4/1/10 - National News

Making Sense of the Health Care Law

Confused by the new health care law?

Read three or more of the articles that can be found by following the links below. All of these links summarize the changes that will take place as a result of the new law:

New York Times special Health Care section links to numerous articles about how the law will impact the country.

The Washington Post has an online tool that estimates what the new law could mean for your health coverage and taxes based on your income, family size and current insurance status.

The Washington Post also has a chart that gives an overview of how the changes will impact different groups of Americans

The Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news organization committed to in-depth coverage of health care policy and politics, has a Consumers Guide to Health Care that answers many questions about the new law. 

When you are done reading, answer the following questions in the comments:

1.  Three things I've learned about the new health care law are...

2.  One question I still have about this law is...

4/1/10 - National News / Teen Issues

9 Teenagers Are Charged After Classmate’s Suicide

Last week in Massachusetts, nine high school students between the ages of 16 and 18 were charged with various felony crimes in the suicide death of 15 year old Phoebe Prince (pictured above).

Prosecutors said that the students charged were responsible for taunting and physical threats that led the freshman to hang herself from a stairwell at her home in January.

Read this story about the charges brought against the students who were bullying Phoebe Prince. This story links to a video on which you can see photos of the students charged in the case.  Also, read this story, which is about bullying what can be learned from Phoebe Prince's suicide.

After reading the stories linked in this post, respond to one or more the following question(s):

1. Do you think the students involved in bullying Phoebe Prince should be prosecuted for their actions?

2. Why do you think students bully others?

3. How can bullying be lessened or stopped? What, if anything, can teachers do?

4. Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever bullied other kids?

5. What is the climate like at our school – are students harassed and taunted often? What can you do when you see another student being bullied?

Important Note: Please post as usual, using your full name - but if you don't want me to post your comments for others to see let me know in the post and I will keep your comments private.

3/12/10 - National News / 2nd Amendment

The Open Carry Movement

Lately, the debate over gun control and the rights given by the Second Amendment have focused on the specific issue of unconcealed weapons. "Open Carry" as it is known, is legal in 38 states - including Pennsylvania. 

The article “Locked, Loaded, and Ready to Caffeinate” explores the recent phenomenon of “meet-ups” in which open carry advocates gather in public, often at popular shops and cafes:

Gun owners in California and other states that allow guns to be openly carried have tested the law by showing up at so-called meet-ups, in which gun owners appear at Starbucks, pizza parlors and other businesses openly bearing their weapons.

“Our point is to do the same thing that concealed carriers do,” said Mike Stollenwerk, a co-founder of OpenCarry.org, which serves as a national forum. “We’re just taking off our jackets.”

The goal, at least in part, is to make the case for liberalized concealed weapon laws by demonstrating how uncomfortable many people are with publicly displayed guns. The tactic has startled many business owners like Peet’s Coffee and Tea and California Pizza Kitchen, which forbid guns at their establishments. So far, Starbucks has resisted doing the same.

Students: What do you think about open-carry laws and the related movement? How do you feel about citizens carrying their weapons in public? Do you own a gun? If so, would you carry it openly? Why or why not?

3/12/10 - National News

Workers at Ground Zero 

Sue the City of New York

Read this article and answer these three questions in the comment section:

1.  Why are the workers suing the city of New York?

2.  How much is the settlement worth?

3.  What type of illnesses were most often reported by Ground Zero workers?

3/12/10 - National News

Why are so many farmers mad?

Read this story and post your answer in the comment section. 

3/12/10 - Current Events Quiz / News Discussion

What's your News IQ?

To test your knowledge of prominent people and major events in the news,  take this short 12 question quiz. Then see how you did in comparison with 1,003 randomly sampled adults asked the same questions in a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.

Included in the current version of the quiz are several questions relating to the state of the economy as well as other prominent happenings and people in the news. For an analysis of the findings from the poll on the public's News IQ, read the full summary of findings. (No peeking! If you are going to take the quiz, do it first before reading the analysis.)

You'll also be able to compare your News IQ with the average scores of men and women; with college graduates as well as those who didn't attend college; with people who are your age as well as with younger and older Americans. 

Are you more news-savvy than the average American? 

In the comment section discuss one or more of the following issues:

1. What role should the news play in the lives of average Americans?

2. Why should we pay attention to what's going on in our community, state, nation and world?

3. What can we do to improve awareness of current events, especially among young people?

4. What can I do as a teacher to help students understand the news and be more interested in our world?