a. Why is a “smart Indian” dangerous? Dangerous to whom?
From how I interpreted the reading, a "smart Indian" is dangerous to the students in the class because being smarter than everyone in the class can cause jealousy. Jealousy is a dangerous thing for children. Kids who are jealous of other kids tease them, pick on them and hurt them. It says in the book that other kids would be mad at the author and tell him not to answer any questions from the teacher. Anyone different from a group can always be a dangerous thing in the real world.
In society all around us difference is recognized as weird and unusual. Anything were aren't accustomed to seems weird and seems like it isn't supposed to happen. In his story it seems like he is pointing out that it wasn't normal to be as smart as he was when he was that age. It looked very unusual to other people and that can be dangerous.
I think it was very important that he chose to have a higher education than the rest of them. It got him so much farther than they probably did and that is very important in an economy these days. I want to try and get the highest eduaction just so I will have more financial security in the future. I think education is one of the most important things human beings have. It makes us the smartest creatures in the world and through education most of lifes problems can be solved.
Hi Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time trying to figure out why a smart Indian was dangerous. Jealousy was not something I thought of! People do have a hard time with anything that is different. I can only imagine how hard it was for Alexie to succeed when everyone was encouraging him against it!
Deborah
I really didn't even think of the fact that the rest of the kids might be jealous it is a great point. I thought of the fact that being smarter then the other kids raises the standard that some of them might be held to and that might scare the other kids, but jealousy is a good observation.
ReplyDeleteIn a lot of ways society does see anything different or out of the norm as strange and weird. We are just accustomed that way. I think as a society we should work on that and be more accepting!
ReplyDeleteJealousy...I didn't even think if that one, I thought maybe the kids were afraid of asking questions or to shy to learn but it does make sense why the other kids would be jealously. I do thing having a great education is the answer to having being financial secure in the future.
ReplyDelete