Harrison Bergeron ( I am not doing this willingly)

As I read, "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut, I had a realization of how society is getting dumbed down and how even if we are special, there will always be someone there to take us down a level.

Text: In the story, how does George react to what to what happens on TV what happens to his son?


George is at first horrified and astonished to what happens, he knows it's Harrison. Then since, he is above average, he is brought down with a hearing aid that disrupts any intelligent thought. He knows what is happening is wrong, but then his hearing aid disrupts this thought. He obviously loves and cares for Harrison, this is evident in the way his body reacts. He is just unable to express in words because of his man made handicaps.


Reader: How could this relate to the teachers in school who never challenges you, just so no one feels below average?


Some, not all teachers, do not challenge you when you are above average. My big sister went to Murray for eighth grade year, she did not learn one thing. She taught herself the things she needed to pass. Harrison is like my sister in a similar way, Harrison is a fast learner and can easily retain knowledge, while some people like Hazel, are slower and have a worse memory. Some teachers have worked for a long pushing their students, and then they give up, only doing the minimum. They believe no one is special, no one is bright. When really every person is intelligent in their own way, whether in English or in Science.


World: How does this relate to the policy of No Child Left Behind?


Harrison is above average and the government at this time believes that no one should feel below another person. Our government at the present time, is doing something very similar. No Child Left Behind forces teachers and schools to hold back their average and above average students for kids who may be below them. In Harrison's story, they use physical and mental handicaps to dwindle people's intelligence, while in real life they use rules and restrictions. In the details, these two situations are very different, but in the main idea, they are exactly the same.