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Post by aln1982 on Feb 22, 2006 16:51:04 GMT -5
Just wondering what Claudia's biggest problem is in school (other than spelling, which is obvious). In the Middle School Mystery, she supposedly has trouble with math but in Stacey the Math Wiz, Claudia can tutor Lindsey because she "is okay at math." That would indicate that her problem is in reading. With her reading and spelling problems, do any of the books mention if her parents have ever considered testing her for a learning disability? It sounds to me like she has one - the girl I tutor has a lot of the same problems and has a diagnosed disability in reading and spelling. I think Claudia is my least favorite sitter - maybe because I have the least in common with her. The junk food thing bugs me (how she is always eating something but yet has "perfect complexion and a perfect figure, etc"). It also seems like she kind of brags about what a talented artist she is and how mature she is. She didn't seem very mature in New York! New York! when she stuck her tongue out at Mallory. I thought she was pretty bratty to Mal in that whole book.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Feb 22, 2006 17:15:23 GMT -5
In Claudia's Freind Friend (hate the title) it mentions that Claudia was tested for all sorts of learning disabilities and didn't have any. It doesn't make sense, particularly since she was supposed to be "smart". Smart 13 yr olds without a learning disability don't have trouble spelling "how" whether they're lazy or not She was bratty to Mal in New York, New York - but I could kinda sympathise with her. The perfect complexion/perfect figure thing bugged me though. Bingeing on crap is nothing more than an endearing quality if you happen to have a fast metabolism, but you'll be shat all over if you put on weight. Remember Norman Hill?
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Post by spazgirl on Feb 22, 2006 17:48:51 GMT -5
Yes, appearently Claudia wasn't at all dumb. She in fact had a very high IQ, or so she claimed. I know she said it in one book, like Janine's is 162 I think Claudia said her own was in the 140s. Puhleez. So, basically if Claudia had just "applied herself" she would've been a superstar in school. But she was too busy thinking about art, fashion, boys, nancy drew, and M&Ms to perform well I guess.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Feb 22, 2006 18:38:31 GMT -5
Janine's IQ is 196! It's mentioned in lots of books. I don't remember Claudia's, though.
I don't know how it can take so much application of oneself to learn the difference between who" and "how". Is it really that hard? Especially if you're smart with no learning disability?
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Post by hitzpink on Feb 22, 2006 19:28:00 GMT -5
I don't know how it can take so much application of oneself to learn the difference between who" and "how". Is it really that hard? Especially if you're smart with no learning disability? Seriously, there's no way she was just "lazy". I think they could have made Claudia's "laziness" a lot more believable if they would have had her getting in trouble for not turning in homework (ie: she's working on an art project instead of doing homework), but NOT by having her mix up "how" and "who" and misspelling basic words.
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Post by aln1982 on Feb 22, 2006 20:04:37 GMT -5
I agree. The way they portray her is as if she does have a learning disability. Interesting that they say she doesn't yet also don't make a big deal about her not applying herself. I think the character would be a lot more believable if they made it clear one way or another. I've noticed with a lot of the characters, the author "tells" you that they are independent, bossy, smart, etc. instead of really showing. Know what I mean?
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Feb 23, 2006 6:19:49 GMT -5
I've noticed with a lot of the characters, the author "tells" you that they are independent, bossy, smart, etc. instead of really showing. Know what I mean? Oh, definitely!! Especially Dawn and her individualistness.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2006 8:25:51 GMT -5
That was a huuuuge misstep on the part of AMM and her army of ghostwriters. They have a deep love for PSAs and yet they make a point of convincing the reader that there is nothing *wrong* with Claudia- and, like, I have a decent IQ and have failed a number of things in school due to laziness, but I was skipping classes and never working, whereas Claudia was described as lazy but she... seemed to pretty much do everything. It was my experience in school that if you attended and did the work you'd generally pass, maybe not with flying colors but I knew no one held back unless they were truly dumb or lazy in the sense that they missed enough days during the semester and lost credit (or the kid was a victim of circumstances beyond his/her control). Most fairly intelligent kids can half-ass their way through school as long as they bother turning things in.
It could have been the greatest BSC PSA of all! 'Claudia is learning disabled but it doesn't make her stupid.' It would have been a good counterpoint to Stacey's diabetes (chronic illness doesn't make her scary or abnormal) and given them something to relate to one another about besides fashion.
Yeah, exactly! It just doesn't make any d**n SENSE. Graargh. I mean, I don't look to the BSC for thorough backstories or extreme realism or whatever, but this really irritates me.
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Post by aln1982 on Feb 23, 2006 16:48:04 GMT -5
I agree that the BSC could have used Claudia's problems like Stacey's chronic illness. As someone who suffers from a chronic invisible illness, I find myself really relating to Stacey (in some ways) and liking the character more because of it. While reading The Truth About Stacey, I understood so well where she was coming from that I actually started crying. It was like "this is exactly how I felt".
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Feb 23, 2006 16:52:39 GMT -5
Thank you enjoyallison for saying what I've thought for years. If Claudia's so lazy, how come she sets aside time to dedicate to studying, never seems to be in any trouble for not completing work, seems to worry a lot about school etc.
I was disgracefully lazy in high school, but I can still spell most words and construct sentences. Laziness alone (even if she WAS lazy, which I never really bought anyway) would not account for Claudia's academic problems. No way.
Total word.
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Amalia
Sitting For The Braddocks
Her Original Point of View
Posts: 3,664
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Post by Amalia on Feb 24, 2006 23:16:07 GMT -5
Maybe Stonybrook's academic standards is higher than alot of schools?
(I tried finding the book but couldn't.) I remembered once where MA was failing a home-economics class. She pulled her grade out by making jell-o as extra credit. Part of the class dealt with stitching, and she was not doing well even in that. I mean, knitting is her hobby and she's good at it. She mentions how she had to skip something important to work on a knitting project. Anyways, the teacher was really strict. MA says that he/she even measures the distance of your plate from the edge of the table when evaluating your table-setting abilities.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Feb 25, 2006 6:00:34 GMT -5
Mary Anne mentions her home-ec disaster in Maid Mary Anne and I wondered which book dealt with that as well. Anyone?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2006 21:08:59 GMT -5
Oh, for crying out loud. They're 13!
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Amalia
Sitting For The Braddocks
Her Original Point of View
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Post by Amalia on Feb 25, 2006 22:02:39 GMT -5
Oh. It was in Kristy & Missing Child (Mystery 4). When I took home-economics in middle school, it was not nearly as hard as MA's class.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Feb 25, 2006 23:07:38 GMT -5
I really HAVE to read more of those mysteries!
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