We Beat the Street: How A Friendship Pact Led to Success

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Newark is the largest city in New Jersey and the second-largest city in the entire New York metropolitan area. What kind of things come to mind when you think of the city of Newark? Do you have a clear sense of the city’s character?

Teaching Suggestion: Depending on your geographic location, students may have preconceived notions about Newark or they may have no sense of the city whatsoever. The city of Newark sets the scene for We Beat the Street, and it is key for students to understand some of the city’s basic facts, particularly when it comes to the socioeconomic status of its residents. The resources provided below will give students a sense of the history and makeup of the city to better help them chart the arc of each protagonist, which is affected by the urban environment of Newark. This prompt is related to the theme of Second Chances, in that the backdrop of Newark causes the boys to engage in some difficult behavior where second chances are needed.

• Insider NJ’s “1967 to 2022: Newark’s Arc from Rebellion to Revitalization – Yet Poverty Endures” gives an overarching history of the city.
• NBC’s “Newark, N.J., wants to be a model for police reform. But Black people are still stopped more often” explores how a history of racism in Newark’s police force has affected the residents of the predominantly Black city of Newark.

2. The ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch is often quoted as having said: “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.” What do you think this saying means? Is it better for a mind to be a “vessel” or a “fire”?

Teaching Suggestion: The meaning of this quote gets at the power of Learning Experiences and Education. The three boys each have incredibly curious minds, which causes them to view everyday experiences (sometimes even negative ones) as learning opportunities. You may wish to explain that in Plutarch’s quote, a mind is not just a receptacle to hold a certain amount of information (a “vessel”); our minds should be on an unending quest for knowledge (a “fire to be ignited”). In Plutarch’s opinion, people should be curious about the world, just like the three boys in We Beat the Street. Please note, while this is a well-known saying, it is a corruption of: “For the mind does not require filling like a bottle, but rather, like wood, it only requires kindling to create in it an impulse to think independently and an ardent desire for the truth.” (Plutarch. Moralia, Volume I: The Education of Children, edited by Frank Cole Babbitt, Loeb, 1989, p. 257).

• Psychology Today’s “The Secret Benefits of a Curious Mind” discusses the hidden advantages of having a questioning brain.
• Harvard Business Review’s “4 Habits of People Who Are Always Learning New Skills” discusses why it is important for one’s career to always be seeking out new skills.

Differentiation Suggestion: For a more kinesthetic approach, have students drop everything and turn to the person immediately to their left or right (adjust this prompt, as necessary, depending on the layout of your classroom, making sure each student has a partner). Encourage their minds to run wild. Have them rapidly discuss three subjects that they’ve always wanted to learn more about. It could be a subject like chemistry, a movie director, how gravity works—anything! The idea is for this quick prompt to emulate the “fire igniting” in Plutarch’s quote. At the end, have students share with the larger class what subjects came up, and which ones they’re likely to research after class.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Many people in your life will come and go, but then there are some special friends who will be with you through the highs and lows of life. Think back on your friendships over the years, particularly your longest lasting friendships. Next, reflect upon a time in which you were going through a difficult period. How did your friends help you through this period? What effect did the hardship have upon your friendship overall? Did it bring you closer together or push you apart?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt will get students thinking about The Power of Friendship by reflecting on the times when their own friends/community have come to their aid. At the heart of We Beat the Street is a story about how friendship encouraged these three boys to overcome their environments and to achieve success against all odds. Although students may not have had to overcome the hardships of the three boys, it will still be useful for them to reflect upon the friendships in their lives as a way of connecting more deeply with the characters.

• In The New York Times’ How to Have Close Friendships (And Why You Need Them), the article explores some tactics for having better friends.
• Forbes’ Hard Times Make for Stronger Bonds and Greater Happiness (Here’s Why That Matters) explores how difficult times tend to draw people closer together.