Chapter 1
Your reading begins in the locker room before a football game. But, while this book is about a football team, it is more centrally focused on life and how to live it. If you’re looking for confirmation, check out what the boys are yelling about as they prepare to play. It’s not the message you expect, that playing football, or doing anything of value, is about love for the people you are with.
Gilman’s football team is different because the men leading it don’t view themselves as football coaches, but as teachers. They coach football to help boys become men, not to win games.
Chapter 3
What kind of person is Joe Ehrmann at this point in the book? He really seems to be enjoying his life, he’s young, a professional football player, fairly wealthy, he’s got it all. Are those things the most important facets of his personality? Put more simply, what does the author remember about him?
Look at the lessons Marx learns as a ballboy for the Baltimore Colts. Are any of them specifically about sports?
DTD Ask your parents about the most important lessons they have learned. Where did they come by these lessons? Chances are, the most important lessons you learn about how to behave won’t be taught in a classroom. Where do you think you have learned something important outside of school?
Chapter 4
Joe’s life changes forever in chapter 4. After his brother’s death, Joe asks himself, “What is the purpose of life? Where does meaning—real value—come from?” (Marx, 20). This question drives Joe’s founding of the Ronald McDonald house in Baltimore.
He is obviously different from the person you met in chapter three. He isn’t nearly as happy, but is he better?
What can you take from Joe’s response to a personal tragedy? If we all responded to terrible events the way Joe does, by trying to make a difference in the lives of others, would the world be a better place?
Chapter 7
Here we get to the central point of your book. The problems of society, according to Joe, are caused by our collective failure to teach boys how to become men. This is an uncomfortable topic for many of us, and one that seems to be focused on half of the population. However, it is valuable, and it impacts all of us because we aren’t talking about masculinity, we are talking about humanity.
From the book:
"In the NFL, what you have is fifty-three men—black men and white men, men from the inner cities, from the suburbs, from the farmlands of America—and they’re able to come together every year and kind of set aside their own personal goals, wants and ambitions, in order to put the team first. And I think that’s the challenge, really, facing us in this society, is how we learn to come together, across all racial, economic, and geographical divisions, to make this society a much better place.”
You are attending a public high school in America which means you are here with everyone who lives within our attendance area regardless of race, economic situation, background, religion, sexual orientation or belief system. How can we work together to erase the divisions between us?
Joe also tells the story of his upbringing in this chapter. What kind of relationship did he have with his father? What is your reaction when you read his story?
Chapter 8
“The way we measure greatness is the impact you make in other people’s lives” (Marx, 48).
DTD Ask your parents how your family measures greatness. Ask them to think about people who they consider great and why. Is your definition of great person similar to Coach (Biff)Poggi’s?
The Gilman football team has a rule that no member of the team will allow anyone at school to eat lunch alone. Is this a tradition we should seek to implement at Mountain Range? If we were to not allow anyone to feel isolated at school, would we come closer to being the “team” from chapter 7?
Why is it so important to the coaches for every member of the team to play in the first half of every game? Are they more concerned with building a team or with winning games? Are they right?
Your reading begins in the locker room before a football game. But, while this book is about a football team, it is more centrally focused on life and how to live it. If you’re looking for confirmation, check out what the boys are yelling about as they prepare to play. It’s not the message you expect, that playing football, or doing anything of value, is about love for the people you are with.
Gilman’s football team is different because the men leading it don’t view themselves as football coaches, but as teachers. They coach football to help boys become men, not to win games.
Chapter 3
What kind of person is Joe Ehrmann at this point in the book? He really seems to be enjoying his life, he’s young, a professional football player, fairly wealthy, he’s got it all. Are those things the most important facets of his personality? Put more simply, what does the author remember about him?
Look at the lessons Marx learns as a ballboy for the Baltimore Colts. Are any of them specifically about sports?
DTD Ask your parents about the most important lessons they have learned. Where did they come by these lessons? Chances are, the most important lessons you learn about how to behave won’t be taught in a classroom. Where do you think you have learned something important outside of school?
Chapter 4
Joe’s life changes forever in chapter 4. After his brother’s death, Joe asks himself, “What is the purpose of life? Where does meaning—real value—come from?” (Marx, 20). This question drives Joe’s founding of the Ronald McDonald house in Baltimore.
He is obviously different from the person you met in chapter three. He isn’t nearly as happy, but is he better?
What can you take from Joe’s response to a personal tragedy? If we all responded to terrible events the way Joe does, by trying to make a difference in the lives of others, would the world be a better place?
Chapter 7
Here we get to the central point of your book. The problems of society, according to Joe, are caused by our collective failure to teach boys how to become men. This is an uncomfortable topic for many of us, and one that seems to be focused on half of the population. However, it is valuable, and it impacts all of us because we aren’t talking about masculinity, we are talking about humanity.
From the book:
"In the NFL, what you have is fifty-three men—black men and white men, men from the inner cities, from the suburbs, from the farmlands of America—and they’re able to come together every year and kind of set aside their own personal goals, wants and ambitions, in order to put the team first. And I think that’s the challenge, really, facing us in this society, is how we learn to come together, across all racial, economic, and geographical divisions, to make this society a much better place.”
You are attending a public high school in America which means you are here with everyone who lives within our attendance area regardless of race, economic situation, background, religion, sexual orientation or belief system. How can we work together to erase the divisions between us?
Joe also tells the story of his upbringing in this chapter. What kind of relationship did he have with his father? What is your reaction when you read his story?
Chapter 8
“The way we measure greatness is the impact you make in other people’s lives” (Marx, 48).
DTD Ask your parents how your family measures greatness. Ask them to think about people who they consider great and why. Is your definition of great person similar to Coach (Biff)Poggi’s?
The Gilman football team has a rule that no member of the team will allow anyone at school to eat lunch alone. Is this a tradition we should seek to implement at Mountain Range? If we were to not allow anyone to feel isolated at school, would we come closer to being the “team” from chapter 7?
Why is it so important to the coaches for every member of the team to play in the first half of every game? Are they more concerned with building a team or with winning games? Are they right?
This chapter brings to mind George Orwell's Such, Such Were the Joys. Do you see any similarities in Orwell's experience at boarding school and the discussion of shame and masculinity in this book?
Chapter 9
Mike’s story is interesting. He suffers a huge consequence, and returns a better person. Why? What allows him to improve?
Gilman loses to DeMantha, but would you rather be on Gilman’s team or DeMantha’s? This season is long over, which group of young men is still benefitting from it?
Chapter 10
False Masculinity is based on the following concepts: athletic ability, sexual conquest and economic success.
What is the flaw with each of these methods for defining a man? What would Joe replace them with and why?
Think carefully about the social world you inhabit. Is Joe Ehrmann at least partially right? If so, what can and should we do about it?
The text is really about societal priorities. Note the messages Joe talks about on page 73, our media promote a great deal of poisonous ideas, one of them being this false masculinity Joe is discussing here.
DTD Read this chapter with your parents, do they agree?
Chapter 9
Mike’s story is interesting. He suffers a huge consequence, and returns a better person. Why? What allows him to improve?
Gilman loses to DeMantha, but would you rather be on Gilman’s team or DeMantha’s? This season is long over, which group of young men is still benefitting from it?
Chapter 10
False Masculinity is based on the following concepts: athletic ability, sexual conquest and economic success.
What is the flaw with each of these methods for defining a man? What would Joe replace them with and why?
Think carefully about the social world you inhabit. Is Joe Ehrmann at least partially right? If so, what can and should we do about it?
The text is really about societal priorities. Note the messages Joe talks about on page 73, our media promote a great deal of poisonous ideas, one of them being this false masculinity Joe is discussing here.
DTD Read this chapter with your parents, do they agree?
“If you want to be important – wonderful. If you want to be recognized – wonderful. If you want to be great – wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness.”
ReplyDeleteThis is a quote by MLK Jr. The quote is saying that greatness is measured by how you are serving others, and a person who is defined as great will be the one serving you. This particaular quote relates to the way coach Biff measures greatness.“The way we measure greatness is the impact you make in other people’s lives."
I think greatness is achieved by the impact you have in your society. I hope to achieve greatness when I am older by helping out others.
-Jackie Nelson
Up to chapter four, Joe has popularity, parties, and wealth to fill his life. He believes that he has the lifestyle where everything happening around him is in his control. He calls himself a "free spirit" because he is not burdened with the responsibilities most Americans have (15).
ReplyDeleteBut when something happens to him personally, the death of his brother - "the greatest
thing in the world" to him - he cannot control it (16). For the first time in his life, something happens to Joe that he can't control. It is at this point that Joe realizes that he is like everyone else - he may have a life more extraordinary that most Americans, but he is still human.
The empty part of Joe's heart is finally acknowledged when Billy dies. Other than his football career, his life has been empty, and later in the novel he notices the same "empty" feeling in the Gilman High football players before he begins to coach them. It's the empty sensation that unites the players and the coaches.
All people start their lives alone, and as they become older, they have the option of filling that emptiness with love from people around them.
-Rudi Jie-A-Fa
In response to the quote by Martin Luther King, there is another quote from the author Joe Erhmann in chapter eighteen about how justice is not gained by "ever thinking that you can profit from some unjust gain, that's simply wrong"(144). There is then the thought that it is also wrong, even when doing something kind for someone else that you simply do it to make YOURSELF look better to other people or feel better about yourself because you helped someone else. I think a genuine, wonderful person wouldn't have the slightest thought in their mind that they are doing something for some one else so much as what that person is doing for them, by this I mean they wouldn't immediately and willingly take credit for something great, the only way they would recognize it is by hearing from the person they helped about how they made their life better. And if they can accomplish something that deserves that kind of feedback, I think that is a wonderful person, and in many ways I think Joe Erhmann serves as an example of this. I too, one day would like to be a wonderful person but I will admit that I often try to do nice things for people but don't always think of it in the way that I should, with complete unselfishness, and I hope that one day, and it won't be without effort, that I can do something kind for someone every day big, or small without even realizing it.
ReplyDeleteTo comment on the question asked in the chapter 8 section that asks if we should implement the tradition/rule that no one person eats lunch alone, I believe if we could get that tradition to start it will move mountains. This tradition would make it so that no student of Mountain Range will ever feel alone or left out. Tragedies have occurred in the past when students have the feeling of being left out, or looked at with a lower standard than others (example Columbine). Our school is a new school still and as students we do not have a very strong connection to most others besides the immediate people we know. This tradition will not only allow every student to feel welcome it will allow us as a student body to become closer. I believe this tradition if implemented and worked at would be the greatest improvement possible for any school.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that the media corrupts many people, many commercials seem to promote the kinds of things listed about false masculinity. I know also that many times a guy measures his self respect by how they treat girls and depending on the group of friends he's trying to impress this can be good or bad. Many guys think that it makes them powerful when they mistreat a girl, and i'm happy that in this book it mentions how Joe's team is strict about how it's not at all right to be rude or take advantage of girls. I hope that the guys that read this book, and are the ones that treat women badly will realize that what they're doing won't get them any where in life.
ReplyDeleteThe flaw with the methods of defining a man are each of the methods are not based on who a person is, just what they do. Although athletic ability and economic success are good things to have, it is not right that that becomes who a man is. It puts pressure on them to succeed in ways that aren't always honorable, especially sexual conquest. So although most of these things are good to be successful in, they should not define who a man is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kayla on how acts of service should be more than simply a push to look better in the eyes of others. Especially as high school students, we often do service to meet requirements, such as for school, clubs, or to look good on college applications. Joe's philosophy of measuring greatness by service is thus complicated. Putting service and success together in a sentence highlights the difficulty of distinguishing whether someone, take Joe for example, was devoted to service simply to build an image (an inspirational and touching as it may be), or if they truly and unselfishly devoted themselves to others. It seems to me that human beings will always and instinctively have an ulterior motive.
ReplyDeleteThe false masculinity concept (being comprised of athletic ability, sexual conquest, and economic success) really caught my attention. Many of the men and boys in my family are very much ruled by this idea. While this isn't exactly a new and innovative theory, it does blatantly point out a huge flaw in society. There are issues with each individual aspect of this false masculinity.
ReplyDeleteAthletic ability: When you're young and full of life and energy, of course you are going to be at your athletic peak. As you grow into a young adult and maybe even past that, you may be lucky enough to retain some of that talent and skill. However, eventually, you're body will quit on you or at least weaken. When you're in your 70's and no longer able to compete, your records will since have been broken, your wins forgotten, and if that's all you had to say for yourself... you're just gone.
Sexual conquest: I've never understood why this is thought of as a good thing. Among teenagers you often hear the comment that when girls sleep around they're called sluts and often ostracized and gossiped about. When guys sleep around they're called pimps and players and all their friends high five them and congratulate them. In all reality, being mature enough to commit to having a lasting relationship rather than a string of one night stands shows you to be a better man.
Economic success: I stand by the idea that money can't buy you happiness. I often find that men fixated on their economic standing begin to ignore their own family. When that happens, you're idly standing by as the most important things slip away from you. Nothing is more important than your family. They are the ones you can always count on to love you and care for you no matter what mistakes you make. When you put money before that, you're priorities are seriously skewed.
I completely agree with Jasmine's statement that men should not be defined by athletic ability, sexual conquest, or economic success. Although these aspects may seem important and necessary for personal happiness, they are futile. It is their reations to events like these that define a man, whether positive or negative. If a man is born with incredible athletic ability, he can respond be being ignorant and conceited or thoughtful and humble. His decision will define him. For example, after Billy's death, Joe could have continued his life of parties and little responsibility, but instead, he founded the Ronald McDonald house and ultimately changed the direction of his life. Joe's reaction to personal tragedy characterized his as generous, honorable, and loving. Men mirror their responses to the things that happen to them and the people they affect.
ReplyDeleteI recently finished reading "Such, Such Were the Joys," which was posted in the chapter eight section. I would have to say that the most evident connection I can make between Orwell's story and "Season of Life" is the pressure boys get to become stronger, smarter, and wealthier than the boys around them. Although Orwell grew up in England, let alone during the early twentieth century, many boys in America can relate to him today. While attending boarding school, Orwell has many conversations about money. His classmates constantly talk about the amount of money their fathers earn each year, where the next family vacation will be spent, and what type of car their parents drive. These are questions that teenagers ask each other every day. Not all teenagers have families that can afford large houses or luxurious cars, and simply because they have no money to squander, they can feel inferior to those who do. Orwell was raised in a society where he was beaten for not meeting the standards of English society - he was punished for not having a rich family, playing with bugs outside, and for "not being a snob."
ReplyDeleteWhen Orwell finally becomes an adult, he realizes that the limitations his peers set for him were ridiculous, and the fear he had as a child has faded. American teenagers hold themselves up to similar standards today. However, the people with expensive clothing, sports cars, and mansions are those we often see on television rather than in real life. The schools that rival against Gilman high may try to intimidate other football players by insulting their skills, starting fights and relentlessly trying to defeat them, but Gilman ultimately succeeds. Instead of taking on an aggressive state of mind and focusing on what the other team was doing, Gilman focuses on their own team principles and on the opportunities to better them. Rather than become like other gregarious teenagers and think about material wealth, it is important to be an individual first, by focusing on the standards you hold to yourself.
So lets start by talking about the Ch. 7 question that Mr. Johnson posted. No matter where you go to school there will be some sort of divisions between you and your classmates, and there are ways to get past these. This includes joining together through sports, which is seen in the book. But you can also join together through clubs, classes, and activities. But in my opinion I believe that the best way to erase divisions between us is for our parents, friends and peers in general share the same desire to want to erase the divisions and help teach tolerance. If we can all join together and not judge others based on their race, background or belief system we can truly erase the boundaries that separate so many of us today. I also think that if we use what Joe was talking about and try to follow in his footsteps then we will be able to see each other as friends instead of a certain background.
ReplyDeleteAthletic ability: The flaw in this concept is that not everyone is as athletic as next person, that with this concept you have to be fit, in shape and able to play sports in order to be considered a man, and not all can achieve this. Those who can’t will spend their whole lives trying to be something that they aren’t and trying to fit in with the crowd when in all actuality it is not the crowd they want to be in with. Joe would replace by playing all of his players in the first quarter of the game. He did this to show that even if you aren’t as talented or athletic as the guy next to you as long as you are bringing everything you have then what you have is enough.
ReplyDeleteSexual conquest: The flaw in this is that these so called “men” were being using this concept a girl simply become an object instead of a person to share feelings with. They become play toys that boys could just throw away. Joe would replace this by making a strong point in his players that girls were not objects. And that his players better not let him hear about them treating any girl badly or there would be consequences.
Economic success: The flaw in this concept is that a man is judged based on what he has, on his amount of possessions and earnings. By doing this you are not really paying attention to who a person is, only to what they have and the more the better. Joe would replace this by saying that as long as a person brings whatever they have and give it their all then they are doing what a man would.
Joe Ehrmann is completely right about the social world that we live in. In order to change this we need to listen to what Joe was teaching his football players and implement it in our own schools to bring people together as well as teaching boys to be men.
To answer the first question in red, I believe that we just accept all differences. Everyone is different and there is no changing that. We have to look past all our differences and look at each other as people participating in the rat race of life. If everyone does this then peace will be always there. Once this chain is broken though choas will rein over us. We just have look past and this will be secong nature for everyone. In the book this football team is able to do that. They don't see each other's differences but their similarities. They are all brought together for the same goal. They want a great season. They can't let the differences in each other affect that goal so they are able to look past them. If today's society took that to heart there would be world peace.
ReplyDeleteThe chapter 10 red question really raises an eyebrow. Society has these preset notions of what it takes to be a man. Being athletic, sexy, and rich. This is simply what the media has washed into our brains. Ever watched any amount of time and not seen an ad for women's make up? Didn't think so. Society tries hard to conform to this standard of life. Joe sees beyond that and anounces to his team and followers that there is more to life than what the media says. Life shouldn't be about being the sexiest thing in the world but rather the happiet you can be. Not successful to the media but to one's self.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Marx highlights teamwork as a crucial part of being a man, he recognizes that the individual is also necessary. The Gilman football team clearly demonstrates both the need for strong teamwork as well as a zealous individual. On the one hand, the young men are completely supportive or one another and dedicate themselves entirely to the team. After a devastating loss, Mike tells Ambrose, "I'm so proud of you, man," and Ambrose responds, "So proud of you too" (83). Marx is so impressed by the two boys because rarely in today's society will you find a high school boy telling another he is proud of him. Mike and Ambrose demonstrate the importance of a team as not only a support system but a family. Along with a supportive team is a potent individual. I believe the individual is most important. Every individual within a team has the power to raise it up or drag it down. A team can put pressure on a boy to make the right decision, but ultimately, it is up to the boy. Marx correctly stresses the need for both a responsive team and a dynamic individual.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Shursteen is saying about kids eating alone and that making them feel left out. It reminds me of when we had that presentation for Rachels Challenge and how one girl saved a girl from commiting suicide and changed the lives of countless others. This is why I think that coach Erhmann is doing something great by having the boys sit with others at lunch and not letting a kid eat alone at lunch, particulary because they are athletes are looked up to.
ReplyDeleteRecently I went to a camp where the majority of kids had less than thirty students in their graduating class. Because of this they all knew each other and were all pretty much friends it made me think about our school and how a kid sitting alone disapears in a lunch room of 1000 kids. If a new student came to our school, especially a senior I can see
why it would be hard for them to find a group to sit with as there are already friendship groups that have been cemented for three years if we could incorporate those students and invite them to sit with us or just with them our school would be a much friendlier place.
I agree with Alix on how Joe and Biff place emphasis not only on teamwork, but more importantly on how the individual should tick. Joe says, "It's gonna come down to this. What kind of father were you? What kind of husband were you? What kind of son were you? What kind of brother were you?..." (67). It is this focus on individual relationships that prompts Marx to rebuild a connection with his father. Marx chose to end the book with this important reconnection because it demonstrates how Joe’s philosophy in Building Men for Others has had an impact much wider than the football field.
ReplyDeleteMr. Johnson asked the question "How can we work together to erase the divisions between us [in public high school]?" I believe that while this may seem like an easy thing to do, it's really much more complicated. Everybody likes to believe that you can just ask people to sit with you at lunch or talk to random strangers in the hall and everything will be peachy keen. However, I think that the problems are much more deeply rooted. Somebody has to be willing to take a real stand and speak out against prejudices and stereotypes. Until the underlying issues are truly dealt with, no real resolve can be reached. People must first understand that the hatreds and prejudices held against people due to race or economic standing or such are ridiculous and utterly meaningless.
ReplyDeleteUnder chapter ten the red section quotes a part of the book-False Masculinity is based on the following concepts: athletic ability, sexual conquest, and economic sucess. The flaws with this are that being proficient at these traits doesn't make you happy or make you loved. I recently finished another one of our summer reading books, East of Eden, and there was a chapter about how very rich men weren't happy with their lives because they never had love. They tried to buy back the love they had lost while gaining their economic sucess but couldn't so they died unfufilled. It may seem that people want you to be a great athlete and be rich but often they would be more eager to like you and accept if you just acted yourself. Althouh this book is about becoming a man there is a lot to learn for a girl too because we have our own concepts that are considered False Femininity. For example having a nice body, like the ones seen on TV which are unpratical to have. Girls can strive to have a skinny figure but they should really be striving to I'm prove their inner beauty.
ReplyDeleteIn regaurds to the question, How can we work together to erase the divisions between us? They say racism isn't born, it's taught. That quote is basically saying that racisim is "taught" to people by their surroundings. They learn it from society, media, peers, parents, etc. Racism, sexism, and classism will probably always exist. A way to "erase the divisions between us" in our high school though is by not participating in any kind of harrassment to others. Personally, in our school, we are so divided because of the way we treat eachother. We don't know how to treat other students and teachers with respect. Just like Rachels challenge, "a chain reaction" can just be created by treating people with respect. If you're nice to others and treat them respectfully, chances are that they will respect you back.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 10, it talks about false masculinity being based on sexual conquest, athletic ability and economic success. I agree completely with Dani, this points out a huge flaw in our society. I personally blame media, but anyways. I stumbled on a quote by Vincent D'Onofrio, an actor from law and order. He says, "To me the definition of true masculinity - and femininity, too - is being able to lay in your own skin comfortably." Masculinity shouldn't be measured by sexual conquest, athletic ability or economic success. Masculinity and femininity should be measured by your own expectations if that makes sense. Everyone is different, so why should we all have to live up to this false idea in our society of characteristics a man or woman should have?
ReplyDeleteWhen one thinks of success, they usually automatically look towards those who are materialistically wealthy or Hollywood famous. Young people today try and form their lives based on these images, but what they don't consider is how this affects personal relationships. Most Hollywood relationships are based on a selfish need to advance in society; as Joe Ehrmann mentions in the book, how are they helping others? The rich may donate towards charities, but if they use that to support their own image, it's still a selfish act. I think that in society, first impressions are a large part of what people judge by, which is why so many people work hard to be something they're not for themselves. If they could get past that first image of, say, a professional football player to see the husband and father beneath, it would cause people to work harder to help others, not themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to erase the diversion between us in our schools, I agree with Jackie. Racism and prejudice in general aren't something we're just born with, it's something we're taught. Our brains automatically seem to pick up on how people treat others, and more often than not, tend to follow these examples unconsciously. In reality, the only way to completely ease the tensions between people is to start from birth; to teach children and adolescents that being different is actually a good thing. Because once a prejudicial mindset has settled, it's nearly impossible to change unless it's through a life-changing experience.
ReplyDelete