Choose Your Own Adventure

It's always hard coming back to school after break. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching and being surrounded by all the crazy, creative evergy that is all of you. That being said, it's still hard to get back into the grind.  So for our first blog post, I'll go easy on you.

This week we started our study of the Constitution and the freedoms that make us uniquely American. You can order your own free copy of the United States Constitution from: http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?section=bookstore&page=freeCopy.cfm

Normally, our first blog post has something to do with the freedoms you value most and whether or not you are proud to call yourself an American. This quarter, I would like to start with something different. A good portion of this class will be spent discussing current events and political issues that affect our everyday lives. For this post, I would like you to tell me at least one issue that you are interested in studying. To help you out, you can look over the blog posts that we've had in the past several years to get an idea of the type of things we've covered. Many of the topics are pretty controversial and I do my best to not censor the information available to you.

So my question to you this week is, "What is one issue that you are interested in studying in this class?" Answers are due no later than Wednesday, April 10th, 2013. I'm looking forward to a great quarter!

Your Thoughts and Feedback Are Appreciated!

Well another quarter has come and gone.  When we started out together winter was in full swing, and now if this past weekend is any indication, spring is just around the corner. I hope you can all say that you learned something in this class, and that you keep in touch, and continue to post on the blog whenever you want.

With that being said, my final question to you is, “What did you like or dislike about the class? What could I do to make the class better?” Answers are due no later than Sunday, March 17^th, 2013 - which happens to be one of my favorite holidays St. Patrick's day!  Erin Go Braugh!  For those of you who celebrate - have a Happy Easter. For those of you who are graduating this quarter – congratulations! Your hard work has finally paid off!  For everyone else - have a good break.  Now go off and do big things - I'll be waiting!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

Over the weekend, I watched the HBO documentary Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God.  The movie covered some of the sexual abuse claims made by children who were residents at a Catholic deaf school.  Numerous children who attended the school came forward to say that Father Murphy, the head priest at the school had sexually abused them over a period of several years.  The movie was hard to watch.  I mean really hard to watch, as in after 10 minutes, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get through it.  I did though, and what struck me most was how none of the other adults who knew or may have suspected the abuse was occurring, ever reported it to the authorities.

It reminded me of the Penn State scandal, in which Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of sexual abuse against young boys.  Several Penn State staff testified that they saw or heard of Sandusky’s abuse, but never reported it to police.

Now we can probably all agree that pedophiles are sick individuals that need to be incarcerated for their crimes, but what about bystanders who know the abuse is occurring but don’t report it?  47 states and the District of Columbia impose penalties on mandatory reporters who knowingly or willfully fail to make a report when they suspect a child is being abused or neglected.  In Indiana, individuals can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor.

Sexual abuse of children in this country is at epic proportions. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 17% of boys and 28% of girls will be victims of sexual abuse during their childhood.  Think about that for a minute. That’s over 1 out of every four girls! 

So my question to you this week is, “Do you think the penalties should be harsher for adults who know abuse is occurring, but don’t report it?  Why do you think someone would know a child is being abused, but not notify the authorities?”  You must answer both questions to earn full credit.  As for me, this whole topic has made me feel kind of ill.  I want to say I think adults who know abuse is occurring but fail to report it should get the same penalties the child molesters receive themselves.  Then again, even those penalties aren’t that harsh.  I’m eager to hear what you think.  Answers are due no later than Sunday, March 10^th, 2013.  Don’t forget!  Daylight Savings Time starts this Sunday!  Move your clocks ahead 1 hour.

Have Dress Codes Gone Too Far?

Last week, I ran across an article about a teenager in Florida that was made to change her t-shirt after school officials determined it violated the dress code.  Summer Schreiner, 15 wore a t-shirt to school which said, “Don’t drink and park.  Accidents cause kids”.  Schreiner received the shirt when she attended “Silver Ring Thing” a Christian conference that asks teenagers to take celibacy vows until they’re married.  Schreiner wore her t-shirt through lunch, until she was made by school officials to change into a shirt given to her which read, “Tomorrow, I will dress for success”.

The school’s dress code prohibits clothing which contains sexually explicit or oriented wording.  Schreiner said her shirt promoted a positive message, and that sex is discussed in school as part of the curriculum for sex education.  She says her abstinence vow is important to her, and that she felt humiliated by school officials.  Michelle Irwin, Director of Communications for the school district stated, “This is not a situation of whether or not the district agrees or disagrees with abstinence among teens.  It’s about the fact the she violated the dress code.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve read about students violating school dress codes for what seems like pretty innocuous things.  Check out this student who was told her unnatural hair color violated the school’s dress code: http://www.inquisitr.com/520379/student-banned-from-school-for-unnatural-hair-color-is-allowed-back/   In October, 17 year old Zachary Aufderheide was made to serve a two day in-school suspension because his hair length violated the school’s dress code.  Aufderheide was growing out his hair to donate to the charity Locks of Love.

I’m torn on the issue of dress codes for students.  I generally detest censorship of any form, and I am generally suspicious of authority.  That being said, I grew up poor and my parents didn’t always have the money to buy me the latest fashions.  What made it worse was that I often received the knock off version of the latest fashion, which in my mind just made me stand out more.  Perhaps had my school had a stricter dress code, or required uniforms this wouldn’t have been such an issue for me.

So my question to you this week is, “Do you think Schreiner’s shirt violated what the school states as its dress code policy?  Do you think students should have stricter dress codes and/or uniforms?”  Answers are due no later than Sunday, March 3^rd, 2013.

What Is The State Of Our Union?

Last week, President Obama gave the first State of the Union address of his second term.  The State of the Union address is a time for the President to inform Congress and the American people about….well, the State of the Union.  As expected, President Obama touched on many different priorities for his second term including immigration, gun control, job creation and raising the minimum wage.  In case you missed it, you can watch the full address here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2013

We’ve spent time in class talking about how Presidents spend a lot of time crafting their political image and message, and how they help set the agenda for what the American people see as their top priorities.  So my question to you this week is, “What was one thing President Obama said that you could support?  What was something he left out, that you wish he would’ve mentioned?”  You must answer both questions to earn full credit.  Answers are due no later than Sunday, February 24^th, 2013.  To read the full transcript of President Obama’s speech, go here: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-12/politics/37059380_1_applause-task-free-enterprise

Ode To Presidents

This week in class we will talk about the Presidency.  Next Monday, the nation celebrates George Washington's birthday, commonly known as President's Day. So, in honor of our first President, I decided to blog this week about the men who have served our nation as "Commander in Chief".

Some of our Presidents have had great courage. George Washington and Dwight D. Eisenhower commanded troops in battle in two of the most important wars in our nation's history. Without their courage, it is hard to say if America as nation would be where it is today.

Some of our Presidents have been great scholars. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which remains a model of democratic thought and is studied in political science classes around the world to this day. Woodrow Wilson was the only President to earn a doctorate degree, which he earned in political science.

Some of our Presidents have been great orators. John Adams was considered the "voice" of the revolution. John Kennedy's inauguration address inspired a new generation of Americans to serve their communities. Ronald Reagan was known as "The Great Communicator" and is credited with helping to end the Cold War.

My question to you this week is "Throughout history, who do you think would've made a great President that never held the office?" My answer is Benjamin Franklin. We all know of Benjamin Franklin's famous lightening rod experiment, but did you know he invented many other things including the Franklin stove, bifocals, batteries and the glass 'armonica'? He also formed our nation's first library and fire departments, and founded the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin was a great statesmen, diplomat and politician. He is credited with developing the ideals of the American character. Had he not been so advanced in age, it is possible he would've added 'President' to his long list of accomplishments. So, "Who do you think would've made a great President that never held the office?" Answers are due no later than Sunday, February 17th, 2013.

G.I. Jane Reporting For Duty

Last week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that he was lifting the military’s official ban on women in combat.  This decision overturns a 1994 rule restricting women from artillery, armor, infantry and other combat roles.  As of last year, 800 women have been wounded in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and an additional 130 have died.  The Pentagon is allowing three years for the military to implement the changes.  Congress doesn’t need to approve the new rule, but if they disagree, they could pass legislation prohibiting the change.

Supporters say this new rule change will open hundreds of thousands of additional front line jobs to women, and that more women will be able to seek higher ranks within the military, which are usually only open to those with combat experience.  Public opinion polls show 3 out of 4 Americans favor placing women in combat. 

Opponents say combat conditions are no place for women.  Retired, three star General William “Jerry” Boykin criticized placing women into Special Forces where “living conditions are primal without privacy for personal hygiene or nor mal functions”.

In a few weeks, we will discuss the Supreme Court, and how historically, they have allowed gender discrimination against women in some cases related to combat duty.  So my question to you this week is, “Do you think women should be allowed in combat zones?  Why or why not?  What changes will they military need to make to accommodate women?”  Answers are due no later than Sunday, February 10^th, 2013.