Shooting An Elephant

To those of you reading this blog for the first time: welcome.  I don't often force this blog upon unsuspecting parents and adults, but today, I thought it'd be worth it.

I post (almost) every school day.  My students can get extra credit by reading and discussing the blog with an adult.  It's quick.  It's easy.  It lets parents know what we're doing in class.  It reinforces what we've learned.

Today, however it's not for extra credit - it's homework.  I assigned it because I wanted to make sure you knew we offered it, and that you could always find out what we're studying.  (And your kid could be getting a 124% in my class...)

We're studying colonization, and imperialism.  Today we read George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant."  You can read it for free HERE if you want.

Even if you don't read it, discuss it with whoever was in my class today.  Ask them what the story was about.  Why was Orwell conflicted about his job?  What happened to the elephant?  What is imperialism?  What does this have to do with bullies?  Did Orwell have any other options at the end?  Or did he do what he had to do?

When you're done discussing it, have the student find a scrap piece of paper.  Write the following quote on the paper: "When a person becomes a bully, they take away their own freedom."

Students: once you wrote that on a piece of paper, have the adult you read and discussed the blog with sign it.

Have a great weekend.