Native American Authors

Native American ancestors once told oral stories for younger generations to reflect upon. Now, Native American authors are doing the same, only now, are recording these stories for future generations. These authors have taken on a great responsibility by trying to preserve not only the stories but the culture as well. Instead of requiring parents to pass on stories that their loved ones passed to them, Beverly Hungry Wolf, Princess Red-Wing (also known as Mary Congdon), N. Scott Momaday, Alootook Ipellie, Ada E. Deer and so many others are recording these stories so they will forever be part of today’s Native American youth. From subjects of how bear lost his tail to why hummingbird beats his wings so fast, these stories are lessons learned by others and then taught to younger children so they will learn not to be as vain and as gullible as bear or as much in a hurry as hummingbird. Native American authors are ensuring the survival of their culture by recording the lessons learned. Through books we have found a way to combine the "white man’s” education and the teachings of our elders.

Metacognitive Essay

I once heard that to write well I had to write what I know. I know this: I enjoy writing. This joy I have learned from others and I have taught myself all that I know. My strengths in writing included voice, opinion and ideals. However, like all things, there is always room for improvement. Looking back on my writing I see that I could improve on my spelling, sentence fluency and the enthusiasm of my work. To improve I will need to set and see through these stages.

I believe that my strengths are my ideals, opinion and voice. These strengths have originated from my own beliefs and experiences through out my short existence. I came to these conclusions as a child observing the world through innocent eyes and they have stayed with my through out the years. Although they have developed from their own innocence just as I have, there will always be the simplicity of times gone by. This is unconsciously applied to my writing. Because of the unconsciousness involved in my writing, it receives my utmost involvement, however unwittingly. My strengths are seen in my writing.

To know your strengths, you must also know your weaknesses. I would say that my weaknesses lay in my spelling, transitions, sentence fluency and the enthusiasm. To be truthful, anyone can write if they put their mind to it. However, it takes a person who knows both sides of their writing to be a writer. I have said that my once innocent beliefs and experiences is my strength but it is also my weakness. When these strengths are shown they cause my transitions to become choppy, sentence fluency turns into pieces and spelling becomes crappy. Ironic that my so-called strengths contributes to my weaknesses.

To improve upon these weaknesses I must simply apply myself. One way would be to have others read my work. They would then remark upon it and I would change as I see fit. Another way would be to personally revise the work I do. Instead of leaving imperfection as it is, I would merely have to work on the writing over long periods of time. However I would say that the best way to improve my writing would be to write more. After a time of nothing but writing and reading, my work will gradually become better. The process will be long and arduous but the rewards at the end will accommodate the effort.

A Native American Literature teacher once told me that it is better to write a lot about a little then to write a little about a lot. I found that she is correct. I have written about many things over the times. All things written by me have had the same strengths; voice, ideals, opinions, and the same weaknesses; spelling, sentence fluency and transitions. I was repeatedly asked what I could do to change and each time I answer the same; revisions and writing more. Reflecting on this, I see the possibility that I do not want to change. That my imperfections are my own and I rival in them. It would seem that I have the nature that is in all humans. The nature in which these errors make me what I am. I believe that is something to embrace, not change.

New Beginning

There have been many sayings about how to write the perfect paper. I have heard a lot of them. Through it all, I see that it is all about the joy of writing. If you louse that, then writing becomes a chore, not an enjoyment. One of the benefits of writing is that there is always ways of improving. Before, I spoke of what part of writing I was good at, what I need work on and my plans to do better. Now, I look to a new beginning. A new path of how I write. I have had improvements. My arguments now have direction and structure, I can put myself in another role and I rediscovered the joy in writing. There has been progress that I still need to work on. Such as my spelling, transitions and the life in my writing. My future plans include writing more, better ideals and planning. Although I have developed my writing, I still have a long way to go before I can truly be pleased with it.

I have been rewarded for my efforts since my last writing report. I have made my arguments cleaner, getting rid of excess material that only weighed down the purpose. I am especially pleased at how I transitioned from my poor Rock’n’Roll argument to my Soda argument. In the Rock’n’Roll argument, even I could not tell what I was saying after rereading it. There was too much of my own voice that I drowned out what was actually being defended. In the Soda argument I spoke clearly and rationally. All I said was what was need Instead of going off and yelling what I believed, I just let the arguments I made to speak for them. I have also learned to have an out of mind experience while pretending to be someone else. In the R.A.F.T.s that were assigned, I learned to be professional in the principal memo about school mascots. Before I was including my own personal beliefs. We were then assigned to write a letter about a character in the book Laughing Boy. Here I felt little restraint in adding my own ideals because of the limited information on the character at the time. I also feel that my enthusiasm in my work has lifted. I believe this is shown in the difference of my first argumentative paragraph, The Writing Process, and another argument, the death penalty in New Mexico. I though that my views were more exuberant in the death penalty, despite the seriousness of the subject. I felt that I could ‘get into’ the subject. It would seem that topic is more important then I had first thought. The benefits will be great in the long run in developing my writing. This has given me a chance to extend my knowledge and skills.

Before, I my weaknesses used to handicap me. Now, through practice and patience I have made progress. Ever since my English teacher gave me a paper with lists of transitions, I have been able to extend my vocabulary in that area. I felt that I did a passable job on my transitions when I wrote the death penalty. I think that is why I got a good grade on the paragraph. It was a vast improvement form my midterm essay on the character Slim Girl from the book Laughing Boy. Another area were progress has been seen by me is my spelling in my short essay Strength in Comfort. There were still a few errors that also included grammatical errors but compared to my memo R.A.F.T. on the mascot change they were an improvement, however slight. Previously, I had said that the life, or enthusiasm, in my writing improved but I still think that there could be even more progress. I felt that my Othello essay was far more lively then my midterm essay. I really felt that that essay was not my best and since then I have tried all that I can to make sure not to repeat history and type an essay like that again. Progress has been painfully slow for me. However, through this experience I have also learned to be patient with myself and with my work. As with all progress, I still have a way to go before I feel that I can comfortably say that I have over come myself inflicted bonds. Only then can I really be free to call myself a writer.

I am not completely without guidance. I have future plans. Well, a rough ideal of where I want my writing to go. I personally feel that I need more ideals. I need fresh ideals and a new insight on topics. I know I could have done better on my third essay of the Gates application, leadership. Before then I thought that I only had trouble beginning an essay but with that essay I had trouble getting my thoughts and feelings onto paper. The experience was new and surprisingly frustrating. So now, I will try to broaden my adventures and look more intuitively at situations. I also hope to be able to write in a verity. From essays to letters in a professional, aloof manner, I want to be able to move from one type of writing to another without losing even a hint of my writing capabilities when I’m at my personal best. I don’t think that it will be an easy transfer from my present ease of writing short, one to two page essays to college essays of over five pages. I think that if I try writing a five-page essay now, I will have less difficulty latter on. Just the thought of writing so much with the fault of procrastination on my side gives me a strange sense of foreboding. Hopefully it will be a concern I will be able to laugh at when I come to that point. I also think that a plan before I write will help. Procrastination is a fault that I cannot seem to over come. I know that if I could only plan ahead of time, then I will be able to bring my writing to a new level. If I could also go back to the work I did in the past and evolve that into a piece of art then I would not need to start from scratch every time I get a writing assignment. For whatever strange reason I cannot bring myself to change my past works. With further though as to why, I might be able to figure out a way to improve works of the past. These new goals just might become my next achievements or at the very least, my progress of the future.

A new beginning. That is how I see my writing going for now. Although I will always have what I learned, for now it will be new experiences. Now my writing will become a young adult, just like I must. Achievements in my arguments, viewpoint and enthusiasm just might be short lived. The progress I’m making in my transitions, spelling and the life of my writing just might take the achievements of today; just like the future replacing the past. Then one day my future plans of fresher ideals, foolproof planning and writing verities will over come my progress now. Wither this is as good as I’m going to get at writing or if the future has bigger and better plans for me, I will continue to write just for the sheer pleasure.

Eaten Alive

There is no doubt that external conflicts are bad. However, there is a conflict that is worse: internal conflicts. I say this because with external conflicts, there may be away for a group to solve the issue. Where as internal conflicts, one has to find a way to resolve the conflict alone. William Shakespeare shows this in the play “Othello”. Where two characters from the play; the protagonist Othello and the antagonist Iago, fight internal battles as well as external battles.

Othello is a black man. He is general of an army and husband to Desdemona, a white woman. They both claim to love each other and show this love by eloping. The newlyweds seemed to have a perfect marriage but then Iago schemes against them. Iago wastes no time in putting a nagging doubt in Othello’s mind about Desdemona’s faithfulness. When Othello demands a motive, Iago says that Desdemona thought Othello amusing for a time but now she wants a man of her skin color. Naturally, Othello cannot help but believe this. He is the only black man for miles surrounded by people of a lighter skin tone. Iago played off of Othello’s self-consciousness. So now Othello begins to consider Iago’s statement. He goes as far as demanding proof. I believe that it was Iago’s comment on Othello’s skin color that pushed Othello into demanding evidence against Desdemona. So really, the comment about his color set the rest of the actions in motion. Othello’s internal conflict about his wife and his skin color difference is well hidden. Even in present day some frown upon interracial marriages. Nevertheless, Othello’s internal conflict is part of the downfall of his material bliss.

Iago is an insecure man. His confidence is only skin deep. When Cassio is promoted to lieutenant, Iago sets a plot against him. It is not only business rivalry tat sets him off but his belief that Othello had slept with his wife, Emilia. The rising action is where things get interesting. Iago finds a way to get back at Othello by making him believe that Desdemona is unfaithful with Cassio. Iago finds that if Cassio and Othello are removed from the picture, then he will become general. Now, to some, this sounds like a pretty good plot: like killing two birds with one stone. However, why kill two birds when one will due? Iago becomes greedy and greedy people are insecure. Iago then starts to worry. There are too many variable in his plan: Emilio and Roderigo, his accomplice. He takes care of one, Roderigo, but forgets Emilia. She becomes his down fall when she reviles the plot her husband had set in motion and is killed for it by Iago himself. As I mentioned earlier, Iago makes variations to his original plan because of his greed. If he were a secure man, he would not have to change anything. Taking his time would have paid off in the long run. Taking one man at a time, Cassio then Othello. His internal conflict was his insecurity, so common.

In the end both men do not fight their internal battles first and they both pay dearly for it. If they knew themselves well, the plot could have been for gone or even executed to the fullest destruction. However, slowly starting out small and growing under neglect, both men’s internal battle eats them alive.

Soda In Schools

For many years now, soda has been allowed to be sold in schools. Now some people feel the need to abolish this supplier-consumer relationship. I feel that schools should teach student about choice. Keeping soda in schools but supply other beverages for consumption. Allow students the freedom of choice. Although some concerned parents say that soda can help cause child obesity, I say that instead of removing the cause help to maintain it. This can be done by exercise in schools, extending recess and other physical activities. By allowing soda in schools, schools may help boost self confidence by having temptation in front of students but students will refuse with the proper education and be the better person. Students will be even more driven to soda because they will want what they cannot have in school or even at home. Soda should continue to be allowed a market in schools.

Off to the Side of a Leader

Someone once told me that I had the potential to be a leader. I have also heard that I am a leader. However, I like to think of myself as a leader with shifting followers. Or even as a Leader for rent, with progress as my payment. As Shakespeare once said, “Some are born to greatness, some achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them” I merely find myself the later of the three.

I don’t think of myself a leader because all leaders have away of being thrust to the side by another. No, I think that I am more of a person who is walking one direction and if a group just happens to be walking the same way just slightly behind me then I will show them the way that I am going. For instance, when I was younger, my cousins and I wanted to go for a nature hike in the mountains behind our home. While the others had their eyes on reaching the peak of the mountaintop, I kept my eyes on our surroundings. I was the first to notice that a rattlesnake was only feet from us. To make sure that no one panicked, I off handedly suggested that we take a look at an interesting looking tree several yards away. When I deemed the situation was under control, I broke the news of the rattlesnake to them as calm as possible, even though I could barely control my own tormented emotions. I then let one of my older cousins take control in leading us back home. The need to be in charge at all times elutes me. If the group or I feel that there is another who is more capable of leading, I will hand them reigns.

My real goal is to walk my own way and if some just happen to follow then so be it. I will never turn my back on someone in need if I can help him or her. If I cannot, then it is my duty to find someone who will. I know what a leader is. A leader is someone who puts their own personal gain and wants behind that of the groups. A leader is a worker for his or her group; they do what is best for everyone. They also know who they are and their morals are strong.

No, I don’t think I am a capable leader. I would be too emotional, inexperienced and lenient. I am still trying to find out who I am. However, I do know what areas that I need work on, so that means I can improve. For right now I am merely an advisor or a brain trust to a real leader. For now, that will do.

Lavishing Strengths

I would say that I am comfortably good at most things I try my hand at. Most of all, I feel enjoyment in reading and writing. These joys have been learned from others and have been self-taught. I discovered such joys when I was young. I have kept them growing along side me; from childhood to young adult. After a time I found that I could use such hobbies as strengths in my schoolwork. Now, in the present, I can see the full potential of childhood hobbies. More then ever I seek to make what has become passable into wonderful.

I was so proud that I could make out the words when I first began reading that I found I could not stop. Writing came soon after and had the same effect. When I began to dislike the out come of the story, I changed the books I read to fit my own personal entertainment. Soon after I started to make up my own stories. I have never been able stop turning simple everyday actions into words in a gripping tale. Since it has become apparent that my family grew tired of such narrations, my tendency is to keep them in an everlasting story within my mind. My hope is to one day be able to copy them down on paper to share with others in a chance to inspire them as I have been.

Many teachers have told my that my writing is still ignorant but has potential to become something great, like a power that only needs to be tamed. My family members have told me that I live my life though books and it is unhealthy. That I live in a world completely my own, where only things that I say exist roam. As my reality became shattered when I was young, I agree that I have retreated unto myself. It is a habit that I am currently trying to break. Once started out as a hobby became more so; both actions have become my source of comfort, my escape.

Like life itself, my childhood shadow will evolve yet again. What had started out as a simple hobby evolved into my escape. Now, my reading and writing will become more. Through discipline that I truthfully admit I do not have, I will make both actions better. I will read more compelling nonfiction and write stronger works of literature. Perhaps, one day will see all the growing and enjoyable work come to a lucrative end.

When looking back, my writing and reading seem like childhood friends; simply loyal, understanding and nonjudgmental. Just I have, these friends have grown. For now, I shall hold on to these moments of pure wonder and haven. As with all teenagers, my writing is currently revolting, unbalanced and without structure; parallel to the genera reading I am currently indisposed with. Over time and a whole lot of self-discipline, both enjoyments will become full of false wisdom, a comfort to their minions and model citizens. The future seems bright with possibilities for both of us.

Confronting Faults

Most often, I hear from adults how smart I am. How proud my parents must be. However, they do not see my struggle with what I want to obtain the most: better linguistic skills. Do not get me wrong, as everyone else, I enjoy the praise given and, even more so, I am thrilled that I can make my parents proud. I would like very much to please them and myself with enhanced linguistics. Currently, I am in the process of understanding and speaking passable Spanish. In past years I have tried to obtain passable Navajo. Both languages continue to elute me despite my efforts.

I have come to believe that memory is the most important factor in learning a new language. Unfortunately, I seem to have a rather weak memory for items of importance. For example; give me a totally useless, unimportant scene in a movie that has no relevance to anything important and I can remember exactly what happened. However, give me the simple starter questions of the Five W’s in Spanish and I will not be able to remember them in correct order the next day. Coming to a conclusion, I see that I simply must try harder to remember and pay close attention to my studies in such areas.

At the start of each course, I would be afraid to even try and say words out loud. I could not get my tongue wrapped around the words. Verging on pathetic, my voice became the murmur in a sea of what seemed to be natives to the erotic words. Every group assignment would be turned to my dread, as they became a show of my incorrect pronunciations. No matter how many times I ran over the words in my head, I could not seem to get them right. They came out as horrible, abnormal accents. Followed by this, came unmeant giggles. I minded at first. Thinking how rude my fellow students were at my effort to learn something completely foreign to me. After awhile I joined them, laughing at my own bad accents, particularly since I seemed fond of a French accent. The accents remain and seem to have no intention of leaving. I guess it is as though they will be my own flare to frustrating, yet necessary, subjects.

Although I can accept my faults in linguistics at present time, does not mean that I will not try in the future to correct them. I have withstood terribly hidden giggles, mental scoldings and infinite corrections. I know that I will need to work harder on my linguistics then any other subject since I plan to do a lot of traveling when I grow older. In the end, I have to say that I am rather proud of myself for learning as much as I do in my mother’s language, Navajo and my father’s language, Spanish.

Strength Of Comfort

My family will never allow me to forget all the events where I showed my lack of common sense. They will also never forget all the times I was there for them. Wither is was for a person to listen to their problems with out judgment or someone to distract them from those problems, I was there for them at whatever time they needed me.

I remember a time when my sister had a bad dream and she began to cry. I went to her and offered what comfort I could. First, I told her to tell me of the dream. When she spoke of my own childhood villain, Chucky, I started to lose my own hold on reality. I began to see the murderous doll in every dark corner of our room, in every swift movement. Sensing my own fear, my baby sister began to cry again. To distract both our minds, we began to play a game of ‘Name That Movie.’ Soon after we were both being told to “Shut up. People are sleeping.” Trying to comply and keep from laughing simultaneously, thoughts of the redheaded killer were long gone from our minds.

My belief is that family is first and for most a necessity in life. Although I have my moments of wanting another, I could not ask for a family more perfect in their own imperfections. They were there to chase away my enemies just I was there to help them with their own. I know that no matter where life takes me, I will always have the most important necessity with me.

Returning Home

One thing I have learned is that education is never ending. After high school, there is an important choice to make: to either go to college and obtain more education or to go into the workforce and obtain education in a different manner. Since the day I learned there was an ‘after-high-school,’ I decided I do what ever necessary to go to college. Although my choice of career has changed rapidly and often, I never let it desegregate my determination to go to college.

I do know, however, that I want to travel the world. This has been my dream since I stumbled onto a travel guide loaded with pictures. As a child, I thought that by merely asking to go to these wonderful places would get me there. I learned quickly that I had to find my own way and that lead me to think of my strengths. Coming up blank except for my intelligence, I have now made it my life’s goal to see as much as the world as I can.

Forever thankful to my homeland, the Navajo Reservation, I will come home and settle down after spreading my wings across this world. I plan on being just another member of my small community, just another helping hand in our small corner of the world. I have no delusions of being marked in history for some great deed or another. Fame and glory are not on my list of ‘necessities.’ I just want to help where I can and live my life to the fullest.

A Leader To Be Proud Of

When I was a child, my home was shattered. I lost both of my parents to the world at the age of six. My father, having divorced my mother, moved out of our home. My mother went to her friends and alcohol to help ease the war raging within her. When they were out trying to pull themselves together, my siblings and I were left to others for guidance.

Through the hard times and abundant good times, my siblings and I have stuck together. In a way, I, being the oldest girl of the four of us, had become a sergeant mother. Although I could not give them an actual mother’s love, I looked after my two older brothers; made sure they did not get into too many fights. I helped my sister trough the toughest lesson of being a girl: boys. And yet, I still managed to live a wonderful childhood myself.

With the past a well-learned lesson, my mother returned home and my father made a home for himself in Albuquerque. To this day I try and help my siblings in any way possible, from getting up in the morning for school to setting a good example even the oldest can look up to. I still manage to fulfill my natural roll as annoying younger sister and seemingly wise older sister. I have been a peacemaker and the butt of every embarrassing memory but what I am most proud and honored to be is this family’s leader.

Harsh Punishment

There have been many people who say that the New Mexico death penalty should be out law. I disagree. The death Penalty is a widely known punishment to all. With this knowledge comes fear to anyone who thinks they can murder with no consequences. While some humanitarians say that in killing a murder does not provide the deceased to return. This is true, however it does allow the family a sense that justice has been done and closure. A long with that aspect, the punishment does not allow the murder a chance to kill again. For these reasons I an for the continuation of the death penalty in New Mexico.

Note To Desdemona From Cassio

Generous Desdemona,

I, Michael Cassio, beseech upon your well-known kindness to convince your beloved husband to reconsider his decision to release me of my post.
Although, dear Othello held me in contempt for my actions I do not hold it against him. My love for him is with out bounds.
The night the devils blood took me and caused me to become the beast you know not. I attacked a man for reasons unknown. In the haze of drink, I attacked my fellow Morano and caused him bodily harm.
I have learned the error of my ways and ask you for your forgiveness. If you could beseech your husband in my favor I shall be forever grateful and in your debt.

All my love,
Michael Cassio

Guilty Richard

Richard is a high school student and an editor of the schools newspaper staff. Jen attends the same school as Richard and works on the newspaper staff as a reporter. When being assigned to a story, Jen claims Richard sexually harassed her. She claimed that Richard touched her without permission and felt uncomfortable. Some say that Richard had no reason to become sexually involved with Jen because he had a “hotter” girlfriend. However, men and women have been known to cheat on their significant others all the time. Being based on the human urge to ‘want-what-you-cannot-have,’ cheating is usually a weekly occurrence. Richard is guilty of sexually harassing Jen. She felt uncomfortable and was placed in a hostile environment; two descriptions of sexual harassment by the Civil Rights Act of 1961, Title VII.

Leagalization Of Drugs

A drug is a drug, no matter its purpose. In a way it is kind of like stealing: never black and white but mere shades of gray. I am against hard, mind-altering, drugs but not against the simple, present-legal drugs. Now legal drugs have made a difficult life easier. Small inconvient aches and pains no longer slow one down. Some say that all drugs should be illegal because they are bad for the body. However, with these “bad drugs” becoming illegal, then the “good drugs” that helps us through out the day (Excedrin, Alive, Aspirin, Stuff-for-Inhalers, ect.) will also become illegal. So the real question is can we live with the bad as well as the good? I know I can. That is why I’m for the legalization and continue legalization of drugs.

Viva La Rock-N-Roll

When it comes to Rock & Roll, there are mixed emotions on its originality. Some people feel that the music rejuvenates the soul and helps them unlockinner emotions. While other people say that it is not music but noise. However, these same people throw paint on a canvas, smear it around witha stick and call that art. Whatever their position, I know mine and thatis along side of that “noise,” unlocking my own emotion in an healthy, naturalway, with out hurting myself or others.

Slim Girl And Dinè Culture

Slim Girl, from the novel Laughing Boy, seems to want to care about Dinèculture. In chapter nine of the novel, Slim Girl is described as being “impatientlypatient with the dying and spinning” of wool (pg81). Some say she does notcare about the culture and does the weaving for only money, “We shall commandmoney, money will command everything” (pg83-84). However, I see the effortshe is really trying to make in her weaving “You will be able to put my nextblanket under your saddle, and be proud of it” (pg83). Since weaving isa major part of Dinè culture, I think that Slim Girl is trying to care abouther culture.

Laughing Boy Family Letter

Dear Family,

Hello. I am writing to you because I have been missing you ever since I left To’ Tlakai. It has been four days since I left for this dance. I had no trouble along the way. I stopped at Chinlee for some coffee. Along the way I thought of the perfect bracelet to make once I get some silver. Just before I got to the dance site, I say many Navajos of all ages and could tell it was going to be wonderful.

When I got to the dance I met Jesting Squaw’s Son. We talked of the jail many people are going to. Later on we sang by the fires with the other people. Just when I was getting into the song, a girl wanted to dance with me. I tried to get out of it but she was strong for a thin woman. I finally got away when I paid her ten cents.

The next day, I was in a wrestling match with a thin man that goes by Red Man. He made me feel uneasy, so I challenged him. I bet the silver belt I borrowed and a few dollars against his belt and his money. Jus as I predicted, he was easy to throw over.

Afterward, Jesting Squaw’s Son and me went to find someone to sell Red Man’s ugly belt to. We found two Americans. We haggled for awhile but in the end they bought it for $65. They also gave us smoke before riding off.

The third day we rode to the third site. When the singing began in the night, I could not become one with the song, so I went off to pray. I began to sing. Then the woman from the first night found me and asked me to sing for her. Earlier, I found out her name is Slim Girl. I sang and afterward talked to her. It was short but e both knew what we wanted to do. After she left, I returned to the others and slept.

When I awoke, I set out to find Wounded Face, my uncle and ask him for Slim Girl. He said she is no good and that he will pick the woman for me. I was upset and left to find Slim Girl.

I found her and told her what uncle said. She did not care. Since we are not of the same clan, we decided to go together tomorrow, away form here.

My horse won the horse race, so now I have nearly $200. I will return with Slim Girl and we will be happy and rich together.

Your Family Member,
Laughing Boy

Stealing For What I Want

When it comes to stealing for what I want, the world becomes black and white; bad and good. Some people say that it is okay to steal that it is a victimless crime. For me, I know stealing is wrong and don’t do it anymore. I have come to realize through past and painful experiences that nothing enforces the fact that stealing is wrong and will lead to hurting and loss of a loved one’s trust. For some say that the crime does not hurt anyone, but they are wrong. The crime hurts the conscience and your own self-respect. Stealing because you want something is wrong, no matter how you put it.

McDonalds vs Cafteria Food

When it comes to changing the schools cafeteria food with McDonalds’ menu, it seems to be a good ideal. Most students and staff members feel that McDonalds’ has better taste then Tohatchi’s cafeteria food, however the nutritional value of McDonalds’ is less then the cafeteria food. I feel that the food should not be changed. Taste may be one thing but nutrition is for more important to child growth. Some members supporting the change say that it will increase students appearance in the lunch room but this will also increase diabetes in schools. These reasons are why the cafeteria food should not be changed to the McDonalds’ menu.

Memo: Tohatchi Mascot From Cougar To Medicine Men

TO: Tohatchi Students and Community Members

FR: Loyola Rankin, Tohatchi High School Principal

CC: Andrea Claude, Tohatchi High School Secretary

BC: Nicole Yazzie, Assistant Principal

Subject: Tohatchi Mascot Form Cougar To Medicine Men

January 27, 2006

Tohatchi Students and Community Members,

Due to improbable events concerning the Tohatchi Schools mascot, we, the staff members of Tohatchi Schools, feel that students and members of Tohatchi should share their thoughts on the matter. As you may be well aware, the committee members brought the situation to the board members. They felt that the name would be empowering to Native American students.

However, some, my self-included, feel the name is a contradiction to the American Indian Movement (AIM) actions. These same members say that the word “men” might give the school a more sexist edge. They also state that the mascot has been in place for many years; in a way a sense of tradition is intact with the school name. While most feel a change is needed to enliven school sprit, others say that it would be rather difficult to find a cheer to match “Tohatchi Medicine Men.”

Disregarding other’ feelings and thoughts, we, the members of Tohatchi Schools, want the students and community members to decide the fate of Tohatchi’s mascot. We are, after all, one community.

The vote will take place Thursday, August 13, 2010 at Tohatchi Chapter House.

Sincerely,



Loyola Rankin
Tohatchi High School Principal

Lowering The Driving Age

When it comes to allowing sixteen year olds to drive, adults and teens see it differently. I believe that teens should not be allowed to drive legally. With prices today on gasoline, I do not believe that parents should allow their children to legally drive. Some supporters of lowering the driving age say that driving helps with responsibility but how responsible will they be when they are showing off their driving skills to friends and cause an accident. When we allow the driving age to lower, we risk the lives and health of fellow motorists. I believe the driving age is fine and should stay at eighteen.

Issues Involving Personal CD Players

I believe that personal CD players should be allowed in school. Personal CD players allow students to express themselves, as is encouraged by members of the staff, in their own individual way. Some members of the staff say that personal CD players distract students from learning, but really the music unlocks a writer with in all students. Since most of the school hours’ are spent writing, it would be highly encouraged for personal CD players in class. Personal CD players should be allowed in class, not for the sake of entertainment but for the student’s grade.

"What is the Writing Process?"

The writing process is a never-ending process consisting of ideals, conventions and other traits. This process helps a person to improve his or her writing through a series of steps involving pre-writing, outlines, countless drafts and revision. Examples of this process include newspapers, music, books, essays, letters, etc. These examples are found entirely through out the day of everyday life. These examples are most forms that one does at the end of a writing process, publication. Though the process is long, at the end is the real reward, a well-written piece of art.