Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Getting To Know You.

A lot of people are traveling for Thanksgiving. Apparently people aren't the only one:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/20/polar-bears-climate-change-canada_n_1104042.html?1321827123&icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-sb-nb%7Cdl17%7Csec1_lnk2%7C11444

The holiday season is a great time to get to know you neighbors, no?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/19/teen-adoption-my-birth-br_n_1103365.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-sb-nb%7Cdl20%7Csec3_lnk1%7C114516

The holiday is a good season to have serious discussions about bias and discrimination. Just don't talk with your mouth full.

http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2011/11/21/parent-complains-of-bias-in-sixth-grade-lesson/

Comment Away.

Quote:

Pearl Bailey authored yesterday's quote. "When I'm on the ice, I like being me and not imitate other skater's music" was authored by an Olympic Skater born in 1977. She won the Olympic gold medal for women's figure skating at the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Norway, after an accident the day of her long program that required three stitches. She narrowly beat Nancy Kerrigan, who had been injured earlier by an attack by someone hired by the boyfriend of rival Tonya Harding. Who Authored today's Quote?

4 comments:

Lady DR said...

Great articles, Bill, as usual.

I wasn't aware of the issues facing the polar bears. I wonder how much is climatic change and how much is people settling into what the polar bears always considered their territory?

The article by the teenaged girl was truly touching. Not only is she an excellent writer, but her maturity is impressive, as she balances all the advantages of being adopted, finding her birth siblings and learning of her mother's decision to give the children up and the reasons for it.

The teacher should be suspended. We, as adults, have a responsibility to provide children with facts, be they historical or contemporary and help the child come to his or her own decision, through questions and exploration, without imposing our personal opinions on them. It's very difficult to do, I know, but this particular teacher was way over the line, in presenting such a slanted picture, IMHO.

Pat said...

Sorry about the polar bears. They've been in trouble for a while now, and it's very sad. DR, my understanding is that it's mostly, if not all, due to climate change. Where they used to go from ice floe to floe and fish from the ice, now the ice is too thin to hold them and they get dumped into the water and sometimes have to swim for miles and miles to solid ground if they can make it at all.

Lovely story from the girl who found so much family close by. I like her take on being adopted and her feelings for her adoptive family.

The teacher goofed up bigtime there. Though a lot of what he's quoted as writing is factually true, it was certainly one-sided and not at all politically correct. The school should keep a closer eye on what's being presented to students.

William J. said...

Hi DR

I also wasn't aware of the polar bear issues. I think climate change has something to do with it but probably not all of the reason.

I cried a little at the article of the teenages girl. I wish I was as grounded now as she is at such a young reason.

To me it isn't a matter of the whether or not anyone agrees with the teacher it is a matter of teaching history not your own opinion. I also think the teacher should be suspended.

Bill

William J. said...

Hi Pat

I didn't realize they had been in trouble for a while. I knew penquins had but just didn't translate to polare bears. I thank you for your explanation it really makes sense now.

I also like the girls take on being adoptive she is mature beyond her years.

I think the teacher should be suspended even if what he teaches is factually true. I would think class visitors should be frequent from the ranks of the administration to keep an eye on what is being taught.

Bill