'The Sanctuary Of School' By Lynda Barry
Analysis of “The Sanctuary of School”
“The Sanctuary of School,” written by Lynda Barry, appeared in The New York Times in January, 1992. The article mainly focuses on the importance of art, schools, and teachers, which exerts a great influence on changing the lives of neglected children. In the beginning, the narrator uses her personal experience to show her depressed feeling as an unnoticed child living in the unhappy home. Then the narrator depicts detailedly about walking in the darkness and her feeling while she is on her way to school. However, Barry shifts her tone to joy when she is noticed by everyone at school and when she receives unconditional loves and mental support from her teachers. Then Barry …show more content…
By using the metaphor effectively, Barry calls readers’ reflection and arouses their sympathy by saying that “we leave them to learn from the blind eyes of a television.” (21) Barry casts her doubt on the benefits of the television and makes the connection to her childhood experience by watching bloody movies at home. It is sad for readers to see that watching violent movies becomes the only joy for an invisible child to stay at home. “Blind eyes” of television vividly states that entertainment does not have obligation to teach children knowledge in the right ways not even to heal their mental problems. Leaving children under the chaotic world with bad influence will be the big failure of the education system. Additionally, utilizing the quote from president George H.W.Bush, Barry makes her statement stronger and reminds that government has to fulfill its responsibility by providing a promising future to our children. “A thousand points of light ” (21)implies to the different types of school programs, which acts as a guidance to light up children’s future. However, “point of light”(21) seems to flee away from the star when people advocate to cut down the school budgets. Barry gives readers space to imagine the power of light--school programs, which can help children to find their own sense of belonging and spiritual
“The Sanctuary of School,” written by Lynda Barry, appeared in The New York Times in January, 1992. The article mainly focuses on the importance of art, schools, and teachers, which exerts a great influence on changing the lives of neglected children. In the beginning, the narrator uses her personal experience to show her depressed feeling as an unnoticed child living in the unhappy home. Then the narrator depicts detailedly about walking in the darkness and her feeling while she is on her way to school. However, Barry shifts her tone to joy when she is noticed by everyone at school and when she receives unconditional loves and mental support from her teachers. Then Barry …show more content…
By using the metaphor effectively, Barry calls readers’ reflection and arouses their sympathy by saying that “we leave them to learn from the blind eyes of a television.” (21) Barry casts her doubt on the benefits of the television and makes the connection to her childhood experience by watching bloody movies at home. It is sad for readers to see that watching violent movies becomes the only joy for an invisible child to stay at home. “Blind eyes” of television vividly states that entertainment does not have obligation to teach children knowledge in the right ways not even to heal their mental problems. Leaving children under the chaotic world with bad influence will be the big failure of the education system. Additionally, utilizing the quote from president George H.W.Bush, Barry makes her statement stronger and reminds that government has to fulfill its responsibility by providing a promising future to our children. “A thousand points of light ” (21)implies to the different types of school programs, which acts as a guidance to light up children’s future. However, “point of light”(21) seems to flee away from the star when people advocate to cut down the school budgets. Barry gives readers space to imagine the power of light--school programs, which can help children to find their own sense of belonging and spiritual