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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. On what day did it become clear that the inspectors would not be coming?

2. What was the name of the man doing the floors in the new classroom?

3. Which student wrote about his father hitting his mother in her face in "Compositions"?

4. What word was NOT included on the list of words for struggling readers in February?

5. What is a "roro"?

Short Essay Questions

1. In her discussion of pedagogy as marriage, what did Ashton-Warner mean when she said that "love interferes with fidelity"?

2. What revelation did Ashton-Warner have in "Post-Holiday Notes" about using Maori readers with both Maori and white students?

3. What set the local Maori pa (village) where Ashton-Warner taught apart from other pas?

4. Why was Ashton-Warner disappointed with the pictures the new teacher had chosen to personalize the children's coat hooks?

5. Why was Ashton-Warner surprised at the appearance of the new classrooms when she visited?

6. What was the reaction of strangers to Ashton-Warner's multi-colored Maori belt?

7. Why did Ashton-Warner write at the end of "Holidays" that she was no longer lonely?

8. Why did Ashton-Warner criticize herself for the way she handled Matawhero's defiance after he hit Gordon?

9. How did Maoris and whites differ in terms of communal gatherings?

10. What did the students' compositions reveal about their family lives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ashton-Warner's book, "Teacher," was extremely influential and continues to be taught in schools of education today. Research if and how her approach to organic teaching has influenced the classrooms of today. How is organic teaching taught? Is it ever fully implemented or was it ultimately unique to a handle of schools and classrooms? Does today's push for school accountability and standardized testing make it more difficult to incorporate organic learning as practiced by Ashton-Warner? Or does organic teaching provide a promising way out of today's difficulties in the educational system?

Essay Topic 2

Many of Ashton-Warner's children used violent imagery in their writings, some of it reflecting their daily family life, some of it made up. In most schools today, that sort of imagery would be a cause for concern. Is it wise to allow students to express themselves in their writing if it is violent? Should teachers and school officials question the content of a student's writing? Why did Ashton-Warner allow her students to write in this way? Were their any advantages to doing so? Could students with emotional problems or bad home environments benefit from having an outlet for their feelings at school? Or do schools have a responsibility to rein in children's violent feelings for the sake of the entire class?

Essay Topic 3

The Maori girls in Ashton-Warner's classroom experienced success on the basketball court. Write an essay discussing the role of sports in academics. How does participation in team sports help students in the classroom? How does it help in other areas of life? How can schools ensure that the benefits of participation in sports are extended to all students, regardless of athletic ability?

(see the answer keys)

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