Stuff

This year of Globaloria has had many ups and downs.  We started off with a bang full of inspiration, great attitudes, and many students.  We went through a period of terrible attitudes, student loss, and a general sense of doom and gloom.  This was followed with a resurgence of energy and excitement for our game, Why Should I Vote.  The Globaloria Girls (our team name) were excited once they read about the history of voting rights in this country.  They, especially as women, wanted everyone to understand what voting means and why people should exercise this right.  Our paper prototype started us off on our journey to discover why it is important to vote.

We then began drawing our game scenes...it was a learning experience; fun, yet, frustrating at times.  I would have to say once the girls had the opportunity to work with Flash for a time they really enjoyed drawing.  They drew game scenes, their names, trees, dogs, ugly pictures of Melonie....

Our classroom population was just as transient as ever.  We started with 13 girls and we are now ended with two neither of which are original class members.  Everyone learned something.  Everyone enjoyed something.  I believe they are better students for having participated in Globaloria.  I am saddened to think this will be my last school term at Crittenton and my last school term teaching Globaloria there.  I truly enjoyed both experiences. 

Woolly Mammoth

This post is a little out of the ordinary for our class blogs, but today we are all blogging about Woolly Mammoths.  Why would we be blogging about them?  We are blogging about them because there are scientists in Japan, Russia, and the United States that believe they can clone a Woolly Mammoth. Yes, they want to make an actual living breathing mammoth to study. 

Scientists have been able to find Woolly Mammoths that are essentially mummified by snow and ice.  Most of these specimens have been found in Siberia.  Siberia encompasses almost all of northern Asia.  The area of Siberia where the specimens have been found is in the tundra part of Siberia.  The tundra is a cold and icy region.  They Mammoths they have found have been complete with hair, tusks, skin, etc.  Here is a photo of a baby Woolly Mammoth they found:

So the question at hand is should we clone Woolly Mammoths?  Some scientists say, yes, for the research information and others say no, we do not know the ramifications of doing it.   I have issues with cloning period.  I am for cloning body parts for transplant, but when it comes to cloning a living breathing being I am not sure we should be doing it.  I tell my students frequently, "just because you can do something doesn't mean you should".  I could go home tonight and decide to burn my trampoline down; should I?  No, I shouldn't my children love the trampoline and burning it down would serve no positive purpose.  I understand the argument cloning a Woolly Mammoth would provide us with information we would never be able to get without actually having a Mammoth to study; it is a good argument.  I support the argument cloning a Mammoth could have ramifications we cannot even imagine.  Woolly Mammoths are not part of the ecosystem anywhere on this planet; what would happen if we introduced this species?  In West Virginia alone we have had big issues with invasive species such as the Japanese Knotweed and the Zebra Mussel.  Initially, both were introduced for a positive purpose, but have now caused harm. 

 Zebra Mussel:

Japanese Knotweed:









Woolly Mammoths were vegetarians, how would they impact our food supply?  I know one is not going to make that big of a difference, but would we really stop with one?  What if the Woolly Mammoth genes carried some type of agent harmful to humans?  What if the Mammoth got loose?  What if the Mammoth kept breeding with Elephants what kind of animal would it produce?  Would there be birth defects?  Would there be any mental illness that would make the animal rage and cause injury to people or property?  There are so many what ifs I cannot in good conscience support the idea of cloning an animal that has been extinct for thousands of years.

Women's Suffrage in the United States

     Today, I found this entry in Wikipedia about Women's Suffrage in the United States.  Women's Suffrage is the "right of women to vote in elections" according to Encarta at MSN.com  As I read this article, I discussed it with some of the girls in my classroom (sorry girls it is going to be mandatory reading this week).  I was amazed at how cavalier some of them were about having the right to vote.  A few of them said they do not ever plan to vote.

     Not wanting to vote seems like choosing not to have a say in one's life.  I wonder if  these girls or anyone else for that matter that chooses not to vote realizes how choosing not to vote is essentially giving up control.  You may argue you have control over your daily life; where you eat, what you eat, where you work, how many children you have, etc., but in reality any of those things could change if our government would change.  You have a voice, use it to make choices beneficial for you, your family, your town, your county, your state, your country.
     In my mind, the right to vote is a right to not be taken lightly.  I try to instill this in my six daughters.  I take them with me when I vote.  I have and continue to explain how women did not always have the right to vote, for example, my great grandmother was not initially allowed to vote.
     My father spent his life in the U.S. Army, fought in Vietnam, served overseas, died while in service to this country--all to protect our rights including the right to vote.  My grandfather also protected our rights during World War II and my uncle during Vietnam.  I am sure all of you know or are related to someone that served in the military for this country. 
     Why do I vote?  I vote because I feel lucky to live in a country that allows me as a citizen as a woman to vote and gives me all the other freedoms I have just by being a citizen.  I vote out of respect for all that fought for my right to vote.  I vote to make changes I feel will be better for my family, friends, state, and country.  I vote because I love to express my opinion. I vote because it matters.  .

   

Photoshop Lessons

Today the Globaloria Girls had a lesson in Photoshop.  I want to take this time to thank James Coster for coming in on a Saturday and teaching all of us.  I also want to take this opportunity to thank my class for giving up free time on a Saturday to come in and learn a new skill.

James Coster

I am getting more and more excited every day at their progress as a team.  They have come up with an amazing game concept and are working together very well.  Look out here come the Globaloria Girls.

Where is my classroom?

I am a teacher without a classroom.

No, they did not fire me!

The week before Christmas the ceiling in my classroom fell due to a roof leak.  The week after Christmas break due to construction difficulties my classes were held in a dining room.  Last week we made it to our classroom, but experienced technical (read our computers were not hooked up) difficulties.  This week the computers were ready and the ceiling was complete, but Monday was a holiday and today was a snow day.

We really want to work on our game.  We really want to work on our GED curriculum.  We really want to see our classroom in one working piece.  Please have patience with us as we try to have patience with all the challenges we have been experiencing lately.