Parents+Aren't+Too+Old+to+Learn+New+Tricks...or+Something

Students, I know it was last week when we finished reading, discussing, and writing about Victoria Forester's fantasy novel, __The Girl Who Could Fly__, but one point still needs further thought. (Or so it seems to me.) We've talked about the author's message, but I'm not so sure that we all really are on the same page with that, so to speak. Therefore I'm going to ask you to think about Piper's parents.

At the beginning of the story, they were dead set against Piper's flying. They aren't important characters in the story, really, except to provide structure. They are the framework upon which the story is tacked, so to speak. At the end of the book, they provide commentary about Piper's adventures-- and also about Piper herself. Are they the same, or have they changed to some extent?

Look for a passage spoken by Piper's mother, in which she references "the Good Lord." What does she say? Do you think what Ma says relates to the author's message? Please add your thoughts, and please don't forget to initial when you're done.

PARENTS DON'T PLAY FETCH BUT THEY CAN LEARN NEW TRICKS by Veronica If you've ever read //The Girl Who Could Fly// by Victoria Forrester, you will probably remember this passage: "Well, me and your pa ain't gonna lie to you none neither, we don't take to this flying much.......but we had a good spell to think things over, and we figure as long as you do your chores and act as the good Lord would want, we'll just have to take you as you was made." This was said by Betty McCloud, Piper's strict but underneath-it-all-compassionite mother. At the beginning of the book, she and Piper's father, Joe McCloud, are very against Piper's strange ability to fly. However, when Piper comes back from the Institute, this passage was said to her. Piper realizes right then and there that her parents have changed. Although they do not like her flying, Piper now knows that her parents can accept it, and also accept her. The author's message says that people shouldn't change to fit other's expectations, and also that people shouldn't want to change other people. I think both Piper and her parents understand this lesson and work together to put it into play. Lesson that Pipers parents learned By John Yes I do believe that when Piper's mom said that reference "The good lord" I think that it relates to the authors message.At the start of the story Pipers parents and everyone else she knows scorned her, but at the end of the book Piper goes back home her parents welcome her and let her friend Conrad live with them. I feel that Pipers parents have changed a lot at the end of the book. Lesson Piper's Parents Learned  By Caroline   Betty says, "It ain't the way of things for youngens to be gadding about the sky like that. But we had a good spell to think things over and we figure as long as you do your chores and act as the good Lord would want, we'll have to take you as you were made.     I think that Betty is trying to say that just because Piper is different doesn't mean that they should try to change her. They change their minds because they know that Piper loves flying, and that it is part of who she is. I think that the authors message in this quote is to try not to change people just because they are different from you or the people that you hang out with.  Betty says " Well, me and your pa ain't gonna lie to you none neither, we don't take to this flying much, but we had a good spell to think things over and we figure as long as you do your chores and act as the good lord would want, we'll just have to take you as you was made." What Betty is trying to say in my opinion is that as long as you do what your supposed to do you can do anything. Spencer Lesson Piper’s had learned at the end

By Max “We had a good spell to think things over a we figure as long as you do your chores and act as the good Lord would want, we’ll just have to take you as you was made.” That was the answer of Piper’s mother to her flying. I think she meant that she would be allowed to fly if she worked hard and behaved well. She did as she was told and was allowed. I believe that the lesson we all should learn is give respect to anyone no mater how different they are as long as they are good people.

====A Lesson to Be Learned ==== By Peyton

"As long as you do your chores and act as the good Lord would want, we'll just have to take you as you was made."

Piper's parents learned that they should accept Piper and not to change her. This lesson should be known to all people.