Question

However, what does it mean when Sip says "for some of us, school is like a tree we get to hide in. And at the bottom of it is a bunch of dogs. Them dogs are bad decisions. So when people shake us out that tree for no reason, it becomes a lot easier to get bit"

Answer 1

The student's metaphor of school as a tree and bad decisions as dogs illustrates the protective role of education against negative life choices. Jeremy Iversen's High School Confidential supports this notion, emphasizing the detrimental effect of harmful labels from authority figures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The metaphor described presents school as a tree, representing a safe haven for students. The 'dogs' at the bottom symbolize the bad decisions that students can make in life. When students are shaken from the security of school without just cause, they are more susceptible to these 'bad decisions.' This comparison touches upon themes of security, education's role in shielding youth from poor choices, and the potential turmoil when that protective environment is disturbed.

Jeremy Iversen's book High School Confidential reflects on his undercover experience at a high school and covers problems such as authority figures embedding negative labels on students. These labels can harm a student's self-perception and cause them to 'live down' to these expectations. The book underscores the importance of encouragement and support within the educational environment.

This metaphor serves as a reminder of the protective and nurturing role school should play in the lives of students, and warns against the consequences of carelessly stripping away that support.