2019 - Porter Has Class

Student Response to “Father’s Eyes”

Post published:November 17, 2019
Post category:Student Work

Writing Task You have read “Father’s Eyes,” a short story about the relationship between a father and his son. Write an essay describing a characteristic of the main character and how it helps propel the story. Be sure to use specific evidence to support your response. Student Response “But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there.” This line is from a short story called “Father’s Eyes” about a blind father that helps his son reach his goals in football. Because of his love for the game, the son decided instead of quitting he would just work hard and try to earn…

Student Response to “The Raven” and “The Cremation of Sam McGee”

Post published:November 10, 2019
Post category:Student Work

Writing Task You have read “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe and “The Cremation of Sam McGee” by Robert Service. In both passages, the authors use tone to establish mood. Write an essay identifying the mood of both passages and how it is established through the authors’ word choice. Be sure to use specific evidence to support your response. Student Response “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,” Edgar Allen Poe’s chilling poem, “The Raven” is a tale about a man who is visited by a raven whom he speaks to, the raven miraculously responding, but…

Bring Empathy Back

Post published:November 3, 2019
Post category:Blog

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. The people of the world, or at least the people in my small realm of the world, lack empathy. We are quick to judge. Quick to declare guilt. And, very quick to blame. Unfortunately, very few of us place ourselves in other's shoes. It's understandable though. Current culture dictates quick responses. Everyone has to have an immediate reaction and then tell everyone through social media. I’m not saying I am above social media. I use it just as much as everyone else, I’m sure. However, I do not…

Red Ribbon Week: Alcohol, Vaping, Juuls in Today’s Schools

Post published:October 27, 2019
Post category:Stories

Introduction Since it is Red Ribbon Week, I was reminded of a story sent to me last school year. This story will shock some, be no surprise to others, but hopefully will serve as a cautionary example of the students that sit in classrooms around the world. Teacher Submitted Story “I haven’t had any alcohol in like three months.” These words proudly proclaimed by a fourteen-year-old girl whose Juul I had confiscated from another student a short time earlier. As is normally the circumstance, when you bust one kid doing something wrong, they are typically not going to go down…