patth@dasys1.UUCP (Patt Haring) (02/22/88)
Please send any questions you have regarding the following
International Student Newsletter on the MIX NET (McGraw-Hill
Information Exchange) to: Robert_K_Shayler@cup.portal.COM
Reposted from the CMS School-Net host in New York City:
The Children's Television Workshop BBS
212-595-4588 (3/12/2400 baud, 24 hrs)
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student.news/4.monthly.plan #39, from spinney, 9211 chars, Wed Feb 17 14:26:01
1988
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Volume 1 No. 1 February, 1988
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____________________________
>From the Moderator's Desk
____________________________
Welcome...
This is our first effort at creating an INTERNATIONAL student
newsletter of articles written from classrooms around the world.
I hope that you find them informative AND perhaps will consider
offering YOUR news for the next edition.
As this new and exciting use of classroom technology evolves we will
need ALL possible ideas that may relate to the design of a well-
written newsletter, so please feel free to offer your ideas and
comments in the "lounge" topic in this conference.
Some of the present topics will appear on a regular basis and others
will be covered from time to time as the need arises. If you have an
idea for a topic that might be an exciting addition, please offer it
in the "lounge" topic as well.
This adventure is designed to offer members of this conference the
exciting option of expanding the writing audience for classroom
writing activities. Through this medium we hope to add the resource
option that only telecommunications can provide the teacher by
bringing the whole world to the classroom via the phone lines.
You will find articles here from primary, intermediate and high
schools students. We think this diversity brings a tremendous
potential to the writing experience of the children of the world.
All of us here on MIX are VERY excited about this first venture of
ours. We hope you and your students find our efforts worthwhile.
Steven Pinney (spinney)
Moderator
____________________________
In THIS issue...............
____________________________
Here are highlights of this month's newsletter:
<1> News of Russian students and their visit to Oakland,
California.
<2> Interview with a Canadian teacher gathered by means of a
modem.
<3> Classroom news from Idaho, the desert of California and
Surrey, Canada.
<4> A thought-provoking student written article on A.I.D.S.
_____________________________
>From the Editor's desk.......
_____________________________
Students rarely have the opportunity to experience writing
for a real audience. Writing is often viewed as an
unpleasant task, required because "someday you'll need it."
It's been said that this is not unlike a coach of a first
grade soccer team telling them to practice hard every day
because their first game is in 12 years. Extensive use of
rewards and punishments (grades, teacher/parent approval,
privileges) seems needed to get the job done. But schools
around the world are discovering the motivational power of
computer telecommunications networks which provide ways for
students to write to and for each other.
This is the first of many newspapers containing student
writing submitted electronically from classrooms across the
globe to the Student.Author and Student.News conferences on
MIX. It is one way that our network can be used to provide
students with the enjoyment of writing for a real audience.
We hope you like it.
Griff Wigley
Editor
McGraw-Hill Information Exchange
_____________________________
Technology project news......
_____________________________
*** The Other Side of Telecommunications ***
By Christina Phillips
7th Grade Live Oak Elementary School
Live Oak, California
Teacher: Larry Adamson
In our school we are playing a simulation game called the
Other Side with a school in Canada. We use a network called MIX
to send information to other schools by computer with a modem.
Computers are a major part of our technology today. I think
computers are great. In this game we are two countries separated
by an ocean or sea. These two countries want to talk, help each
other, and trade so that they can make money to build a bridge.
They are both building a bridge to connect the two countries and
establish a diplomatic relationship.
Each country has a simulated computer named C.A.D. (Computer
Assisted Defense system) who helps run the country, but when a
certain patrol is placed or a driller is built in an inappropriate
area then C.A.D. takes over. When it does that you try to stop
him with a three letter code using the letters a, b or c. With
all these things happening, you have to keep on your toes.
In the MIX version of this game there are actually two games
being played in each school simultaneously. Since there are two
games being played, each school has a person they call U.N.O.'s
(United Nations Observer) who makes moves for the other school.
These U.N.O.'s are sworn to secrecy about diplomatic pouches,
moves, etc. If you think this is confusing, believe me, it is!!!
When we first started we were so confused that we had to start all
over, twice!!!
Pretty bad huh? After we started playing we finally understood
what we were doing. With all of this we still had a lot of fun!
It was embarrassing at first but oh well, that's life!
Our friend in Canada, Ravi, told us that once she did something
like that. That made us feel better, much better! At first we
didn't talk as much to each other but as the time wore on we
became good friends. I think that schools ought to get more
involved in computers and telecommunications. If any of you
who are reading this want to play a game with us, ask your
teacher to join the other.side conference on the MIX network.
May all your computer days be happy!
*** LEARNING ABOUT GLOBAL TRADE ***
By Mark Catroppa
Len Shepperd School
Surrey, BC, Canada
Your country has just been invaded by the other side looking
for oil. What will you do? Attack them? Blow them up or try and
reason with them? The choice is yours when you play "THE
OTHER SIDE".
The main idea of this game is to drill for oil in your
country and then sell the oil to make money. You then use the
money to build a bridge between the two countries that are
involved in the game. In order to succeed, you must have a
strategy and stick to it throughout the game. My strategy is
to trade oil with the other country. If they do not want
to trade, I will sometimes go in their country and set up a
driller.If the other country feels that I shouldn't be doing
this, they might attack me or start drilling in my
country. The game has a built in person who is called C.A.D
he is always watching your moves. If you run out of money he
...Return for more, q to quit...
will take over your game until you have enough money to make
moves for yourself.
I have been using "THE OTHER SIDE" for about four
months.During this period I have learned the problems of
trading oil between two countries and then trying to build a
bridge with the money that you made.
I have played this game with a school in California
and I am now almost completed my second game with a school in
Minnesota.
I feel that this is the best educational game available
in schools and I encourage all people young or old to try
this great game.
--------------------------
TITLE: Part II
_____________________________
In the Spotlight.............
_____________________________
*** Mrs.Velikhov's Visit ***
by Sujey Ochoa
5th Grade
Ms Sonja Ebel
Garfield Year Round School
Oakland, California
On January 6,1988 we were visited by a group of Russians.
The reason they came was because they were interested in all
the Telecommunications we do, like writing penpal letters to
people in other states.
Two days before the Russians came everyone got busy in
making gifts, interview questions, and the computer room was
cleaned from top to bottom. On the day they came the room
was filled with newspaper reporters who were very anxious
to meet the Russians. While the reporters were waiting we
interviewed them and they interviewed us.
Before the Russians came we brought some kindergarten
students to help them write letters to their KinderPals in
Minnesota. Many important people, including Joe Coto the
Superintendent of all the schools in Oakland, were there.
When the Russians came everyone got all stirred up. Some
of the newspaper reporters were pushing and shoving the kids
around, just to get a close look at the Russians. Luis Esparza,
of Ms Catangay's class, gave Mrs. Velikhov, the head of the Russian
group, a scroll of all the famous places in Oakland, California.
Luis' reward was a kiss. Then Claudia Romero gave Mrs. Velikhov
a Peace Tree Christmas ornament. We also received some gifts from
them. One was a flag pin from Russia and another one was a medal
made of copper.
When we finally got a moment with the Russians, Alanna Walker
and Claudia interviewed Mrs. Velikhov and her interpreter. When
Alanna and Claudia were interviewing the Russians, the newspaper
reporters were trying to write down all of the answers for their
newspapers. I guess they didn't have questions of their own. While
the interview was going on, I was taking pictures. It was very
hard to take the pictures with all that shoving and pushing going
on. It was also very hard to take the video, because everyone kept
getting in front of the camera.
Mr. Hutcher, our computer teacher, said that a few kids from
Garfield might go to Russia in the summer and we will be able to
write to some of the Russian students using computers.Garfield.
*** What I Did When The Russian People Came ***
By Veronica Rivera
Grade 5
Mr. Peter Hutcher
Garfield Year Round School
Oakland, Ca
On January 6, 1988 Garfield School had some visitors from the
Soviet Union. Right before the visitors came me and my friend
had to help Mr. Hutcher save the pen pal letters that go to
Minnesota. Then a reporter asked me questions about Garfield
School. He asked me how I felt about Garfield School, what age
I am , and how long I have helped in the computer lab. First I
told him that I felt very happy to be at Garfield school, that I
am 10 and a half, and that I've helped in the Computer Lab for
only 3 days. Then the Russian people came. I was so excited
when the Russian people came, because I had never seen a Russian
person at Garfield. Then the Russian people had to leave
Garfield School. Mrs. Velikhov was the main R
*** How We Felt When The Russians Came ***
By Sujey Ochoa and Claudia Romero
Grades 5 and 6
Ms Sonja Ebel and Ms Cora Catangay
Garfield Year Round School
Oakland, CA
Some of the students felt very nervous and others of us
felt scared. The reason we felt scared was because of all the
stereotypes we have heard of the Russians, but when we met them
they were just like us. We learned that they had almost all the
things we have, but they were a little slow on having computers
for kids in elementary schools. We gave the Russians two gifts,
one was a peace tree made of gold, and one was a banner of the
famous places around Oakland. It was fun giving them the presents,
Luis Esparza got kissed by Mrs. Velikhov, the Russian lady, while
giving her the present. A few of our kids interviewed Mrs. Velikhov
and some newspaper people. Everyone was pushing and shoving just
to get a good look at the Russians. All sorts of important people
were here including our Superintendent, Joe Coto. The Russians
came because they were interested in all the things we do like
writing penpal letters.
*** Russian Video ***
by Vincente De-La-Torre Jr.
Grade 6 Mrs. Rita Walker
Garfield Year Round School
Oakland, Ca
On January 6, 1988, I Vicente De-la-torre Jr., was the camera
man for Garfield School's guests. The guests at Garfield were
from the Soviet Union.
They came to Garfield because of what our computer teacher Mr.
Hutcher, is doing. He's having our classes writing penpal letters
to other schools and he's sending these letters by computer. We
send them from the school's computer to a bigger computer in
Minnesota.
Being the camera man was difficult, because it was hard to get shots
of our guests. Everybody was getting in my way. I would ask the
people to move out of the way. They would just get back in the way.
So I just had to do the best I could. It was fun being the camera
man. This was the first time I ever used a video camera.
_____________________________
Please meet..................
_____________________________
The Life of a Canadian Schoolteacher
By Seth Blumenthal
TeWinkle Intermediate
Costa Mesa, California
I live in Costa Mesa, California, and as a writing
class project, I have interviewed, via modem, Mr.
William Hay, who is a teacher in Surrey, Canada.
This report is the result of Mr. Hay's answers to
the questions I have asked him about his life.
William Hay is no ordinary schoolteacher. He does not have six
or seven regular classes, but he teaches the subject of computers to
every student in the school. He is a computer lab instructor and
electronic librarian. His computer lab is well equipped with 15
Apple ][gs's, and 8 Commodore 64's.
Mr. Hay's most valued subject in education is computers, not
for games and such, but as an extremely powerful teaching tool. With
it, teachers can make their methods of teaching more relevant to
today's students, and also to the future society.
Mr. Hay has a very unusual school day. He wakes up at 6:45 in
the morning, and doesn't go to sleep until midnight! After he gets
up, he gets ready for his coming school day. He leaves his home at
7:30, and if the amount of traffic on the road is normal, it takes
him about a half an hour to get to school. When he gets there, he
signs in. Next, he opens up the computer lab. There, before classes
start, he answers students' many questions and requests about
computers (example; "Can I have the PaintWorks disk", "The printer
is jammed!", "How do I double space in AppleWorks?"). From this
information, I can logically assume the computer lab is open to
students for use before school starts (it isn't in our school).
Classes begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students come in to work on
their computer-related assignments. Mr. Hay helps them get
information using the Groliers online (by modem) database, which is
available through their local university.
Lunch begins at 11:30, at which time Mr. Hay stays in the
computer lab, to help kids who want or have to stay there during the
lunch period. He also signs on to "MIX", through his modem, to see
if anyone left him any electronic messages. Lunch is over at 12:15.
At this time, Mr. Hay does a 25 minute-or-so introduction to word
processing on the computers, using AppleWorks as the introductory
word processor. This takes awhile, since he's giving this special
introduction to every student in the school. This concludes the
student school day, which ends at 2:45. Mr. Hay stays in the
computer lab for about an hour after school, to help kids. At 4:30,
he goes home.
After he gets home, he may go for a jog; have dinner; relax
with his family; etc. At around 8:00, he works on other electronic
networks, including MIX and Alascom. From 9:00 to 10:00 he watches
some TV and talks with his wife. From 10:00 to midnight, he works on
more computer networks.
Mr. Hay enjoys cross-country skiing, he likes to fix things,
and he has a small raft, in which he enjoys boating around the
coastal islands.
Mr. Hay's students use the computers extensively, as they have
many hours of access to them each day. He finds that students tend
to write better and bigger compositions when they're using a
computer, compared to when they're just writing with pen and paper.
The writing is, of course, much neater out of a printer than most
people's handwriting!
Surrey, Canada is very different from Costa Mesa, California.
Surrey borders the United States, so the climate there is very much
like the climate of Washington, and other nearby areas of the
Pacific Northwest. During the winter, Surrey gets lots of rainfall.
Where Mr. Hay lives, they get about 100 centimeters of rain, and in
the mountainous areas, up to 300 centimeters of rain falls! It is a
cold rain forest, with lots of cedar and fir trees. It is a
naturally beautiful place to live. However, because all that rain
gives them a lot of humidity, Surrey is the "mold capital of
Canada".
Mr. Hay uses self-discipline in his classes. He seldom uses
detentions, and he doesn't write conduct referrals to the office
of praise and recognition. He says rewards
only do their job if they are meaningful to the student. A simple
"good job" or "I really liked your essay" can be very powerful.
Also, he tries to give the quiet, hard working student extra
attention.
_____________________________
Student news...far and wide..
_____________________________
"Bandroom Bash"
By Steve Wolfe and Darren Pace Grade 8
ARROYO SECO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA
Arroyo Seco's award winning Advanced Band has been engaged in
moderately controlled combat for the title of best band in the Santa
Clarita Valley. Under the magnificent leadership of Mr.Gary
Friedman, the band director, the band has come away from their
weekend adventures with many prizes.
The band has participated in many activies throughout the year.
Included in these events have been the Frontier Days Parade, a
performance during halftime of a Lakers game at the "Fabulous
Forum," and a parade in Camarillo. They also acted as hosts for the
district Honor Band auditions.
The band members unanimously agreed that the most memorable
activity was their debut at the Forum. During that performance the
band played "Soul Band" and "Port 25" flawlessly.
"The Laker game was perhaps the most spectacular event I have
ever taken part in," Jason Cascio stated. Aaron Staudenger couldn't
help but agreeing, saying, "Everything turned out as planned and
getting on and off the floor wentsmoothly." That Sunday, November
15, 1987, was the first time a school band,let along a junior high
araded around the streets. Our band placed
second out of eight bands. Stefanie Gray, the drum major, also
placed second in her category.
January 30, 1988, Seco was proud to host the Honor Band
auditions. Out of all the schools participating, three Seco band
members were chosen as the best players. This was the first time
our school has hosted such an event.
Soon the annual Spring Concert will be upon us. Many ofthe
band members are looking forward to this yearly event. They are
waiting to once again show off their instrumental skills. Mr.
Friedman will lead the Junior High Honor Band in a grand
performance, one that will instill in us a sense of awe, as he has
countless times in the past.
*** Dates In The Coachella Valley ***
By David Spann and Jason Vaccarello
Westside School
Thermal, California
Teacher: Kim Yalda
Have you seen a date or eaten a date? Do you know where a
date comes from? Well, a date is a fruit that comes from a palm
tree. There are over a hundred different kinds of dates. A date
is its own family, and to get a date you can't just go and plant a
date tree. You need to have a very dry climate and good soil.
You plant the tree when it is small. It will take years to grow
for it can grow to fifty feet tall, but it can start producing
dates at three to four years old.
To get the date tree to grow you need pollen from the male
tree. The pollen is grown in January and is picked in April. Then
it is sprayed on the female tree. It takes up to a couple months
for the dates to grow.
The dates start producing in mid summer. They grow in big
bundles from a branch of the tree. To protect the date, the
bundle is "bagged" (wrapped with a protective covering). Every
month the workers spray the dates with sulfur that goes on till
harvest time which is in September.
To harvest a tree you climb up with a ladder and cut the
bundle of dates down. There are many bundles of dates on the
tree. When all the bundles are down, they are picked off the
bundle and put in to a box which is taken to the cleaning
building where they are cleaned.
When the dates get there, first they are cleaned. Then they
are checked by a row of people for bad dates. All the good dates
are then taken to a big steam room where the dates are
dehydrated. Then they are pitted - that means the seed in the
date is taken out. Then the date is cleaned and packed to be
sold. It may take a while for the date to be sold, so they are
put into a big freezer. Then the workers wait tell next year.
--------------------------
TITLE: Part III
*** T A K E A B I T E ***
O U T O F
E L C A R M E L O !
By
Manny Rosaldo and Darra Kaplan
Room 5
Mrs. Chandler
Megan Zander Room 1
Miss Donnelly
This article was written by 3 second graders who participate in
the noon time writer's workshop. It is not a classroom
activity, but a free choice noontime activity.
El Carmelo Elementary School is in Palo Alto, California. If you
don't know where Palo Alto is, it is near San Francisco. There
are about 300 children in our school.
We are in the writer's workshop. We write about all
different kinds of things here. First grade through sixth grade
come here after lunch. It is open 45 minutes a day on Tuesday. The
hours are 12:00 to 12:45 in Room 7.
Writer's Workshop is a good chance for kids to take time to
really write good stories once every week. About 12 students
come every week. All the stories that we write here at writer's
workshop go into a journal.
The mother of a second grader at our school was interested in giving
kids a chance to do more writing so she started the Writer's
Workshop. Her name is Kathy Wood.
We make stories and poems and MORE! We made a journal called "Take
A Bite Out Of El Carmelo. We're going to have another one in the
spring. We have fun!
*** SPORT FIT FOR KINGS ***
By Joleen Tafoya
Westside School
Thermal, California
6th Grade
Teacher: Kim Yalda
Polo is a sport that is played on horse back. It is similar
to ice hockey. The object of the game is to see which team can
score the most goals. They use a small wooden ball and mallets.
The dimensions of an outdoor polo field is about nine times the
size of a football field.
There is a polo club in Indio, California, that is called
the Eldorado Polo Club. This club has been here in the desert
for eight years.
Many important people play polo at the Eldorado Polo Club.
Among them are Prince Charles. He came to play polo at The
Eldorado Polo Club last year. He is a four goal polo player.
Princess Diane did not come with him. Prince Charles' brother is
coming to play polo at the Eldorado Polo Club in March of this
year.
The Eldorado Polo Club has eight polo fields, a club house,
many barns, and over fifteen hundred horses and stalls. It also
has four tack shops. the tack shops are where the players go to
ort!
*** Biology Students See Cadavers ***
By Lisa Waldron, 11
Malad High School
Malad, Idaho
Teacher: Dennis Evans
On January 19th, 31 biology students set out for Idaho State
University, Pocatello, for the examination of human cadavers. When
they arrived there, the students went into a room where two cadavers
lay in body bags.
Trent Stevens, of ISU, got the cadavers and told the students a
little background information. The students then separated into
groups to look and learn not only about the cadavers but also about
electron microscopes and various sea creatures that were in an
aquarium. Although the cadavers were the most interesting aspect of
the field trip, some students thought they were disgusting.
Fortunately, no one fainted.
Later, after lunch, Dr. Alex Urfer told the students about the
cardiovascular system, energy, and the respiratory system. He
demonstrated, by jumping up onto a high table very rapidly, how
anaerobic exercises use very little oxygen.
He then let them listen to an ultrasound of Troy Williams'
heart murmur and the various sounds of blood as it goes through the
vessels. He then weighed Troy out of water and measured the amount
of oxygen left in his lungs after he had blown out as much air as he
could. Then Dr. Urfer weighed Troy under water to see how much body
fat Troy had -- only about 8%.
Overall, the students had a lot of fun, but some aren't too
anxious to meet the cadavers again.
*** Travel Across America, Europe ***
With Ms. Kral
By Michael Gallagher
San Leandro High School
San Leandro, California
Teacher: Bob Shayler
Want to go to Austria for a Mozart festival? How about
traveling across Europe, stopping at an English castle for
an opera and a quick bite to eat?
something
that every student will enjoy. I like teaching, I enjoy
educating, and I feel comfortable doing it."
According to Kral, her students acquire a taste for
art. "I try to gear it to them so they don't feel obligated
to like a particular art form or artist." She wants them to
"experience (art) and make their own minds up themselves
because they are individuals and they might not be touched
by a particular art form, but later on they might. The
light bulb may go on."
"It's a terrific experience," said one of Kral's art
students. "I can understand why so many people are
interested in art--it's so fascinating. If I had room in my
schedule, I'd take the (Art Appreciation) class again."
Unfortunately, no Art Appreciation class is scheduled
for the second semester due to the apparent lack of student
interest. Kral hopes more students will show interest and
"come and experience" art as well as her knowledge and
tales.
Experiencing art with students "adds a new dimension. I
learned from the students, too. Sometimes as much as I
teach." Ms. Kral has traveled through most of Europe and a
great deal of America. "I've been to France, Germany,
Austria, Great Britain, and Africa. Some trips were planned
around opera or art festivals. When I take my trips, I try
to learn what museums are in what particular city and look
for a particular artist's work." The best trip for Kral was
in 1976, when she went to three major festivals, including a
Mozart opera and a trip to Munich to see plays, ballets, and
operas.
"The best performance was at Salzburg (Austria), and I
was in the front row. I had never seen (that opera) before,
called La Clemenza Di Tito. It was the most spectacularly
staged opera because the stage is actually cut into the face
of a mountain. Costumes were very elegant, very elaborate.
The singing was very spectacular. I didn't know what to
expect and it turned out to be very exciting."
Upon retiring from teaching, Ms. Kral plans to perform
in operas as an extra. The extras are on the stage most of
the opera. "You get to wear make-up and costumes and you
get to hear the music from a different perspective."
According to Kral, the Opera Guild of San Francisco will
visit SLHS soon. They will perform in M-1 for certain
classes, and some students in her Art Appreciation class
will be on stage and speak some lines. The singing will be
done by professionals and a pianist will accompany the
singers.
*** Wheel Review ***
By Mark Kang and Dave Oak
Grade 8
ARROYO SECO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA
Down the hill you speedily go, where you stop no one knows.
Follow these tips and you will see, how to stop so easily.
Many mountain bikers know what it's like to go over a giant
hill, but while coasting down, feel a need for more speed. Drop
bars are good for this aspect of riding, but they aren't the ideal
bars for climbing. The trick is to lay your body out flat while
holding on to the brake levers. This gives you the wind-cheating
profile, but there is a slight drawback: You have no brakes!
A thrill to mountain biking is pedaling over a huge hill and at
the top, enjoying a breath of fresh air. Of course, you have to get
up there to enjoy this treat. There is the traditional
walk-the-bike-up-the-hill routine, or the pedal-pounding,
muscle-aching ride to the top. Here is a tip to help
you get to the top without too much pain. First place your rear
behind the seat and at the same time stay in it. Second, pedal like
crazy!
For those of you who thrive on downhill speed, but dislike the
idea of going 60 mph without brakes, here's a tip for you. When
riding down a steep hill, bend your arms and legs a bit so you can
absorb the small bumps. At the same time lean your head slightly
over the handlebars. This tip takes a lot of skillful steering. On
curvy downhills, always keep two fingers on each of the brake
levers. Slowly apply the front and back brakes at the same time
when needed. Never lock your brakes because you will start to skid
and your back tire might start fish-tailing. Fish-tailing occurs
when your back tire begins to move side to side uncontrollably.
Also, never depend on your back brakes more than your front ones.
If you do this, you will not be able to slow down enough on sharp
turns.
All these tips have been tested by professional mountain
bikers. If you learn to do them correctly, they will increase the
safety of your riding.
Happy hill climbing!
*** An American Love Affair ***
By Howard Yoon
San Leandro High School
San Leandro, California
Teacher: Bob Shayler
Why has the motion picture become so important in our
culture? Instead of reviewing a single movie, the reviewer
thought he might try to review the whole industry. There
lies a need to find the inner human motive that compels
someone to sit in front of a screen and watch captured
images flash by in a myriad of different scenes...actually,
the real reason is that a certain anonymous reporter didn't
have time to see a movie this weekend, but that's not the
point. It seems when people start paying as much as twelve
bucks to take a date to a two-hour show, one has to ask,
"Why not do something else?"
There may be many reasons for our love for movies. For
some, the back row is quite a convenient place to perform
certain amorous rituals. For these lovebirds, the movie is
immaterial. Other people are genuinely interested in the
movie and find the show worth seeing. Whether it's just for
fun or because it stirs the conscience, the entertainment
value is there. Many go to see "the pictures" to catch an
eyeful of their favorite star or starlet in action. This is
especially true if the object of ogling is scantily clad in
a scene or two. Then there are always the people who have
nothing better to do.
Whatever the reason, it is a fact that people pour
millions and millions and even more millions of cash into the
industry that gives one a taste of such things only dreamed
of by most. Such images as an acid-spitting horror chasing
Sigourney Weaver up an elevator; a loin-clothed old man
struggling to free India from British rule; and a
scared-stiff Michael Douglas regretting the day he even
looked at his psychotic adulteress are all prime examples.
The public tunes in faithfully to the Oscars and settles
bets with members of the family about who will win best
actor, etc. People even watch people who watch movies; just
ask an average schmo who Siskel and Ebert are. Chances are
he'll know that they're not a law firm but famed movie
critics. By the way, Siskel is the skinny one.
Well, America is stuck. It has always watched movies
and probably always will. It isn't alone, however; Russia,
China, and India produce and watch more movies than the U.S.
does.
The movie has breached historical, racial, cultural,
and realistic gaps through it juxtaposed images. Although
the screen is sometimes a little bit too "white" to show the
true diversity of cultures in the United States, the movies
have made great progress in bringing into view different
scenes from life. Yet through their long history, movies
haven't changed much. Look at the similarities between
summer beach movies like "Beach Blanket Bingo" with Frankie
Avalon and "Summer School" with Mark Harmon. Also, look at
the similarities in the breath-taking flight scenes in the
Academy Award-winning "Best Picture" "Wings" and todays "Top
Gun", the household bliss and chaos in movies like "Blondie"
and "Mr. Mom", Flash Gordon's early space effects and the
modern wizardry of "Star Wars" and "Aliens".
Movies may be too expensive, but as for an interesting,
provocative, steamy, funny, sad, boring, idiotic, or a great
time, movies are the ticket...definitely a thumb's up.
--------------------------
TITLE: Part IV...which is the LAST part.
_____________________________
Opinion......................
_____________________________
"Protection or Censorship?"
By Michelle Rex Grade 8
ARROYO SECO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA
How old do you have to be to be protected by the Constitution?
Just because we're minors, does that mean that we have no
Constitutional rights? Do administrators have the right to censor
our clothing? These questions need answering and answers are not
being found.
Isn't Spuds MacKenzie cute? Aren't those Corona shirts
popular? So why can't we wear them? They advertise beer, that's
why. So what? Many students never thought of Spuds MacKenzie as an
advertisement for beer or Corona shirts as a billboard for alcohol.
Most students only wear Spuds or Corona shirts because they're "cute
and cool." Most of the students I spoke to never even realized that
the Spuds shirt they were wearing had the Bud Light symbol on it.
Faculty members claim that trying to teach Teen Issues to a
room full of students wearing shirts advertising alcohol was
undermining the whole idea of the class. Learning the dangers of
alcohol doesn't do much good when advertisements for beer were
sitting right "under their noses."
Both points are well put but, under the first amendment to the
Constitution, don't we have the right to freedom of speech? Aren't
those shirts included in freedom of speech?
Or do we have no rights?
__________________________
Moderator's note..........
__________________________
Student written reponses with additional perspectives on this topic
are welcome. Please send your articles for the OPINION PAGE via e-
mail to "spinney".
Thank you.
Steven Pinney
__________________________
Special article...........
__________________________
*** Fatal Infection ***
by Annamarie Valdez
San Leandro High School
San Leandro, California
Teacher: Bob Shayler
Imagine being dead. Imagine meeting me. I have killed
more than twenty-four thousand Americans. Before I am
stopped, I will kill over one hundred million human beings
worldwide. Out of one hundred million, the chances are good
that one of the dead could be your neighbor, your best
friend, or even you. I'll stop you from thinking that
because I am a world-wide problem, I won't reach your
world. But I already have. Two hundred ninety-two
residents of Alameda County are dead because of me.
Although an introduction should hardly be necessary, allow
me to do so. I was christened in 1982 by the Center for
Disease Control as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or
AIDS, for short. "Oh, yea," you recall, " That disease
they showed us that video for. I'll never get it." Well,
my seemingly invincible friend, think again, for two of
Alameda County's AIDS victims are between the ages of
thirteen and nineteen.
According to the latest stats, teens are the next high-
risk group in danger of contracting AIDS. Confidence in the
belief that nothing will ever happen to you, and engaging in
the types of behavior that spread AIDS are two good ways to
wind up dead these days.
So you know now how deadly I am. Do you also know that
medical science has never been successful in curing viruses?
For I am caused by a virus called Human Immunodeficiency
Virus, or HIV, that destroys the T-Helper cells which are
responsible for fighting infections and diseases. I am a
fragile virus and not easy to catch. Once I am in your
blood stream, however, you stand a 75% chance of developing
AIDS or ARC (AIDS Related Complex) and with the development
of symptoms like unexplained weight loss, night sweats, skin
lesions, and continuous fatigue, death is certain within
seven or eight years. I must confess that earlier I misled
you into believing that I am to blame for AIDS victims'
deaths. Technically speaking, AIDS victims do not die from
AIDS, but from the diseases and infections that crippled
immune systems cannot fight. Persons diagnosed with AIDS
usually die from such diseases as Pneumocystis Carinii
Pneumonia (PCP), a normally benign infection, or Kaposi's
Sarcoma, a usually slow-acting and treatable cancer. A
healthy body has little trouble in fighting these and other
infections, but to those acquainted with me, such
trivialities often prove fatal.
I will tell you honestly how an acquaintance with me
occurs, so you can avoid me. I'm hardly antisocial; I break
all barriers regardless of class, sex or race. According to
Dr. Robert Benjamin of the Alameda County Center for Disease
Control, "This disease will impact each and every one of us
in some way." You, high school student, are included in
that "each and every one of us," for in high schools the
behaviors that transmit AIDS are taking place. My delicate
virus can be transmitted a number of ways that involve the
direct exchange of blood or semen. "Unsafe sex" is
responsible for 78.6% of Alameda County's AIDS cases.
Taking infected sexual fluids (such as semen, vaginal fluid,
menstrual blood, etc.) into the body during anal, oral, or
vaginal sexual relations is the perfect way to transmit the
virus, HIV. This boils down to the realization that sex now
brings more than the risk of pregnancy. Since teens also
compose the greater majority of venereal disease patients, I
can no longer be ignored. Chlamydia won't kill you, I will.
No one should have to die because of irresponsibility.
Avoid me (and a host of other sexually transmitted diseases)
with the correct use of a condom. "Oh, but that's so
inconvenient!" your might argue. Death is something of an
inconvenience too. Contrary to popular belief, I don't
single out gay or bisexual people to infect; with the true
spirit of a virus, I'll infect anyone who has been
sufficiently exposed. Quite simply, a condom could save
your life.
While we're on the topic of sufficient exposure,
sharing needles and syringes provides exactly that.
Shooting drugs with someone else's needles is all the
introduction I need to a previously untainted blood stream.
Having sex with someone who shares needles will transmit the
virus too. Ear-piercing with the same needle, tattooing
with an unsterilized needle, the blood brother ritual, skin
popping with steroids; all of these put you at the risk of a
confrontation with me initially, and, after infection,
eventual death.
Basically, I'm easy to prevent and hard to get. I
cannot be transmitted by sneezes, coughs, hugs, toilet
seats, sharing dishes or food, donating blood, or shaking
hands. Yet, bear in mind the further words of Dr. Benjamin,
"AIDS is easy to get if you're with the wrong person." What
more can I say, except nobody ever needs to get me. Don't
share needles, save your life with a condom, be aware and
protect yourself. I'm not going to go away.
You know the facts now, what you do with them is your
business. There are those around you who are willing to
give you the facts, but still beat around the bush when
dealing with the reality of the disease. Condoms aren't yet
available in schools, and this can only be attributed to not
taking me seriously. Very recently here at SLHS, two
students, while giving a presentation about me to their
class, distributed condoms to class members with the
following quote from U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Coop,
"...barring abstinence, the best protection from acquiring
AIDS is the use of a condom..." Despite the obvious concern
and sincerity of the students giving the presentation, the
Administration was upset, and the teacher was even called
for a discussion about her students' activity. The students who
distributed the condoms demonstrated the kind of mature
outlook that is expected from those responsible for your
education, yet they were reprimanded. Scolded for possibly
saving a life? Education is now the only way to stop me,
and facing reality is necessary to halt my potential for
destroying a multitude of lives. Yet the lives being lived
here at SLHS need not be in danger. Well, it's been nice
chatting with you, and forgive my breech of etiquette, but I
do hope that we never meet.
_____________________________
Look forward to..............
_____________________________
In the NEXT edition of the MIX Student NewsWire you can look
forward to:
<1> Another long distance interview with a technology-using
classroom member somewhere on the world map.
<2> Student-centered news from schools all over the world.
<3> A high energy opinion article bound to generate student
response.
<4> Future SPECIAL editions for interested classrooms.
<5> Guest writers.
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[] Stay tuned here in STUDENT.NEWS for all the excitement !! []
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--
Patt Haring {sun!hoptoad,cmcl2!phri}!dasys1!patth
Big Electric Cat Public Access Unix (212) 879-9031 - System Operator
Three aspects of wisdom: intelligence, justice & kindness.