was one of the worst things I could have done.
Now look what has happened,
I contributed to the destruction of the world a few more times than one.
I just want to be forgiven,
for all of these doltish decisions.
Only if I showered for 3 minutes instead of 5.
Only if I walked to the shops instead of driving.
Only if I turned the light off after I left my room.
Only if I shut the tap off while I was brushing my teeth.
Only if I didn’t make these doltish decisions we would have escaped from this petrifying planet.
So now look,
The dancing flowers are now invisible.
The smell of smoky skies is terrible.
The look of brainwashed zombies carrying their plastic coffee cups around is despicable.
The sound of dripping water attracts those as thirsty as a sponge.
The feeling of the scorching sun on our skin sucks away all hope.
If only I could cope.
But in the end, it’s my fault.
I’m sorry.
We are now selfish murderers in some way,
Letting life slip away.
No water, no Earth.
No Earth, no home.
No home, no existence.
We can’t say ‘Save the Earth’ without persistence to commitments.
Lies start to rise as high as the skies,
Decisions are unwise.
I hear screeches of loud cries.
But at the end of the day, mistakes can not be undone.
Everybody tells me not to worry,
although the thought in my head is a ticking bomb ready to explode
and when they do my head will implode.
BANG!
The world has cracked,
I don’t know how to act.
There is no good like there should be,
So now will you forgive me,
For I am a fool,
Sorry that I acted so cruel.
Now think of all the things you’ve done to the environment,
Are they all good?
that's' why we say we’re sorry
and wish that we won’t worry.
But remember it’s fine to let your emotions fly.
We can cry away together,
curled in a tight ball hiding away from the gloomy weather.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!
Tears pouring down like waterfalls with our faces stuffed in pillows.
They taste salty like the ocean,
I wish I had a potion to save all this commotion.
The loud cries of pain is an expression of our depression.
Look what we’ve contributed to,
the destruction of the world.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!
But don’t give up just yet,
We can set an end to this.
Hopefully we can make up for our mistakes so we will no longer have heartaches.
Maybe if we reuse bags when going shopping.
Maybe if we recycle paper instead of throwing it away.
We already have two ways.
Maybe if we walk instead of drive,
Or we could shower shorter times to survive.
So there are some things that can help
but it won’t make up for the manys deaths in the world.
Now do you know why I’m sorry?