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More handpicked essays just for you.
Effect of poverty on academic performance of University students
Underlying drivers behind criminal behavior
Underlying drivers behind criminal behavior
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Did you know that the average education costs about $10,000 a year, it triples that cost to hold them in prison for a year. The book, “If I Grow Up”, by Todd Strasser is about a boy growing up poor and doing what you have to, to stay alive. Although others may say that DeShawn’s life was over before it started because there were very few choices that he could benefit from such as staying in school but being broke. DeShawn had a choice on how he lived his life but he chose to live the "Hood Dream". First of all nobody made DeShawn quit school he could of stayed if he wanted too. Second, although DeShawn was extremely low on money he could have gotten a job like Raydale did. DeShawn wasn't all alone Marcus would have been willing to help DeShawn …show more content…
DeShawn felt like he was all alone but the person he hardly asked for help would have helped him the most. Marcus was willing to help DeShawn, even with little things so he probably would have tried to help DeShawn like on page 81”my girl wants to go so bad that she will even pay for me” Marcus said “No way” he reached into his pocket and pulled out bills. When Marcus wanted DeShawn in the gang on page 99 Marcus blessed DeShawn into the Disciples without the beating everyone else had to take.
Second, Although DeShawn had no money he could have gotten a job at King Chicken, the place that Lightbulb got fired from. Even though it was an undesirable job it gave him money and he could of worked after school. On page 150 Terrell even suggested If you need money you could always work at King Chicken for money".
Third, Deshawn had a choice to stay in school. Deshawn was in the top of his class so he wasn't a person that would logically quit school like the kids towards the bottom of the class. On page 89 Ms.Brand says" well you are certainly one of the better students especially among the boys" then DeShawn brings up that "Mr.Brown said that I was reading at grade level" Deshawn said proudly. Another reason that DeShawn had a choice was that he told himself to think that school was just useless facts that didn’t trace back to life after childhood like it says on page 141 “More and more I can't piece together
Nathaniel Abraham was eleven years old when he committed the act of murder. Under a 1997 Michigan law a child of any age may be tried as an adult for severe crimes. Abraham was the first juvenile to be tried under this statute. Accused in the murder of Ronnie Lee Greene Jr., Abraham faced first degree murder charges. Now, at the age of fourteen, Nathaniel has been sentenced to a juvenile facility until the age of twenty-one. Oakland County Probate Judge Eugene Moore hopes that rehabilitation will put an end to Nathaniel’s criminal activity. Nathaniel, a black youth from the slums of Pontiac, Michigan, grew up with out a father, or a strong family unit. He, in turn, never learned the responsibility of his actions; he was not privy to an upbringing that reinforced positive ideals. Crime & Criminology describes, in depth, the relation between family and criminal activity in youths. Page 126 (chapter four) sited two relevant facts; 1) Blacks have much higher rates of illegitimacy and female headed house holds. 2) Blacks have a much higher rate of crime than their white counterparts. In Nathaniel’s case, it can be said that his lack of a positive role model, or father figure lead to his involvement in criminal activities. His mother, Gloria, was struggling to raise three children by herself. Nathaniel’s father had left when he was born, leaving her with no one to depend on. The family moved in with an older couple who offered to help them. With limited supervision Nathaniel was a constant source of aggravation for his mother. Police reported that Nathaniel was suspected in over 22 local crimes, ranging from assault to armed robbery. He, in fact, had been arrested five days before Greene’s murder on the charge of robbery. All this by the age of eleven. In families where there is no male role model a child is far more likely to become involved in crime. The data that exists suggests a direct correlation between youths raised without a father and criminal activity.
Until the child labor laws of the twentieth century came into effect, a child leaving school either temporarily or permanently, in order to work and help sustain one's family, was a rather common practice. For instance, Rondal is taken out of school because his father is unable to produce enough money to take care of the family on his own; therefore, Rondal is left to pick up the slack in the mine. This is only another step in the circle of ignorance. If one is taken out of a comfortable educational environment and thrown into a dark, cold, abyss first the ability to cope with life's simple problems is virtually nonexistent. This is later revealed in the book when Rondal cannot come to terms with how he feels about Carrie not to mention his "need" to keep moving and fighting for a better life for the coal miners' children of the future.
School was Dave's only refuge away from his mother, and it was the only place he could actually get food and feel safe. Sometimes he would wish to stay at school forever just so he wouldn’t have to stay home with his mother. He dreaded holidays so much. His school was also a place where he felt loved by the nurse and put an end to his abuse.
Life was difficult for blacks, as they did not have many liberties. To exaggerate the feelings of the reader, poets use different forms of literary devices in the voice of the speaker to perform great roles. In “As I Grew Older,” Langston Hughes uses a unique structure, tone, imagery, and symbols to express the feelings of the black community regarding racism and oppression.
There is a certain process that every human being on the planet has in common. Not everyone can say it is a pleasing experience, but nobody can deny that it happened to them. ‘Growing up’ happens to everyone one whether they like it or not. The transition between childhood innocence and adulthood is long and confusing, which often reveals questions that can never be answered. The novel Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger explores how the adult life has its complexities and can be very puzzling to teenagers starting that phase in their lives. The main character Holden Caulfield realizes the confusion of a teenager when faced with the challenges of adapting to an adult society. The catcher in the rye shows the inevitable loss of innocence
The book “This Boy’s Life” by Tobias Wolff is a memoir written about the author’s childhood memories and experiences. The author shows many different characters within the book. Many of them are just minor character that does not affect the author much in his life choices and thoughts throughout his growth. But there are some that acts as the protagonist and some the antagonist. One of them is Dwight, the protagonist’s or Jack’s stepfather. This character seems to be one of the characters that inhibit Jack’s choices and decisions. This character plays a huge role in Jack’s life as it leaves a huge scar in his memory. The author here spends the majority of time in this character in the memoir to show the readers the relationship between Jack and Dwight.
The quotation stated above from “Long, Long After School”, written by Ernest Buckler; demonstrates a great significance that reveals both character and theme. The quotation reveals who the main character really is and the change he undergoes in the telling of Wes’ flashback in the story. While Wes is reminding the main character of all the things he and his friends did that bullied the poor boy at school, he realizes what a terrible person he was back then- resulting in him (in the moment) feeling like a young boy; and certainly not a gentlemen! It makes him metaphorically “feel less beautiful” because of the torture the main character, Wes was put through. During this part of the story, it shows the main character is a dynamic character-
Has there been a time where one has placed themselves in the others shoes? People naturally judge a book by its cover, as they judge people. To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee and tells the story from a young girl’s (Scout Finch) point of view. Scout has gone through different views and stories of the world around her and is always fueled by curiosity. One of her greatest coming of age moments was when her and her older brother Jem got attacked by Bob Ewell and Boo Radley saves them. She not only demonstrates a more mature young lady but also shows her new view on society and the cruelty of the world she never saw. Scout’s coming of age with Boo Radley has been experienced through setting, point of view, and symbolization.
This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff explores the childhood of none other than Tobias Wolff, also known as Jack, as he moves to different states, endures undesirable family issues, and more importantly searches for self-identity. The quote I chose, bolded above, stood out to me because it reveals the conflicting aspects of Jack’s character and represents his desired identity. Leading up to this moment in the novel, Jack was associating with people at school who were negative influences on him and his grades were also slipping. However, when his older brother convinces him to apply to multiple prestigious preparatory schools his mindset changes, but it is too late to gain the credentials he needs to get in. Jack does not give up, but rather uses
After getting to know the lives and minds of some of the boys in jail, I truly believe that the prison system is the worst way to go on the journey to healing these kids. It may be most physically safe, but it will also produce a society that has not changed before and after going through the system. One of the most astounding discoveries I made, however, was realizing how rarely I thought about incarcerated youth, simply because it never seemed to crop up in my life.Never thought the system would be so tough on them and unforgiving as they were in the book. I believe that the best way to change the system and prevent youth from being tried as adults is to do exactly what Mark has done, provide an insight into the true soul and nature of youth, regardless if incarcerated or not, and fully understand their ability and
If a survey were to ask a group of individuals whether they could choose to either go to jail or go to college for their education, what would they prefer? Of course, college would be the satisfactory choice to any person because jails are not a place for learning, rather a place for people to be confined for the criminal actions that they have committed. If many of the individuals who would be asked this question, mainly early adults; they would have most likely not have read the autobiography of Malcolm X and the impact of being incarcerated for the crime he had done had on his educational path and how it helped him to be literate so he could interpret the world through writing and understand anything that he read. Many points he made referred
One of the reasons why school is important, is that in school you interact with other people. If you didn’t go to school then you would sit at home being bored. At school you get involved in group activities and hands on projects. In the book August got express his feelings in school. He could actually talk to other kids like Summer and Jack about things that you don’t really talk to your parents about. Before he went to school August thought that most people wouldn’t like him and he wouldn’t make any friends as a result, he didn’t want to go to school. But once he went to school
During my transition from childhood to adulthood, I have learned and accomplish many things within my education, community, and family. My transition from childhood to adulthood education made me come into reality that everything can’t be done for you and that you have to stay more focused and organized if you want to be somewhere five to ten years from now. My growth in the things that I do in my community such as church and basketball summer leagues made me realize that it is all right to participate and help out for the positive things in my community. In my family, my transition from childhood to adulthood help me to become a more mature and knowledgeable person.
Everyone that have ever lived to adulthood, understand that difficulty of the transition to it from childhood. As of right now, I am in the prime of the “coming of age “transition. The overwhelming pressure of our society that forces the adolescence to assimilate the social norms is felt by many. Just as in our first steps, our first words or anything that is expected in our human milestones, coming of age is one of them. It may variety from different societies, religious responsibility or modern legal convention; everyone had to reach this point eventually.
According to many psychologists, early stages of childhood development are the foundation for post-adolescent experiences. So much so, that relational over-stimulation or under-stimulation can have long-term behavioral effects. In “This Boy’s Life” the main protagonist Toby experiences some provocative relationships and fluctuating environments during his early to adolescent development. Abuse becomes a variable, along with peer acceptance and paternal absence during this time as well. Due to this tumultuous upbringing, most would debate Toby would turn out to be an unpleasant adult, contrarily I will prove that Toby will undoubtedly go on to lead a productive life building healthier relationships than