Should books be banned in schools?

This isn’t a far-fetched idea from a science fiction novel called Fahrenheit 451—Nope, book banning is happening right now in schools across the U.S. A recent victim—How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents written by Julia Alarez—one of the novels being read in our Honors class. To begin, I’d like for you to understand why this particular book has been banned at Johnston County, NC and what the author says about it by reading her interview with the National Coalition Against Censorship at: http://www.ncac.org/literature/20080129~USA~Interview_With_Julia_Alvarez.cfm
Because I want you to be aware of all viewpoints, before responding, I encourage you to find out more—what was it about the book that parents found offensive? What are the Johnston schools doing about it and other offensive books? Check out the following article from the newspaper: http://www.dunndailyrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=93213&TM=56907.38
I particularly found the radio broadcast discussing this issue very interesting and enlightening: http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot0104a08.mp3/view .

What are your thoughts? Should books be banned by schools and removed from their shelves? I wonder if there have been books banned by our district. Anyone willing to investigate?

"The Lost Boys" ACT

Dave Egger's novel What is the What deals with "the Lost Boys" of the Sudan. Here's some brief background--a civil war broke out in 1983, pitting the country's Arab and Muslim northern government against the largely Christian and black tribes of the south. The result--approximately 5 million Sudanese were displaced and an estimated 30,000 young boys were orphaned and had to trek to refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. Without parents to care for them, they banded together to survive -- and are known as the "lost boys of Sudan." What they faced was horrifying--crocodile-infested rivers, lion attacks, beatings, diseases, and starvation.
Since the signing of a peace treaty, almost 4,000 of these Sudanese child refugees now live in the United States. Foundations were established to assist these young boys--to help them make the transition. First, I would like you to read to discover more about these young boys and their experiences at this link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/03/01/60II/main502594.shtml
and then please check out the following videos:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2591255213790016056

Recently, our legislators have introduced the H.R. 3054: Return of the Lost Boys and Lost Girls of Sudan Act. I'd like for you to click on the following link and where it says "Bill Text", click on the Summaries and Full Text to read about this act. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3054

Questions: What do you think about this Act after what you have learned about the Lost Boys? And what are your thoughts about the AWARD AMOUNTS the government is offering under Section 3 of the Full Text?

How Should Soldiers be Treated?

The novel All Quiet on The Western Front depicts in graphic detail the harsh conditions men have to face on the front line. But what is even more appalling is the treatment they receive when they are wounded. Though this book is set during World War I, the brutality of war and the number of casualties are real--even today we watch scenes from Iraq and hear the staggering numbers of those who are injured and those who have given their lives. I wanted to share something that would make you see something more than just the war--something that I discovered when I was in Germany when the war began. I witnessed wives of U.S. soldiers collecting items for our soldiers that were wounded and in hospitals. They were gathering everyday items--toothpaste, deoderant, shaving cream, etc. When I asked why, I was told that when a soldier was injured, removed from duty, and was in the hospital, that soldier is charged for the use of those everyday items. Charged? What has become more puzzling to me is the treatment of injured soldiers even when they return to the U.S. I want you to watch the attached video. http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?030507/030507_garrett_hospital&FNL&Walter%20Reed%20Scandal&acc&Politics&-1&News&237&&&new and visit the following page http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256559,00.html

Here's the guiding questions for our discussion (commentary): What do you believe our soldiers deserve? What responsibility does our government have to them? What responsibility do we have to them?

Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

“As unimaginable as it seems, slavery and bondage still persist in the early 21st century. Millions of people around the world still suffer in silence in slave-like situations of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation from which they cannot free themselves. Trafficking in persons is one of the greatest human rights challenges of our time.”
[U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2003]

One of our Lit. Circle novels Copper Sun deals with slavery. We often consider this a topic for history books--something in the past. Or we think that it happens in other countries--not in the United States.

Below our two sites I encourage you to check out--to read.
http://www.gvnet.com/humantrafficking/00-HumanTrafficking.htm
and . . . http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/jan-june01/slavery_3-8.html

Be sure to watch the streaming video about thousands forced into slavery in U.S.

Here are the guiding questions for commenting: 1) First, what shocked and appalled you? 2) Why do you think this is still happening today? What is it about humans that makes one person mistreat another?

Social Networking vs Educational Blogging

Bloggers, below is a link that may be very enlightening for all of us and even our "larger audience" out there. Please click on the link http://supportblogging.wikispaces.com/Blogs+vs+Social+Networking to read a clarification of the difference between educational blogging and social networking. Networking sites like MySpace truly differ in content and language from educational blogging, and reading this link will clear up some of the challenges we face as new bloggers. I hope to prevent any misunderstandings which could emerge over blogging expectations. The site covers dangers, safety, language, and benefits of a knowledge based site.

Here's the question: What's the difference between educational blogging and social networking? And if this blog is established for educational purposes, what are the expectations? Consider the shadow blogging we've been doing in class.

Read it and then comment. Let's make sure our comments relate to the post--that they are insightful and analytical.