Our 2022 2023 Patricians introduce themselves MEET THE PATRICIANS Nina discusses partisanship and gun control in the US BAD BLOOD: Art, Photography and Graphics SPOTLIGHT ON: Year 6 students' creative writing LETTERS FROM A BLASTED HEATH:
CELEBRATING 91 YEARS OF EXCELLENT EDUCATION, RICH HISTORY AND OUTSTANDING PASTORAL CARE. RYE ST ANTONY SCHOOL GIVES EVERY CHILD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE AMBITIOUS, BE CURIOUS AND TO BE THEMSELVES.
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T r i n i t y I s s u e
WELCOME We love that you're here! Welcome to the third issue of Rye Vita magazine. This magazine shares the latest thought provoking essays, explorations, educational insights and school life highlights from students at Rye St Antony School. In this edition... We hope you enjoy! CONTACT US RYE VITA MAGAZINE Rye St Antony School Pullen's Lane Oxford magazine@ryestantony.co,uk www.ryestantony.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Anna Athena Scarlet Hannah Olive Marina Iris Emilia Holly Daisy Grace Frances Jess Claire Cora Miffy Wene Nina Katherine WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE? Contact us: magazine@ryestantony.co.uk 3
HISTORY AROUND (Year BLOOD: (Year 12)
10) 14
GUNS, PARTISANSHIP AND THE STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD Nina
The Fall of a (Year 8)
CONTENTS SPOTLIGHT ON A LEVEL ART, GRAPHICS AND PHOTOGRAPHY 16 PHOTOGRAPHY: Iris, Peace, Elsie (Year 12) 19 GRAPHICS: Cora (Year 13) 25 ART: Cora, Jess, Claire, Miffy, Wene (Year 13) 5 MEET OUR 2022-2023 PATRICIANS Year 12 Patricians 7 LETTERS FROM A BLASTED HEATH Anna, Scarlet, Athena (Year 6) 11 MY DISNEY APP Josie (Year 9) 12 DIVERSITY IN THE CURRICULULM
Celia (Year
32 BOOK REVIEWS
10) 30 BAD
Sparrow Katherine
the Phoenix Katherine
US: PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD Frances
Harry Potter and the Order of (Year 8)
5
I am so excited to take on this role I study Art, History, Business and Leiths at A level, I love these subjects and I want to encourage pupils to find subjects they are passionate about! In school I want to promote the message that we should celebrate our differences, and that everyone is welcome at Rye In my spare time I enjoy making jewellery and going to concerts, My favourite artists are Harry Styles, Conan Gray and Taylor Swift.'
'Hi my name is Marina and I’m one of your Deputy Head Girls. I’m studying Spanish, Geography and Business. I want all students to feel confident and comfortable in themselves when joining or continuing to be a part of our school community. I have a puppy called Cora and I love listening to Spanish music '
'Hi, I'm Hannah and I am Rye’s new Head Girl,
'Hello, I'm Olive and I'm one of your Deputy Head Girls. I am currently studying History, Politics, and Sociology at A level. I am passionate about climate and social justice I hope to inspire other students to care about these important issues and promote inclusion within the school community In my spare time I enjoy crochet and spending time with my dog.'
MEET OUR 2022-2023 PATRICIANS
'Hi I'm Daisy, the Performing Arts Patrician I take Music, Drama, History and Leiths A level and I have always had a love for the creative arts. I love musicals, in particular, Hamilton and Six, TV shows like The Office and Gilmore Girls and I love listening to music Harry Styles, Elton John and Queen are my favourite artists. My aim for next year is to create a more inclusive approach for pupils in Performing Arts involving everyone and encouraging people to be kind to one another, to do the things they love and to surround themselves with people who love them,'
'Hi, I'm Peace. I'm studying Art, Photography, Philosophy, and Theology and Ethics. I hope to be a role model for younger neurodivergent and queer students at Rye I am passionate about feminism and anthropology I love to watch Brooklyn 99 and listen to Beyoncé in my spare time '
'Hi my name is Holly and I’m one of your Patricians I am studying Art, Music and English My aim is to make sure students feel confident in themselves and pursue their interests and ambitions while a part of the school community.'
'Hello, my name is Emilia and I am one of Rye's Patricians for this year. I study Business, Sociology and Psychology. I want to inspire students to be confident and passionate about their learning. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, friends and dog.'
'I'm Grace and have been at Rye since Year 7 I currently study Biology, Chemistry and History at A level and take part in the Leiths Food and Wine course. I am passionate about science and equality and want to inspire curiosity and courage to ask questions and experience new ideas. At home, I enjoy spending time with my pets.'
'Hi! I am Iris, I do Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Photography and Leiths. As a member of the Patrician team, I can't wait to work with students next year I have two dogs and I love scuba diving, Greys Anatomy and sushi '
LETTERS FROM A BLASTED HEATH
Developing the writing skills gained from their Shakespeare workshop, Year 6 have been imaging Macbeth and Banquo's journey away from the battle and his fateful meeting with the witches.
‘What?’ I said, sharply, ‘King of Scotland?’
My darling wife,
As the first prophecy has come true, could we dare, my darling, to hope that we could be King and Queen of Scotland?
My love, there I must leave you, to get back. I hope to see you very soon, and remember, my beloved, not a word to anyone about this most secret of letters. Your loving husband, Macbeth
WORDS: ANNA, YEAR 6
Now, onto the witches. In the heath, the wind whistled a menacing tune, as the heather rippled and swayed dangerously. Rain roared and tore from the heavens in big, fast drops. The trees like scanty beggars were naked and crooked. My companion at arms, Banquo, and I were galloping through the heath when we were halted abruptly by three haggard crones. They were like gnarled trees, drenched with the rain. Their hair was a birds’ nest, tangled and knotted. The stench of rotting meat wafted from the witches into my nostrils, making me shiver with disgust.
‘Hail Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, soon to be Thane of Cawdor, and then King of Scotland’ screeched the three. I was amazed.
‘I bring news, from King Duncan. The Thane of Cawdor has been found a traitor and you, Macbeth, are the new Thane.’
I am writing to you from the heath after the battle. We won a great victory over the Norwegians, thrashing them to pieces. I bring stories of witches and prophecies, all to be revealed later. My lady, if you were any other maiden, I would not tell you of such a battle. Death and destruction surrounded me, as my blood stained sword clashed with another, carelessly wielded by a blood thirsty Norwegian. Horses whinnied in pain through the choking smoke. Iron blood stung in my nostrils as my heart ached for my friends, lying lifeless on the battlefield. Great victories come with a price, as you know full well. I fought so hard to spend yet another day with you my darling beloved.
But before I could finish my words they had vanished mysteriously. In their place, a messenger ran up, panting.
‘What?’ I asked again.
My beloved wife,
Later that day, Ross ran into me with the news that I would be the next Thane of Cawdor. Does this mean I will become King, and you, Queen?
We trudged along the muddy heath. A gust of icy wind blew across my face as Banquo and I walked away from the face of death. The clouds were balls of fire. The odour of rotting bodies shot up my nose as the heather swayed with the wind and bloody rocks pinched at my feet.
I am writing to tell you some exciting news. We won the battle against the Norwegians. I have been heralded as the leader of this victory. I have missed you very much, my darling, but now the battle is won and I may see you.
The heath had pools of blood splattered everywhere; from North, East, South and West I could see dead bodies. Cold mists swirled around my eyes, down my throat and all around me. Troops of men huddled around me as I screamed from my lungs. ‘It has to be the end’, I thought. All I could do was think of coming home to you, my love. Tears of blood ran down my burnt cheeks like drops of rain, when arrows came at me, as I fought death. I thought it would never be over, but we won.
I miss you, my love.
WORDS: SCARLET, YEAR 6
Macbeth
My beloved, I have missed you dearly, with all my heart. I cannot wait to see you again. I cannot wait for you and me to be in Scotland. You are the love of my life and soon to be a Queen. The battle was ended by me, which means we will never part again.
We came across three old, ugly women; I instantly knew… they were witches. Their beady eyes stared into mine, their noses like arrows, their lips crusty and sore. This is what the devils said: ‘All hail Macbeth, Thane of Glamis,’ said one. ‘All hail Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor,’ said another. ‘All hail Macbeth, King of Scotland’ said the last.
WORDS: ATHENA, YEAR 6
The words buzzed in my mind as we left the blasted heath, but then, one prediction came true. I am Thane of Cawdor. Does this mean all of the prophecies will come true?
Travelling home, across the horrors of that heath, with Banquo, we came across lurking figures in the mist, their crooked noses stood out from their hoods, their pitch black cloaks hung loose from their haggard shoulders. They chanted and howled like wolves.
Every step I took was like walking in the steps of the noble men that had fallen. Victory came at last, after every scream and yell had screeched its last sound. I was covered with the blood that the blasted heath held, like red ink on white paper.
The third witch fell into a whisper groaning out ‘And Hail King of Scotland’…
My darling wife, I’m so exhausted. I’ve fought death and have been gashed many times. We walked into battle, teeth clenched knuckles white, gripping our swords, but now I have great news of battles won and witches’ cackling.
As I walked across the misty heath, the stench of death filled the air. Death was present. I could fee in creeping up my neck, making my hairs stand on end. Many had fallen to the cling, crash, slash of swords. You could probably see the glinting of metal even if you were miles away from the midst of this gloomy heath.
‘Hail Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, you may then become Thane of Cawdor’. I was baffled. How could I be Thane of Glamis and Cawdor?
‘Hail Thane of Cawdor. Hail Thane of Cawdor’ they chanted.
I can not wait to see you my darling wife.
Your husband, Macbeth
In Geography, Year 9 were asked to pretend to be IT specialists with experience in marketing and advertising. They had to create a new app for smartphones that will help tourists plan and enjoy a trip to a theme park in Orlando, Florida.
JOSIE, YEAR 9
Diversityinthe curriculum
Dear Mr Zahawi M.P.,
I am writing to you to convince you to make some changes to the current curriculum as there are lots of students from other cultural backgrounds who do not feel as valued as they should. A diverse curriculum promotes learning and gives students more opportunities. Therefore, I am going to suggest some changes you could make to include everyone, because every student deserves this Thereopportunity.ismuch more diversity in life than white British men, so it would be interesting to hear more from other perspectives, for example different religions, traditions, gender identity, and race. I would like to hear some female perspectives and experiences to inspire young women, like myself, or hear stories of people who have been through AlettertotheEducationSecretary
Celia,Year10
bad times at school or university to help students who are having the same problem to keep going. I also think that working and learning with people from different backgrounds is really important because it teaches students to contribute in a diverse environment and to build relationships no matter the race.
So, I wish one day we will all have more opportunities.
And I wish one day we will have a more diverse curriculum.
Every culture, every nationality, every person sees the world in a different way. Everyone has different knowledge, perspectives and points of view. Therefore, when all those views are shared together the world would be better place, with less division and more peace. That is why we should have a more diverse curriculum in all schools, because we all have so much to learn about each other.
I wish one day we will have less war and more peace thanks to diversity.
Yours sincerely, Celia, Year 10
It is important to receive help and advice from other students, but it is also crucial to help other people that need to be helped. For example, in school we learn many languages such as Spanish, English and French, which is very useful, however, we do not learn sign language, so some people are disadvantaged and may feel like they have to learn on their own, with no one helping them.
I wish one day we will have more freedom to express ourselves. I wish one day we will have more equality between people from other backgrounds.
Words: Frances, Year 10
Portsmouth Dockyard was first built in 1496 by King Henry VII and was the world’s first dry dock. During this early Tudor period, England did not have a permanent Navy, but instead had to assemble new fleets for both trade and war- when needed, which was both costly and time consuming.
WhywasPortsmouthDockyardfirst created,andhowhasitchangedovertime?
However, the dry dock at Portsmouth allowed England to store and build large fleets which is arguably what made them a nation with great sea power. Despite both Henry VII’s and VIII’s original vision for the purpose built dockyard, over time the dockyard has undergone many significant changes through the Tudor period, the 19th century and modern day
The dockyard was expanded greatly as Henry VIII increased his fleet from 5 ships to 46 by the time of his death in 1547, allowing him to build the foundations for England’s future Navy and constantly expanding sea powers. Most significantly however, during the Tudor Period, the Ddockyard espite the fact Henry VII first built Portsmouth Dockyard, according to David Loades it was his son Henry VIII who, having always planned to fight the French, who knew getting his Navy to sea before the enemy would help them to win. Consequently, in 1511, a Charter was granted by Henry VIII meaning that Portsmouth became a building centre for the King’s ships as well as a dock.
in which it largely remains a tourist site). I believe the changes regarding both physical features and uses of the dockyard over time are mostly a result of England in peace and war, as a large naval power and England during times of exploration.
PORTSMOUTH HISTORIC DOCKYARD
was virtually all destroyed by a fire in 1570. This led to the evident absence of on site remains of the original Tudor dock in Portsmouth today. Therefore, regardless of Portsmouth’s recent creation, within its first one hundred years, Portsmouth Dockyard took on several significant changes regarding its growth, destruction and importance within the nation as a place of great power.
Tourism and heritage became the focal purpose of the dockyard and although parts of the dock still remains a working Naval base home to several aircraft carriers, most of the existing dockyard is now the heritage area: “Portsmouth Historic Dockyard” opened in 1985. The last ship to be built at Portsmouth was HMS Andromeda; however, shipbuilding only formally ended in 2013. Therefore, during the modern and present day, Portsmouth Dockyard and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard experienced several large changes regarding its use and purpose as a tourist centre.
From 1982 to the present, Portsmouth Dockyard underwent the most important change since its creation by Henry VII in 1496.
Although physical changes to the dockyard regarding its fluctuations in size, buildings and basins have always been prevalent, since its creation, the dockyard has remained true to its original purpose as a base to house ships.
Due to last year's Covid restrictions, Years 11 and 12 visited Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Thursday 28th April along with Year 10.
These changes were a result of the historical interest in many artefacts that lay around at the docks, such as in the purpose built Mary Rose exhibition space, as well as Britain’s newfound desire to focus on cultural enrichment and history as Portsmouth Historic Dockyard exemplifies.
In 1843, 17 acres were added to the dockyard as facilities for the new steam Navy. Similarly to this, there was a further “Great Extension” to the dockyard in the second half of the 19th century with three new basins built for fitting, rigging and repairing. As industrialisation meant more and more changes were occurring at the dockyard, arguably the most significant change of the 19th century was when the Dockyard ropery -that had been required for rope making since the Dockyard’s creation closed in 1868 due to ships’ new steam propulsion. Therefore several, rapid, physical changes were made to the dockyard within the 19th century due to England’s industrialisation, as well as its new and revolutionising technology in shipbuilding. It is both of these factors that led to the groundbreaking growth and power of ships at the dock in addition to its more efficient running.
The Charms of
In conclusion, over time Portsmouth Dockyard has undergone significant changes in response to improvements in technology, war and Britain’s main concerns or desires in the present day.
This visit complements the 'History around us' unit which forms part of the GCSE History course. Students study how a historic site has changed over time, and is an annual Year 10 trip.
Within the 19th century, Britain was at the peak of its Industrial Revolution and as a result, Portsmouth Dockyard underwent several physical changes in addition to its purpose and the way it was run.
SPOTLIGHT
ART,GRAPHICSANDPHOTOGRAPHY
Image: Iris, Year 12
Image:YearHeidi,12 Image: Iris, Year 12
Photography
Year 12 have been working on their independent pieces for their A Level
Image:YearPeace,12
Image: Elsie, Year 12
MadonnadelGranDucawascreatedby thefamousItalianartist,Raphaelin1505. ThispaintingofMaryteachesusmuch aboutwhoshewasandwhatherrole was.Youcanseeinthepaintingherface ispureandlookingdownonJesuswith lovingeyes.
Her face is calm and happy, full of devotion to her baby Her clothes were modest, covering every inch of her body, Portrayed in blue to represent the Virgin's purity, it labels her as an empress, for blue was associated with Byzantine royalty The dark background makes her and Jesus the only subjects, like they are the only two important things in the world.
AsayoungwomanIamoften confrontedwiththefemaleimagein advertisementandsocialmediaand veryoftenitisnotatruerepresentation ofthepersonIamorthewomenaround me.Oftentheseglossy,well groomed womenaresofarremovedfrommylife theyappearsurreal.
Words:Cora,Year13
Eve was also another well known figure in religious art from Genesis 1 ‘The Fall', Adam and Eve Eve was also a woman and a loving mother, but contains little of the respect Mary is awarded She was described as superior to Adam 'only in her beauty’ she is described as ‘to hold nothing over a man.
Mary is a role model for women, back then and today, she is what women ‘should strive to be’ She is associated with royalty and power, worshiped with great respect
Arthasbeenusedasadvertisementfor aslongaswehavebeencreatingArt.As manypeoplecouldn'treadorwrite, paintinganimageorastorywasmore effectivethenwritingit.Itwasparticularly usedbychurchestoproducereligious art,awayoftellingthestoriesofthe bible,advertisingthereligionandthe wayoflife.
Acommoncharacterinreligiousartis theVirginMary,motherofGod.Sheis alwaysportrayedasgentleandkind,a mother,caringandloving.Herbeauty alsocamefromherpurity.Shewasa virgin,meaninginnocent,blindto anything’dirty’and’wrong'.Thismeant shewasseenasbeingmorebeautiful,as shewaspure
InthereligiousartoftheRenaissance,it isAdamshownstandingstrongwithEve shownvulnerable,ashamedand exposed.Sheisseenasself obsessed andinneedofAdam'svalidation.Thisis seen,inalmostallpaintingsofthefall. HercentrelineisdirectedtowardsAdam, leaningin,displayingherbodyforhim.
Eveisnotshownasarolemodel.Thisis becauseEvewasasinner.
Throughtimeshehasbecome increasinglysexualizedinart,distracting fromthemoralofthestory.Insteadof beingembarrassedasthestorystates, sheisshowingoff:Herbodyisdisplayed, temptinghim,luringhimin.
OneofmanyexamplesisMichelangelo’s paintingofthefall.Inthispaintingyou canseeAdam thestrongandmuscular manwithtannedskin atahigherlevel thanEve.WhereasEveispaleofskin
withblushedcheeksofshame.Sheisat Adam'sfeetlookinghelplessand vulnerableagainstasnakewhohas beenportrayedwithafemaletorso, reinforcingthatwomenaretemptresses thattheirbodiesareallthe
Hermistakemadeherbecome‘whatnot tobecome’.WhenGodsawthatshehad sharedthefruitofthetreeofknowledge withAdam,hepunishedthem.
Todayyoucancategoriseeverywoman inadvertisingaseitherMary,the innocent,thematernal,orEvethesexual temptress.
Theadvertisveryhomely,withthe burningfireandwarmcoloursrunning throughthepicture,thehappysmiles andbeautifulredroses.Ofcourse,the femalerolemodelisinherapronasif sheisinthemiddleofmakingdinnerfor thefamily.Thisisaverylovingand comfortingwaytoselltheproduct,asits targetaudienceisafamily,meaningall ages.Thismakesyouwanttobuythe colaasit'sadvertisingawarmhappy innocentpicture Subliminallythisis sellingtheconceptoftheinnocent, maternalhousewife,Mary,asajobrole towomen.
Clearly,standardsof'beauty'havebeen aroundsincedayone.Itiscommonto seearespectedmother like conservativeMary,oranobjectifiedEve TheadvertisementofCocaCola,often portrayedasafamilydrink,canbeseen inthisway.Wecanseefromthe‘Mary’ motherfiguregivingouttheproductto herchildren,sheisconservativeand smilingandcompletelyselfless.Wetrust herandshetrustsCocaCola
This Eve approach to advertising is still seen today, This time we are selling a beautiful woman, with shiny hair, an hourglass figure, perfect skin, stunning make up in a red dress. In this advertisement the only way we could see she might be selling Coca Cola is in the way she's posed like the bottle, it is asking the viewer to appreciate the curves of her body, making her a sexual object, She is looking at the viewer in that alluring way, tempting them to buy her
Accentuating a woman ’ s beauty is a well known technique in advertising. One of the most successful artists who did this was Alphonse Mucha who was an influential figure in art during the Nouveau period He was most known between 1890 and 1910 In his works is always a gorgeous woman, in a beautiful pose, wearing gorgeous clothes, displaying no imperfections. This is a way of luring people into the advert; women want to be this woman. Women believe that what she selling will make them as beautiful and as desired as her As a woman would need a man's permission before being able to purchase anything, the advert must make the man want those same desires Showing this beautiful woman will make the man think that whatever his money is going towards will make his wife like this woman. This shows the trick of selling beauty to distract you from the cost
In another Coca Cola advert, from around about the same time, there is a completely different approach to the brand. We have a beautiful woman with a full face of make up, glossy lips and sparkly eyes She is smiling directly at the viewer in a cheeky way, with an off the shoulder dress, and would be seen as a ‘distraction to men ’ . They see that a woman will therefore buy the product, because that is what attractive women want
In another response I removed emotion from my model's expression then projected lines across her face, symbolizing bars like a prison how women feel trapped in the advertisement roles. The model's eyes look directly at the audience, but without the pouting lips or seductive smile it appears direct, truthful and provoking. I folded and scrunched up the paper to create an imperfect look, this time I feel like it implies how this woman has already been used and has fulfilled her purpose as an object and has then been thrown away This idea was in inspired by how women are treated in the advertising industry: used, sometimes abused and treated like trash. I wanted to somehow show that we are more than that, by scrunching what I had created and then opening it up, I made it clear that even after these ‘faults’ these women are so much more then the industry has portrayed.
The business of advertising has changed now, As most women now have their own incomes they do not necessarily have to answer to another for a product. In this sense women's rights have finally come more into place, and advertisements like these get called out, and as a result respect for women has become more usualised However even though times have changed, it is still going un noticed how we sell product with a woman with accentuated beauty, creating unrealistic standards young people all dream of reaching
not something that an audience is used to seeing but, due to that, it is intriguing, eye catching and advertises the magazine well, proving that beauty does not always sell.
My goal was therefore to create a magazine cover which neither advertises a woman ’ s beauty, nor places her in one of the female stereotypes prevalent in the advertising world
The magazines that I have made are something different: they show a real women, standing for themselves, not crying out to be noticed. I am incredibly happy with the magazine covers I have created, and think they are an effective way to stand against the advertising society. I vow that within my own artwork I will avoid the stereotypes and show women as diverse and interesting humans, who are not shown purely for their sexual or child bearing qualities. Throughout my Graphic Communication coursework, every woman or girl I have portrayed has been an individual
To do this I began by attempting to portray a contrasting image which almost turns the model from beautiful to ugly. I used a fish eye lens which distorts the features into stereotypically unattractive proportions, I took the angle from below, an angle most people avoid in case it makes them look big and I had the model looking to the side, neither temptingly at the audience nor demurely down as is the norm for women. I made my model’s skin green, the colour of insanity, jealousy and sickness, all inflicted by the present advertising industry on women. I added the words ‘Don’t look at me like that!’ asking the audience to view the model for herself not in a predefined role. Finally I printed my image and then folded it up, crumpled it, splattered paint on it and then scanned it back in, to imply it is not an image that the advertising world desire to see, they want to destroy it. I think this works well as the overall picture is a stunning image. It is
Image:Cora,Year13
Image:Cora,Year13
A LEVEL ART FINAL EXAMINATION PIECES Cora, Year 13
Jess, Year 13
Claire, Year 13
Wene, Year 13
Miffy, Year 13
Even though the NRA has a burgeoning reputation for misconduct and radicalism, it still holds significance in politics today. It has also successfully
BAD BLOOD: GUNS, PARTISANSHIP, AND THE STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD
but it was the 1968 Gun Control Act that made gun rights a contentious subject for the first time. This legislation and the resulting withdrawal of NRA support in the citizens against Joseph Tydings (Democrat, Maryland, 1965 71) meant that the NRA was prompted to defend the rights that had been so well protected for so long The 'Cincinnati Revolt' (1977), which led to the excommunication of incumbent NRA leaders, further politicized this organization also establishing the NRA's reputation for conservatism. As a result of this 'revolution,' the NRA Institute for Legislative Action and a PAC within it were established, officially declaring Gun Rights a political issue
In the past month, over 50 shootings have occurred in the United States, and in the past week at least 19.
POLITICS
NINA, YEAR 12
Seen as a method of training soldiers after the Civil War the National Rifle Association was chartered in 1871 and is still a figure of American politics today. Throughout its fraught history, the NRA has been losing significance,
Purposely vague, such rights as those outlined in the Second Amendment have taken on a new meaning, no longer being protective, but becoming dangerous
The often cited second amendment to the United States says: "the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed " But in a modern age, it is hard to imagine what exactly the founding fathers meant by this.
The 1968 Gun Control Act and its repercussions throughout the National Rifle Association (NRA) in the United States largely prompted this.
After a colonial rule that had lasted over 150 years, it is likely that keeping the British out was still fresh on American minds The official repeal of the Quartering Act by the Third Amendment was also a clear marker of this shift away from English rule.
The partisanship of this issue has grown as the association of NRA action with conservatism has. Often endorsing Republican candidates, since its politicization, the National Rifle Organization has endorsed three presidents, all Republicans This being said, the NRA has been seen in the past as too radical with George H. W. Bush resigning his membership in 1995.
Graphs show that although COVID has had an inverse effect on mass killings, the numbers are still rising Peaking at twelve in 2018, 2020 saw just two, and 2021, six. Although recent numbers have radically dropped, it is unlikely that legislation has had anything to do with it. According to Wikipedia, those ineligible for using guns include drug abusers, people who have been sent to mental health centres or been diagnosed with certain diseases, but few others The limited background checks permitted in the US have long been overshadowed by conservative backlash and growing partisanship. Several attempts to change this have been made including the Brady Handgun Violence Act (1993)
In contrast, New Zealand, which suffered two nearby mass shootings in Riccarton and Linwood, Christchurch, in 2019, has been praised for its fast passage of gun control laws These instituted restrictions on semi automatics, increased background checks, and more, passed by 119 to 1.
POLITICS
This clear pattern is also bolstered by the data showing that men come to own guns at 19 on average, while women do at 27 It is possible that the historical implications of 'coming of age' have, in a conservative fashion, been maintained and interpreted as giving one's son a gun. This representation of achieving 'manhood' and being able to fully take care and defend oneself could result in this data For women on the other hand, such excuses as fear of personal safety and desire to avoid being raped may hold. Since the average human brain halts development in one's mid to late 20s, the thought process and hence more serious reasons that women posses guns could be explained Between 1982 and 2022, out of the 129 mass shootings 3 have been committed by females versus 124 by males.
But although the Brady Act has conducted just over 2 million background checks, the number of guns owned in the US, is more than the number of people.
Named after the victim of a presidential assassination attempt in 1981, this act sought to limit selling of firearms to certain people and introduce more background checks. But a study done in 2000 found that the Brady act did not in fact curtail homicide rates, or suicides, but merely limited gun deaths of those over 55 years A study reported on by the Chicago Tribune in 2000 noted that this trend is in part due to the waiting periods. These lapses in time between approval and application give those over 55, who are most likely to commit suicide, time to reconsider their decision
In a 2019 FBI conducted survey, out of 100 gun buyers who received background checks, only 10 5% were delayed their purchases by the NCIS, and 1.27% of people were denied guns.
A study by Pew Research showed that although men and women are equally likely to carry a gun for protection, men are more likely to use guns for hunting the second most popular reason
brought gun rights to the forefront of US politics making a relatively unchallenged amendment famous as one of strict interpretation, a symbol of the 'old guard' of society.
Whilst a consistently hot topic in United States government, gun control legislation if it is even considered outside of committee is often so worn down by the time it passes that it holds barely any significance anymore
A study conducted by Pew Research in 2017, showed that 3 in 10 adults own a gun, with 36% saying they could consider getting one Of these owners, nearly two thirds own more than one gun.
In one interview Republican Senator for Texas, Ted Cruz, pushed more guns in schools, in another, talked about doors And when asked the question "why do [you] not think that guns are the problem in America?" he
So it is that the constitution brings Americans into a deathly circle: gun rights, illegal searches and seizures of information, right to freedom of expression, and back once more
So the question stands, how can a country seen as an example by immigrants, revolutionaries, and world powers be so 'soft on crime'? Why can New Zealand, which has an ownership of 1.5 million guns for 5 million people pass something so vital and so obvious so quickly, while the US is left in the dust?
With the shootings occurring in April, legislation had passed by mid September
responded "“Why is it that people come from all over the world to America? Because it’s the freest, most prosperous, safest country on earth And save me the propaganda
Even though the United States has clear disadvantages racism, sexism, homophobia, and other problems that plague some areas, human rights are universal. For all the laws passed preventing women from accessing certain forms of medical care and reaffirming old statutes, there are may lives lost to gun violence
”
If the goal is to save the American reputation then shouldn't saving children and saving lives be foremost? But if, more likely, the reason is to return the country to the way the framers wanted it by reducing women's rights and freely allowing guns, why can't the conservatives accept the change that has overtaken the US and the world?
In a post Civil War setting, it was possible to reminisce, but one hundred and fifty years on, it seems almost comical that the desires of some Americans lie before true freedom, true liberation, and true Americanism.
The clear answers are partisanship and size; compared to the 5 million New Zealanders, there are 335 million Americans. And with the jump, there are more conflicting views and more conflicting ideologies Many Republicans in congress and without and across both parties do not support certain aspects of gun rights But those who do, polarize the equation so much that the US has become known as a nation of rifles and mass shootings.
One of the most recent acts of violence seen in Uvalde, Texas, saw the most deaths of any school shooting since Sandy Hook (28 deaths), resulting in a total of 21 deaths; 19 kids, 2 adults. In both cases the children were elementary school age But the response from conservative lawmakers towards gun control was negligible using the oft spoken phrase "thoughts and prayers" to represent their principle intentions.
It is fair to say that duelling and horse drawn carriages will not come back into vogue so why should legislation move backwards while society moves forwards? It is impossible to return to a pre gun rights world just as it is impossible to return to one before Roe The American populous cannot accept these pushes for 'reform' Yet, they have not but surprisingly, and tragically, this has left the United States in an unbendable gridlock.
POLITICS
So, whilst on one side of the ever sharpening line, Democrats advocate for gun control seeing the harsh realities that Americans face, and on the other, a false pretence of America's gold paved reputation is used by Republicans to promote their aims Aims that they believe the Founding Fathers so clearly outlined in the Second Amendment.
'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' was written by J.K. Rowling in 2003. It is the fifth, and the longest book, out of the seven Harry Potter novels.
Book review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
In 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' Harry Potter, a wizard, goes to a Wizarding School called Hogwarts and learns magic In his fifth year he is trying to prove that Voldemort, an evil wizard, has returned and is planning dangerous things He and his friends, Ron and Hermione, have to work out Harry's mysterious dreams, and try to help other children be ready for what is to come outside of Hogwarts by forming their own Defence Against the Dark Arts Club.
BOOK REVIEW
Katherine, Year 8
We see Harry grow through all the books In Order of the Phoenix we see him grow even further to face even his worst fears and become an example for the other students at Hogwarts JK Rowling has outdone herself with the amazing storyline and writing of the book. She has managed to capture these young school children’s adventures on paper. You can see all her ideas about this whole wizarding world come through this book. I loved it. It is incredibly written with so many twists and turns It is a classic, and one that I will definitely read again If I had one thing to complain about it would be that there was not enough of the book, even though this is the longest in the series!
I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who has not yet read it.
Eleanor makes lots of new friends at school, but she seems to have quite a temper Everyday things are getting stranger and stranger for Eleanor and this boy keeps getting her in difficult situations.
'The Fall of the Sparrow' was written by Griselda Hepple in 2021.This book is about a young girl called Eleanor Cooke who recently started at a new all girls boarding school. Mysteriously as she spends more time there she discovers a strange boy who follows her everywhere. How does he know Eleanor’s past?
BOOK REVIEW
This was a book that I thought I was not going to enjoy but then I started and I just couldn't put it down It's got an amazing storyline where you find out loads about all the characters
Katherine, Year 8
Griselda Hepple has managed to capture the mysterious school and all the secrets within in one amazing book I really enjoyed it and I wish there was a sequel, hopefully soon, but until then I would recommend this book to anyone as it is just fabulous.
Book Review: The Fall of a Sparrow by Griselda Hepple
In fact, we were lucky enough to have a visit from Griselda Heppell at school. She came in and told us all about her book. It was really interesting to find out how she came up with the idea and hear her read from the final product. We found out so much about Eleanor.
