What do you think?

Today, 9-30-09, we talked about driving and the dangers that come with it. The article that Mr. Smith gave us from StarTribune.com said that "drivers talking on the phone are FOUR times as likely to crash as those focused on driving, yielding the same odds as some with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%". Do you agree or disagree with this? I agree but disagree with this. I feel that if you are talking or txting or focusing on your electronics while driving your a danger/harm to others driving/pedestrians on the road. But if your DRUNK just a little, you MUCH MORE DANGEROUS than someone not as focused on the road.

Then we talked about the title IX (9) law, which is equal opportunity if funds are spent. For example all scholarship money has to go 50/50 to genders (50% to female and 50% to male). What do you think our lifestyles and social lives would be like if the title IX wasn't passed/ever created?

What is Culture?

So in class the other day....we started our unit on "culture". Mr. Smith started with the definition of anthropological (culture) which is the language beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and material object that are passed from (one) generation to the next. Also, material culture (all the things related to a given culture (ex clothes, jewelry, art, etc.) vs. non-material/symbolic culture (norms, gestures, languages etc.).

What do you think the acceptable/more common "norms" and/or "behaviors" are here in America/the USA?

Let me know what you think.

I'm On A Boat

Last Friday, 16 students were chosen to act out a situation. The situation was that we were on a boat and the captain crashed us and we were going to sink. We all got on a boat that only held 9 people. Since the boat could only hold 9 people, 7 of us had to get off the boat. As a group we had to figure out who should stay and who should go. I was one of the people who got the boot (off the boat). I was an old woman, 60 years old, a native from New Jersey. I am a mother of 8 and have 29 grandchildren. The group narrowed down decisions of who should leave the boat and who should stay. "My husband" and I were both voted off because of our age. This upset me because people just to the conclusion to get rid of the "old people", which is a bit judgemental. But I see where they are coming from because we were going to "die eventually"....:/ Overall, it was an interesting class to see how we would react. Out of the 9 who survived, I guess they were just the fittest out of us all.

Me, Myself & I

ok so yea i already posted a bit about myself but that was before i realized mr. smith recommended to write who we are and what we believe in....so here it goes....:)

my name is rachel and i am a senior in high school

my biggest influences in life is HANDS DOWN my parents and family. also, my neighbors helped shape the person i am today.

i am very big at going for what you want and if you set a goal or have something in mind that you want you go for it full blown (without applying the breaks). i have a quote book and its at almost 100 pages....:) its something I'm passionate about and really enjoy looking through when i had a bad day or just need to laugh (no i have NOT read every page in the book if that is what you were thinking).

my purpose/goal in life is to become a special education teacher and get a degree from college (wherever i end up).

Freaks & Geeks

So....Mr. Smith wants us to "think what do you groups would be at Stevenson if they were filming a show (like Freaks and Geeks) here today? Who and what have "power" in the Stevenson world here? What are the important symbols for the school society you live in today in 2009"?

What groups do I think Stevenson would have.....well there would be the athletes (varsity/JV/Freshman), student council, NHS, intermurals, clubs, teams, honor/AP/advanced classes, teachers/educators/principals/security guards/counselors and many more (I cant think of).

Who and what have "power"....well I think that every student has the same amount of "power" because at Stevenson nobody is "popular" or "uncool" or "a freak/geek". I think people might walk around thinking that they are better that others but that's just a train of thought/a opinion. If anyone has power it would be the principals/security guards/counselors. They are the ones who make the rules and enforce them.

What are the important symbols for the school society you live in today in 2009...well there is success, intelligence, "finding the right fit"/"exploring to find out who you are", making mistakes and learning from them, becoming social and meeting others, and having fun. It really depends on how you look at life and what you want to make of it.

Let me know what you think. :)