How Old is to Old? 

Teens should not go trick-or-treating!!

Defend or Refute this statement. 

School Uniforms

Read the following article: 

Pros and Cons

1. Should students have to wear uniforms in school? WHY/WHY NOT? You must site the article in your response at least twice.  

IN THE NEWS:

Find one article online about world news and give a summary of the article. (At least four sentences, less then four will give you a zero grade)
Find one article online about local news and give a summary of the article. (At least four sentences, less then four will give you a zero grade)

Copy the link were you get both articles from and add them to your entry.

Would you Watch?

James Foley Beheading

This questions is being asked all over Twitter, Facebook and news media sites.

Go to the following website:

Click here

After reading the article answer the questions:
1. Should the media show the full video? Why/Why not?
2. What should the United States involvement be in dealing with the terrorist group ISIS?

Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

George Santayana

It is important to study history.

Why/Why Not? 

Write a paragraph answering the above question. 

Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick

The widespread use of 'speak softly and carry a big stick' began with American president Theodore Roosevelt. In a letter to Henry L. Sprague, on January 26th 1900, he wrote:

"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far"

Using your knowledge on United States Imperialism and Roosevelt's philosophy of "Big Sticks" interpret the meaning of this political cartoon. Follow these steps: 

1. What do you see in the picture, 

2. After making a list of items, what does it mean to you.

3. You have examples of Roosevelt's Big Stick Policy, what are some current examples of the United States using Roosevelt's analogy? 

Top Four Events of 2013

According to YOU, what are the top four events during 2013 that had an impact on the United States of America? 

1. List the event

2. Give a brief description of the event. 

3. Why do you feel it is important? 

2014 Superbowl

The 2014 SUPERBOWL!!!

ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE? 

GAME ON…

Here is my pics for the 2014 Superbowl game…

Yes, I know only two teams can play. Lucky me all my favorite teams are still in it.  But my money, if I had any would be on the Chargers and Seahawks, but I could live with the Seahawks/Denver Superbowl too.  

1. What is your prediction for the next Superbowl? Why?

2. We watched all of the Doritos Superbowl Commercials, which one did you vote for and why? 

What are the responsibilities of the world in helping Typhoon Victims in the Philippines?

Click on the word Typhoon

TYPHOON 

1. Read the story
2. View all of the pictures

Answer the following questions:

1. What happened in the Philippines this week?
2. What are some of the major problems they are facing?
3. After viewing the pictures, which one impacted you the most and why?
4. What are the responsibilities of the world in helping the Philippines?

Boarding Schools
Read the following: The question will be up on the board for the blog. 

The boarding school experience for Indian children began in 1860 when the Bureau of Indian Affairs established the first boarding school on the Yakima Indian Reservation in the state of Washington. These schools were part of a plan devised by well-intentioned, eastern reformers led by Herbert Welsh and Henry Pancoast who also helped establish organizations such as the Board of Indian Commissioners, the Boston Indian Citizenship Association and the Women’s National Indian Association.

The goal of these reformers was to use education as a tool to “assimilate” Indian tribes into the mainstream of the “American way of life;” the Protestant Republican ideology of the mid-19th century. Indian people would be taught the importance of private property, material wealth and monogamous nuclear families. The reformers assumed that it was necessary to “civilize” Indian people, make them accept white men’s beliefs and value systems.

The non-reservation boarding school would be, in the eyes of the assimilationists, the best school for changing Indian children into members of the white society.The most well known of all the non-reservation boarding schools was the school established in Carlisle, Pennsylvania by Col. Richard Henry Pratt in 1879. His goal was complete assimilation. Headmaster of the Carlisle Indian School for twenty-five years, he was the single most important figure in Indian education during his time. His motto was, “Kill the Indian in him and save the man.”

Carlisle as well as other non-reservation boarding school instituted their assault on the cultural identity by first doing

*Boys had their long hair cut. 

*All children were given standard uniforms to wear. 

*They received new “white” names, including surnames.

*Traditional Indian foods were abandoned.

*Students spent endless hours marching to and from classes, meals and dormitories. 

*Order, discipline and self-restraint were all prized values of white society.

*Students were not allowed to speak their native languages, not even to each other.

*Conversion to Christianity was deemed essential. 

Indian people resisted these schools in various ways. Sometimes entire villages refused schooling. When they refused to enroll their children in white men’s schools, Indian agents on the reservations normally resorted to withholding rations or sending in agency police. In some cases police were sent onto reservations to seize children, whether they were willing or not. The police continued to take children until the school was filled, so sometimes orphans were offered and in other cases families would bargain, negotiating a family quota. Navajo policemen avoided taking “prime” children and would take less intelligent or physically impaired children or those not well cared for.

Parents would band together to withdraw the students en masse, encourage runaways and undermine the schools influence during vacations. In 1893 the U.S. courts said that parents had a legal right to deny their children’s transfer to off-reservation schools. Once the courts ruled in the parents favor, some families used this right keep their children on the reservation. Some parents saw white education for what it was the total destruction of Indian culture. Others objected to specific aspects of the education system, the manner of discipline, the drilling. Still others were concerned for their children’s health. They associated the schools with death. Resentment of the boarding schools was most severe because the schools broke the most fundamental of human ties, the parent child bond.

Sources from:http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=airc_hist_boardingschools

Violence and Teachers

Are Teachers and Students save at school? 

Sparks, Nevada

Danvers, Massachusetts

This week two teachers have been violently nurtured at their schools. Read the two articles posted on this blog and answer the following questions. 

1. What should be done to help prevent these types of crimes at school? 

2. Do you feel violent crime by teens is on the uprise? Why/Why not?  

3. Finally, look at the chart below: 

This is the overall violent crime rate in America from 1950 to 2010. What do you think causes the spikes in crime, and why do you feel they are on the decline? 

Danger of Factions and Uneducated People

In Washington's Farewell speech, he warned about the following:
The Danger of Factions. Washington also warned of “the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party”—one of the two most famous recommendations of the Farewell Address (along with a warning about permanent alliances). By party, Washington meant factious groups that sought their own good, to the detriment of the common good and the rights of others. The proliferation of faction or party in this sense was a dominant question of his presidency. He spoke of designing men, who would divide sections of the country as a means to their own political power. The factions of the 1790s foreshadowed those of the Civil War. 

It would seem that it also foreshadowed today's government division of parties which has lead to the shutdown 

1What is your opinion on the government shutdown and what should the American people do? 

Also, the Federalist Party was worried about the uneducated masses controlling the country. Do you feel it should be mandatory to be educated about the propositions, bills and people running for office before letting them vote? 

First Amendment Rights

You have five freedoms or rights that are stated in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Of those five freedoms/rights, which one would you be willing to give up and why?

CELL PHONE DEMISE OF THE HUMAN RACE?

Using a Cell Phone While Driving

After watching the CK Loius clip from "Conan"  do you agree or disagree with the comedians viewpoints why/why not?
Ask yourself, do you talk/text more then interact with other people? Do you see this as a problem?
What if anything, should be done about the lack of human contact in today's world? Explain. 

Do Violent Video Games play a role in shootings?

This week there was another mass shooting and the gunman was an avid gamer of violent video games. 

Read the following articles and answer the Title question.
Make sure to give your reassoning to  your answer and comment
on another classmates answer with respect and insight.

ARTICLE ONE
ARTICLE TWO

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.

The above words are found in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. 

1. In your own words, what were our forefathers saying? 

2. After interpreting the statement, do you agree/disagree and why? speler 

3. If you were in the process of writing your own Declaration of Independence. What would you declare and why? 

Is Big Brother watching to closely?

Due date: August 16th for full credit. 

Click here to read the article. 

After reading the Beale's opinion on "Big Brother" write at least two paragraph giving your response to his article. 

1. Do you agree/disagree or are you somewhere in the middle? Make sure to articulate (Express (an idea or feeling) fluently and coherently.)

2. If you do agree what should we as the American people do to halt the invasion of ...

3. Is it ever okay for the government to invade our private life without our knowlege? Why/Why not.

4. Respond to at least one other entry, make sure to remember the rules of response. 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/03/opinion/beale-1984-now/index.html

Political Compass

In the last two weeks both parties have ran their National Conventions. I truly hope you watched at the very least a little of both!  Remember, regardless of your political beliefs it is important to know the platforms of both parties in order to make a informed decision in November. I know, you are saying I can't vote yet, BUT, you have a voice and you can influence those around you that do place their vote. Today you are going to take a political typology quiz to see where you fall on the political scale.

First click on the word below and take the test: 

POLITICAL COMPASS

Second, blog your results!! What did the political compass say about your beliefs? Do you agree or disagree? 

We will be following the Presidential election closely, this will be one tool to help you know where you stand politically. 

What era of American History interests you the most and why? Make sure that your blog post are at least two paragraphs long in order to get full credit. This is your chance to shine, your opinions are important. Start letting people know you have a voice and are planning on using it.

The Stock Market Experience

This past week, you have invested $1,000,000 into the stock market. Evaluate your experience by answering the following questions:

1. How did your investments go? Did you make money? Lose money?

2. How did you like the activity, overall? Do you think that you will invest in the stock market in the future?

3. Imagine you lived in the 1930s and have invested all of your life savings (that $1,000,000 you used for the activity) into the stock market. Explain: how you would feel after the fall of the stock market October 29, 1929, AND the pros and cons of investing your life savings into the stock market.