Out of the Dust

Please make 3 connections to what we have read so far and post them on here.

Click here to go to the Iraq parody

I couldn't figure out how to put the video in to this parody. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvJGlgfasDw. Let me know what you think the producers were trying to say with this skit.

Birth control hits the New York Times!

READ THE ARTICLE BELOW AND POST YOUR REACTIONS OR THOUGHTS.

Birth Control Allowed at Maine Middle School

By JOEL ELLIOTT
Published: October 18, 2007
PORTLAND, Me., Oct. 17 — The Portland school board on Wednesday approved a measure allowing middle-school students to gain access to prescription birth control medications without notifying parents.

The proposal, from the Portland Division of Public Health, calls for the independently operated health care center at King Middle School to provide a variety of services to students, including immunizations and physical checkups in addition to birth-control medications and counseling for sexually transmitted diseases, said Lisa Belanger, an administrator for Portland’s student health centers.

All but two members of the 12-person committee voted to approve the plan.

The school principal, Mike McCarthy, said about 5 of the school’s 500 students had identified themselves as being sexually active.

Health care professionals at the clinic advised the committee that the proposal was necessary in order for the clinic to serve students who were engaging in risky behavior.

The conference room at the Wednesday night meeting was packed with parents, students and television cameras as school board committee members discussed the issue and heard testimony from experts and residents.

“It has been shown, over and over again, that this does not increase sexual activity,” said Pat Patterson, the medical director of School-Based Health Centers.

Reaction was mixed.

“This is really a violation of parents’ rights,” Peter Doyle, a Portland resident, told the committee. “If there were a constitutional challenge, you guys would be at risk of a lawsuit.”

Others argued for approval.

“Not every child is getting the guidance needed to keep them safe,” said Richard Veilleux, who said his child attends King Middle School. “This is about giving kids who are sexually active the tools that they need.”

According to the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, about 30 percent of the 1,700 school-based health centers in the United States provide birth control to students, Dr. Patterson said.

More Articles in National »

www.nytimes.com

Political cartoons

Look on the blog at some political cartoons I have found. What do they mean to you? What do you think was the intention of the person whom drew it was? Finally, watch the video entitled "irack." What is the message the writers from MadTV trying to say? Do you agree with it or not?

Patriot Act

What did you learn about the Patriot Act? How would you feel if the government was monitoring your household, your email, and your phones? Please put your first name on your response.