I never had a problem with K-4..maybe I was lucky

Alot of people have been arguing that the no child left behind act isn’t working. They also say that it targets at risk students and still manages to not help them. It’s almost like the Bush administration is saying that all at-risk students can’t read or perform well with their better off classmates. However, it’s generalizations like this that create the achievment gap. If it’s to fully believed that the no child left behind act is targeting minorities in urban areas, why are there still those that rise above their classmates and succeed? Why is it that it becomes a social issue? A study was done and it was found that Latinos and African Americans run the risk of being shunned by their peers if they excell at school. they get called names like whitewashed or, are accused of acting white. I think that the no child left behind act was created to get everyone at the same level. The government isn’t realizing that alot of these “at-risk” youths can read; they just choose not to because of peer acceptance. The no child left behind act shouldn’t be in place. It’s causing more social issues and causing more stress than it is helping our students.

Unnecessary death

It was recently reported that a woman died while in the custody of Phoenix Police after she was detained for causing a disturbance. It seems that you can’t even sneeze in an airport without someone believing you’re causing an incident. The woman even said that she was sick and needed help and was being ignored. Would there be a way to combat the arrogance found in a lot of officers of the peace?

She was suffering from alcohol abuse and depression; she was traveling alone, why? I have experienced first hand what it’s like to live with an alcoholic. They are unpredictable and need as much help as possible. I would have never let someone in great mental distress travel alone.

However, I don’t believe her problems compare to the recent rise in “more than necessary” force by law enforcement since 9/11. We need to get a handle on our law enforcement who constantly escalate situations into something that doesn’t need to be any bigger.

What can be done in the future in order to keep tragic events, like an unneeded death, from happening in police custody?

The spoils of oil

Does anyone else think it’s a bad sign when even Republicans are saying ” We need a democrat in office”? Bush is at it again and he’s on a roll! Right now, there’s is a two way struggle for oil between the Kurds and foreign companies. Is it me or is Iraq not in any type of control? Things continue to grow into an unmanageable  gang war between US forces and the multiple enemies; but people have to make their money some how! It’s no wonder that the Iraqi central government is ready to deem any deals between America and the Kurdish irrelevant and illegal; they’re already pretty sick of America.

The author uses straw man by describing the Kurds as ‘wanting to get back to exploiting their region’s lucrative oil deposits for energy and profit.’ He uses it again when he mentions that ‘Foreign oil companies are so eager for profits that they don’t seem worried about whether the deals are legally binding or how they may contribute to Iraq’s chaos’. How typical. Greedy corporations that don’t care about what kind of state they leave the country or the people in. What can be done to stop the exploitation of the constant conflict in Iraq? I don’t see any kind of solution to the conflict in Iraq. Bush went in and messed everything up. We can’t just leave them now and insurgency is making it impossible to help these war-torn people. We need to rebuild Iraq but will that ever happen?

What does ASLEEP mean to you?

Being asleep to me means that I don’t expect to be woken up or disturbed in anyway. I also know that my home is supposed to be a sancutary and if law enforcment is due, then I’m expectin a knock on the door and and a search warrant. I wish I could say the same for some residents in New York.

Armed squads have been bursting into homes in the Long Island area in the middle of the night. I would be angry as heck! These squads are running around bursting into homes, looking for convicted felons. The specific organization responsible hasn’t been looking at the appropriate list of addresses for known felons. They have been busting into the homes of legal citizens; striking fear into the hearts of innocent people. The author uses their own appeals to fear throughout the article by showing the side of fear and uncertainty that these innocent people suffer. Is President Bush going to do something about this? Is Michael Chertoff, the director of homeland security, who spends all of his time getting rid of dangerous people in American society, going to do anything to stop this?

The straw man argument is used to portray the ICE organization as a heartless group who shrug off the attacks as collateral damage. Why can’t law enforcement officials in the area do anything to stop this? These people are posing as police and taking part in illegal practices. Someone needs to do something about this now.

If you want to reach out to a delinquent child, why would you be an ass to them?

 

 

 

The best way to reach out to a troubled child is through tough love. I’ve learned that through my experience in working with kids. As the authority person in their life, you’re obligated to guide, instruct, care for and discipline when needed. If you do this when kids are young, they will respect you. If you do this when they’re teenagers; they’ll hate you for it. If you do this when they grow up; they’ll love you for it and thank you for being a bright light in their life. A lot of kids don’t get this opportunity. Coming from negative environments or just thinking you’re your parents rules are “just too harsh”, there are kids out there who have to seek their guiding light from the Juvenile Correctional system. However, the events that have been occurring in Juvenile Correction institutions in Florida and Texas are appalling. Children have been sleeping on worm and maggot infested mattresses. Multiple inmates have come forward to admit they have suffered broken bones at the hands of at the people who are supposed to ensure their well being and rehabilitation. If they can’t trust adults and authority figures who are responsible to make sure they become civil human beings, will they be able to trust the same figures on the outside? There were multiple prisoners who had been attacked by other prisoners and the guards. How will they be able to seek asylum anywhere in the jail system if they are always being sprayed with pepper spray and beaten by their superiors? 1/3 of the officers who departed in September 2006 were fired for poor performance, falsification of applications and inappropriate conduct. Why there weren’t any background checks going on is a complete mystery to me. Who is hiring these people and letting them abuse children? Why isn’t the organization in charge of these facilities, GEO, doing anything about it? is there any other organization that can help with these terrible problems? I also read in the article that someone’s stepson had been placed in jail because he stole from a snack machine. Why is the state of Texas so petty? I’m sure they would have less people incarcerated in their system if they weren’t busy putting people in jail who could have just as easily served community service. I know I would be pissed if I was assaulted everyday in jail over a bag of Dorritos.

Why would you want another Virigina Tech?

I wouldn’t want to hear about another tragedy such as Virgina Tech again. I don’t understand why this lone law maker would refuse to pass a bill that would allow better upkeep and closer surveillance of the Federal Gun Watch list. The shooter in the VA Tech massacre was due to be on the list already yet, due to an “administrative glitch”, he wasn’t placed on this list. The author shows us that the killer had a prior history of violence. and that he was in psychiatric care. I think that a lot of shootings and other tragic events could have been avoided with careful monitoring of this list. Would this help with the rise in potentially angry youth? Would this help prevent misguided anger that results in an outbreak of violence? There are some logical fallacies in this article, such as the author’s describing Senator Coburn as a member in a fantasy corral, out gunning the gun lobby. Straw man at it’s finest! His appeal to fear is also obvious when he states that Congress supports the remedy- a strengthened law to block dangerously ill people like the Virginia Tech predator bearing firearms. However, I don’t agree with him generalizing that all shooters are dangerously ill people. In most cases usually after the death of the individual, it’s found out that they usually hold some other mental deficiency that they can’t directly channel or comprehend themselves. Constant generalizations are what causes problems in this country, along with stereotypes. Teasing and bullying are also a constant factor in school related shootings. In a large majority of interviews that were conducted post shooting, many students always said that the shooter was bullied or teased, whether it was about not upholding a certain stereotype, or not fitting in because they weren’t wearing the right clothes. America’s youth is an evil bunch. The constant assailing of other youths who don’t quite ‘fit in’ is disgusting. We’re facing a time where we need to come together and rise up for a greater cause, not disown someone because of their shoes.

The dangers of abstinance only sex ed

Why would public schools believe it’s useful to teach abstinence only sex education in a day and age where premarital sex among teens is running rampant?

The Bush administration just continue to dig themselves in an incredibly deep hole. They continue to make policies against women’s health, children’s health coverage and believe in teaching that premarital sex leads to physical and psychological harm. America has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the western world. America also carries the highest abortion rate in the Western world also. Am I the only one that sees a connection between uneducated teens and unwanted pregnancies? It’s been my experience that the more information provided, the better and more informed decisions people can make. I even asked a mother of a teenage daughter and her response was that “the best thing you can do is provide information. It’s bound to happen so why not let our sons and daughters make good choices and keep themselves safe?” I agree with the author who believes that by President Bush promoting this misinformation, he’s contributing to ignoring a large aspect of children’s health. However, I also found some logical fallacies within the author’s commentary. She uses the statement “But sadly, their ‘bipartisan compromise’ will leave millions of young Americans vulnerable to sickness and suffering of the most preventable kind” to describe the actions of the democratic leaders. This was an appeal to fear. The author uses another appeal to fear by presenting some of the shocking statistics about the rise of STD’s since the 1980′s.

You know what, if abstinence only education wasn’t being taught, shows like Maury and Jenny Jones wouldn’t be on the air. Where else are unwed teenage mothers with no idea who the father of their child is, supposed to go?

Internet Jihad….

Why does it seem like things are continually spinning out of control?

I don’t understand why such an extreme Muslim, who claims that he wants to wage holy war on the West would continue to reside in the US. It must be because he’s out of harms way while still in our country. He’s currently exploiting the fact that his first amendment rights can be stretched incredibly far.

By law, we can’t do anything about what he says. We can stand here and continue to be offended by a person who openly believes in attacking “non believers”. Nothing can be done. Unless the federal government starts breaking their own rules, he can continue unscathed.

I really don’t appreciate this specific group of people. These people enjoy exploiting what they believe to be “loopholes in American society”. The average human being will not get anywhere if they don’t do anything to change their direction in life. A large majority of people, especially African Americans, believe that Bush doesn’t care about black people and that there are no opportunities for blacks in this country.

I completely disagree with that. I am a person of color and I have created more opportunities for myself than I know what to do with. I also know that in other countries, my chances to make a difference or utilize my opportunities would be a lot less slim. Muslim extremists are trying to “reach out” out to black people by relating the teachings of Malcolm X to current ideological beliefs that they carry. I don’t believe that Malcolm X would allow the slaughter of innocent women and children.

I can’t believe that this man uses the horrors of war to his advantage. I am a soldier myself and I’ve been lucky enough to not have to fall into this current abhorrence upon human life. Everyday, I run the risk of being sent or losing another friend in this fight. I have friends who have made it back alive and have terrible stories to tell. Yet, here is a man who enjoys the suffering of the “People of hellfire”.

Women have more opportunity here in America than in any other country in the world. Myself, as a woman, would not exchange the freedom I have for anything else in the world. I have nothing against any type of religion. In fact, I openly embrace the idea of free religious practice for all. I feel absolutely terrible for the non violent sects of Muslims and other religions that seek tolerance and understanding without the loss of life, who fall victim to prejudice and racism that ignorant people plague them with. However for the violent sects, I don’t think that slaughtering innocents is a good way to get your point across.

And people always act so surpirsed when a bullied student fights back….

I read the article about the school shooting that took place in Cleveland, Ohio. It seems that once again, people act surprised when something like this happens. However, it’s always revealed that the student has a history of emotional distress or a rough home life, and other students always tease them.

I don’t condone the acts of violence that these victimized kids commit, but I also don’t condone the actions of teasing committed by their peers.  I have a friend that I’ve known since high school. He’s always been awkward and he’s never been terribly social, but he was an all-around good guy. Everyone in high school was so mean to him for no reason. I always tried to reach out to him because it’s not right for everyone to pick on you just because you’re a little bit different.

When I was in middle school, I had no friends. I was constantly teased and tormented because I was of a different social class, I held different interests than my peers and I was always adamant about being involved in bigger and better things. I remember how great it was to have that one person reach out to me and be my friend, quirks and all. Having just that one person go out of their way just to make your day brighter is something that could have stopped so many of these tragic school shootings.

It was stated in the article that the shooter had no friends and had a hard childhood. He had no positive influences until he had to encounter a harsh run in with the law. Even with counseling, nothing could stop the pain of being constantly teased and unaccepted by your peers. A girl said that everyone teased him because he was different.

Do you think that if one person had reached out to this boy, the outcome of this sad event would have been different?

Generation Q

Generation Q was a very interesting article to me. I liked how he actually went out and explored the campuses to see what the ‘twentysomethings’ were doing. I think it’s true however, that we, the current youth of America, are getting more involved with humane causes, studying abroad, and steeping up to serve our country.

But……

I personally do feel like compared to the 50’s and 60’s, we are not very politically active. I know that I haven’t been paying attention to the current pre-election Presidential race. I only hear what the media has been telling me and I’ve been a slacking citizen because I haven’t been doing research for myself. I need to know what’s going on. I’d love to rally behind a cause, or stage a sit. I’d even enjoy staging a walk out if it was for something I truly believed in.

Peer Pressure is a heck of a thing though.

I feel that most of America’s youth is slightly misguided when it comes to standing up for what you believe in. I know that in the circle of people that I know, a lot of them would refuse to remove themselves from a clique or get out there and be in the fray. To most, the definition of standing up for what you believe in means to go outside of your comfort zone. The average person refuses to leave their comfort zone. Sticking your neck out there and making yourself stand out may make you ‘uncool’, based on popular views. I think being a sheep is uncool. It’s up to us as kids and young adults to be ourselves! With out individuality, there is no creativity. Without creativity, there is no artistic genius. Without genius thoughts, we will go on unrecognized as a generation.

Reality TV….Oh God..

I’ve never really cared much for reality TV. For programs like survivor, I’ve never considered being trapped on some desert island much of a reality; I don’t like to travel.

The New York Times stated that A&E has a program out now called ‘Interventions’. I personally think the program is sick. Why in the world would you watch someone drink themselves into a near comatose state and then film them driving? That’s just asking for trouble. With programs like this on the air, I don’t really wonder why people are concerned with what’s on TV.

Concerning things like Family Guy and Robot Chicken, they’re cartoons, portraying fictional happenings. With reality shows producers are letting people:

1. Make fools of themselves.

2. Be personally self destructive

3. Fill our lives with unnecessary drama

When Paris Hilton took her Guchi purse into the wilderness, I officially became disgusted with any form of reality TV. Why in the hell would it be important to my life to watch stupid Paris Hilton carry a 500 dollar purse in the woods? Reality TV has always been something that I think people addicted to television attach themselves to. It’s either that or boring people.

I remember in 6th grade when survivor first air on TV. People made such a big deal about it that my English teacher made a watch a clip of it.

Worst 15 minutes of my childhood existence.

TV these days just tries WAYYYYY too hard to be ‘edgy’.

Family Guy isn’t even that edgy. It’s subtle humor that anyone with a pulse could understand if they weren’t so busy being brainwashed by boring and unintelligent TV.

If TV was more entertain or ever managed to hold my attention for more than 30 seconds, I would believe 500 channels to actually be useful. Seriously…how bad does TV have to be getting to have 500 channels and there’s nothing worth watching?

I can waste the length of an entire episode of reality tv just by channel surfing now. What happened to the days when you could just order the channels you actually watched instead of wasting a million dollars on crap TV?