3/16

What is the article discussing?
     The article is explaining how social media is reshaping the news.
Do you believe that this good for the news?
     Yes, the news is reaching way more people, making the news more popular.
Do you think this will affect public opinion, and discussions about topics?
     I think this will affect public opinion and discussions because more people will be involved in news stories. However, some people may feel that news shared via social media decreases credibility. 

3/11/15

1.What is the article talking about?
President Barack Obama proposed a “student aid bill of rights” that offers small but important improvements for the 40 million Americans who are dealing with student loans.

2.Why is this significant for you?
This is significant for me because I will soon be dealing with financial aid and student loans in my own life.

3. What is your opinion on this?
I feel that this could be a good thing. It would encourage more people to further their education, because that is how society furthers itself.

3/2/15

1- Common core standards are no longer going to be used.
2- No child left behind is an inadequate method that has harmed education.
3- I would continue with this method until a better one is established, but work efficiently in seeing that it happens.

bell ringer 2/26/15

Lena Horne was a singer and actress who was considered one of the incomparable performs of the time. She was proud of her heritage, and refused to compromise herself. Because of this she became a legendary figure, who set an example and became an inspiration to African Americans with an interest in performing arts.

In 1947, she married a white man and kept it a secret for three years because of racial pressures.

bell ringer 2/25

1. What is the problem that is being discussed in this article?
      The White House is threating to veto a Republican bill to fix the No Child Left Behind law.

2. What is your opinion on the topic?
     I feel that this is an important issue that does need addressed. In my opinion, it is widely criticized for good reason. It has not accomplished the intended purpose of being beneficial, but has instead done much more harm than good.

 3. Why is this related to public policy?
     This is related to public policy because it affects everyone in the general public.

Vernonia School District vs. Acton Case

 

This case addressed drug testing of athletes in schools. During this time, drug use was affecting schools all over. The officials had decided that athletes were the central of the problem. Therfore, the schools made the athletes take a urine test for drugs. The policy stated that student-athlete to sign a form consenting to drug testing before the start of the season. If a student failed the test the first time, he/she would take it again to confirm the result. If the second test was positive, the athlete's parents were notified, and they had to meet with the principal. The student had the option of entering a drug program for six weeks and giving a weekly urine sample, or being suspended for the remainder of the current season and next season. One student, Acton, refused to participate in a drug test that was given to student athletes. His parents filed a lawsuit against the school. A federal district court upheld the policy, but the appellate court reversed that decision on the basis that the policy violated both the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments. The case was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on March 28, 1995. The court noted that the Fourth Amendment, which forbids unreasonable searches and seizures, was extended by to cover searches and seizures by state officers, including those at public schools. The Supreme court found that the school policy met the Fourth Amendment’s reasonableness requirement and was constitutional. The appellate court’s decision was overturned.

This decision has a huge impact of schools and students. This allows for drug testing at random times, or searches. However, in my opinion for this case, the test shouldn't have been subjected to just one group of students. It wasn't fair to pull out just athletes when they weren't the only ones using drugs. I agree with the decision, but I also think the policy still wasn't fair.

11/10

1- His job will become harder with the republicans in control of the senate.

2- He has plans to combat the effects of the economic recession during his sixth State of the State address in Charleston on Wednesday night.