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

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 the news should 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?