Hello Everyone,
On Thursday we began reading Lois Lowry's book, The Giver. In chapter one we learned that this "utopian" society is very different from our own. Together as a class we compiled a list of things that are different from our society.
Jonas's Society
1. They ride bicycles, and cars are uncommon.
2. They are assigned a family unit. Spouses (husbands and wives) are assigned to you, and in each family. there is exactly 1 boy and 1 girl. No more than 4 people per family.
3. They are afraid of planes and the planes are not allowed to fly over "the community"
4. Word choice is very strict. You are not allowed to lie, therefore you must choose your words wisely.
5. Everyone wears the same tunics (shirts/clothes).
6. At dinner every night, the family must partake in the "feelings ritual," where by law you must share your feelings with your family (and remember, you cannot lie).
7. The babies in the community are cared for by people called "Nurturers." Jonas's father is a nurturer.
8. If you do something bad (3 times), are elderly, or are a baby that is not growing properly, you may be "released" from the community.
Today in class:
We read chapter 2, where we learn about the Ceremony of Twelve.
We learned that the Ceremony of Twelve is a rite of passage that every member of the community partakes in, when they reach the December where they turn twelve years old. In that ceremony, your job/career is assigned to you. This is a rite of passage for the children.
Rite of passage: a ritual that marks a person's progress from one status to another.
Homework:
Tonight for homework, you must list the different ceremonies/rites of passage that Jonas's society has. In chapter 2 we learned about what happens for four different age groups.
You must also make a list of the different rites of passage we celebrate in our society (modern day America), for example: You turn 16, you have a sweet 16.
These two lists are due tomorrow. And I want you to think after you've made your lists, which society forces you to grow up faster? In which society do you have more responsibility? And do you think this adds to, or ruins the idea of utopia for these people?
See you all tomorrow, and remember if you have not yet handed in your courage research paper, tomorrow is the last day I will be accepting them.
- Ms. C
