"This quarter, our MPX 10th grade students grappled with the differences between a dystopian society and a utopian society. Through their reading of George Orwell's 1984, investigations into different types of societal control, and dissection of their own beliefs as to the structure of a 'perfect world,' our students concluded that the line between a dystopia and a utopia is not so clear after all.
The students were tasked with crafting their own dystopia rooted in US History or current events that had a clear warning to American society. After learning about plot structure, theme, and character development, they transformed this dystopia into a graphic novel. Students worked tirelessly with Ms. Carnes in developing clear characters and an aesthetic to their art that would not only remain consistent throughout an entire story, but would also aid in the explanation of their dystopian world.
Additionally, with the expertise of Dr. Hines, students implemented STEM concepts into their graphic novels in order to highlight how ingrained science and technology are in a society. For some, the science and technology took the role of an antagonist, warning the readers of relying too heavily on trying to control our world scientifically or technologically. For others, these concepts became the tool with which the dystopia was abolished and the people saved.
Our magnificent students spent weeks drawing and redrawing, writing and rewriting, drafting and redrafting. They participated in peer critique and a multitude of teacher critiques. The metamorphosis of their rough drafts to their final drafts included in this book is astounding and truly encompasses the spirit of MPX: growth. And, isn't growth the largest, if not only, defining factor between a dystopia and a utopia? If we are not encouraged to grow, if we are not pushed to see a larger potential or to reach more people, are we just stagnant participants in our world? If anything, we hope our students walked away from this project not only realizing how important it is for them to be dedicated to their continuous growth as a student, but also their responsibility in keeping our society and our world on a trajectory of progress, equality, compassion, and innovation.
Dr. Hines, Ms. Carnes, and I are beyond proud of our students and what they have accomplished this quarter and this year. They are inspirational students that carry such beautiful light. We are thankful for the chance to have taught them, laughed with them, and learned with them."