Message and Meaning . . .



I encountered this graffiti one night when I was out looking for photo ops. What do you suppose the artist means by this message?

(Note to students: please remember to post your comments by first name only. Pose a personal response, argument or question that will contribute to creating a forum for thoughtful discussion.)

Comments

Sam said…
Sam

In school sometimes you are restricted by rules and regulations. Students cannot think and act freely, except in some classes. (ex. Art, Photo etc.) Even in those classes students are limited to what they can do.This graffiti perhaps means to start thinking and acting in your own way. Instead of being a zombie at school and following constant orders, take matter in your own hands and think outside of the box, stand out, and become unique. (Obviously to some extent!)
July 9, 2008 at 1:19 AM
Leslie said…
I agree with Sam. Sometimes you are restricted by rules and regulation. Some students think school is boring like if they were in prison. I think it depends which way students look at. Some students enjoy being at school because they get to see their friends everyday. Graduating from highschool is the day where you break free and start your life.
July 9, 2008 at 8:36 PM
cc d said…
Although in school there are a lot of rules, i wouldnt compare it to a prison. It is still a place to learn and sometimes we need certain rules in life to keep an organized society. On the other hand, school is not for everyone. Sometimes life experience is more valuable than anything you learn on a textbook.

cc
July 10, 2008 at 5:26 PM
Sunney.Cha.Chang =) said…
Going to school is a privilege, not a must. i think students should choose if they want to go to school or not. some people don't treasure this opportunity and skip class or don't bother learning. those people will turn around later in life and wonder why they didn't take the opportunity for free education instead of paying for one. school may seem like a prison, but you have to learn the basics before jumping to mastering anything. how do you write, if you can't read? how do you paint, if you can't hold a brush? how do you fix cars, without learning about the tools and parts? you can't, so in order to follow your dreams, some sacrifices must be present. an example is, take some courses that you don't like. but hey, that's just my opinion =P everyone thinks differently. what i think of school is...go to school...get good grades =P get a good job...lots of $cha ching$ :) Live Life To Its Fullest =P i wish everyone happiness and joy =D

~ Sunney Cha Chang ~ ^.^
July 16, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Trung Nguyen said…
Haha, this reminds me of my old school in Montreal, JFK - meaning John F. Kennedy. The students however, gave it another meaning, "Jail for Kids". I would have to agree with them though. All the windows in that school were barred and the environment is not what you would call clean. Besides that, the school system over there-in my opinion-is based on retribution. Everything was based on a book. You were either right or wrong which I believe to actually be a hinderance to learning. One would not be able to explore and expand the mind in those circumstances which is what most students face in today's educational system. I believe true learning occurs not from studying the answers from a book, but by coming to a clear realization as to why and how something works.
August 5, 2008 at 10:42 PM
p said…
The issue that comes to mind for me, hits very close to home. The residential schools that were used by european settlers to try and assimilate the first nations people into a 'white society'. The first nations people were not allowed to speak their native languages, or see their loved ones. Not only were the first nations children separated from their family, but the teachers trying to change their entire system of belief, would also beat them, molest them, and in many cases rape them. Many of the first nations children refused to learn or speak english and would remain silent if they could not speak their mother tongue. Many Elders still alive today were scarred by the residential schools and i have heard them talk about experiences and it is obvious that they are still very emotional about what happened. As many people know, a parent who was abused as a child and grew up in an un-safe environment will most likely abuse their child who will also grow up in an un-safe environment and it would continue like this for generations. unfortunately many of the children from the residential schools turned to alcohol/drug abuse to try to solve their problems, and created an un-safe environment for their children which has made its way down to the present generation and left the first nations people with a less than desirable stereotype

i understand that ive touched on some very sensitive issues and i may have offended some people but im afraid that it is an issue that is very important to me. I am not going to apologise for the way i feel because i dont feel that an apology is necessary; this is how i feel and i am not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings or offend anyone.
September 12, 2008 at 12:37 AM
ryan said…
maybe it actually means it :)
some teenagers are that way
September 30, 2008 at 5:23 PM
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