In "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", the patients living at the mental institution, are limited to a very strict schedule. They have no say what they do, or when they do it. They are told when to eat, sleep, watch t.v., when they can smoke, and how much, and when to clean. They have no say in what they are served for meals. They are told when they can brush their teeth in the morning, and how much toothpaste they can use.They are at the say of the Big Nurse. Her word is the law. If someone defies the big nurse, they are at the risk of being sent to the disturbed ward. At the end of the day, they are givin a pill, tied into bed, and arent aloud to get out until morning.
Although there are a few similarities to the way that Framingham High School is run, the schedule that the patients follow, is much more controlled, and restricted. At school, we may be forced to take classes, but ultimately we decide which ones we want to take. There are tons of electives that students can choose from, so people really shouldn't complain that they hate their elective classes. The patients don't have this luxuray, they go through the same routine every single day without having any word on the matter. in school we also get to decide what we eat for lunch, having many different options in the cafeteria. At the end of the day, we get on the bus, and go home where we are free to do as we please until school the next morning. The patients at the mental institution are not so lucky, they can not go home until they are cleared by the doctors. Some of them know that this might never happen for them. They are labeled a chronic, and forced to spend the rest of their lives following the same schedule every day.
Some similarities we share with the patients, is we are forced to wake up early. I guarantee that there is not one person in school that enjoys waking up at 6. Also, though we decide what we eat, we can't decide when we eat. Based on the class we have at a certain time of the day, determines when we can eat.Some are fortunate and get first lunch. some are cursed to wait an hour and a half later and get 4th. The final similarity between our school and the ward, is the authority that we have to respect. The vice-principals decide what you get for punishment, and just like with the big Nurse, you don't want to be on their bad side.
Dan I agree with most of your post, but sometimes the electives the students want, they don't always get them. So they are forced into a new one that they probably don't want. But I want to know how you think the roles of the doctors and black boys and big nurse relate to FHS.
ReplyDeleteDan, I found it intresting how you campared the daily rutuin, that is something I never thought of. Although I feel the students or at least I have alot more room with the rules. For example if one is feeling wild they can wake up early and brush their teeth at 4:30. instead of the same time everday. The punishment idea was also intresting except hopefully the principal won't labotimize you.
ReplyDeleteDan, I agree with most of your arguments accept that the daily routines in pysch ward are much more strict compared to the daily routine in school. Yes, we have to go to classes at specific times each day but, personally, I would much rather follow the school's schedule than the schedule at the ward.
ReplyDeleteDan, I really like how you have broken down the strict rules of the ward and compared them to the school's rules. The Big Nurse sure does have a ton of policies that govern the ward. WHich ones are necessary and which ones are just there to stroke her ego? Is there a distinction between the two of these?
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