President Obama Announces Immigration Reform

Summary for parents: Obama announced this week his vision for comprehensive immigration reform. It includes a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants in America and tighter border security. Click here for article.

Discussion Outline:

• An immigrant is someone who moves to a new country. How did your family come to America? When they came they were immigrants.
• Most people move to a new country with permission. It is called a visa. Some people can't get visas, mainly because they live in countries where too many people are trying to come to America. These people sometimes sneak into America without permission. How do you sneak into America? (Examples: by car or by foot from Mexico, by boat from Asia, overstaying a visa after arriving by plane). This is called illegal immigration.
• Now there are 11 million people in America without permission. Most of them work here, send their children to school and want to stay here and become citizens. Do you think they should?
• President Obama has a plan to help them. What do you think that plan should be?
• The plan is:
• tighting the borders so its harder for people to come without permission
• making it harder for people to hire illegal immigrants
• issuing temporary visas and making a path to help people become citizens, through registering, paying taxes, and not committing crimes.
• What do you think of these ideas?
• If you were living in America illegally, what would you be most scared of?
• Many illegal immigrants come to America and have children here. Their children are citizens because they are born here. Other kids are brought here illegally by their parents when they are babies. What challenges do these families have?

• Bonus for older kids: discuss Jews trying to enter Israel illegally post-WWII and detainee camps in Cyprus; risis for Jews during and post-WWII to get visas to countries.

American Appointed Member of Knesset, First Time in Decades

Summary: Dov Lipman, an American who made aliyah (moved to Israel) only 8 years ago, has just been appointed to Israel's parliament, the Knesset. Click here for article.

iPad: click on link for picture

Discussion Outline:

• Dov Lipman moved to Israel 8 years ago. What are some reasons people make aliyah? 
• He has been a teacher in a yeshiva in Israel for the last few years. He was not planning on becoming a politician. He became famous during an incident in his city, Beit Shemmesh, last year when some rabbis yelled and spit on an 8 year old girl, saying she was not dressed modestly, even though she thought she was. What do you think of this? 
• Dov Lipman immediately began saying that the rabbis were wrong for acting this way. Click here for article. Yair Lapid, an Israeli politician, noticed, and asked Lipman to join his party, Yesh Atid. 
• Yesh Atid was just announced the second biggest winner in Israel's elections last week. Because of this, Dov Lipman is now a member of Knesset. 
• If you were suddenly an important person in politics when you had never even been in politics before, how would you feel? What would you be nervous about? If you now had the power to make big changes, what changes would you want to make to your country? 
• Lipman says one of the things he wants to do is help other people who have made aliyah to Israel, like himself. How are ways he could help? 

Can you get kosher food in jail?

Summary: For years, Florida refused to provide religious Jewish prisoners with kosher food. The U.S. government sued, claiming violation of religious rights, and recently won the law suit. Florida is now required to provide kosher food to prisoners. Click here for article.

Discussion Outline

• What happens when someone breaks a law and is caught? Have the kids think through the whole due process routine. (Answer: They go to jail; they have a trial; they get sentenced)
• When someone is in jail, what is life like usually? (Clue: They can't have many things from their normal life. Like what?) (Answer: They have to wear prison uniforms, sleep with prison blankets, and eat prison food). 
• What happens if someone keeps kosher and is sent to jail but there is no kosher food available? How do they feel? 
• Florida got in big trouble because of this. There is a rule in America that everyone has the right to practice their religion according to their religious beliefs. How was Florida breaking this rule? 
• Why do we have this rule in America? (Can discuss pilgrims leaving England so they could be free to practice their religion)
• A judge just found that Florida has to serve kosher food to Jewish inmates who ask for it. What do you think of this and why? 
• What do you think is the hardest part of being in jail? 

Women to Become Combat Soldiers in U.S.

Summary of Article: until now, women have served in the U.S. military, but not in combat positions. The pentagon just announced that they are lifting this rule. Now, women will be able to serve in all branches of the military (marines, army, navy, air force), in combat capacities. Click here for article.

iPad: click on article for pictures of women in soldier uniforms, preparing for combat.

Discussion Outline:

• What are different types of jobs soldiers do in the military? (Fly planes, fight, attack the enemy, make places safe from bad guys, drive tanks, etc.)
• Who can be a soldier in America? (Anyone over 18, of any nationality, religion, etc.) However, until now women could not be combat soldiers/fighting soldiers. They could fly planes, help protect people, drive tanks, but they were not allowed to fight.
• Why did women in the military not like this rule? (Answer: they could not rise in rank in the military without first becoming a combat soldier. It was like a "glass ceiling" in the military. Also, it ignored the reality that many women were finding themselves in situations where they had to fight, without receiving the recognition.
• Why do some people not want women to fight? (Answer: chivalry; in combat situations, men and women must live together, share bathrooms, and generally be in very close quarters. Some say men will not fight as well because they will instinctually want to protect female soldiers in combat).
• Do you think women should be allowed to be in combat? Why or why not?

Bonus: When men or women soldiers are sent away to fight, it impacts many people. Who and how? (Answer: their families back home, their children, they can be away for years. Imagine your parent away for years...) What are some ways parent-soldiers try to stay in touch with their families?

Public Schools Plan Big Change

Article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lausd-food-20130117,0,1016267.story

Discussion With Kids:

• Several cities, including Los Angeles and New York, just announced that they are going to change the meals in public school cafeterias to only  healthy foods. They will also change the trays and silverware to ones that can be recycled. What are examples of foods that will be changed? 
• Examples: LA will now use whole grain pasta instead of white pasta; they will use fresh fruit and vegetables instead of canned. New York will have a salad bar at every school. Chicago will have fruit instead of cupcakes at birthday parties.  
• Why are they making this decision? What are they hoping to accomplish? (Can discuss childhood obesity and resultant childhood diabetes)
• Why is it good to recycle trays and silverware? How does this help the environment? 
• Why haven't the schools done this already (discuss fiscal reasons--its really expensive. Why are healthy foods more expensive than junk foods? Why is it expensive to recycle?) 
• How are kids going to feel about this change? 
• Why do kids sometimes prefer junk foods to healthy foods? (Discuss addictive qualities in sodium and sugar that appear in junk foods)
• What are 3 healthy foods you love and 3 junk foods you love? Guess 3 meals they probably won't serve at schools anymore and 3 meals they may serve instead. Do you think this is a good or bad idea? 
• If you had to make 1 change to your school to make it healthier or safer for kids, what would it be? 
• iPad picture: see link to article

Israeli Election v. American Girl Doll

There are two possible topics for tonight: the Israeli election results or an American Girl Doll article I could not resist and which my daughter absolutely adored. The choice is yours.

Israeli election article: click here

Discussion Outline:

• Yesterday was Election Day in Israel. What do you remember about Election Day in America? 
• Prime Minister Netanyahu won by a slim margin. It means he has to come to agreement with other parties in order to form a coalition government. (Explain Israeli political system.)
• To form a coalition, it means Netanyahu will have to compromise on certain things he wanted to do as prime minister. Can you think of a time you had to compromise in order to accomplish something? 

OR (admittedly my preference)

American Girl Doll article: click here

Discussion Outline:

• I literally read the article out loud to my daughter. She understood it. 
• Questions: 
• Why does the librarian loan out Kirsten? How come some parents don't buy it for their daughters? (Answer: expense; values)
• She is loaned out in an unusual way. How? What does "honor code" mean? 
• What idea did Flora have for raising money to fix Kirsten? 
• Do you think your library should do this? If yes, how can you go about making this happen? What valuable toy/doll would you want the library to loan out out?

Obama's Unveils Plan for Next 4 Years

Article (click here)

Discussion Outline:

• In a big speech, President Obama today outlined his plan for his next four years as president. The speech was about all the changes he hopes to make in America before he is done being president.
• If you were President Obama, what is 1 change you would like to make to America?
• The changes President Obama announced were:
• Climate change: finding ways to help the environment. For instance, making energy standards on household appliances to reduce reliance on electricity. 
• Gay Marriage: making it legal for gays and lesbians to be married anywhere in America
• Immigration Reform: making it possible for people in America without permission to stay, especially students and skilled professionals.
• More government: expanding government's role in daily life, such as social security, medicare, etc.
• If you had to choose one thing on the list as the most important, what would it be and why?
• What do you think is the most important thing President Obama did in the last four years?
• Ideas: killing Osama bin Laden; Obama Care; Cash for Clunkers Program; bailing out the banks; holding the first seder in the White House. 

Tribute to MLK

In honor of today being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, here are some materials to discuss at dinner. Kids have probably learned about him at school and are excited to share what they know.

MLK Biography: http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086

Discussion Items

• Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.? What was his dream? 
• Describe his life (see link to biography)
• When MLK was born, what was life like for blacks in the South? (segregation, "separate but equal doctrine")
• As a result of MLK, how did life change? (end of segregation in schools, public places, restaurants, etc.)
• How did he die? Why was he killed?
• If you could change one thing in the world that you think isn't fair, what would it be?

• iPad: 
• Pictures: http://www.biography.com/bio-now/mlks-birthday-a-tribute-in-video-

Circumcision Law Upheld in New York

Article: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/01/13/3116696/federal-judge-upholds-warning-on-controversial-circumcision-rite

Discussion Outline

Note to Parents: I'm not planning on going into the graphic details of "metzitzah b'peh" with my kids (see article). I think it will open up a pandora's box of questions. Instead, I'm going to use the article as a tool for talking about brit milah (bris) in general, rights of parents, and oversight/informed consent issues.  

Brit Milah:

• What is a brit milah/bris? 
• When does it happen? (8 days after a baby boy is born) Where does the tradition come from? (Answer: The Torah; God's covenant with Abraham and the Jewish People) 
• Have you ever been to a brit milah? What do you remember? What happens there?
• Some girls may ask why they don't have a brit milah. There are many different explanations. You can say that girls have zeved haBat/naming ceremonies instead or that girls already have their connection to God--they don't need a circumcision to show it. Feel free to post below if you think of other good explanations. 

Article Summary: There are different parts of the brit milah ceremony. There is a new law in New York requiring parents to give their permission for a mohel/rabbi to do all the parts of the ceremony in a certain way. Some rabbis didn't like that parents first have to give their permission. They brought a case to the courts trying to stop this law. A New York judge just ruled that the law will stay in place.

• Why would a rabbi not want to have to wait for a parent's permission to do brit milah? (Answer: people don't always like someone watching what they do--oversight)
• Oversight can have advantages and disadvantages. What are they? 
• Metaphor to use: You are making a salad and cutting with a knife. Mom is carefully watching you. What is good about this? What is annoying about this? (Annoying to have her hovering over you, nice that she is also making sure you don't cut off a finger).  
• Informed consent: this is a medical term. Parents agree to something, but only after learning about it. In all areas of life, it is important to be informed before giving consent. Can the kids think of examples? Why it is important? (Examples: always reading a contract before signing it; terms of use on computers--read before clicking; signing before a surgery in a hospital)
• Moral of story: importance of religious rites and practices; importance of always understanding what is going on when a medical procedure is occurring  how the New York law is trying to strike a balance between respecting personal religious rights and healthy/safety of the infant.

  Nothing to do with today's topic, but thought some people may be interested to know that "Dear Abby," the advice columnist, passed away this week at age 94. Here's her obituary:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/01/17/dear-abby-advice-columnist-obit/1842601/

Doctors Can Now Practice in Israel Without Taking New Exam

Article: http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/doctors-with-u-s-licenses-can-now-practice-in-israel-without-retaking-exam-1.494478

Outline for Discussing Article With Kids:

• How does someone become a doctor? (College, medical school)). A student doctor decides what they want to specialize in and then they have to study another few years in residency and fellowship.  Can take 12+ years (the same as 1st grade-12th grade) to become a doctor.
• Once you are a doctor, you have to then take several hard tests to make sure you really know how to be a doctor. Why are these tests important? Why do you want to make sure your doctor really knows  what he/she is doing? What could happen if your doctor doesn't really know? 
• Each country has their own test that student doctors must pass to become doctors. Some tests are harder than others. What does this mean in terms of the quality of doctors in different countries? 
• Until now, the only people who could be doctors in Israel are those who pass Israel's test. Israel's test is very hard to pass. Why would Israel make their test so hard? (Can discuss here that many Israelis go to medical schools in Eastern Europe and abroad; test is form of quality control).
• However, Israel just announced that they are now also letting people take America's test and become doctors. But no other country's test is ok. Why would Israel accept America's test? 
• Israel is anticipating that in 8 years, there won't be enough doctors in Israel. Why ? (Answer: population growth and current doctors retiring). What should Israel do about this? (Answer: they are encouraging aliyah of doctors).
• Bonus questions:
• If you were a doctor, what kind of doctor would you want to be and why? 
• Why would it be better to be a doctor in America? Why would it be better to be a doctor in Israel? (You can discuss socialized medicine v. private practice)
• Many rabbis say that it is ok for doctors to work on the Sabbath/Shabbat. Why? 

Obama Outlines New Gun Policy

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/us/politics/obama-to-ask-congress-to-toughen-gun-laws.html?hp&_r=0

Discussion Outline: I understand that some parents may not want to speak about guns with their kids. But I like introducing sometimes complex topics that my kids will learn about one day anyway. This way we can discuss it in an environment in which I can control what they are learning about guns, and can impart values while they are still receptive.

• Summary for Parents: President Obama today unveiled his new gun policy, which he will seek to introduce through legislation in the weeks ahead. In short, his new policy will seek several things, in response to the CT school shooting last month:
• A new ban on military assault weapons and the amount of rounds that can be used
• there will now be a required criminal background check for all gun sales. Previously, gun buyers could avoid background checks by buying guns at gun shows or from private sellers. Until now, nearly 40% of all gun purchases have been sold without background checks because of this loophole.
• Police officers will be able to crack down more on background checks; mental health records will be merged in the system as well.
• He is adding a new director of the bureau in charge of enforcement (vacant until now)
• How I would explain this topic to kids:
• In the United States, we have a constitution, a book of rules for how everyone must live in America. In the constitution there is a rule that certain grown ups are allowed to have guns to protect themselves from soldiers. Some people believe this rule means everyone should be allowed to have guns. This has caused some problems of people using guns in the wrong way. 
• Why is it bad to have your own gun? What could happen? 
• In other lands, like in England, no one is allowed to have gun, not even police officers. What does this mean in England in terms of safety? (Much safer there; no gun violence)
• What would you do to make our land safer from guns? 
• President Obama has a plan to make our land safer from guns, especially from bad guys getting guns. Paraphrase above article.
• Some kids may say we need guns to protect ourselves because a bad guy may have a gun. Answers could be: (1) we are safe; we live in a safe land; we go to schools protected by security; (2) we have the police to protect us (you can practice 9-1-1). A good book to read is Dr. Seuss' The Butter Battle Book, about how everyone arming themselves isn't the solution.

Lance Armstrong Confesses to Using Drugs to Win the Tour de France

Article: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57563952/lance-armstrong-admits-doping-to-oprah/

Discussion Outline:

• Ideas for explaining the article to young kids:
• The Tour de France is the world's most important bicycle race. Lance Armstrong, an American bicyclist, won it 7 times. This is the most anyone has ever won this race.
• If you were a bicyclist and wanted to win this important race, what would you do to prepare?
• Some people cheat. They want to win things without having to prepare or do the hard work necessary. What are some ways people could cheat on tests or in races?
• Some adults cheat to win a race by taking a drug that makes their muscles really big and strong. These drugs are bad for you. If you are caught doing these drugs, you are in big trouble.
• There is an organization that makes sure no one cheats in the race and does this drug. How would you check to make sure no one was on this drug? (Answer: urine test)
• When Armstrong won the race so many times, some people thought he for sure had cheated. But when he took the test, he passed! No one could believe it.
• Yesterday, Armstrong admitted something for the first time. He admitted that he did the drug. And he admitted that he had made other people lie for him and help him cheat. 
• What is good about Armstrong's confession? (Answer: he is telling the truth)
• What is bad about Armstrong's actions? (Answer: he did many bad things. Could have the kids list them)
• What do you think Armstrong's punishment should be? (Answer: He has been stripped of all 7 Tour de France titles; he is never allowed to ever be in a bicycle race again; he has to give back all of the money he got for being a great bicycler. He is never allowed to do what he loves again -- bicycle racing.)
• What is a "reputation"? What does it mean to lose your reputation? Armstrong has lost his reputation. People don't trust him or think well of him anymore. It is very difficult to get back your good reputation when you have made it bad. That is why it is important to protect your reputation. Did Lance Armstrong do this?
• Map: Where is France? 
• Ipad: Show the route of the Tour de France: http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2013/us/overall-route.html. Pictures of Lance Armstrong: https://www.google.com/search?q=lance+armstrong&hl=en&tbo=d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=J6P1ULzYDufoigL014GwDQ&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAA&biw=1152&bih=947

College student petitions University to reschedule graduation for Shavuot

Discussion Outline:

• Summary of article: A student, Sharon Litwinoff, at a university in New Jersey is an observant Jew. Her graduation from college is on the same day as a Jewish holiday, Shavuot. She cannot attend her graduation if she is to observe the holiday. She is trying to have the university change the date to religiously accomodate her.
• Questions:
• What are the Jewish laws that Sharon believes prevent her from attending graduation if she wants to observe Shavuot?
• Why is attending her graduation ceremony important to Sharon?
• What has she done to try to get the university to change its graduation date?
• Why would the university want to change its date? (See below: potential loss of future donors, bad publicity, etc.)
• Why would the university not want to change its date? (Expense, minority number of students impacted by Shavuot v. total number of students graduating, inconvenience, etc.)
• Is there a law to help Sharon? Answer: no, but there is an idea of religious accomodation in our country. What does it sound like this phrase means?
• "Legal" meaning: It means that a university should try to accomodate a student's sincerely held religious belief, as long as it doesn't cause undue hardship on the university. In other words, the university should try to help Sharon, unless it is too hard for the unviersity to do so.
• If you were the university and deciding what to do, especially keeping in mind the "undue hardship" standard (above), what would you do?
• If the date is not changed, what would you do if you were Sharon?
• Map: where is New Jersey? iPad: Picture of student (see link below)

http://www.njjewishnews.com/article/15809/college-graduation-conflicts-with-shavuot

Israeli elections baffle first-time voters from U.S.

Discussion Outline:

• Israeli will soon have elections. Americans who have made "aliyah" find the election in Israel perplexing.
• If you had moved to a new country that spoke a different langauge, what would you find baffling about voting in an upcoming election? (see ideas in bold below)
• How does democracy work in America? How does it work in Israel? How are the two systems different?
• Short answer: Israel is a Jewish state. America is a secular state. What are the implications of this?
• "Both are democracies with full and equal civil and political rights for all, and both have separation of powers. But Israel has proportional representation with the whole country as one district, while the U.S. has direct representation based on elections in multiple districts. Israel has one house while the U.S. has both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Israel has a multi-party system while the U.S. has two main parties. In Israel, the executive branch is elected by the Knesset, while in the U.S., the president is elected by the people at large" (http://www.standwithus.com/teachingtools/Lessonplan/unit15/Unit%2015-government-%20full.pdf)

   

http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/anglo-file/israeli-elections-baffle-first-time-voters-from-u-s-1.493153

 

Sikhs in New York: Police Officers & Hate Crimes

Discussion Outline:

• Police officers in any police department have a strict dress code. What are examples of what police officers must wear?
• Can police men in New York have beards? (Answer: no) Why would NYPD have this rule? (Answer: gas masks, see below in bold)
• Sikh is a religion. Where do many Sikhs come from? (Answer: Northern India) According to this religion, men must have full beards and don't cut their hair. They wrap their hair into turbans. (see picture below)
• How does the Sikh religious practice and NYPD rule conflict?
• What are Sikh people in New York trying to get NYPD to change?
• If you were in charge of the NYPD, would you change this rule? Why?
• Bonus Questions: Many people have confused Sikh men and boys with Muslims, who sometimes also wear turbans. This has caused some Sikhsto be the victim of hate crimes in America. See example below of an instance where this happened (article below on Sikh hate crime).
• How could having Sikh police officers help people learn about the Sikh community and better protect that community?
• Map: Where is India? Where is New York?
• iPad: google "Sikh police officer"

http://religiousfreedomnews.org/sikhs-push-for-change-in-nypd-dress-code-20130107

Hate Crime Attack on Sikh Boy in School: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/26/nyregion/26bias.html

Students by Millions Fill Labor Gap in China

Discussion Outline:

• Summary of article: shortage of workers in certain areas of China, mainly rural. As result, factories are filling factory jobs with students from vocational high schools. 
• What is a vocational high school? What are examples of jobs you could train for there?
• How old are these students? (16-18)
• What does "assembly-line" job mean? Would you enjoy doing that kind of job? Why/why not?
• Why do the factories prefer to higher vocational students?
• Who owns these factories? (local Chinese companies and American ones, like Apple)
• How do students feel about these jobs? (some find it exhausting and hard; others like the money they can send to their families)
• How come certain areas of China don't have enough workers? (Answer: migration of youth to cities is a problem for rural areas; one-child policy means shortage of workers)
• One-child policy: each family is only allowed to have one child. What are implications of this? For job market? For families? (no aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)
• Map: Where is China? Where is the Yantai in China? (answer: northeastern China)
• iPad: Pictures of Yantai @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantai

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/business/global/students-by-millions-fill-labor-gap-in-china.html?pagewanted=2&src=recg&pagewanted=print

Haredi Boys to Be Drafted into Israeli Army, Starting This Year

Discussion Outline

• Who serves in the Israeli Army or completes National Service? (Answer: all Israeli boys and girls when they graduate high school).
• Until now, there has been an exception for haredim. What does haredi (ultra-orthodox) mean?
• How old will the haredi draftees be? (Answer ages 17-19 or "teenagers").
• For bigger kids: why was there an exception for haredim? (Answer: agreement between Ben Gurion and haredim at the founding of the state). That exception, known as the "Tal Law" expired last year.
• What new accomodations does the Israeli Army have to make for Haredi soldiers? Think about how their lifestyle may be different from regular soldiers. (Clues: kashrut, at what age do haredim tend to get married and have children, etc.)
• Some answers: setting up barracks for Haredi soldiers that are separated from accommodations for women soldiers, not having women soldiers sing at ceremonies, buying special food that meets Haredi standards of kashrut, paying larger stipends to Haredi draftees who are married with children.
• "Roses and thorns:"
• What are the positive aspects of having haredim join the army? (one possible answer: building bridge between haredi and secular Jewish communities, because army is a sort of melting pot in Israel for all Israel youth).
• What are the potentially negative aspects (one asnwer: considerable financial cost of accomodating them)
• iPad: pictures of a haredi in a commado unit (http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/idf-planning-first-ultra-orthodox-commando-unit.premium-1.470635).  

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4328346,00.html

Al Jazeera TV Comes To Mainstream America

 Discussion Outline: 

• How do shows appear on our television? Discuss how networks buy shows and choose what appears on our TV.
• Al Jazeera is a Qatar-based news organization.
• Map: Where is Qatar? Where is Qatar in relation to Israel?
• Why would a Qatar-based news organization want to come to America and be on our TV screens?
• What are ways news stations can "slant" how we hear the news?
• Some say Al Jazeera is known for anti-Israel and sometimes anti-Semitic reporting.
• For older kids: Al Jazeera gave Hamid Dabashi, an outspoken anti-Israel professor at Columbia, a forum for speaking his views about Israel (see http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/11/20121128105331462162.html)
• What "angle" does Al Jazeera say it's going to have? (Answer: International)
• Why would some American Jews worry that Al Jazeera is now going to be teaching Americans news about Israel?
• See this comment from ADL: http://www.adl.org/PresRele/IslME_62/6463_62.htm

What could be something new Al Jazeera can bring into American homes that isn't currently being shown? (Ideas: Middle Eastern shows, information about the Middle East, etc.)

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-al-jazeera-current-20130103,0,1409416.story 

High Schooler Suspended for Racist Bullying of Another Student

 Discussion Outline: 

• In art class, a boy gave a girl offensive items during art class. 
• What were these items? 
• Why were they offensive to her and her community?
• History of KKK and noose -- give info on this as age appropriate. 
• This isn't the only time this girl has been picked on at school. What else has happened to her? 
• The girl who was bullied was one of only three blacks in a school of 450. What must it be like for her to come to school every day? 
• How does she probably feel now that she was bullied? How do the other 2 black students at school probably feel?
• If you were a student in the art class and saw this boy bullying this girl, what would you have done? What could you have done to help her? 
• What happened to the boy for what he did? What does it mean to be suspended (in the long and short term)? (Answer: short term, you miss school; long term, it goes on your permanent record when applying to colleges, etc.)
• If you ever feel you are being bullied, what should you do?  
• iPad: for younger kids, locate on map where is Wisconsin; for older kids, show pictures of noose and KKK signs (see link).  

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/boy-suspended-giving-black-girl-noose-kkk-sign-article-1.1231439

Israel Finishes Security Fence on Sinai Border

Discussion Outline:

• Israel has just finished the main section of a security fence along the Egyptian border:
• What does a security fence mean?
• If you were building a security fence, what would you put on it?  
• What did Israel decide to put on their security fence?
• Why does Israel need a security fence? (Answer: terrorists/bad guys; migrants)
• Why would migrants choose to come to Israel? Is this a good or bad thing for Israel? What about for the migrants?
• How much did the fence cost Israel? Is this expensive? Why did it cost so much?
• The fence borders Israel and the Sinai. Where else have you heard about Sinai? (Clue: Passover)
• Do you think this fence is a good or bad idea for Israel? Why?
• iPad: picture of fence in below link

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324374004578217720772159626.html

Wild Wolf Roaming California For First Time in 90 Years

My son always prefers current events about animals or fighting. Today didn't have many hot news items to choose from so this one's for Ariel. 

Discussion outline:

• Where did the wolf start out and where has it wandered?
• What is the wolf looking for?  
• How are scientists tracking the wolf? What does it mean to "track" an animal?
• What is his preferred food/prey?
• Why is it better for him to wander in California than in Idaho and other states?
• iPad: picture of the wolf in link; graphic map link of wolf's wanderings

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-wolf-california-20130102,0,6588131.story

 

Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini, Nobel Winner, Dies at 103

Tonight's current event was about the life of Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini.

My outline for discussing the article:

• What kind of name was her last name? What does it say about her and where she came from?
• Who were her parents and what were their professions? What was her family like?
• What did her father expect her to become and what did she do instead? 
• What happened to her and her family during the war? 
• What was her big discovery? How did she change the world?
• iPad: I showed a picture of her from the website
• Map: Where is Italy?n the map

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/31/science/dr-rita-levi-montalcini-a-revolutionary-in-the-study-of-the-brain-dies-at-103.html