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burntoutautisticchildren · 2 years

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Ban Gifted And Talented Education

Flash back to fifth grade. I anxiously waited in the cafeteria line, something known as a spelling bee. I did not win the contest, but placed probably tenth. I don’t remember the word I got off on at all, but I do remember that crushed feeling. Something so trivial got me so upset? Why was that? I was labeled as gifted. Not gifted enough to get into GATE, which that program is a whole other can of worms this article will get into, but gifted enough to the point where my teachers expected highly of my sister as she passed through teachers I also had. Most peers labeled me as “the weird kid” or “the quiet kid” because my nose was almost always in a book, and I was rejected from many groups. My only friend was the other kid in the class like me. The other autistic. In group situations, I would opt to work alone, as I would end up doing that anyway. Two days into each project, without fail went like this: “Mrs. (insert teacher’s name), Cason must have cheated! He’s already done!” I only got good grades because it was expected of me at this point. Flash forward to 2022, I’m a Sophomore in high school. Next year, I’ll be a Junior. My best grade, in the beginning of the second semester, is a 90%. I bet you that changes at the end of the year. I need a calculator to do eight times tables, whereas I can multiply 400 x 362 in my head, it’s 144,800. Just multiply everything by four, right? 2 x 4 is 8, 6 x 4 is 24, and 3x 4 is 12. Carry the 2 in 24, now it's 14. 144,800 after you add back on the two zeroes. But put 7 x 8 in front of me, and it'll take me three years to figure out before i come up with the first digit. Where did this issue come from? Parents blame devices, but I blame the school system for putting academic achievement over equity. A lot of us “gifted kids” have undiagnosed autism, and the school board decides to put us in a higher class versus giving us the accommodations we deserve because they don’t know how to deal with us. According to a 2021 study by Embrace Autism, roughly .7-2% of diagnosed autistic children are believed to be academically gifted, but that does not count the amount of undiagnosed autistic children. This can be detrimental in the long run, as being “gifted” or “special” versus being given accommodations because you are high functioning, can harm children. While we’re at it, let’s talk about the can of worms that is GATE, or “Gifted and Talented Education”. This program runs from preschool all the way up to senior year of high school. Let’s read through the standards for the pre-k age group: Pre- K: Focus on and be organized to include more elaborate, complex, and in-depth study of major ideas, key concepts, and themes that integrate knowledge within and across disciplines. Be an extension of core learning, using both acceleration and enrichment strategies. Streamline or compact curriculum that the student is able to master quickly Encourage exposure to, selection of and use of varied, challenging and specialized resources. Provide opportunities for students to recognize complex relationships and arrive at sound generalizations. Stress higher-level thinking, creativity, and problem solving skills. All fine and dandy until you get to: Set high standards that demand rigorous expectations for student work and performance demonstration. Are we seeing GATE outright admit to traumatizing kids, even before they enter kindergarten? I took the test online and even I could admit I had trouble with some of the questions regarding wording and patterns. A lot of them put things way too close together. Finally, I’ll get into expectations and classism. Labeling a student as gifted makes them feel like they can spread their wings and gracefully fly. That is, until they get to highschool. In reality, they are just baby birds being fed the lies of the school board and its associates, and once they’re “full grown” at grade 9, they are pushed out of the nest and left to fight for themselves and ultimately splatter on the earth that is honors classes. So, what does this have to do with expectations? Well, coming from a burnt out gifted kid, academic expectations from my parents and grandparents are 20x heavier than normal. 70s have to turn 80s, 80s into 90s, and you better keep that grade at a 90% or higher or you’re not trying your best. With classism, the gifted kid gets labeled as “better than average”, leaving other autistics that see autistic traits in these children to feel stupid. If an autistic student is high functioning, they’re automatically labeled as normal, whereas someone talks too loud and they have a full on breakdown. My message to school systems? Do better to help your students. No wonder we often contemplate if we’re good enough. To neurotypicals in general? Sign petitions to get rid of gifted education

#bangate #gifted and talented education #autism #actually autistic #tired of school #treatusnormal

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comeondowntosouthparkrpg-blog · 5 years

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Bebe Stevens

Is she still playing truth or dare in treehouses? Bebe has been accepted! Please submit your blog to the main, and a faceclaim to be featured on the main blog!

out of character info

Name/Alias: Grace

Pronouns: She/Her

Age: 23

Join Our Discord: Yes - [REDACTED]

Timezone: GMT

Activity: 8 (at least every other day)

Triggers: N/A

Password: jimmy can fast pass my ass

Character that you’re applying for: Bebe Stevens

Favourite ships for your character: Bebe/Chemistry!!

in character info

Full name: Barbara “Bebe” Stevens

Birthday: 11th August 2000

Sexuality, gender, pronouns: Female, She/Her, Bisexual

Age and grade: 18

Appearance:

Face of angel, body of a goddess, posture of a queen. That’s what she’s been told will get her far in life, and that’s what Bebe strives for. She’s slim build but – with thanks to frequent gym tips (for the Instagram likes) and rigorous cheerleader training – Bebe is toned, tanned and seriously strong. Her fair falls halfway down her back and, without proper styling, it’s a big nest of yellow frizz. Since hitting puberty, Bebe’s mom has enforced regular trips to the salon to tame her curls and highlight her tips, meaning only those really close to her have seen how much of a disaster it’s natural state is.

She has brown eyes, plump lips, and dresses largely in sportswear – crop tops, sports bras, leggings, shorts, high tops and hoodies. On nights out, she likes to ‘Go Ho’ with tight dresses and her signature red lipstick. Bebe is rarely seen without makeup; since entering High School, she’s grown to dislike her natural face – pale and imperfect, with dark patches under her eyes and freckles on her arms. Fake tan, foundation and fad diets are a necessity, if only to get her mom off her back.

Personality:

Bebe doesn’t let anyone see more than her outward appearance. Since childhood, discouraging comments about pursuing an education and becoming an independent career woman have twisted her dreams and shattered her personal image. She works hard at school, but often struggles more than her classmates and is too stubborn to ask for help. Bebe wants to follow Wendy to an Ivy League School, become a Marine Biologist, and change the world for women in STEM. Constant reality checks from failed exams and her mom’s patriarchal view of the world have made that goal unobtainable, so now she’s relying on Instagram fame, a rich college boy proposing, and being widowed at 35 with diamonds to spare.

Bebe is bold, to the point, and surprisingly witty. However, she often disguises her wit behind ditzy or vain observations and a vapid obsession with whatever’s fashionable at the time. She’s driven, though, and even with the world seeing her a certain way, she’d like to become a bigger, brighter person. At parties, she’s a loud personality; she likes drink, dick, drugs and dancing in any order, and isn’t afraid to announce it. She’s also a natural born leader. People are drawn to her, be that because she’s got great boobs and bad reputation, or because she knows how the world works (a little too much) and isn’t afraid to grab it by the balls.

History:

Deborah Thornton met Harvey Stevens when she was 17 and he was 25. Harvey was everything Deborah wanted: well-dressed, well-spoken, and heir to a successful stationary company. Her dating strategy was relentless; Deborah knew what she wanted, and she was damn well going to get it – but how was she going to keep it? That much was easy: have his baby.

Bebe knows she’s not a child born of love, but of circumstance. Her parents like each other well enough, but there’s no spark, just a dull-witted woman who dresses nicely for her boring, business-minded husband. Luckily, their poor parenting techniques have resulted in Bebe getting almost everything she asks for, and Deborah encourages that want-all attitude with pride. Bebe is the spitting image of her mom at 18: voluptuous body, sweet voice, and unwavering social status. Now all she needs is a husband.

The world has blessed Bebe, but as a ten-year-old, that wasn’t enough. She wanted everything she could get her hands on: all the boys, all the power, and all the shoes. Sure, stealing her dad’s gun and pointing at her best friend wasn’t her proudest moment, especially when it was just to keep her hands on Clyde fucking Donavon, but that decisiveness has remained to this day. She’ll dress slutty if she wants to, snort coke if she wants to, and get down if she wants to. Nonetheless, not even Deborah could have planned for Bebe’s independence. Bebe Stevens wants the world.

Sample paragraph:

There’s a riot going on outside, and Bebe can see most of her class in the middle of it. Knowing that lot, they probably started it. A few look worried, the majority bored (oh, a riot in South Park? Must be, like, a Tuesday) but they all know it’ll die down tomorrow when the next bullshit scenario rears its ugly head.

At least they’re involved, right? Bebe hasn’t been dragged into any non-squad drama for months. Sometimes, the guys will give Wendy a taste of their bizzare-o world, and Wendy will complain and call them assholes, but Bebe has this secret feeling that all those whacko, dangerous shenanigans might be kinda … fun.

Fuck. All she wants is the chance, just once, to take the wheel and get fucking WILD with it. Unfortunately, she has a reputation to uphold, an Instagram to keep active, and no one really trusts her after the whole, like, ‘pointing-a-gun-at-her-best-friend’ business.

Bebe blames some of it on society. That’s what Wendy would say to to cheer her up (and, thanks girl, but a pair of shoes or some ice cream would do a better job of it).

She blames the rest of it on her mom. Her mom, who’s dragged Bebe to yet another salon, because “you won’t marry rich with dry skin and crusty cuticles, honey.” Bebe’s fingers fucking ache after the trials they’ve been put through today, just for a French manicure and a couple gems on the thumbnail.

“Hey, mom,” she ventures, and her mom looks up from her copy of The Boob Job: Use your Tits to get Hitched to address her little girl.

Her mom only cares about two things: potential boyfriends (and how Bebe can use her body to bag them), and any girl-gang gossip that’ll make her feel young again.

“Can I go outside? I think I see Annie out there..”

“And ruin your nails, baby? What if that Clyde boy sees you acting like a common whore? Or Token, he’s rich, right?”

“Then they’ll be more likely to fuck me, right? Come on, mom. I can see robots out there.”

Bebe knows that the idea of her daughter becoming just another white-trash, Tomboy Tina terrifies Deborah to the core. But they’re in South Park, and the alternative options are pretty slim.

“Fine,” her mom says, “but I want you to get three good selfies and at least one date out of it, you here? Tell them you’re a cheerleader, they like that. And look out for college boys - they’re smart.”

This town is tiny and suffocating, Bebe wants to say, they all know I’m a fuckin cheerleader. But instead she says, “sure mom, whatever, kisses,” and bolts out the door, wondering if she’ll be brave enough, today, to break a nail.

Head canons:

Bebe still has her fluffy white cat, Thumper, who she adores, even if half of his fur has gone and his legs don’t work anymore. Deborah hates the thing, but Harvey still makes sure its fed if Bebe’s away.

Bebe has some lingering drug issues. She rarely goes out now without dropping some MDMA or a line of coke, and she sometimes sneaks out at night to smoke a joint at Stark’s pond. It’s got the point that she thinks it’s a necessity to be the ultimate party girl, and she’s got no plans to stop anytime soon. It’s what Paris Hilton would have wanted.

Bebe has MAD body-image issues and will not let anyone see her without her makeup on. The only exceptions are Wendy and her dad.

Anything else: nope, nada!

#bebe stevens #accepted #submission

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grabthelantern · 6 years

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Champ Design Breakdown: Graves, the Outlaw

By Helmight

Sometimes, more abilities can be worse than fewer when it comes to thematic consistency. Most champions need all five of their ability slots to really get their flavor across, but Graves only needs two. Unfortunately, that means the rest of his kit is full of largely generic spells that muddy his cohesion and ultimately make him feel not quite as thematic.

Got any bright ideas?

Malcolm Graves was born in Bilgewater, and spent most of his childhood learning how to fight and steal to get by. He smuggled himself to the mainland in the bilge of a ship as a youth and spent several years cheating, swindling, and stealing his way across Runeterra. Somewhere along the line, he met up with a trickster known as Twisted Fate across a game of cards, and the two entered a partnership.

It was a lucrative deal for both conmen, and they blazed a trail of heists across the globe while working together. However, during one job gone wrong, Twisted Fate abandoned Graves to escape, leaving his partner behind to take the heat. Graves spent years in the notorious prison known as the locker, withstanding brutal punishments and slowly nurturing his hatred of Twisted Fate. Other men might have broken, but Graves isn’t other men.

Upon escaping from the prison, Graves acquired a massive shotgun called Destiny and set off on a rampage of revenge to find his former partner. After the two had their reckoning in Bilgewater and escaped death at the hands of Gangplank, Graves put aside his vengeance in order to partner up with Twisted Fate once again.

Graves is a con man like Twisted Fate, but while Fate uses guile, Graves uses brawn. He’s a big beefy guy with a gigantic shotgun, which leads me to think he’s a frontline damage dealer. Though Graves isn’t necessarily a tank, he can certainly take a punishment while blasting buckshot at his foes.

End of the line

Graves is listed as a marksman, but the Outlaw has very little in common with his squishy brethren. He’s most comfortable when in the face of enemy team members, using his unique set of skills to avoid or mitigate incoming damage while blowing chunks out of their health bar with his shotgun. He’s not a tank, strictly speaking, but he’s definitely more durable than other members of his class and has considerably less range. This is a good thing though, as it plays up his tough-guy attitude.

New Destiny (P) is the core of Graves’ kit. Only having two rounds in his gun makes Graves feel pretty flavorful, especially since they can deal a significant amount of damage, and the spread of buckshot on each attack emphasizes getting in close. Quickdraw (E) initially looks like a weird addition, since Graves appears to be too big to have a dash, but the fact that it grants him bonus armor and reloads a shell makes it feel alright from a thematic standpoint.

The rest of Graves’s kit is a bit arbitrary, but does somewhat contribute to his theme. End of the Line (Q) and Collateral Damage (R) are both basically generic AoE damage spells, but they feel brutal and striking enough to match Graves’s character. Smokescreen (W) is the one weird part of Graves’s kit - it doesn’t exactly match up with his flavor and doesn’t feel beefy enough to belong.

I like my enemies two ways - dead, or about to be

Graves’s abilities mostly feel arbitrary, but his core gameplay of dashing around while buckshotting enemies in the face is flavorful enough to get him a passing grade. I would have loved to have seen his abilities focus more on his shotgun and less on generic damage, but as it stands Graves does enough to feel decently thematic.

Final Grade: B-. Pretty close, but needs work to really match his theme.

Disagree with my assessment of Graves? Or have you got a different champion you’d like me to analyze? Let me know in my inbox, and be sure to like and reblog this post if you enjoyed it!

#League of Legends #Grab the Lantern #Champ Design Breakdown #Graves

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