3 years... I'll be at Northwestern or Loyola (Chicago). Studying something about chemistry, maybe doing some stuff to become a pharmacist. And in 10 years I will hopefully be at a good job, making some money, maybe thinking about a family. It's weird to think about though, any of this could change... and I'm sure it all will but that's the fun thing about life. But that is the current plan of action for me.

Happy Halloween everyone! Hope the rule that will not be named didn't kill it completely :)

Kim's Topic

In three years..... I 'm going to be in college for sure studying some sort of psychology. Where I'm going to study don't know yet but I applied to ISU, NIU (which I got accepted to!!), SIU and Trinity. I either want to study sports psychology which would be TONS of fun because I love sports, be a counselor or psychology teacher. Not 100% sure yet but hopefully I will know for sure in 3 years. I'll probably be working a lot so I can pay off my college loans which take forever to pay off. In ten years, I hope to be married and have some kids, good job and live somewhere in the suburbs. I don't wish to be fifthly rich or dead poor but enough to not worry about money all the time. I don't know its hard to think about my future because I'm trying to survive high school right now and I defiantly have a hard time with change in my life. Good topic though Kim!!!!

to kims blog

haha kim i like this one... um in about like 3 years i see myself in college hopefully at mizzou or uk and i'm not sure what i'll be studying i havent really even thought about it too much. As of now i was going to major in like hospitality mangeent to become an event coordinator or something but who knows i could change that. i dont really have any idea of what i want to do. I have ben thinking about at least getting into college not really what i want to do but we'll get to that when i have to decid. In 10 years i hope to see myself married and have kids. Hopefully im living in florida or somewhere in the south. And hopefully i have a good job and a good life.

KIM I LIKE YOUR TOPIC!!!

:) so anyways, yea i really like this topic. but i dont like typing with correct puctuation and whatnot, so whatever. i just decided like 2 months ago that i want to go into nursing because its the one thing that has always interested me that wont bore me to death. so i want to be some kind of nurse with a specialty in one area like babies or critical care. and i want a husband :) so in ten years i'd be 28, so i'd probably want kiddies too :) i cant wait for the future. i'm not really looking to make some huge impact on the world, as long as i'm doing nursing and can help those patients i work with, im happy. i want the traditional american dream, and i want to stay in this same area cause i love how we have 4 seasons. hopefully by then global warming wont have completely taken over the climate, and my kids can still play in the snow. oh and i want them to go to fremd and they WILL dress up on halloween! and then i lived happily ever after....and thats all :) nice topic kim this made me happy

wow so that suggestion was a total flop.... sorry! someone else try... I cant think of anything right now. :) and we definately need something new to blog about

Race

Racism today is the worst thing I can think of. Some may say it is much more tame than ever but that is a gross understatement. Ignoring, avoiding, and shunning is still racism even if its not verbal. I dont understand why there is any racism... We all came from the same place, we are all human beings, and we are all equal. If you are stubborn and boneheaded enough to catogerize someone without even knowing them, you deserve to be rejected as well.

Attempt at a New Topic

so we were saying how we need a new topic on this blog... and i am having tons of trouble thinking of one... so here's a thought...

Where do you see yourself in three years? What about ten?

I know this sounds like a general yearbook question, but this could open up some discussion about college, who wants to attend what schools, who thinks they'll go out into the working world right away, possible career/major choices... as well as our futures, our post college plans.... and who knows what else.

Sorry if this topic dies right away. But let's give it a try!

Racism

When I was little I never meet many different races. I was in an elementary school where there were only whites no other races. When I got to Jr high I began to get to know many different races and I was always scared I was a raciest. My main problem is that I notice other races. I feel that just noticing if someone is black or being able to count your black friends means that you are raciest. I don't use any of those words, like the n word, and I would never dream of starting, but still sometimes I feel horrible. I have friends of many races and and I don't treat them any different or make fun of them in any way. I don't use any raciest jokes because they are mean and will only hurt someone. They are never funny. Even though I don't do all these things I still feel that a small part of me can be racist. We all are sometimes. No one can say that they don't notice or that they don't stereotype, because we do. It is how we were raised and where we were raised. I am not proud of these feelings and I wish that I didn't have them. We are all humans and just because we have different skin colors doesn't change that.

I would like to comment on the comment 2 below this one who i think was sabrina. She said that she acts like a rasist when she sees people do the steryotypical racist things. i feel that way as well. Yesterday my freind made a comment reguarding mexicans right in front of my mexican friend. my mexican friend was not offended though because she agreed with us. she is an average mexican girl who thinks the mexicans in our school that act in the steryotypical way are annoying and ignorant. it sucks for her to have to be thought of in that way because of the majority of mexican kids at school. my thought is i dont care where your from or what you look like, but if you act like a rude dousche bag im not going to like you. and unfortunately certain races get steryotypes that stick.

Racism

Racism is a serious issue in the United States. People are judged by their skin color. Many people assume that black people are bad. I am sure there some bad black people, but there are bad people in other ethnic groups too. Nobody has a right to treat somebody differently because of their beliefs or skin color. Racism should stopped if there is a chance to stop it because if we do not do anything now. It might get worse in the future and racism will never be stopped. Racism is one of the worst things.

Mr. Spoor's Question

I can honestly say that I just had the biggest racist moment EVER on Sunday. I told some people about it, but seriously I'm ashamed of it. I was at six flags with some friends and people were just pissing me off. First the stupid red necks who can't walk in a straight line and continuously smacked me with their fanny packs. Then, ugh here comes the major racism, like blacks, Mexicans and Indians. Dude come ON! No one hates you! No one is going to stereotype you unless you DO those stereotypical things! For example, I walked into this amphitheater and this African American woman bashed into me and was like, "Excuse me bitch!" and then turned around and started bitching to her friends about me. Seriously? And then Indian guys, do they *really* think that winking at me and staring at my ass is going to turn me on or something? Ew, just stop. My friends had to basically drag me out of the park before I freaked out and started screaming at people. The entire time I was thinking one thing: I've just turned into the biggest freaking racist. So yes, I do think I'm a racist, not a huge one or one to your face, but at times I am. :( kind of sad and pathetic.

Race

Wow! This is a deep subject. I just want to comment on some of the points people have made...

First, yeah, racism sucks. It is terrible. It hurts people. The best thing we can do is have honest conversations a lot like what some people are doing on here. Just talking about how racism is bad is not what is going to change things. It is having honest discussions about stereotypes and feelings that is going to end racism.

Second, yes, telling a racist joke or laughing in a group of friends when someone else does IS racist. There is no way to rationalize or explain it away by citing your "Mexican best friend." Now, this does not mean that we cannot find humor in some of the stereotypes we have created. Sometimes using humor to deal with a difficult and emotional topic is good. It can help. It is, though, crucial how, when, where, and why this humor is being used.

Finally, I want to leave you with this argument and see what you have to say...

When I look at my life I see someone who has benefited time and time again from institutional racism. By acknowledging this and accepting that many of the things I have came at the expense of American minorities am I admitting that I am a racist? I know how I would answer this, but I will save that for after I have heard what some of you have to say...

Racism

Racism has been a hot topic in America for hundreds of years and will always be a problem. It will always be a problem because we've divided people into groups due to their skin color. As we have learned, race is only a society thing, no a cultural thing. In the south people are still very racist to this day. People in the south are so ignerant to the fact that everyone is not like them and that everyone is different. What makes America great, is our differences. If everyone in America were the same, dressed the same, ate the same food, wore the same clothes, then America would be one dull place. Here's another topic, the KKK. Why are they still around? The KKK needs to be gone. They only add to the racial tension in America. Racism will never go away as long as we keep separating people into groups due to the color of their skin or their herritage. America is culturally and racially diverse and its always going to be that way and people who are ignorant need to accept that or move.

Racism

Racism- I know that everyone says it is wrong, which I totally agree with, but don't you think that we are being a little hypercritical? I always hear people telling black jokes or Mexican jokes and stuff like that and I know that they maybe funny ( I laugh at them sometimes too) but isn't it totally be racist? I just thought I would bring up that idea because I thought it was interesting.
Anyway, yes I think racism is a terrible thing. I am 50% Puerto Rican and I have heard tons of stories from my dad about how racism was going on back when he was younger. Once there was a gun fight going on right in front of my dad's apartment and it was between Puerto Rican neighbor hood people and another neighbor hood that was of a different ethnicity ( I can't remember what they were). But a bullet went right through my dad's apartment neighbor hood but no one got hurt. Don't you think that it is ridiculous that they had to have different ethnicity neighbor hoods and how they would fight all the time especially with deadly weapons??? Unfortunately racism will be going on for as long as we live. Today it may not be shown as much as it did before the slaves were freed but it will go on in ways that may not show too greatly.

Here's a question though....Do you think America is being racist for not letting people immigrate to America and sending people back over the border if they get caught??..just wondering!

I think racism is such a horrible thing. Today, I was at work and there was a situation with a kid, and it reminded me of the blog. This kid was yelling at one of the people I work with because he got his finger caught in a toy. The kid I work with went up to him to say sorry and give him a high five. The kid said "No, you have germs. You must be black." (by the way, the guy I work with isn't even black, he's white). One of the girls that was dealing with him couldn't believe he said that. She got so mad and immediately went and got the kid's mom. The girl told the mom about everything he was saying to them and about the racist comment. The girl I work with was telling me that the mom kind of just laughed it off and made an excuse and didn't really do anything about it. This is part of our society's problem. Kids are not learning the right things from their parents. That's not appropriate to say at all, but his mom didn't do anything about it. All she said was "You can't say that here." So what..he's allowed to say it other places?! I just couldn't believe this when she was telling me about it.

while were on this topic of racism i figured i should throw my opinion out there. currently I'm dating someone out of my race, and for me Ive had to overcome allot just to do that. in the first few months my family members ( one imperticular) had a very very big problem with this. i literally got like terrorized for liking someone outside of my race. i don't understand why my family member just couldn't be happy for me. instead he spent his time trying to ruin everything. i went threw getting things thrown all over me to getting called EVERY name in the book. and the sad thing was, i never did anything wrong. after a couple months of learning that i wasn't just going to give up my relationship because he thought it was wrong, he sort of gave up on the issue. he doesn't terrorize me anymore or treat me different because of my choices, but its crazy how racism affects everyone, not even if your part of another race. i was completely taken back when i learned that i too could get the affects of racism from another white person, and i too was white. i think that growing up where your taught to be racist is a very hard thing to overcome, i know its not right or anything but for some kids, its truly not there fault because that's literally all they've ever known.

TOPIC:RACISM

i dont understand racism. why cant people just be peaceful. are we the only species on earth that hates another being just by their appearance?
i dont see animals being racist. sometimes i wonder what it would be like being an aminal because life would probably be a whole lot easier. and personally i hate biggots they can suck %*&$. and if southern whites mostly dislike black people then why did we as whites bring them over to america. this country has always been so lazy. howd we ever get anything done?
wwell idk i just think racism is stupid

I feel that although everyone says that racisim is terrible (and I agree) but I also feel that it is inevitable. There is always going to be stereotypes that follow certain religoins and races, there always has and there always will. It is a way that people read and judge others, and for some odd reason it seems that people like to judge people on their negative traits rather than a person's more positive ones. I just feel that racisim is something that you just have to live with even though you are against it because how does racisim as a whole just stop? It doesn't, unless everyone in the world came to this ultimate realization that we are all the same, then it won't stop. I see it and hear it everyday, in school or out of school. Yet when a person comes across a racist comment, the only thing one can do is speak their opinion to that person and hope that maybe they changed that person.

Racisim is a very big issue in the world today. Personally, I don't see why anyone would feel the need to be racist against anyone what so ever. Nobody gets to choose to color of skin they want to have before they are born. And just because if someone has a different skin color or believes in different things doensn't make them a different person. Just imagine what the world would be like if everyone looked the same, dressed the same, and believed in the same things. That would be so boring. It's good to keep diversity in this world. I hate seeing each type of race being a stereotype. There are SO many stereotypical people in this world and sometimes because of them there are hate crimes committed. Nobody in this world deserves to die just because of the way they talk, look, or dress. That is just completely unfair. I think that if people got over the fact of being racist and stereotypical there would be so much more peace throughout the world.

Racial Stereotypes

I was researching about " being stereotype" for my Speech class, and I found some interesting examples of racial stereotypes; -Italians were generally depicted on television as Mafia hoodlums. -Asian people are perceived as invaders or karate experts. -Hispanic people as comics, banditos or gang members. -Native Americans as savages, victims, cowards or medicine men. -People from the Middle East are seen as terrorists or oil sheiks. -Homosexuals as being effeminate.
And what I realized is that a lot of this "thoughts" are used in cartoons and TV commercials. Personally I don't like that idea because it annoys me when some random parson was doing "ninja trick" like thing and I don't think that's funny at all. I'm also worried about children watching this kind of cartoons. They can easily affected by what they watch and I don't want to them to get stereotype image toward other races.

I agree with everyone on the racism issue. It is horrible what people say about different people. Like what Kim siad its not only Muslims and other Hispanics its the Asians to. So many kids at our high school are saying stuff about asians and what not. Thats not right and saying how just beacuse they are asian they are smarter or something. There are a lot of muslim racism stuff on the internet too its so bad what they are saying. just becuase someone is muslim shouldn't mean that you should make a rude comment, you dont even know them thye could be the nicest people. Even though peolpe are different doesnt mean they aren't the same as us. I hate how our country is so racist especially with Muslims its horrible.

Racism is still a huge issue in today's society. I think that the biggest misconception is what we see on tv and hear on the news and what not. To talk about the situations that are going on people can say teh wrong thing and come off as that being a racist comment. I myself dont know how it feels to be treated differently because of race issues, but i'm sure it is very hurtful. There are people in this world who see everyone of that specific race as someone that they had a bad experience with one time, and thats sad. People should be given a chance before they are judged and given assumptions about them.

continuing on the topic of racism...

I think racism is a major problem in the united states right now. I remember after the black out (the one where kids painted their faces without knowing the meaning behind it) kids were saying they didnt mean that at all and our generation doesn't have that same racist problem that america used to have. Ummm helloo? thats b/s.
so many kids make horrible comments about not only Muslims and Middle Easterners, but towards Asians, African Americans, Hispanic people, Jewish people.... the list goes on and on and on. I'm sure everyone, no matter what race or religion, has felt segrgated against at some point in their life. And i think that is ridiculous.
Why does it matter what color someones skin is? Thats why i loved learning about evolution and skin color... it's so funny that white people think they are all Amazing and that they have the right to put everyone else down but hello?? Darker skined people were around before lighter skined people. And the lighter skined people evolved and are related to the darker skinned ones.
I know that one day, like Mr. Spoor was saying that scientists are predicting, there really won't be different skin colors anymore and everyonewill evolve into having the same skin tone. I'm not sure if this will be better for the human race or worse... Even though racism is a huge problem, Diversity makes the world interesting... What would it be like if we were all exactly the same? I wonder what people would harass each other about if skin color was all the same... probably religions, which already happens... maybe what, eye color? Type of car? Height?
I get so sick of kids, adults, Anyone... singling out certain people because they are different. What happened to those posters from elementary school that taught us to Dare to be Different.

Racism

I am against racism because nobody should be blamed for the culture they believe. Everybody should believe in whatever they want to believe. Racism is really bad, people create organizations like Ku Klux Klan to make the life of others hard. It is sick to blame others for something that they have no power over it. I think that people should start respect others nations too.

In response to Jaclyn's post- to make it short, nature is going to kick our butts someday. And we deserve it.

To Sabrina's- I completely agree that all of this hatred towards Muslims is irrational. There are crazy people (some who twist religion to meet what they want to do) in every culture... why should we categorize all middle eastern people as terrorists just because of one group of extremists? And how do they get away with discriminating against them on TV?! I can't even believe how far it has gone. It is so out of control that now Muslim is automatically associated with terrorist, and vice versa. I wish people would learn to think for themselves and at least TRY not to be so judgmental. I know it is a part of human nature, but to go so far as to be afraid of someone because of the color of their skin... is a serious problem. I can't believe the picture at the end of Sabrina's post...

I'm going to go on a religious tangent here, sorry. How can you actually believe GOD hates someone? I'm talking about the Christian God, I guess, because that is the religion I know most about. And I hear it all the time, "God hates gays," "God hates ____ people," whatever it is. God is going to send you all to hell. Seriously? I'm not going to hate you for saying what you think about this, maybe you think God does hate gays... but I'd like to hear some other opinions on this.. can God hate people?

And! The staff infection/MRSA thing... apparently some kid had it in a junior high school near here... but he didn't die or anything. Which is good, but still scary that it is close to here.

Racism

All I have to say is that we should treat other religion and race with respect. If we wanted to be respected, then it has to go the other way to. Racism is going to far nowadays. It is everwhere from television shows, schools and every community. We can even hear it in conversations going on and just try blend in and laugh if its like a joke or something. For me, Ill try to be neutral in this matter and just be silent if nothing good is to be said. Arguments start with these topics, and we all should ust try to avoid it.

Racism

I totally agree with Sabrina right now. So I watch tv and go online theres always something about Muslims its not even funny. First off I am Muslim I am not relgious at all we are suppose to pray 5 times as day but that never happened. So people think Islam is all about killing people that is wrong you cant kill innocent people. When I use to live in the city I had a lot of haters just because I was Pakistani and muslim. They called me bin laden and that wasn't alright how they were racial profiling. Also the taliban and all them are just stupid people killing inccoent people. I am agaisnt the war because so many innocent people get killed. But back to the topic I was raised in America since I was 1 and people still want to talk crap about me being a immigrant and going to blow something up tommrow. That is wrong I hate those shows and things on the computer about making fun of muslims. I can go one for ever guys but yes just to make it clear Islam doesnt belive in killing people...

T.V promotes racism?

Can I just say that I'm thoroughly disgusted with television now days? After the 9-11 attacks T.V started promoting the idea of Muslims bombing up people and killing everyone in the name of 'God'. First of all, I'm not religious at all, but my mother is Muslim, actually her entire family is, so basically I am. I know everything about Islam as well as Christianity. No where does it state killing yourself in the name of god and killing others in the name of god is OK. It's not, and any of those Taliban idiots, other Muslim fascist and just plain stupid people who say that it's true should be slapped. It makes me sick. So last night I was at the gym and for some reason Bionic woman was on. Stupid ass show first of all, and second there was this microchip that if implanted in people, allows a person to control them. And of course the bad guy is a muslim, and as he's being questioned he starts praying in Urdru (Arabic but the spoken version) I seriously wanted to punch someone. There's no reason for them to CONSTANTLY be portraying Muslims/Pakistanis/Arabs as terrorists or suicide bombers. Can't people understand that? I can't fucking walk down the street anymore without someone staring at me, wondering if I'm related to Osama Bin Laden, or saying something about the way I look. Enough already. I honestly feel that Muslims/Arabs are now facing *some* of the same things that African Americans were. No way in hell am I saying that what we are experiencing is even close to the same pain and torture as African Americans, but there's A LOT of racial hatred towards people of the East. I have friends whose parents hate me because I'm darker skinned, or because I don't support the war. Then they watch Law & Order and see a man who kills his sister because she was in love with a Non-Pakistani Muslim. WHAT?!! Fuck that.

Especially that dumbass show that I used to watch, 24. Yea you're underfire from Islamic groups for promoting the hatred of Islamists and Muslims. Hmm what the fuck do you think you're supposed to do? Oh I don't know, maybe try portraying the REAL ass holes, like Bush? *I think this picture is quite telling of the people in our country*

(Sorry for the language) (No offense to any Bush Lovers)

Ok so everyone seems to be talking about this whole moment of silence thing. For the past couple of days i had no idea what people were talking about, as my fellow students would argue with their teachers. Then i realized that it was something during first period, which i did not have a class. To be forced to have a moment of silence and "pray" sounds kind of ridiculous to me. They can't make you do this nor should we feel obligated to.

Back to that bug thing, is that the same thing as a staff infection? This girl at University of South Florida had a staff infection and died and my cousin goes to that school and one morning she woke up one morning and her face was all puffy and stuff and she went to the hospital and they think it is staff infection so thats what they are treating it as. Hearing my aunt talk about this makes me really nervous because someone i know may have a staff infection.
Now to this moment of silence, I don't really see the point of doing it everyday i could see doing it on special occasions like september 11 or something but not just every day. What is that suppose to do? I dont see how it helps us in anyway. Oh well they can do what they want but theres no point to it i dont think.

Ok first off just to say a little about the bug thing. i know a little over talked about but i just had a few things to say. I think it is disgusting the way some people are in the bathroom. Some people don't even wash their hands which i find revolting. and then there are the people who wet their hands and then just dry them off. WHAT DOES THAT DO? they don't even use soap. i find that disgusting. they just wiped their nasty, dirty hands on the towel. I wouldn't find the towel that disgusting if i knew everyone used soap. Cuz if they use soap than their hands should be clean and they are just drying them off. But that's not the case. But w/e its just gross.

ok so this moment of silence thing. I agree with what everyone is saying. i do think that it is kind of pointless.

ok so a new topic. The fear is that melting ice from Greenland and other Arctic areas could cause sea levels to rise enough to flood low-lying cities, such as Shanghai, China, and New York City, displacing millions of people in the process.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/23/greenland.melting/index.html

here's a web site explaining this.

so i'm kind of a little worried. i know that everyone is like global warming is not happenning or w/e but the world is changing. we can't really do much to stop it.

i dont know just thought i would bring it up

Moment of Silence

I also agree that the moment of silence is pretty stupid. I think it could be a good idea except no one is doing it. I don't think anyone really knows what it is for. I have photo first period and I hear people talking all the time during the Moment of Silence. Apparently this is not working. Why was a law passed saying that we have to have a moment of silence. We have enough problems in our state that we should not be worrying about whether or not students are taking time to be quiet. I know there is a purpose, but it really isn't working. It might just be the whole first week getting used to it thing, but will we ever get used to it. It seems strange that they would pass this. I am interested to see where this is going to go, and what silly thing our government will think up next.

Moment of Silence

I basically agree with everyone else... this is ridiculous. First of all, no one is taking it seriously. If they had ever stepped foot in a high school, they should have known this wouldn't go over well. This is taking time out of my first period class, and now every other class because we all have to discuss how we feel about it. Although it isn't religious on the surface, prayer is encouraged, along with reflection or silent thought or whatever you feel like doing. To me, and everyone else I talk to, 15 seconds isn't even enough time to do a single one of those things. To reflect on the whole day would take more time than this. If a student wanted to do so, they could find another way. I reflect on my life and everything that is going on every day, even more than once a day. I just think it is really pointless and it is causing a lot more controversy than positivity. I just start thinking about what I could be doing in this time.. my teacher wants us all to cooperate and be silent and in our seats. I have a hard time accepting this, because now I have to be at my seat for the pledge and these extra 15 seconds while I could be starting work on my projects. But whatever, I guess the best thing would be to just respect the people who think this is a good idea and shut up for 15 seconds. (who does think this is a good idea anyway?) The whole idea is really frustrating for me, and apparently everyone else. Also! I agree with the fact that it takes away from other moments of silence. Usually, a moment of silence is a time of reflection because of something serious that we need to acknowledge and show respect for (such as 9/11, reflecting on the events and showing respect or support for the families of those who died). I totally agree with this. But having a moment every day makes it routine, and sort of ignorable in my opinion.

moment of silence crap

So I literally thought my first hour teacher was joking on Monday when we had to be silent. I started laughing with the chick next to me, then are teacher got mad and I realized..hmm this is serious. After being completely confused I wanted to get some answers, my teacher just simply explained that the school now ( by law) has to give us 15 seconds of silence to either pray ( but there NOT telling us we have to, its just sort of a STRONG suggestion), or we can just think about our life and reflect. Maybe they think that some kids are just too wrapped up in society to actually take time to think. If this is the case in all actually, then I'm scared. I know personally, I think about life and my day, well virtually all day. I'm not sure how you guys are but I love to think and reflect about the events in my day. It also helps if I sometimes talk about them with other people. After thinking about how pointless this is every morning during those 15 seconds, I've come to the conclusion that I think this is the states way of trying to work religion into schools. Just because they cant come out and say, SHUT UP AND PRAY, there putting it lightly and saying, well you COULD just think. If you want... its your choice. I also think that by giving us a choice is sort of like a mini guilt trip, because inevitably now im going to be racking my brain at 7:30 to refelct on a day that hasnt even happened yet.

every morning for the rest of my senior year I'm going to be tempted to laugh at how ridiculous this all is.

ture dat aubrey

im sick of hearing about this crap. if theres such a problem,just dry your hands off on your pants. For christ's sake. Why r we arguing about this lol. and the staff infection thing is a lil scary cuz i heard of two dudes on the football team who got it but they healed up. but i suppose its like flesh eating. yuck. has anyone seen the movie Cabin Fever. good movie but gross.

STUPID

So I'm not too worried about this bug thing. It would just really suck if someone did get it and the cause of it was from being at school. makes me not want to go to school even more now. And this moment of silence thing...whats the purpose?? and what law maker thought of the random idea of 10 seconds of silence in the morning? its a joke. No one is actually quiet, and what does it accomplish? NOTHING! In my opinion, i think that the root of this idea stems from praying. How or why else would they come up with the idea? i dont know how this 'law' passed, and i sure dont know the point of it, but whatever. I'll do what I want. come arrest me.

Moment of silence

it feels good to be back on the blog, my internet was down...
so about this moment of silence law...
I think it is completely random and ridiculous. What are board members thinking will result from this 15 seconds of reflecion? And why is it mandatory for everyone to follow it?

I also think that having a moment of silence every day takes away the special, memorable moments of silence on important days, such as September 11 or the day someone passes away and the whole school recognizes it. Having one every day makes those special, respected days just "another moment of silence" and less genuine.

It is so random and I dont understand what administration thinks will result from this. Less violence? Less drug use? Happier kids? I think it's very weird.

Dang it, that was weird. I don't know if I can edit or not, so just disregard one of those posts.

Moment of Silence

Yeah, I don't really see a point in the moment of silence either. Yesterday, I tried to take it seriously. I tried to make a little prayer, but I was cut off halfway through. So today, I just didn't do anything. I guess there's always something to reflect on, such as those devastating fires in California right now, but if I have 12 seconds to reflect on it, I don't see much of a point. The moment of silence is just kind of a waste of time.

Yeah, I don't see much of a point to it either. Yesterday, I tried to take it seriously. I tried to make a prayer, but the moment of silence was too short and I was cut off. So I just didn't do anything today. There is always something to reflect on, like those fires in California right now, but I don't see much of a point in reflecting if I have 12 seconds to do it. It's just a waste of time, and as you guys already mentioned, detracts from moments of silence at times like September 11th.

Moment of Silence

I also think its weird also its really point less during school. Some people dont even follow it they keep talking in 1st pd. Its a real short time to pray also people have there own time to pray like after school or during other times in the day. I dont understand why its a law now that they have like a 2 minute moment of "shut up". The only time we had a moment of silence was after 9/11 as krysti says that people wont pay much attention to it if they have it everyday i agree with her. All I do in the morning is just sit there stare at the wall...

New Topic: Moment of Scilence

Does anyone else find this new traditions school is starting of a moment of silence kind of weird?? The moment of silence is supposed to be for people who can pray or do whatever they want during this moment. I think that the moment of silence is kind of point less. Everyone in my first period class just looks around at each other like...ok...? I've heard that the governor vetoed the law because the law brings God into the school. For me it doesn't really matter if God is brought in to school because everyone has their own opinions but not everyone is going to be like...I praise this God or I praise this God you know? For me that short moment of silence would not be a long enough time to pray...
Another thing I don't like about this moment of silence is that what is the point of having a moment of silence such as 9/11 when we have moment of silence everyday? Like people do now they won't take it seriously and again not be interested.
Just wondering what you guys think about this new addition to our school?????????

Dallas Uses Billboards to Target Saggy Pants

I know really OFF TOPIC.

I find this funny. I mean instead of putting billboards up about a cause or something that has meaning. They want to put up billboards so people will pull up their pants. I mean come on. Who cares. Sure its unattractive and it makes no sense, but has wearing pants low ever hurt or killed any one. Its an OLD fashion statement and if people wanna live in the fashion past let them. But why the billboard. If anything they're just going to wear them lower or more people will wear low pants. I find this amusing. This is so ridiculous. We can see that Dallas has nothing better to do, then to complain about saggy pants. ha!

LiNk BeLoW:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,304379,00.html

i thought the bug going around was some type of staff infection or something, i might be mistaken though. anyway about the hand dryers, last year in leadership for life we did a presentation in front of all the administrators to try and get them installed and they said the same thing to us that Sabrina is saying, its just far to expensive and ineffective. another thing is, they are just as sanitary as paper towels, there taken out of the school by a company and washed and returned all sanitized and shit. so yeah idk why everyone cares so much, if all schools and public places did it like this, we might just help save the trees huh guys.

About the Bathroom

I agree, it is grose. But as others said, school does not have enough money. I think that is is a good idea to carry sanitizers. You can you see it everytime you need want. It is a good way to keep your hands clean all the time. I bet that many people who did not carry sanitizers to school, will start doing that from now on. Sanitizers are very useful and small so you can always carry it with you.

Freaky pic, buig and strike

Wow that is probably one of the most disturbing pictures I have ever seen. Why would anyone be crazy enough to do that? That must have been pretty painful.. getting my ears pierced has been kinda painfully but getting that I can't even imagine. I showed that picture to my mom and she kinda freaked out. How does he eat and drink?
Anyway the bug issue. I heard about this like a week ago from a girl on my swim team. She was telling us to take our suits home ( because we hang them on our lockers to dry) and make sure we wash them really good so we don't get this bug. I heard of someone getting really bad scabs somewhere on their body because it itches so badly.
Strike.... I heard that teachers might be picketing on the day teachers have Teachers Institute. Not sure if this 100% sure but that is what they rumoring around the school.

Quick Tangent

That picture is really disturbing. I have never understood how someone can get their face that way. Putting those nails (or whatever they are) back in and out to eat and drink must really be a pain. What I really want to know is why do these people do this to themselves. It must have something to do with their culture but what exactly? All I know is that that would hurt so so so so bad. Those go through the face all the way. It looks like torture. There has to be a reason why someone would do that to themselves. The pain has to mean something.

That picture is interesting but how could someone put them in their mouths like that. It's part of their culture, and it has a meaning. Just like things here have meaning to us, but in other parts of the world don't mean anything. We may not do things like that, but should accept it and learn from it because it is something they believe in. I'm sure that hurts a lot though.

Yahoo picture... I love stuff like that, you could never keep that in for long but it is pretty interesting.
About the bathrooms, I think the towels work pretty well. They save trees as opposed to paper first of all. And then the dryers would be expensive but also waste time. If you go during passing period you don't really have time for that and it would probably leave more people walking around with wet hands dripping everywhere. Personally, I think the towels are okay although they could use some better maintenance. They should never get stuck or at the end of the towel. That's when we start to spread germs.... and it's gross.

People are freakin out about this whole bug things saying its gonna be the new mad cow disease and what not. But remember when we thought that the bird flu was gonna kill us all and look what happened, no bird flu. I understand someone has died from it but there are probably very few cases where they have died. I'm not saying we shouldn't be worried and try to keep clean but the thougth of overreacting to the situation isn't necesarry. There is a time to panic when in fact is has spread and reached a location where it is around you, but before that happens or you get the facts then we shouldn't overwhelm ourselves with this situation.

About the bathroom

Just so you all know, it would cost the school about $6,000 to put hand dryers in the bathrooms. If we got paper towels it would cost around $17,000 the first year. As gross as it is to be using those nasty towels, we just don't have the money to supply the bathrooms with hand dryers and to have paper towels would be a huge environmental clause as well as messy since idiot people don't know how to put s*** in the garbage. Like Elizabeth said, just have hand sanitizer with you. A tiny bottle can fit in your back pocket.

P.s and about that picture I posted. That man is from a tribe in some third world country in southern Asia. It's part of a traditional ceremony where the man who can get the most needles in is seen as the bravest and most honorable. He doesn't leave it in, it's just like a test.

Bug

Wow this bug thing is going around if everyone kept there self clean and took showers daily no one would be killed by them. A lot of students dont wash there hands after the bathroom in school I seen it happen with my own eyes. Some one else already said this but people please wash your hands we dont want any one infected with this. I try not to use public bathrooms but if I have to go then I use it. The school needs to get ride of tat towel the one time I been in the bathroom I was like where is the paper towels and I look a student is using the towel. I think that is nasty I wouldnt want to use that. But for the bug we should just wash are hands and try not to get near anything that is dirty...

Man, I'm definately nervous about the possibility for a strike. I mean if the teachers go on strike then the counselors do too and it would really suck to have all of our college stuff postponed. I definatly understand where the teachers are coming from though. I mean if I was in that position I would probably be upset and want to do something about it too. I also know that none of them really want to go on strike...it is a last resort and if they did it would probably only last for a few days at most.
Anyways.... i checked out that yahoo picture. I didn't find it gross...strange though thats for sure. I can't imagine that he has those sticks in his face always...is it a ritual or something?? I mean how would he eat??

Tangent

Holy Shnike! That's a weird picture. How could anyone do that? Thats gonna mess up his face for life. I doubt he can talk as normal as he would with out it. Also, how does one eat like that? It may be a belief of his but it could ruin the rest of his life. I hope it turns out well for him. I wonder if he has any tattoos?

Super Bug

The Super Bug is another scary deadly medical find. MRSA is going to be the new Mad Cow. Like Charles said, we need to wash our hands and not share towels. That right there is a little hard not to do in our school since we don't have dryers we just have the one towel on he role. By the end of the day that towel is wet and on the floor. Half the time you have to use your shirt to dry your hands. In this case that might not be a bad thing. Your shirt may be wet but you won't have MRSA. My sister lives out in Virgina and she is a 5th grade teacher. I really hope that her school doesn't get this bug. If this bug was to come to Fremd I don't know what I would do. I probably would have a bottle of hand sanitizer on me at all times and never use the school bathrooms. This is a life of death bug and we need to make sure that it doesn't reach our school. We should have a deep cleaning day where we just have the school completely scrubbed down. Reduce all chances for this bug to reach us.

Quick Tangent

I looked at the picture, and I must say that this looks weird. How can anybody do something like that to the body. I understand that every culture does something that is usual for them but weird for others. I would not want to do that to my face because the holes would not dissapear. The guy was propably out of his mind he did that to his face.

Quick Tangent

So, I was just browsing through pictures on yahoo and found this quite disturbing picture of something that we consider quite Taboo. Not something sexual or anything, but something that we, in our Westernized society, would NEVER even THINK of doing.
Don't look if you're easily offended, or have a really bad gag reflex. Cheers :)



Just put this link into your browser: http://news.yahoo.com/photo/071015/photos_us_rank_afp/3261b1f25c51ad5494961a16e1887594

bug thing

I have never heard of this bug thing before that a sickness like this could get into your sysetem and you can die from it even? thats crazy that that one kid died from this, but if you dont want to die then just wash your hands whenever you go out somewhere. Like dont go insane and touch something then be like oh gotta go wash my hands but like if you have been out then come home and wash your hands or something especially after you go to the bathroom. I agree with what michelle siad there are some people at fremd who go to the bathroom and dont wash their hands i think thats that most disgusting thing i have ever heard. I hope that it never comes to fremd, have they heard cases about this in illinois?

Strike 3, we're out?

I Think the strike will do more damage than good. If it goes through, students will be stuck at home until eventually we are split up and sent to diffent schools for the time being. Even worst if we had this strike go on for a month and have to make it all up during the summer. I know the teachers deserve better than what they are getting currently, And I wish them the best of luck getting it, but as a student, I believe this stike will cause alot of strain on the, already stressed kids at Fremd.

Bug

This whole bug thing is crazy. The whole situation could be avoided if people kept to themselves and kept clean. I dont mean taking showers everyday, but a sinmple washing of the hands after using a public bathroom would be good. I know for a fact some people who use the fremd toilets do not wash their hands and i think that is disqusting. The reason people are getting this disease is not because they are going around touching eachother's wounds, but they are getting the disease from touching places that the open wound has touched. There are many different ways you can prevent yourself from getting this disease and its not like they are very hard. First off...to the people who have this disease, cover your wouns up. If you need to wear bandades every, wear them everwhere. Second...to the people who do not have the disease yet. Try to wash your hands on a regular basis, not only after using the washroom. Not only bathrooms are filled with dirt, but desktops, tables, and railings are being touched by filthy hands all day long. So please...so our school does not get gross diseases....wash your hands and cover up your sores!!

Strike..I understand that the teachers are not satisfied, but it would suck if they went on strike. First of all, all sports would have to forfeit. Second, if it goes longer than 5 days, we are going to get stuck making them up. I personally, don't want to have to make up school, so I hope they get things figured out and the teachers get what they want. Most of them are really great teachers and teach us a lot. They deserve it.

Superbug..That's kind of gross. Why can't people just stay clean? If they did, things like this wouldn't happen. It's gross some of things you see in bathrooms. Like, I'm sure most people wouldn't do some of the things they do in school bathrooms at their own houses, so why do it?

"Super Bug"

My mom was telling me about this about an hour ago.... She heard that 2 people have died so far- a 4 year old and a high school student. It is pretty scary, but there is no reason that this should happen. Just use common sense. Stay clean, don't touch people's open wounds. Keep your wounds covered..... And we will all live! Apparently the schools (at least some of them) where there have been break outs are closed and are being cleaned before students go back.

New topic: The "Super Bug"

Virgina hasbeen infected by this super bug. Twenty-two schools have been closed due to the sudden out break of this super bug. In one case a senior at Stuaton River High School in Virgina was killed due to this bacteria. Other cases have popped up all over the country and today there was two cases reported in Illinois and has been found at schools all over the country. Back to the bug, its called MRSA. Its caused and spreads through unclean places like a school bathroom, locker rooms and cafeterias. The way to prevent it is to wash hands with soap, water and warm water. You also need to keep cuts and sores bandaged. If someone does have a open cut, avoid it and make no contact with it. Also they said to not share stuff like towels or drinks. One person has died from this, and we need to make sure that this doesn't come anywhere near Fremd. The students at these schools refuse to go back to school until their schools have been cleaned. They want to make sure that there wont be another death.

The Strike

I really really really don't want the teachers to go on strike. I know that they are fighting for something that is very important and deserved. With all that I still hope that it will not have to come to striking. Being a senior I am ready to finish out my last year with a bang. With colleges on my mind allllllll the time I don't know how I will be able to handle a strike at this time. I got my transcripts sent already to my top schools but there are a lot of students who haven't. If the teachers go the counselors go too. With them go any chance of your colleges receiving what is needed to be admitted. Along with college there is also the problem where if the teachers go on strike, the school will close. A lot of people will say, Whats wrong with that? What's wrong is that the longer the strike is the longer the make up days. I really don't want to have to graduate in August. I understand what the teachers are fighting for but I don't want to have a strike. I want senior year to be a non stress, non strike year.

Strike

I agree with Dan about the strike. i don't feel that the teachers should go on strike because i also thought that the made very good money. but if they want to go on strike that's their choice not mine. if they did go on strike i would be disappointed. but if they feel that it is for the right reason then i cant argue with that. hopefully there can be an agreement reached that would prevent a strike because i don't want the school year to shorten my summer.

Do they deserve to strike?

I dont know all the details on the teacher strike, but i thought district 211 teachers were highly paid. I thought teachers in this district were some of the best paid teachers in the state which makes me question why they want a strike. I have heard what some of the teachers at Fremd make and they are definately do not need any more salary. When a teacher is making six figures why would they strike? I also know that different teachers make different salaries so its weird how they all have to strike. Either way i wouldnt mind if they did, unless it makes us go to school for a longer time and ruin my summer. If they strike and we get a few days off without any extra time during summer then im all for it.

~*Teacher Strike*~

I feel that if the teachers feel they need to go on strike, they should. Teachers do a lot for this school. If it wasn't for them this school would be shut down. I think that if they have things they need or if they want a raise they should have it. I mean if they did go on strike I'd be upset because i have college things and graduation and i want to graduate in June no later. But if they feel they need to and they feel its the only way then they should.

Personally, I do not want the teachers to go on strike. But if they feel they need to for whatever the reason is, then they should. I would much rather get out of school and graduate at the normal time then making up a week or however long it will take them. Also, I would rather have them go on strike when it's nice outside. It's getting cold and the weather is changing. I would definatly rather have as many summer weeks as possible. Another thing is the whole football team issue. I don't think the football coaches or the team members would like to forfit the game or games they would have to miss. I don't think that it will even happen. This same thing happened a couple years ago and nothing happened. But who knows. Maybe it will actually happened this time. Another big reason why I hope the teachers do not go on strike is the whole college applying issue. Time is running out and many seniors still probaby have alot to do. It really helps when we have the opprotunity to go and talk to people so they can help us out.. but if teachers are on strike, we can't exactly go to them for help.

strike

I think that if the teachers feel they need to strike, then they should strike. I know that several sports teams at our school are having good seasons and that might get ruined by a strike. That sucks. I think that the teachers should wait til after the fall season to strike. I mean these teams have been working so hard since like the beginning of summer and should be allowed to finish their season and not have to forfit the rest of their games. If the teachers do strike, then they need to sit down and ask themselves if its fair what they are doing to these kids. Teachers may need to strike to get what they want, but it shouldn't be at the expence of the fall teams that are having good years. They should strike after the season and give us a longer winter break.

First, honest to god I'm so excited we're going into the playoffs for football since this is our last year and what not. But think about it. If you were a teacher and your benefits were at stake wouldn't you want to strike? Let me put it this way. You're a student at Fremd, you work your ass off in school, take a stupid gym class, and work a part-time job. What if one day Dr. Scott came in and said. "Hi, yea we've decided you guys aren't allowed to park in the parking lot anymore. During all football games you have to pay a fee of $15 to get in, in order to graduate you have to pay the school $500 and even then we're not sure we're going to let you get your diploma." It's unreasonable and unfair. Yes, the school year will be messed up, football season will be screwed, but isn't there a way to wait to strike until after football season? And don't we have like five to seven snow days? we never have snow days so can't we take those up instead? sorry if Spoor already talked about it, I was in the Cafe. :(

strike

When i heard about this strike i thought it would be so sweet if the teachers went on strike because then we wouldnt have school and everything. Then i realized some of hte consequences from that and that since we are not in school then the students cant play sports. The first sport that came to my mind was football since its so close to state i odnt think anyone wants that. They have worked so hard and are soo amazing that they want to go on to state and try and win it. If the season was cancled that woulndt happen. Since we are seniors and we want to get out of this school as soon as possible why would we want to go extra days at the end of the year becaus eof this stupid strike? I think the strike is stupid and shouldnt happen beacuse its unfair to us

like everyone has already stated, its not fair to the students. Of course i would like some time off school, who wouldnt. But if the union was to strike it couldnt come at any worse time. Our football team is heading into playoffs and to forfeit would mean the end of our season. I know the teachers want more money and all the extra benefits and stuff but they have to take into consideration the situation taht we are in. Also, it would not only affect the school but the entire community would be in a rage. This is not a good situation for anyone, and i truly hope it does not happen.

Strike

So me and Kimberly were discussing this topic after school today and she really opended my eyes to what the strike was really about. In one of my classes today (my teacher is a fairly new teacher), she told our class that the last time the teachers discussed their pay, they came to the conclusion that for 3 years after, the teachers would get paid a certain amount and then the 4th year was still up for negotiation. After hearing this i was angry becuase (what i heard from her saying this) it seemed as if the teachers were being selfish and asking for tons of money this 4th year. I was really mad and i didnt understand why the teachers felt like they had a right to ask for all this money just becuase they were allowed to negotiate their pay. Me and Kim then talked about it and she told me that the teachers were promised a certain percentage of their pay to be increased and the district was giving them a lower percentage now. I totally understand now why the teachers would be pissed becuase if someone did that to me, i would be furious! So thanks Kim for clearing that up, and to anyone who doesnt really know a lot, talk to your teachers tommorow and find out so we can all discuss what different teachers say. (As you can tell im pretty interested in this topic)

Strike

Strike can be viewed in many different ways from the teachers perspective and the students. It seems like most students do not want the teacher to go on a strike but what about the teachers? The topic seemed to be really big around school today because I heard a lot of people saying how they talked about the 'Strike Issue' in class today.
Like everyone else I agree that the teachers should not go on strike because it could screw up the rest of our high school year. I have a situation similar to Michelle. I'm a Varsity swimming and captain as well and I would not want the rest of the year to go down the drain after working so hard since the 3rd week in August and lose the full experience of being captain. Depending on how long the teachers to go on strike...we may be in school longer or senior activities may be messed up, our football teams hard work may go down the drain and college applications could be put into a dangerous position.
At the same time I think if the teachers need to go on strike for unfairness in salary.....they should. What if we were teacher's or had any other job and we weren't getting the salary you were promised? I know that I would be more than a little upset. Also, our high school is supposed to be a really good one in our area, so if teachers are teacher at one of the best in the area shouldn't' they get the pay for making our school this way???

I was arguing with this girl in my study hall class today about if we are one of the highest paying school districts in the area. I said we were (at least I thought we were) and she said we weren't. Any one have an answer for me????? Thanks.

more about the possible strike...

responding to what michelle said...
I also think it is so unfair that students would get pulled into a decision that it not our buisness. I highly doubt Tucc and the other teachers and coaches at Fremd would be willing to cut the season short... i mean, i know it's Just football, but if you haven't noticed... our school's been kind of obsessed with it lately. Between the amazing fundraisers for good causes, tshirts, newfound school spirit led by the senior class, the press we are getting for Fremd, and how much the whole school supports the team.... I can't see a strike happening before state.

Even though I think it would be unfair, I understand and, from as much as I understand, agree with the teachers. One of my teachers earlier today explained it in a more simple example, but the main ideas were the same and from what i understand the teachers have every right to be angry. The board offered them a certain salary that they were able to afford, and now after negotiating contracts, the board is not offering as much as that original number. The teacher's aren't even being that stubborn about it, they are willing to compromise and come up with a good in between number, but the board won't budge. At least this is what I understand from what I have heard so far. Teachers are definately not the highest paid profession, and they do so much work! They sacrifice family time for grading papers, creating lesson plans, and caring about their students success. Most teachers really care about us and hope we succeed...they are such hard workers and deserve the best.

Strike

I'm really hoping it doesn't happen. Our teachers and our district leaders are all smart people, so I'm sure they realize that it has to be a desperate situation in order to strike otherwise they will be causing some major problems for us as students. I still need to get my teacher recommendations for my college applications and have my transcript sent and all that good stuff. I would probably freak out if they were to strike. And we'd lose football. I don't think anyone wants to kill this season. I'm thinking this issue will be sorted out so we don't all have to suffer. If a strike does happen, hopefully it won't last very long so we can get out of here as soon as possible and get back on track with college application prep. when it's over.

Teacher Strike

I think that the teachers should definitely NOT strike. As Salmen said, the football season would end and i definitely would not want that. It is my last year cheering for football and i would be really disappointed if the season was cut short. Also the school year might be screwed up if school is closed (which it most likely would be). This is our senior year and i think its safe to say that we want to get the hell out of here as fast as we can and if the school year is made longer, i think we might all go insane. The teachers union and the district need to have a LONG conference and resolve this whole payment problem. It is really annoying how us students would be getting punished for a whole fight between the union and the district. It is not fair to us.

School Strike

If the teachers went on strike I would be real mad because I need to turn in my college papers and apply and I am working on my college statement now. Also the football team is doing real good and I hope they win state I been looking foward to that so I would hate for them not to play there games. 211 should just pay the teachers a better pay if they dont like it its not enough for them to support them self and they need more they work so hard and so long every day they should get paid what they want. We pay high taxes and thats how teachers get paid by are taxes and the gov. The gov. has money to have a war in iraq and build new things. But not have enough to pay the teachers what they want? Well thats what I think so teachers shouldnt go on strike...

Strike

After reading what KImberley wrote, I think that strike is not such a good idea. It would affect all after school activities and many of us don't want that to happen. It is true that we would not get to school but we do not know if we will have to makeup the days that we did not go to school. I hope that they will be no strike because it may turn bad for students too. And we do not want that to happen.

To strike or not to strike...

So since many people were interested and had lots of opinions about the recent news about district 211 teachers, I thought we could discuss some of our fears, opinions, excitment in some people's cases, etc. on the blog, as well as continue our current topic.
Here are a few websites that provide information about the possible strike...
http://www.d211.org/negotiating_update.shtml
http://www.d211.org/recent_qanda.shtml

So if teacher's did strike any time soon, we would be unable to do any sports or activities during that time. In order to participate in practice, a game, or performance you need to have been in school that day, and if they were striking, we wouldn't be in school at all. That means forfitting football playoffs, no cheer practices, no band or choir concerts, or club meetings and functions.

This also means if they were on strike, the teacher's couldnt, as Mr. Spoor said today, write our college recommendation letters, send out our transcripts... etc. Our college decisions could be affected in a major way.

So what do you guys think? Some of you were saying Yay no school! others were saying how bad that would be for transcripts.... Let's talk about it.

I think the whole fact of some high schooler kid bringing a gun to school and going on a shooting rampage is scary. I'm sure we all like think oh that would never happen at Fremd but it can really happen anywhere. I think that the main cause of school shooting is from students bullying other students. Some of the things people say to each other at this school is really almost unbelievable. I can see why it leads some students to just snap and get revenge finally after taking so much hurt in at first. It is good to know that most schools have a lock down plan so they can get as many people safe as possible. If there was no lock down plan, kids would just be running around not knowing what to do meaning it can be even more dangerous. I think that if everyone just tried to get along with everyone and didn't have to bully eachother then this wouldn't be such a big issue in America. I have heard many stories and it's sad. Many innocent people have lost their lives because of such a stupid reason like this.

I think it's really important that people feel safe at school, and when something like a shooting at school happens somewhere, a lot of people start to have second thoughts. I'm not sure if any of you watch One Tree Hill but a season or two ago, one of the boys snapped. He was really good friends with all these guys and then they just grew apart. They never made fun of him or anything, so something as simple as losing friends can make someone snap. It's really important that we all try and be nice to everyone so something like this doesn't happen. Even if you don't like someone, you don't need to say rude things to them. Just leave them alone. This would help people not feel so bullied. It really hurts people. Some are very cruel and degrade others so much. Sometimes I can't believe the things I hear.

shooting? lockdown?? weapons in the locker?
Gosh, it's really annoying. i mean, why would you play with guns in school?
it's ridiculous. also, i hate the rumors of bombs in school. i don't understand why ppl would just make stupid jokes about it that effects so many people in school??
i know that the students' shooting incidents all came from their environment.
people get depressed and just use guns as their stress reliever.. its just so sad.
and some imature ppl picks on someone that are weaker than you. yea we first need to clean up our society. so we won't have any more shootings in school!

I have the same feelings with Sam regarding shootings in school. It just gives me the creeps. Everytime a school is publicize because of guns inside the school, tremendous changes happens. The school security will be more strict and most of the time they will be checking every backpack. The parents wouldn't want to put their kids in harms way so they probably will let them stay at home until they can find a new school. I hope that no school will have teens bringing guns inside of the campus. I dont think fremd will have this problem because we are, I think, a peaceful community.

Well said kim, I agree that just the idea of a school shooting is very bothersome to me also. I mean I've heard of shootings where the shooters are outcasts a lot, but I have also heard of some shootings were the kids were intelligent and well-liked before the shooting. And I think that that is much scarier because one day you think a kid is normal, and they next he/she is coming with a gun to school. I don't know I think the blame for shootings can not just be blamed on the parents of the kids or the kid himself/herself, but also on the peers of the school. Sometimes I think that some kids are really brutal to other kids who are deemed socially uncool and this doesn't happen just one or two times, but daily. I mean I guess the question is how long a person can handle until he/she just snaps. Yet, on the contrary, I do feel save at our school because I think that there are a lot of nice people here and most treat each other with respect.

okay so im really upset, almost just swore on the blog... because i already typed this entire post and hit Post and it said "Blogger is unavailable try again later" and deleted it...even though it told me it saved it. So i'm sorry but this will not be as thorough or well written. Oh man im so angry...
so anyways...
I was saying that the idea of school shootings realllllly bothers be. Because as others have been saying, we are a family at fremd. Sure some people dont like other people or dont get along, but we are a family nonetheless and need to work together and keep each other safe.
I was also saying how I know that a lot of school shootings occur because of a kid being a "loner/loser/freak" or whatever, (choose your mean teenage label to insert there)... and because the kid got picked on and couldnt handle it. But we need to remember that any teenager can suffer depression and feel like they do not fit in or dont belong, everyone can get upset. It could be the band kid, it could be a poms girl, it could be an NHS member... anyone could feel victimised and confused. (i think i spelled victimized..victimised...wrong. sorry)
It's important for the schools to keep discouraging bullying and teaching how dangerous it really can me.. And also for us to stop picking on each other and if we see that "loner" kid with his/her fifty pounds of books, that we offer to help them instead of making fun of them and putting them down.
Do you remember that lockdown situation we had freshman year? i know some teachers knew what was going on and their classes were fine and relaxed, but my teacher had no idea and was freaking out about it. It was so scary because we thought there really was a shooter walking around fremd.

Hey i have an idea!! tomorrow, let's all smile or say hi to or help someone we dont really know in the halls or caf. Hold a door open, smile at them, say hi... anything. Just find someone who looks like they are having a bad day and be kind to them to cheer them up. :)

Guns scare me and I think our world would be a lot better off if they had never been invented. A person posessing a gun is granted with way too much power. Power that a lot people just can't handle. Teenagers especially, should not have access to guns because when a depressed teenager has a problem they look for the fastest, simplest solution and having a gun not only gives them the opportunity to end whatever is bothering them but it puts the people around them in danger. The thought that someone could bring a gun our to school terrifies me because it really could happen. It has happened at other schools in the past and it will happen in the future. The scariest part is that most of the time there really isnt any way to predict or prevent it from happening. I agree with Jim about the typical school shooter being someone who is unhappy with their life and doesnt feel accepted in school and in that situation anything can just set them off. I dont understand it at all but thats the way it seems to me. I don't know...it sucks that people can't just be nice to eachother.

i kind of agree with salman on the fact that school is our second home. we really are a family there. you have people supporting you and than "siblings" you fight with. but we don't always care about everyone. we put them in their little stereotypes and don't take the time to learn who they are. I have noticed myself doing this and i try not to. Just because someone is a "druggie" or a "freak" doesn't mean that they are a bad person.

i hate that when we see a school shooting we assume it was someone who was a druggie or a freak. we believe that they are the ones that could do something like this. but i think that you don't have to be a freak. there are many people who hide their depression. even the geeks can be depressed. or the popular people. just because they are popular doesn't mean that they aren't depressed. we have to stop seeing people as their labels and more like people, teenagers.

another issue brought up about the shooting was the parents. i believe that a lot of parents are oblivious nowadays about the things that their children do. they don't pay enough attention. they just give them the things that they want. like their video games. that also scares me. the violence in the things we watch. the movies and the video games just keep getting more gory. in the old video games you could hardly see any blood. now you can see a close up shot of someone getting snipered. i think that this violence has hardened us. we are getting used to it and that bothers me soo much. how can we sit and watch a movie where someone is being tortured and be amused by it? we go to the movies to be entertained. we sit through something with that much violence in it. i don't know where society is going to go with this. but I'm not sure i want it to.

things need to change soon or they will only get worse

Hi!

Hi! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I told you all that I would be posting the website for that has the format for the book review... here it is!

This website is much more thorough than the one I showed you in class! I hope it helps you!

http://www.lavc.cc.ca.us/Library/bookreview.htm

14yr old with a gun...

Which mom would buy there son a gun..That mom most me on some drugs because what if he really brought it to school and had a shooting thats what his plan was which is real sad..Parents are suppose to look out for there children. If they dont get attention they will get depressed and most of these things happen at school and which leads to a shooting. We dont know when a student could come to school with a gun and have a hit list. Parents should watch out for there kids and keep up with what there doing. kids get depressed when they feel lonely which leads to doing something bad. So we should all watch out and talk to all the students as we can in are school because school is like are second home where there so much....

It gives me chills to hear about school shootings, kids just like me and you experiencing the horror of outcasts bringing guns to school and shooting random people. Kids that are loners and feel that life is no longer living because no one either appreciates them or has any respect for them at all. While everyone says that the kids are depressed and everyone hates them and makes fun of them, i think that there are different reasonings. In my opinion, these are the kids that are druggies and depressed about there lives because of a situation at home most of the time. Every little bad thing seems to blow up in there head and they have to end everything bad by ending other peoples lives as well.

Shooting

There are kids that walk around our school that don't have any friends and watch as people just don't notice or care. We work so hard to fit in to our little spot that we sometimes forget about those that don't have that place. These are the kids that get depressed and decide to take their depression to the next level. They don't have anyone there to see the signs and to catch him/her before they take it to shooting down a school. It is horrible that people get that depressed and have to do such a thing to get their feelings out. The worst part is that know one notices until it is too late. Everyone needs someone that will be there to listen and help through hard times. This goes into what Aubrey was saying about the mom buying the gun and bomb making stuff for her son. This is a mother that does not help her son through his problems. The fact that she bought those things for him is unbelievable. I don't know how people do that in this time and age. We have been through school shootings and it causes the whole country pain. I just don't understand how his mother could have done this. What was she thinking?

That parent sickens me. I can't believe a parent--someone who is supposed to teach us right from wrong and lead us in the right direction--would buy their child that. That's just setting up a bad situation. What did she think he was going to do with it? A parent like this isn't showing leading them in the right direction. It's scary to know that there are parents out there that would do this for their child. I understand that most parents want to keep their kids happy, but buying them guns? Maybe they should think about the other parents who have kids that their own child is going to go and kill. Taking innocent lives. Some parents need to be examined or something, that's ridiculous.

I agree with Sabrina about that sometimes its how we are brought up can influence things. If the parents don't pay attention to the kid then he can feel like no one cares and then he could do this to get "attention" or something idk. and yeah a lot of peolpe you hear about school shootings are depressed or something has gone wrong in their lives.
Then to go with what aubrey was saying about a mom buying a 14 year old a gun goes with Sabrinas thing about being brought up. Parents are suppose to tell their kids what to do and waht not do, not going out and buying their children a gun. Like seroiusly, this mom is on crack if she went out and bought her kid a gun. Apparently something is wrong with that if she wnet and bought her kid a gun parents are suppose to be role models and help your child through hard times or something. Thats rediculous

Mom Buys 14 yrs old Guns

Sabrina was saying how it's partially the way kids are brought up that affects their actions in life. This mother, i dont know what she was thinking, but she bought her 14 year old sun guns and bomb building supplies. Luckily they found out about everything before he hurt anyone, but they say he was planning a Columbine-like massacre. If the parents are crazy and enabling their kids, what hope is there? Parents are suppossed to be role models, and when they find out something like this is happening, it's their responsibility to stop it. Just like I believe that it's a parent's responsibility to look at the ratings on video games to ensure that kids aren't being exposed to so much violence.

Shooter

I agree that depression sometimes triggers people to be part of a violent act, but I'm also scared about "Violent video games".
I guess most people know about Columbine High School massacre that occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999. Two teenagers killed 12 students, a teacher and themselves. Media reported that cause might have been the video games that teenagers were playing, such as the FPS ( first person shooting) like "Halo3". Media anticipates that teenagers lost the border line between the game and real life, so they got brainwashed by blood and gore acts in the video games.
So massacre can happen even when people are not depressed.

Depression and Shooting

I agree I think that school has a lot to do with. When everybody is making fun of one person, they don't care how that person feels. But, in the future this person might shoot somebody because after how they were treaten in school they might not know what is good or bad. School should be the place where people should not be depressed or scared of anything. I think that if there would no bullying, many those people would not anything bad. It would not affect their lives in the future.

Depression and Shooting

Lately we've noticed that people whom are depressed are the ones who do the shooting. Why is that? I really think it has to do with how they were brought up and how they are treated in school. Over and over again we say, oh don't pick on people, don't bully them, it's going to come back to kick you in the butt. Well yea, it does, but seriously, like the VT guy. Everyone was all around nice to him, yes he didn't really have friends, but no one was shoving his face in the mud and calling him names. So what can we do to prevent something like this? Seeing as more and more shooting are occurring.

I did that candidate test.. and my top couple were people I've never heard of, but it was interesting to see where the big ones fell.
I think bullying needs to stop... obviously. Every time we hear about another school shooting we are reminded how much people suffer because of others and the way people treat eachother. We can't just stop judging people or disliking people, it's a part of human nature. But it really isn't that difficult to make people feel accepted. There are people I would rather not be around but I'm not going to be mean to them just because of that. We need more people who are accepting of everyone. I think we have a pretty good class, I like everyone and I think most others agree with me. It is really scary though, because you never know what is going on in the mind of someone who would snap like that. I mean, they were probably messed up mentally to begin with... and they probably need psychological help on top of just avoiding the bullying.

I agree. It is scary, and I think a lot of it comes when people pick on others and bully. You have no idea what another person is going through, and something like calling them a name could be the thing to set them off. I've always been a person that has given people chances and gotten to know them before I make assumptions. I know everyone does it, and I do it sometimes too, but I try to give them a chance until they do something that totally changes my opinion about them. If people just didn't say anything to others that was mean, I think we'd be in a lot better shape. Reality is, that won't happen. There are always going to be those people that pick on others to make them feel better about themselves. It's a horrible thing, putting down others to bring yourself up. The sad thing is, you don't know how much words can hurt another person. Something like a name calling can set a person off and take innocent lives away. It's a scary world we live in these days.

ok something new

so you probably all have heard of the gun shootings going on lately and i thought i could discuss this.

first there was the shooting in wisconsin that was brought up already

and then the school shooting yesterday : here's a website on it http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/1011/1192007617050.html
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/police-investig.html

i'm not going to lie that this is bothering me a little. i don't believe that someone could shoot up fremd but it is at the back of my mind that it is possible. i started thinking of how many people i see getting picked on and who could possibly do something like that. who would be pushed to the limit. the kids who do these things don't want to. they just want everything to stop. they get in such a bad spot and they can't get out. so to them this is their way of solving it.

it scares me that people are going this far to solve their problems. we are becoming more violent and it is frightning to see. instead of talking about things we are turning to guns to solve things. but they don't help the situation at all. they only make things worse.

just thought how you guys felt about this.

I totally agree with everyone on here about the mexican man, however I think we should also this of this in retrospect, if an american went down to mexico and shot up a bunch of people do you think that they would kill him without at least a forwarning givin to america? I agree that what he did was really wrong, but no matter what hes going to get killed right? So all there doing is just delaying it by speaking to the counsel. And plus, even if he doesnt get sentanced to death penalty, theres no doubt in my mind that he wont get killed on one of his first days in jail. Once the prisoners find out what he did, they will kill him.

Wow that's stupid, he gets to speak with the Mexican counsel and they are in some way going to help him? There are plenty of foreigners here, I'm Swedish, if I go kill someone, am I allowed to get the Sweds to bail me out? I dont think so... And sorry, I really dont know that facts on this one, my computer wont open up the webpage, but either way, i agree with everyone on here. He has no reason to speak with the Mexican counsel, he committed a crime in this country and deserves whatever consequences are given to him. He pled guilty!!! Oh and to what Michelle said in her last paragraph...haha nicely put. I believe that if anyones a big enough dumbass to commit such a horrible crime and then get caught, they deserve to spend the rest of their long miserable life in a jail cell....with other scary jail people...

I totally agree with you guys. I think that because what he did was so wrong that instead of just killing him (by a pretty painless procedure), let him live out the rest of his life in jail. Give him the decades of questioning himself why he raped those two girls? I think that the death penalty is a bad idea because one, the governemtn is just murduring people and what kind of message does that imply? and two, most of the time it is putting terrible criminals out of their misery. I don't know that is just how I feel about this topic.

That case about the Mexican guy who raped 2 girls was just on the news tonight and I have never heard about this until now. I was shocked to hear that even though he was guilty he still wanted to talk to the Mexican Consule. I don't get why though he grew up in texas what is the point of looking at a Mexican Consule? I know he is mexican but he lived in Texas. Back to the death penalty, since he is sentenced to death i think it wrong, he knows what he did wrong and he needs to suffer the consequences. After he is dead he won't know what if feels like to sit in jail his and realize what he did wrong. He needs to know what it feels like to have guilt and realize what he did was very wrong.