diversity article

my article is talking about the sizes of different high schools and the rate of drop outs. It says that studies from 744 differen high schools tested a model "depicting a direct influence of school size on the diversity of academic offerings and on the school social climate, as well as an indirect effect on dropout rate.("http://epa.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/9/4/337)
The findings showed that drop out rates and the size of school were almost totally dependant on the social climate. so this means that kids who are given less attention are more likely to drop out fo school which makes a lot of sense.
1. its talking about diversity in schools
2.The author is trying to reach school administrators and also parents that are wondering where to enroll their kids.
3. This affects a large number of kids, that might not graduate which will lead to an endless job or job search because of their lack of credentials.
4. This is important for parents to think about before they go and put their kids into a school where theres 700 people in their grade. Especially as a freshman, that is very overwelming and that year could be so bad that they will just want to end there they won't want to go forth in schooling. Its also important for the school board to understand so that they can do everything in their power to try and keep kids in school.


I think that this is completely true. Even in little schools, if you aren't one of the popular kids high school can be pretty tough, and in a big school if you aren't popular it's even worse. If you go to school everyday and walk around alone and sit alone because you don't fit into a certain group, more than likely you aren't going to want to stay there and you probably aren't going to want to go to college because you think it will be the same situation and you aren't willing to give it another try.
This probably isn’t the only reason that people drop out of school, because I know there a lot of reasons for people to drop out but it still could be the primary reason. Not only could this lead to kids dropping out but it could also lead to a school shooting, even though the kids in columbine were not outcasts, a lot of school shootings have happened because of people feeling alone at school because of their social ranking.

My song is called Somalia by K'naan, It's rap/reggae and it just came out this year.
He is talking about growing up in Somalia and how different it was there and how hard it was. He learned the english language so that he would be able to rap/sing and get out of his situation.

"Do you see why it’s amazing,
When someone comes out of such a dire situation
And learns the English language,
Just to share his observation!"

He is saying that people in small and poor countries are not treated fairly and havea terrible education so you have to do something to change it because no one is going to help you.

"So what you know bout the pirates terrorize the ocean.
To never know a simple day without a big commotion.
It can’t be healthy just to live with a such steep emotion.
And when I try and sleep, I see coffins closin’."

There isn't really anything that is being done at the time to help this, there are some organizations that are raising money from people in more wealthy countries like the U.S. but that's just giving them money. The people in these countries need help in their education programs and money isn't going to give that to them necessarily. This song was writen during a struggle that is ongoing.


www.elyrics.net

Gang Diversity

The latest national gang survey tallied 26,000 gangs with a total enrollment of around 850,000 members at any given time, nation wide. Gang member now tend to be older than they used to be 63% are young adults and now only 37% are juveniles, also more girls and involved with gangs now than ever. 38% of gang members are female, but they tend to abandoned gang life earlier than men do. About a hundred years ago, large amounts of gang members were White. But by the late 1970s, about 80% of all gang members were Black or Hispanic.
Gang problems are becoming bigger in every city but especially impacting large cities like Los Angeles and Chicago. It's going to become more prevalent in our youths lives and if things don't start to change now then the violence and number of casualties will only become far worse.
The movie "Redemption" that shows and talks about the life of Stanley Tookie Williams is a very good example of how things should change. He was the leader of the Crips and he was convicted of several robberies and murders and was put away in prison for life. However later in his life he became a five time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, an author of several books including "anti-gang and violence literature."
He also helped with drug busts and he attempted to make peace with the bloods. After this tremendous change he was executed in 2005.
I'm not saying that he should have been released but he never should have been killed because of the alter in his life and changes that he made, not just to get out of jail, because he knew he would never get out.

1. What are your thoughts, feelings, etc, as you read these articles?

-I dont think that anyone can say for sure that he did this as an act of terrorism. It would be unfair to assume that, and even though its unfair to the families who lost someone because of him, they need to look beyond his religion and look at the real problem because there will be more incidents like this.


2. What role do you think terrorism played in this massacre, if any? Why? Do you think that there was an terrorist organization behind the shooting?

-I dont think terrorism played any part in this shooting. I think it was all the build up in his head from the war. If you watched people die and heard these terrible stories I'm sure that you would get out of line. In no way am I saying this is ok.


3. What role did racism or religious persecution play in this incident? Why?

- I think they are looking directly at his religion when they need to be looking past that. because like they said in the article psychiatric illness is what the focus should be on.

4. Do you think a lot of Muslim Americans have the same feelings as this man? Why or why not?

- Not just Muslim Americans, there are lots of people in America that are against the war but they probably aren't participating in it in anyway. He could have just wanted to help but didnt know what he was in for.


5. What do you think the military could have done to prevent this from happening? Why do you believe this? Were there signs that this man had the potential to do something like this? What were they?

-There should be more resources for soilders and people serving in the war when they come home because no one understands what they are going through and that just makes them feel more alone. There were signs I guess that the military sort of looked at but didnt actually act upon, like all the statements he made aout ani-american. If they really believed something was going to happen or that he was unstable to be in the army then they shouldnt have let him go to Afghanistan.


6. Talk about the leadership of Kimberly Munley (the woman who stopped the shooter). What did she do? How would you have reacted in the same situation?

-She put her life at risk and directed the attention to herself away from the wounded soldier. I think i would be terrified but just on impulse i would do the same thing.

7. What does this incident say about race relations in America? Specifically with Arab-Americans and Muslims? Is there a reason that Muslims and people from the Arab world feel a certain way about
America?

-Definitley, after 9/11 Americans have had a growing hatrid for middle easterns. It is just natural for people now to be nervous when they see someone of a different religion or decent boarding a plane. It's a stereotype that is only going to make things worse and make violence increase.

My article was written by Marina Fanshteyn who is Deaf. She has been Deaf all her life and she talks about how she has overcome hardships and the disadvantages that she faces. She started in Ukraine and when she was 18 her parents decided to move to the United States and she knew this was a land of opportunities. She attended a Deaf school in Northern California and from there transferred to a college in Massachusetts. She worked at getting her BA and also helped represent 10,000 Deaf people.

1. This shows she had lots of courage
2."I have the ABILITY not the disability so have you. You just need to focus on what the Universe offers you and it's YOUR CHOICE to move forward, to move up to the next level, to inspire others, to be a better and stronger you!" She is talking to everyone not just people with disabilities because we all have some sort of disability.
3.I don't know if it will affect anyone but i hope that it gets people to realized that they can do something about any situation, it's all up to them.
4.This is important because it shows that there are no excuses you just have to do it, you can't be satisfied with just ok, you have to keep striving to be better and that's when you will find success.

I think everything i just said is totally true,the only person that can change something is yourself. If you dont like the results that you are getting then something needs to be done, you need to work harder. This happens in everything; school and life being the 2 most relevant to high school and college kids.

1. What are your thoughts about this case? How did the video make you feel or think? Should the athlete be charged criminally for this act? Why/Why not?

2. When competing in contact sports, should you have the same rights and protections as you would as an ordinary citizen regarding assault or should there be an expectation of violence? Why/Why not?

3. From each stakeholder perspective I want you to answer the following:
Here are the stakeholders: both players, each players parent, police (or state), teammates of both players, the coach, the athletic director and principal.

How would this make you feel?
What would you want done about this situation?
What would you do about this situation?


1. He should be charged criminally because a helmet can be considered a weapon especially if it is used like this. What if he would have died from the injuries, then would they not even be questioning this.

2. You should have the same rights and protections. In football or any contact sport you're allowed to have contact and hit but there are rules that you can't break just like in life. If it were a boxing match for example you can't put spikes in your glove and bash them in the face just like you can't use your helmet as a weapon.

3. If i just got hit in the face like that i would be pretty upset and i would definately want him to be charged, but i would not retalliate.
-If i were the kid that hit him i would just feel stupid now, its a football game-calm down. I obviously wouldn't want charges pressed against me but i deserve a punishment for sure. I would make a public apology.
The victims parents- I would be angry i would make sure he got pressed with charges, I would talk with the other kids parents to see where this came from in him.
The defendants parents- I would be embarrassed and make him apologize and do punishments if he didn't get charges pressed i would treat it like he did, like community service.
Police- I would be confused on what to do, i would treat it like a criminal situation.
Victims teammates- I would want to seek revenge but i know i wouldn't and i would make sure that my team didn't either but i would want to play that team again.
Other team- I would be embarrassed and ashamed I would want the whole team to be punished for his actions so he knows he is hurting everyone.
Coach- I would make sure the team isn't angry so that they don't make these mistakes and i would let the other team know that our team is not mad at you, that we don't look down upon you and we look forward to playing you again. The other coach I would make them work harder or i would bench all of my varisty and make them earn their positions.
AD- I would get all athletes together to talk to them about this situation so that it doesn't happen again in any sport and figure out a different way to express your anger or excitement

This article is talking about character education and civic learning for our youth. It gives examples of the holocaust and how some German officers actually helped some of the Jews in the camp and they don’t know why or the names of the few that did. A quote from this says “they did not stop to think what they were doing, they simply just acted.”
I think that education should be more about the developing of character and heart rather than book smarts, even though having intelligence in text is important, your character and heart will take you a lot further. If we are educated about our decisions and learn how to become conscious of others and our actions that is where true leadership and success comes from. People/teachers can teach you everyday out of a book but they can only teach you so much about your actions and from there you have to do it by yourself.

Weekly Article

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/education/21costs.html?_r=1&hpw

This article is talking about college costs rising and how troubling it is for families. Public 4 year schools prices have risen an average of 6.5% for tuition and other fees and in private 4 year schools prices have risen 4.4%. The grants and scholarships that college students are getting aren't nearly enough and they barely help the kids at all. Last year, the average grant aid per student was $5,041. The government doesn't have enough money to give to state governments for education, it really shows what we find important in America.

This is news because it is affecting everyone seeking an education and their families. I think that education is the most important thing we should be valuing. I know that it should not and cannot be free but it should be in range for any average or just below average family to pay for. Wealthier families are able to send their kids to any college no matter the cost so they get the best education possible but kids that aren't so well off don't have that opportunity and they could actually have more potential and be a better student than the wealthier kid. The problem starts with the Federal Government and then moves to state governments. The higher tuition gets the higher the percentage of loans, which leads to years in debt.

1.Write about the following: In your recent reading, what has your author/main character said that has stood out to you. Something they did or said, A quote, an experience they had that you had a reaction to?

2. Talk about someone you know who either lives by the characteristics or traits your author talks about or lives like the subject of your book. Someone who you believe does what the author says to do/or lives by.

3. Is it important for us to study leadership? Is it important for us to look at what others say or do as inspiration or as an example of how to live or lead? Why or why not?

1. Reactions to the latest pages you have read. What have you found interesting so far? What do you agree/disagree with?

2. What leadership traits has the subject of your book shown? Or what leadership traits has your author talked about being important? Use specific examples from the book including page number.

3. Talk about a specific quote or passage that has stood out to you so far. What is it? Why do you feel it is important?

4. Give me an example of a time that you had to make an ethical decision. What was the situation? Who (no names necessary) was involved? What was the ethical dilemma? Ultimately what did you decide to do and why?

Nothing has really changed so far, since the beginning of the book is just talking about his growing up, like biography style. The only thing that shocked me, was when he was a kid he did not do well in school. For such a successful man it shows that you don't have to do well in school to go far, although you should always try, sometimes it's just not the best fit for you. Maybe being a maniac super hero surfing god is. That would be about the only way my thoughts on leadership have changed after reading some of this. I can't find any quotes but last night we won our first conference volleyball game at home in 5 years. Everything that i have done for the volleyball team over the last 4 years showed on the court last night and it wasn't just me that decided to play hard but the whole team did so that shows leadership from all of us(for once)

i am hip hop