Reaction #11 - Housewives Paid?

Reaction #11 - 1/3/08

Topic: Should housewives be paid for their work?

Background Info: The ideas of traditional family roles have changed markedly since the entry of women into the labor force. As the notion of 'natural' family roles has decreased so the awareness of the vital and sizable quantity of unpaid work home-keepers (still predominantly women) do has increased. This raises questions about how voluntary and unpaid, or contractual and marketized the divisions of labor in family life should be.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST housewives being paid for their work. Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #10 - White Christmas?

Reaction #10 - 1/2/08 Topic: Should I be dreaming of a white Christmas?

Background Info: Many people’s ideal Christmas day involves snowy weather. Christmas cards often feature snow-white landscapes, along with polar bears, penguins and other cuddly animals from arctic areas. Christmas decorations and displays often involve fake snow or snowflake designs. And the song, “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”, written by Irving Berlin in 1940 and sung by Bing Crosby sums up the Christmas spirit in music for many people. This wish for a white Christmas is especially strong in parts of the world, like Western Europe and much of the USA, where snow on December 25th is possible but actually quite unusual. In the UK there is a great deal of speculation in the media each year about the chances of snow on Christmas Day, and many bets are placed on the possibility. Of course, in other parts of the northern hemisphere they expect snow for several months of the year and so it is not such a big deal. This case is most relevant to those places like the UK and much of the USA where white Christmases cannot be taken for granted. However, it also has relevance in many other countries, including even sunny Australia.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST a dream for a white Christmas. Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #9 - Assisted Suicide

Topic: Should assisted suicide be legalized?

Background Information: Assisted Suicide, also called Voluntary Euthanasia, is currently a contentious issue in many countries. The question in the debate is this: if a terminally ill person decides that they wish to end their life, is it acceptable for others to assist them? This would normally take the form of a doctor administering a lethal injection, which would end their life painlessly. A clear distinction must be made with involuntary euthanasia, by which someone is ‘put down’ against their wishes, and which is simply murder by another name. In the United States, Dr Jack Kervorkian – nicknamed ‘Doctor Death’ for his actions beliefs – has been campaigning for a change in the law for many years, and has assisted in the suicide of at least 45 people; he was recently found guilty of second degree murder and imprisoned after a widely publicized trial. In the Netherlands, on the other hand, voluntary euthanasia has been legal since 1983, with some 3,000 people requesting it each year. In Australia, assisted suicide was legalised in the Northern Territories with the backing of a substantial majority of the local population, but was then overthrown by the Federal Senate before anyone could actually use the new law. As a great deal hinges on the practicalities of this debate, it is imperative that the proposition provide a fairly specific set of criteria to explain when assisted suicide would be legal and when it would not. It is worth looking at the legal procedures proposed in Australia and those in use in the Netherlands, as examples of the kind of safeguards which may be needed.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments. YOUR

REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST assisted suicide. Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #8 - Stem Cell Research

Topic: Should medical research involving the use of human stem cells be permitted? Should clinical treatments that utilize these cloned cells be allowed?

Background Information: The manipulation of the human embryo and the application of cloning technology are relatively novel developments. Research involving human embryos has only been permitted in the United Kingdom since 1990. In 2001 the United Kingdom Parliament narrowly approved the cloning of human embryos for a limited range of research purposes. In August 2001 President George Bush is reported to be contemplated a similar degree of freedom for US biotechnology programs. The issue was thrust upon the public conscience by the landmark achievement of the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh in 1997. The successful cloning of ‘Dolly’ the sheep from an adult cell utilized the technique known as ‘somatic cell nuclear transfer’. The nucleus from a somatic cell was fused with an unfertilized egg from which the nucleus had been removed. Human ‘therapeutic’ cloning concerns the applications of nuclear transfer technology that do not lead to the creation of an entire human. The scientific object is the cloning of embryos in order to produce identical cell lines, the removal of which destroys the embryo. The passage of an electric current across each cell should allow development as a specified somatic or body cell. The purported medical benefits reside in the possibility of bodily repair. Neurons killed by degenerative diseases such as Huntingdon’s Chorea or Alzheimer’s Disease could be replaced by genetically identical cells. Transplant operations are currently hindered by the risk of potentially fatal rejection of the transplanted organ. Cloned cell lines could eliminate this hazard by operating as a ‘solvent’ between the foreign organ and the body. Removal of the rejection reaction may facilitate the process of ‘xeno-transplantation’ whereby animal organs can be used in human bodies. One of the ethical focuses of this debate concerns the loss of thousands of embryos, and thus the creation and destruction of future human life, which is inevitable in any program of research or treatment involving human life.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST stem cell research. Please submit your response to your blog.

Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Journal 12/10

Thinking back over your Christmas/Holiday history, which Christmas stands out as the best one?  What made it the best one?  Explain why.  (Keep in mind the discussion we had last week about the commercialization of Christmas.)  

If this topic challenges you, then describe what you think your ideal Christmas/Holiday season would look like.  Why would this be so "wonderful" in your mind?  Explain.

Journal 12/7

Is Christmas and the holiday season too commercialized?  Have we lost the true holiday spirit?  Explain what you think and relate it to your life and your observations.

Reaction #7 - 12/5 Smoking

Topic: Should there be further restrictions on the advertising, selling, and smoking of tobacco? Should it be banned?

Background: Tobacco is one of the most widely-used recreational drugs in the world; mainly in the form of cigarettes, but also in cigars and pipes, and in combination with cannabis and marijuana in 'joints'. Although most countries put age restrictions on its use, over a billion adults smoke tobacco legally every day, and supplying this demand is big business. As well as having serious health consequences for smokers themselves, the pollution of other people's atmospheres with cigarette smoke also makes this an environmental issue.Attitudes have changed rapidly over the past twenty years. In the developed world, public opinion has shifted against smoking. By the 1990s, the sheer weight of evidence had forced major tobacco companies to admit that their products are both harmful and addictive. Many governments have substantially increased taxes on tobacco in order to discourage smoking, and often to alleviate the economic costs of smoking-related illness. However, while smoking has declined amongst some groups, it has increased amongst others - particularly young women. Meanwhile restrictions on the industry in the developed world have seen a new emphasis on developing nations, and new markets.Key questions for this debate are: Is it the proper role of government to legislate to protect citizens from the harmful effects of their own lifestyle decisions? Does tobacco advertising increase tobacco consumption? Do health warnings, however much of the cigarette packet they cover, reduce consumption? What would be the effects of banning smoking in all public places, or even completely?

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST the restriction or banning of tobacco products. Please submit your response to your blog.

Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #6 - 12/3 Biodiversity and Endangered Species

Topic: Biodiversity and Endangered Species - Should we be trying to prevent species becoming extinct? If so, why?

Background: 'Biodiversity' means the variety of bacteria, plants, and animals that live on our planet. This includes the unique behavioral patterns and activities of each species. Biodiversity is an ecological concept discussed in many scientific circles. Many debates about biodiversity will ultimately boil down to how important this diversity is, either for its own sake, or for some specific human benefits. International agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aim to protect biodiversity. Issues linked to this debate about biodiversity will also arise in debates on genetically modified food and on animal welfare.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION: Develop and argument FOR or AGAINST the prevention of species extinction. Please utilize the data and research included in the above link.

Please submit your response to your blog. Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Journal 11/30

What does it mean to be "broad-minded"?  

Provides some examples of how you see yourself as being a "broad-minded" individual in the way you live your life and based on your personal views of other people and the world.

Reaction #5 - 11/28 The 700-mile Fence #2

Reaction #5 - 11/28
Topic: Was the US Congress right to pass legislation to build 700 miles of fencing on its border with Mexico? - Will a Fence Benefit the U.S. Economy?

Using the same background information from the previous reaction, adjust your argument to the following topic: Will a Fence Benefit the U.S. Economy?

Please use the arguments FOR and AGAINST in the research that relate to this question. Go to the following LINK for more get the information.

Please submit your response to your blog. Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #4 - 11/26 The 700-mile Fence #1

Reaction #4 - 11/26

Topic: Was the US Congress right to pass legislation to build 700 miles of fencing on its border with Mexico? - Is it moral and democratic to build such a fence?

Background:
The debate over constructing fencing on the US-Mexico is not new. The Clinton administration, for example, passed legislation in the mid-90s that called for fencing around the major US metropolitan centers on the border. Yet, the extent of the inflow of illegal immigration (roughly 500,000 annually) as well as the growing Hispanic demographic in the United States has caused many people to view a more extensive fencing system as increasingly urgent.

The recent politics and legislation: The pressure to somehow resolve the illegal immigration problem caused the US House of Reps and the Senate to propose two immigration reform bills in late 2005 and early 2006. While both bills attempted to create a comprehensive approach that went far beyond border controls, they widely diverged on a philosophical level. Senate bill 2611 approached the the issue with a much more tolerant and inclusive approach. For example, it proposed an amnesty and a path to citizenship plan for illegal immigrants. The House bill 4437 in contrast adopted a much more strict approach, making the presence of illegal immigrants in the country an aggravated felony, which would invariably call for the detention and deportation of illegals. As a result of these major philosophical differences, compromise between the two bills became very unlikely. One of the major points of agreement between the legislation, however, was on building a border wall of some kind. The two chambers decided to adopt the plan to build a 700-mile wall, which was initially proposed in H.R. 4437. This passed through the House on Sept. 14th, 2006 in House Resolution 6061 (H.R. 6061) - "Secure Fence Act of 2006" - with a vote of 283 to 138. On September 29, 2006, the Senate confirmed H.R. 6061 by a vote of 80 to 19.[1] On October 26, 2006, President George W. Bush signed H.R. 6061, which was the voted upon and passed by the 109th US Congress.[2] The debate's key questions include the feasibility of constructing a fence of this length, the capacity of it and other measures to establish "operational control" over the borders and to deter illegal immigration, the extent to which illegal immigrants and "coyotes" (traffickers) will be able to adapt to the new security conditions and maintain a continuous stream of immigrants, the symbolism of this wall, the possible diplomatic costs, and the potential dollar costs.

PLEASE NOTE: The argument you are trying to make is to be focused on the morality of building of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border using the given information. Please try to keep your argument to this point.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE SECTION THAT READS, "Principles: Is it moral and democratic to build such a fence?" TO GAIN INFORMATION FOR YOUR ARGUMENT.


YOUR REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST the Morality of Building a 700-mile fence on the U.S.-Mexican Border.

Please submit your response to your blog. Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #3 - 11/19 Teaching Creationism

Reaction #3 - 11/19

Topic: Should schools be allowed to teach creationism alongside evolution as part of their science curriculum?

Background: Many Christians believe that the earth and all living things on it were created by God in seven days. This is denied by the theory of evolution. Since the origins and development of life are an important part of the school science curriculum, the question of what schools should and should not be allowed to teach is an important one. There are differences between the debate in Britain and in the USA. In Britain, schools must teach evolution as part of the National Curriculum, but are not barred from teaching creationism as well, and some religious schools, such as Emmanuel College in Gateshead, have done so, presenting creationism as fact and evolution as a matter of faith. In the USA, pressure has been put on school boards to enforce the teaching of creationism and evolution as equally controversial scientific theories (as in Ohio), or to remove evolution from the list of examination topics and therefore make it less likely to be taught (as in Kansas).

Please note: This argument you are trying to make is whether Creationism can be taught alongside Evolution as a scientific theory. You are NOT arguing your personal views, specifically.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST Teaching Creationism in Schools. Please submit your response to your blog.

Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #2 Genetic Screening - 11/15

Topic:  Genetic Screening - Should parents be allowed to perform "genetic screening", selecting healthier or more desirable embryos to give birth to?

Background:  What is "genetic screening"?  Using In Vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, an embryo can be made by the fertilization of an egg with a sperm outside the female's body.  The resulting embryonic cells can be tested by removing one and screening the DNA complement to ascertain the presence of specific genes.  The procedure is already being employed in labs.  It can help to identify potentially debilitating illnesses or inherited disorders, and also for the determining the sex of a baby to allow parents carrying a sex-linked disorder gene to procreate without passing on genetic disorders to their children. This technology has brought a host of issues to the forefront of media and science.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION:

Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST Genetic Screening.  

Please submit your response to your blog.  Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #1 Corporal Punishment for Children - 11/13

Topic:  Corporal Punishment for Children - Is physical force a justifiable method of punishing children?

Background:  This debate shares something with Corporal Punishment (for Adults), namely whether the infliction of physical pain can ever be justifiable; but the issue of "paddling" or spanking for children is less about punishment in itself and more about punishment as a means of education.  How can young children learn the difference between right and wrong?  How can teachers establish order in the classroom and enable a better environment for learning?  

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.  

YOUR REACTION:

Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST Corporal Punishment for Children.

Please submit your response in your blog.  Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Journal #14 - 11/9

Where is a place that you can go and just be yourself?  Describe this place and explain why it has this effect on you.

Journal #13 - 11/7

If you were to plan a road trip in the lower 48 states, where would you go and why?  What places would you stop along the way?

Journal #12 - 11/6

Where is the best place you have travelled to?  Why did you like this place so much?

Journal #11 - 11/5

If you could travel to only one place, anywhere on Planet Earth, where would you go and why?

Journal #10 - 11/2

If you could choose an actor/actress to re-enact your life, who would it be and why?  Briefly describe the story of the movie they would be in.  (Please include a graphic of the actor/actress with your submission.)

Please respond in complete sentences using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Also, have it proofed prior to posting it.

Journal #9 - 11/1

What was your favorite cartoon/animated movie growing up as a kid?  Why?  (Please include a graphic with your submission.)

Please respond in complete sentences using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Also, have your work proofed prior to posting.

Journal #8 - 10/31

Who is your favorite female actress?  What movies have they been in?  Explain why they are your favorite.  (Please include a picture of them with your submission.)

Please write in complete sentences, using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Also, have your work proofed before you post it.

Journal #7 - 10/30

Who is your favorite male actor?  What movies have they been in?  Explain why they are your favorite.  (Please include a picture of them with you submission.)

Please respond in complete sentences, using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Also, have it proofed before you submit your post.

Journal #6 - 10/29

What is your favorite movie?  Explain why this movie is your favorite.  (Please post a graphic with your submission.)

Please response in complete sentences, using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Also, have it proofed prior to posting.

Journal #5 - 10/26

If you could change one thing about Salem, what would it be and why?  Please feel free to share what you like about Salem and what you don't like about Salem, too.)

Please using proper sentence structure (capitalization, punctuation, and grammar) and please have it proofed prior to posting.

Journal #4 - 10/25

What song gets you "fired up" when you are feeling down?  Include some lyrics that "fire you up".  Why do you think it has this effect on you?  What are some ways that music impacts your life?  Talk about the importance and significance it has in your personal life.  Think about friendships, love, hardship, hate, enemies, sentiment, sport, etc. when you respond to this journal entry.

Please write your response in complete sentences using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Post your response ONLY after your work has been proofed.

Journal #3 - 10/24

What song describes your life.  Include examples of lyrics that apply.  Be sure to explain and be convincing of your song choice.

Please write your response in complete sentences using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Post your response ONLY after your work has been proofed.  

Journal #2 - 10/23

What song do you think has had the greatest impact on society?  Explain why you think so.  In your response, please include some lyrics to support your claim.

Please write your response in complete sentences using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Post your response ONLY after your work has been proofed.

Journal #1 - 10/22

Please respond to the following questions.  Write your answers in complete sentences using proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Post your response ONLY after your worked has been proofed.

TOPIC:  What is your favorite music/artist/band?  What song do they perform that you enjoy the most?  What is it about this music/artist/band that makes you enjoy it?

What is Fresh Start @ The IKE Box?

This is a course that will provide students with a basic overview of the study of environmental science and it’s applications to students and the students’ community. This will be done through the lens of a novel titled, “Ricochet River” by Robin Cody and a variety of community-based activities. “Ricochet River” is a fictional novel that takes place here in Oregon and contains real places that student should be familiar with within the Willamette and Columbia River Basins. Through the characters in the novel and the science that is relevant to it, students will gain an understanding and appreciation for a variety of scientific issues that are on the forefront of the news today. Topics of study this semester include:

• Watershed education, water characteristics, water cycle, water quality, stream surveys, watershed mapping, ecological and biological concepts, biodiversity, sustainability, succession, endangered species, pollution, resource conservation, and environmental ethics.

This Blog will be used for students in the class to create a professional portfolio of their best work and provide a tool of communication with the teacher and other students in the course.