Hello there!
Today we are thinking about Banned Books and a Longer School Year.
1) Look at ALA.ORG. See what books are banned and challenged. See why. Then write a personal response...do you agree? Disagree? Is there any time books should be banned? Should books ever be banned from public libraries or schools? Or should younger readers need special permission? Or do you have another plan?
2) President Obama has been discussing the idea of lengthen the school year. Research a news article or two and write a personal response on your thoughts about this. What do YOU think would help students learn more and better? What helps you to learn?
Enjoy!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Banned Books/ Extended School Year
1.) I am very surprised about what books made the banned books list. When I went to a website, I was surprised when I saw that The Bible was number one. I don’t agree with the lists for many reasons. First, most of these books are classics and tell us what life was like back when they were written. I think people wanted to ban these books because they exposed the truth, which involved using bad language and sometimes gruesome events. I don’t believe that books should be banned from public libraries or schools. I think this because we have the freedoms and authors should be able to write about whatever they want to and we should be able to read it. I don’t think young readers should need special permission to read these books because they should have the right to be able to read whatever they want.
2.) I don’t agree with Obama’s plan to extend the school year. I understand that if we do school work during the summer, it will keep our brains functioning and we wouldn’t have to spend as much time catching up on what we learned the year before. But I think that if they want us to remember what we learned the previous year, the school should give us some kind of assignment to do over the summer in each subject, so we cannot forget things. I know that when I got back to school after summer vacation, I can barely remember some math that I learned in eighth grade, so I think that summer assignments would help us to remember things. I have heard that students are more focused later in the day, so I think that the schools should probably start and end the school day later. the only problem with this is that a lot of students do school sports and by the time they get home, they are up until late at night to finish homework. So if they move the school hours later, it could create an even bigger problem and students wouldn’t get enough sleep. Basically, what I’m saying is that Obama shouldn’t do anything to the school year and that it is just about right as it is.
2.) I don’t agree with Obama’s plan to extend the school year. I understand that if we do school work during the summer, it will keep our brains functioning and we wouldn’t have to spend as much time catching up on what we learned the year before. But I think that if they want us to remember what we learned the previous year, the school should give us some kind of assignment to do over the summer in each subject, so we cannot forget things. I know that when I got back to school after summer vacation, I can barely remember some math that I learned in eighth grade, so I think that summer assignments would help us to remember things. I have heard that students are more focused later in the day, so I think that the schools should probably start and end the school day later. the only problem with this is that a lot of students do school sports and by the time they get home, they are up until late at night to finish homework. So if they move the school hours later, it could create an even bigger problem and students wouldn’t get enough sleep. Basically, what I’m saying is that Obama shouldn’t do anything to the school year and that it is just about right as it is.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Banning Books?????
I think that the thought of banning books is absoulutley awful. Although I can see why people may want to. Parents may find books inappropriate and that they should not be available to their children. The books could just be put in a sections where one must have permission to read them. I think that banning is a little harsh though. People want to ban books for beinng historically accurate. If people want to ban historically accurate books what is the point even having history calass the content in that may not be "appropriate" in some parents eyes. I think that books should not be banned but something must be done just have resrictions.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
President Obama is proposing a longer school year. I disagree with this for many reasons. First of all what about the cost of extending the school year? We have had to make cuts on everything including teachers, if we can barely make it by now how are we going to do this for another month on the school year. Another reason is because adding more time on to the school year is just going to make kids hate school even more. You have to get up at 6 a.m. and go to school for 6 hours and then come home and do hours and hours of homework. If the school years is extending we are going to have more homework. I know I come home right after school and work on homework and then go to practice at 6 and stay there until 8:30 and then by the time I get home it is close to 9 o'clock and I am still not even finished with my homework. I still have other things to do before I go to bed and by the time I am finished with everything it is past midnight and I will be so tired for the next day of school. Doing this for another month of school would definitely not be very fun. I enjoy having summer, it's your time to relax and have fun and for half of it to be taken away is horrible. Yes I forgot somethings over the summer but in a couple weeks I was fine all I needed was a little refreshing. The only part of Obama's plan that does sound good is getting better teachers. How are kids suppose to learn anything when their teacher doesn't even know anything about the subject? Classes are a lot more fun with teachers that like to do a lot of more hands on things. The school year is fine just the length it is and the time school starts and ends.
Obama cutting summer?!?!
Apparently, President Obama wants to cut summer vacation for students. I can see why he would think that this would help improve student’s education, but I think that his idea may backfire. Summer vacation is very important to students. It is times to relax, have fun, and spend time with family. Many teachers spend the summer taking classes and prepping to better teach incoming students. Without summer vacation students would begin to get burned out lowering their will and energy to learn. Student’s grades would quickly drop and standards would be lowered.
I think more important then the time spent on education is the quality of education. I think too many tests are given by the educational system. Teacher end up having to spend lots of valuable time on test prep. That time could be better spent teaching new concepts. Students aren’t learning anything from tests yet many hours a week are spent on testing. Testing puts unnecessary stress on both teachers and students. Good teachers are able to identify students needing assistance; so less emphasis should be put on testing and scores.
So I personally believe that more days to the school year is not the answer but using the time we have in school more effectively is.
A Common Simplification of President Obama's Education Reform Plan
In the discussion of President Obama's plan for education reform, most people immediately jump to the hot topic of lengthening the school year, which, while it may be the most controversial, is not the only matter that Obama's plan includes. In addition to lengthening the school year, Obama also proposed:
• Lengthening the school day
• Beginning a process to rid schools of unproductive or unsuccessful teachers
• Increasing the number of charter schools
which are productive and smart beginning steps for education reform. The first two matters: lengthening the school day and year seem to be almost a cop out of a solution when read by themselves, and are a quanitity opposed to quality solution. Basically, lengthening amount of time that students are in school doesn't matter if students aren't receiving quality education while they are there. However, Obama's plan redeems its self with its next to main goals, to rid schools of unproductive or unsuccessful teachers and to increase the number of charter schools.
Firing teachers who are unsuccessful opens up teaching positions for teachers who are successful. Key word being unsuccessful, as it is nearly impossible to express who are bad teachers as more than a euphemism. Therefore, to base around the firing and hiring cycle of teachers has to hinge on an appraisal of success. However much teachers hate to teach to tests, and however much students hate standardized testing, it appears that at least at first, we're going to have to base our education system around standardized testing and test scores. Once this has been accomplished, teachers' creativity can be allowed to function as it should. Unfortunately, that method just hasn't worked so far.
The last order of business in Obama's plan is increasing the number of charter schools in the United States. For those who do not know, Charter Schools are schools that recieve money from the government though taxes like public schools, but are allowed to function more freely than public schools, without statues such as state or standardized testing. Most likely, the Obama administration is attempting to steer money and enrollment towards Charter Schools because they are effective and successful, otherwise, they would be completely obsolete and extinct at this point. I mentioned in the above paragraph and idealized method of using creative teachers who are not required to teach to standardized testing. Charter Schools are the kind of idealized environment which I was eluding to.
In conclusion, I would have to admit, that while rather haltingly, I do have to support Obama's Plan for Education Reform. There seems to be a sort of repulsion and fear of change in reference to education, and more specifically school year and day length. The first step of reform is change, without changing anything, we would not be able to reform our education system. Will this be a warm-welcomed change? No, probably not, but as of right now our education system is not producing the results that we need it to for it to succeed for America to competitive in the World Market. Without reforming at all, we can't hope to change our influence in the World Market.
• Lengthening the school day
• Beginning a process to rid schools of unproductive or unsuccessful teachers
• Increasing the number of charter schools
which are productive and smart beginning steps for education reform. The first two matters: lengthening the school day and year seem to be almost a cop out of a solution when read by themselves, and are a quanitity opposed to quality solution. Basically, lengthening amount of time that students are in school doesn't matter if students aren't receiving quality education while they are there. However, Obama's plan redeems its self with its next to main goals, to rid schools of unproductive or unsuccessful teachers and to increase the number of charter schools.
Firing teachers who are unsuccessful opens up teaching positions for teachers who are successful. Key word being unsuccessful, as it is nearly impossible to express who are bad teachers as more than a euphemism. Therefore, to base around the firing and hiring cycle of teachers has to hinge on an appraisal of success. However much teachers hate to teach to tests, and however much students hate standardized testing, it appears that at least at first, we're going to have to base our education system around standardized testing and test scores. Once this has been accomplished, teachers' creativity can be allowed to function as it should. Unfortunately, that method just hasn't worked so far.
The last order of business in Obama's plan is increasing the number of charter schools in the United States. For those who do not know, Charter Schools are schools that recieve money from the government though taxes like public schools, but are allowed to function more freely than public schools, without statues such as state or standardized testing. Most likely, the Obama administration is attempting to steer money and enrollment towards Charter Schools because they are effective and successful, otherwise, they would be completely obsolete and extinct at this point. I mentioned in the above paragraph and idealized method of using creative teachers who are not required to teach to standardized testing. Charter Schools are the kind of idealized environment which I was eluding to.
In conclusion, I would have to admit, that while rather haltingly, I do have to support Obama's Plan for Education Reform. There seems to be a sort of repulsion and fear of change in reference to education, and more specifically school year and day length. The first step of reform is change, without changing anything, we would not be able to reform our education system. Will this be a warm-welcomed change? No, probably not, but as of right now our education system is not producing the results that we need it to for it to succeed for America to competitive in the World Market. Without reforming at all, we can't hope to change our influence in the World Market.
L0NG3R $CH00L Y34R$?
Please take a moment to appreciate my use of both numbers and letters in the title. Thank you. Now to the blog.
President Obama is proposing an idea to make school years longer. Most kids don't agree with this. I, however, am not quite sure. What Obama is proposing is to make the summer shorter. I don't agree with that. I think that summer break is pointless. Kids are happy about it for about 3.7549305868392756810573957693 days, but then they start complaining about how there is nothing to do and about how bored they are. Also, kids forget a lot of what they learned in school. I remembered about four Spanish words when I started school this year. Exaggeration? Yes. But you know what I mean. I propose to have no summer. Wait, wait,wait. Don't get angry yet. We should have 4 or 5 more one-week breaks spread out throughout the school year. Teachers should only be able to give us a small amount of homework on these breaks. That way kids can actually enjoy it. As for Obama's proposition to get better teachers in school: APHS has good teachers, but from what I've heard about other schools- lost cause.
Always keep it delicious.
President Obama is proposing an idea to make school years longer. Most kids don't agree with this. I, however, am not quite sure. What Obama is proposing is to make the summer shorter. I don't agree with that. I think that summer break is pointless. Kids are happy about it for about 3.7549305868392756810573957693 days, but then they start complaining about how there is nothing to do and about how bored they are. Also, kids forget a lot of what they learned in school. I remembered about four Spanish words when I started school this year. Exaggeration? Yes. But you know what I mean. I propose to have no summer. Wait, wait,wait. Don't get angry yet. We should have 4 or 5 more one-week breaks spread out throughout the school year. Teachers should only be able to give us a small amount of homework on these breaks. That way kids can actually enjoy it. As for Obama's proposition to get better teachers in school: APHS has good teachers, but from what I've heard about other schools- lost cause.
Always keep it delicious.
Longer School Year
Longer School Year?
Presidnet Barrack Obama is pushing for a longer school year. None of us want that, but it could benefit students in the long run. If there was a longer school year, students wouldnt forget as much over the shorter summer. This would mean less time for reviewing the things you learned the year before, because if you already remember how to do them, you dont have to waste any more time doing them in the beginnning of the new school year. President Obama also wants better teachers for schools around the United States. Better teachers means students learning better, and possibly quicker and easier. i don't think the school year should be any longer, because if it is, students most likely wouldnt focus on what they were learning about, they'd be bored and ready for summer. The school year is long enough as it is, and students can barely focus when the end comes near. If Obama makes the school year even longer than it is, students most definitely wouldnt be able to focus or learn anything, especially with the heat and no air conditioning in most schools. Longer school years have both pros and cons. The pros being students wouldnt forget as much over the summer, and cons being that students wouldnt be able to focus that well. Right now, we only have Summer Reading Homework, and if President Obama wants us to not forget other things like math and science, maybe teachers should assing summer math & science homework as well as summer reading homework.
Longer School Days
I do not agree on Obama's decision of extending school days. I know that when I get up in the morning at 6:00 A.M, I am not a happy camper. I am exhausted as it is with 6 hrs of school, I could not imagine school being even longer! After school I always have my sports practice that ends at 5:00P.M. I only wish for a half hour to relax, but even that is not possible, I must do my homework. Then off to my next practice. I know that for many people that is not their case, but for others it is. I know that Obama's intentions are well, but it is to hard for students as it is, Trying to improve the US's education system is a nice thought, but this is not the way to do it. By making school a relaxing time where students can work hands on with projects and really listen to what each teacher is trying to teach, the students will look forward to school and will be eager to learn. But, by making school longer, students will dread school and most likely do worst. Extending homework and giving out long packets for homework will just discourage students and they will do poorly on the homework. But giving out small bits of work at a time the students will be encouraged to succeed. My concluding thought is, what is Obama thinking?!
By, Megan Regan
Banned books... Why?
The book, A Light In The Attic by Shel Silverstein was banned! My only question is, WHY? This book was banned in the mid-80's in schools across the US. They say that the book encourages selfish and disrespectful behavior, it discusses suicide, sexuality and has suggestive illustrations. My opinion of these reasons of banning this book are that they are stupid and pathetic! Ever since I was little I have grown up on this creative, fun loving poetry book, and not once have I been influenced to the extensive thoughts of suicide, immature behavior or anything bad for that matter. I believe that it expands the minds of young kids and broadens their imagination. Seeing this book on the banned book list makes me mad and questions what thoughts are going through the minds who banned the book in the first place. I believe that even having a banned book list at all goes against the First Amendment, freedom of speech. It should be the author's decision on what they wish to publish and the readers choice whether they read it or not, no matter what the age. If a parent says that they cannot read a certain genre of book, then so be it, but that is not the school or any other person's decision for that matter. Depending on the kids maturity level also will support a parent or guardian's decision. Not only is a banned book list not fair to the reader but also to the author. What the author writes about may be very important to them, and they may wish to enlighten readers with their knowledge to everyone and everywhere. It is not one person's decision to tell them they are not allowed to express themselves through books. My conclusion to the banning of The Light In The Attic by Shel Silverstein is still a mystery to me personally, but I know one thing for sure, I will never stop a kid from wanting to read this book.
By, Megan Regan
Longer School Year
I for one do not support the longer school year. I enjoy my two months of summer, when most days I can wake up whenever I want, do anything I want, and not be stressed to the point of grey hairs with extracurricular activities, sports, and the burgeoning burdens of my academic career. Two months seems to me like a fair amount of time for summer vacation. What I really detest is doing any sort of school-related work over the summer. The summer is my time to chill out and relax and instead I'm stuck inside writing a four-page paper. This is usually why all my summer projects are done in the first week of September. But now there are going to be more days of school? That hardly seems fair. I for one read enough over the summer, and write, and I find that the extra reading and writing for school is a drag. I think that the first one or two days of actual class should be a quick recap on the subject, and I think that would solve most problems. While China, Japan, and South Korea may be out-performing American children in standardized tests, they actually go to school for fewer total hours a year than Americans, even though they have a longer school year. What Americans lack as a whole is enthusiasm. Most of these Asian children have been raised from a young age to believe that school is their future, they must succeed, et cetera, et cetera. They study for hours on end and throw themselves into their schoolwork. When this behavior is seen in America, we call it "Asian Syndrome" or "Asianitis" and call its "sufferers" nerds. How this enthusiasm will come about in America I have no idea. But this is how the global power shifts; in ten years when our generation enters the workplace, we'll be out-competed by the "Asian Syndrome Nerds" and some other Asian nation will become the dominant world power. If you ask me, I think it's already too late.
What is Obama Thinking
The proposal of having a longer school year is very inexplicable to me. Not very many people in my English class agree with it. I will not mention any names but somebody said a very strong statement, that i will not mention because of not wanting the FBI after me, obviously disagreeing with the statement of longer school years very strongly. There are good reasons to this statement, like being able to keep up with China and their technologies but with all the work, it will put too much stress on the student body. I feel that we do not even get enough time on summer vacation to chill with family and friends and go on vacation. The summer is usually over before I know it and I feel like i miss out on alot of fun. A good idea is to give the students little assignments for each topic so we do not forget the work and keep up on our studies. There is no need to have to go into school early every morning for longer than we already have to. The conclusion to the statement of longer school years is,"I wish i voted for McCain."
Friday, October 1, 2010
Banned Books
The subject of banned books is an extremely controversial subject and every time I think of it I immediately associate it with Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I am of the opinion that "a good library has something in it to offend everyone" and if people keep banning books because of religious or political bias, then we mind as well call in Beatty and the firemen to burn down our houses. People should be able to have access to all sorts of different information, even if it is not approved by a political wing, culture, or other groups. Our right, as stated in the first amendment of the Constitution, is to have freedoms of speech and press. Also, some of these books deal with realistic topics, such as drug use, homosexuality, racism, and sex. People will be exposed to this sort of content at some point in their lives and these things exist in the real world. This is reality, whatever people might tell us when we are younger. Do we ignore these topics? Are we to ban books about this? Admittedly, there is an age limit for appropriate content, and I think that should be up to parents to determine when their child is able to view/read about certain topics. They should be able to decide, but should they decide their child should not read a book, they should not freak out about it, sue the school for teaching their students "inappropriate things," and then rally people via Facebook to do the same, and subsequently ban the book.
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