Friday, December 14, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
PLN-26
Teen pregnancies had been dropping since 1991. However, in recent years, the decline had steadily slowed, and between 2005 and 2006, the rate of teen pregnancies had risen 3%. In Teen births up for first time in 15 years from CNN.com, doctors and other professionals are trying to discover the cause for the increase in teen pregnancies.
This article matters to me because, though I believe in abstinence, many young girls my age don't. The new statistics have been based on age groups of girls between 15 and 19 years old, which I am just on the borderline of. I think it is a little scary that girls my age having sex, and getting pregnant from boys who probably aren't going to be much help when they find out they are going to be a father at 16.
This article relates to the world, because it does, in fact, discuss a problem our nation is having. Many believe that the increase in teen pregnancies is due mainly to the fact that most schools teach abstinence-only health classes, instead of teaching students how to properly use condoms and other birth-control. This thinking came up after a nation wide test showed that schools that have comprehensive sex health classes have smaller rates of teen pregnancy than those states which teach abstinence only.
As I write about in a previous post, I don't think teaching girls about birth-control will solve the problem of teen pregnancy. I believe that, by teaching teens about birth-control, we are only encouraging them to have sex. Condoms and other birth-control only work 90% percent of the time, and I know a woman who got pregnant even after both she and her husband used 2 forms of birth control. By telling teens that they will be protected by birth-control, we are only telling them "Well, you can dink around as much as you want, just don't forget your condom." Abstinence only is important if we want to prevent teen pregnancy. Some teens will be unwilling to learn and listen to their teachers when they talk about how badly having a baby at our age can affect us.
We can talk to some teens all we want about abstinence, but some will never listen. We can't just give up and start teaching them that sex before marriage is okay, as long as you use birth-control. Even though teen pregnancy will always be a problem, I believe it is important that we still teach students to wait until they are married to have sex. Quite honestly, I can't imagine being a mom at my age, can you?
This article matters to me because, though I believe in abstinence, many young girls my age don't. The new statistics have been based on age groups of girls between 15 and 19 years old, which I am just on the borderline of. I think it is a little scary that girls my age having sex, and getting pregnant from boys who probably aren't going to be much help when they find out they are going to be a father at 16.
This article relates to the world, because it does, in fact, discuss a problem our nation is having. Many believe that the increase in teen pregnancies is due mainly to the fact that most schools teach abstinence-only health classes, instead of teaching students how to properly use condoms and other birth-control. This thinking came up after a nation wide test showed that schools that have comprehensive sex health classes have smaller rates of teen pregnancy than those states which teach abstinence only.
As I write about in a previous post, I don't think teaching girls about birth-control will solve the problem of teen pregnancy. I believe that, by teaching teens about birth-control, we are only encouraging them to have sex. Condoms and other birth-control only work 90% percent of the time, and I know a woman who got pregnant even after both she and her husband used 2 forms of birth control. By telling teens that they will be protected by birth-control, we are only telling them "Well, you can dink around as much as you want, just don't forget your condom." Abstinence only is important if we want to prevent teen pregnancy. Some teens will be unwilling to learn and listen to their teachers when they talk about how badly having a baby at our age can affect us.
We can talk to some teens all we want about abstinence, but some will never listen. We can't just give up and start teaching them that sex before marriage is okay, as long as you use birth-control. Even though teen pregnancy will always be a problem, I believe it is important that we still teach students to wait until they are married to have sex. Quite honestly, I can't imagine being a mom at my age, can you?
Sunday, December 9, 2007
PLN-25
With seven babies coming in within twelve hours of each other, Ochsner Medical Center was a busy place last Tuesday. In First triplets, then quadruplets from CNN.com, Pamela Kocke and Alisha Murphy gave birth to healthy babies on Tuesday, December 4Th.
This article relates to me because, even though there are no triplets, or quadruplets in my family, I thought it was absolutely amazing that seven babies could be born to two mothers with only twelve hours between the two of them. I was also delighted by the fact that all of the babies were born naturally, especially when the odds of naturally born triplets is about one in 8,000. Both the Murphy and Kocke babies were born within 5 weeks of the 37 weeks that is considered full term, which I thought was really great.
This article relates to the world because, triplets and quadruplets are very rare, and when all three (or four) are born healthy and naturally, I consider it to be a miracle. All of the babies were born between 3 to 4 pounds, a healthy weight for premature babies. With all of our technology, the doctors who helped deliver Alisha's quadruplets and Pamela's triplets are very confident that the babies will do just fine.
I was so happy to hear that all of the babies were born healthy, as my sister had a baby a few years ago, and even one baby was a stretch for her. So many premature babies are unhealthy and barely 2 pounds, but all of the Kocke boys and Murphy girls were born with a reasonable weight for premature babies. C-sections are uncomfortable for mothers to recover from, but so many doctors lean towards them nowadays. I realize this may not seem like the most important news, but I was so happy that all of these babies were born healthy and naturally, and in a few weeks, they will go home to loving happy families.
This article relates to me because, even though there are no triplets, or quadruplets in my family, I thought it was absolutely amazing that seven babies could be born to two mothers with only twelve hours between the two of them. I was also delighted by the fact that all of the babies were born naturally, especially when the odds of naturally born triplets is about one in 8,000. Both the Murphy and Kocke babies were born within 5 weeks of the 37 weeks that is considered full term, which I thought was really great.
This article relates to the world because, triplets and quadruplets are very rare, and when all three (or four) are born healthy and naturally, I consider it to be a miracle. All of the babies were born between 3 to 4 pounds, a healthy weight for premature babies. With all of our technology, the doctors who helped deliver Alisha's quadruplets and Pamela's triplets are very confident that the babies will do just fine.
I was so happy to hear that all of the babies were born healthy, as my sister had a baby a few years ago, and even one baby was a stretch for her. So many premature babies are unhealthy and barely 2 pounds, but all of the Kocke boys and Murphy girls were born with a reasonable weight for premature babies. C-sections are uncomfortable for mothers to recover from, but so many doctors lean towards them nowadays. I realize this may not seem like the most important news, but I was so happy that all of these babies were born healthy and naturally, and in a few weeks, they will go home to loving happy families.
Presentation Evaluation
I was a little shaky this time around. I got a lot of comments on more eye contact, and I could tell that I definetly need to work on that. I could feel my voice quivering for most of the presentation, so I need to work on keeping my voice at a steadier, louder pace. I think it went a little better this time, but I realize some of my blogs were a little depressing (for which I apologize) but they were the ones that impacted me the most. I still have a lot to work on as far as presenting goes, but I think I have definetly improved since my last presentation.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
PLn-24
Columbine; a tragic memory in many of our minds. Though I was very young, and my family disinclined to let me watch the news discussing it; I remember the look on my sisters' faces as they watch the horrors of what happened that day unveiled in the news. I remember going to school and having a moment of silence for the 12 students (most of which were later buried in the cemetery across from my school) and 1 teacher who were killed. In Teacher arrested for pro-Columbine blog post from CNN, James Buss did not view the shooting as a tragedy. Rather, he celebrated the men who caused so much hurt, and so much death that sad day.
This article relates to the world because, since then, many other school shootings have happened, to me, (and my opinion may be bias due to he fact that Columbine was from my own district) Columbine was the most tragic. So many lives were lost. Innocent students who had nothing to do with the troubles of the teens who murdered 13 people before taking their own lives. Whenever a school shooting occurs, the reminder of what happened at Columbine is brought up. Every school shooting since then has had headlines and contain phrases like "Another Columbine" or "A Columbine-Like Attack". Columbine affected the world, even if all it did was give reporters a more interesting headline.
This article relates to me because, though, as I stated earlier, I was not very informed on the subject as a child, the memory of the discussion we had at school that day still haunts me. I remember getting out of the car that morning and seeing my sister's eyes well up as she drove away. Every year, as we sit in our classrooms respectfully in that moment of silence, I think about what happened at Columbine so many years before. I was barely old enough to understand what was happening, but my sisters, being much older than me, understood all of it. I remember walking into their room and seeing candles lit, and my sisters siting on the floor, praying for peace for the families of the students and teacher who were killed.
12 students and 1 teacher lost their lives that day. James buss, being a teacher himself, should have had more respect for the poor souls who were so cruelly taken that day. "They knew how to deal with the overpaid teacher union thugs. One shot at a time!" he stated in his post. They teacher who reported Buss sad she was disturbed by that last sentence, "One shot at a time,". I too find it utterly disgusting that a teacher would celebrate the deaths of so many innocent people. That a teacher would practically say "good for you!" to the men who caused so much hurt for so many shocks me.
Many opposed arresting Buss. They stood behind the First Amendment. However, one police captain, Toby Netko said, "What happens when you say 'bomb' in an airport? That's free speech, isn't it?" he said. "And people are taken into custody for that all the time." Perhaps Buss' post was not so dangerous that he should be arrested, but what he said was outrageous, and the fact that anyone would celebrate such a terrible thing disgusts me.
This article relates to the world because, since then, many other school shootings have happened, to me, (and my opinion may be bias due to he fact that Columbine was from my own district) Columbine was the most tragic. So many lives were lost. Innocent students who had nothing to do with the troubles of the teens who murdered 13 people before taking their own lives. Whenever a school shooting occurs, the reminder of what happened at Columbine is brought up. Every school shooting since then has had headlines and contain phrases like "Another Columbine" or "A Columbine-Like Attack". Columbine affected the world, even if all it did was give reporters a more interesting headline.
This article relates to me because, though, as I stated earlier, I was not very informed on the subject as a child, the memory of the discussion we had at school that day still haunts me. I remember getting out of the car that morning and seeing my sister's eyes well up as she drove away. Every year, as we sit in our classrooms respectfully in that moment of silence, I think about what happened at Columbine so many years before. I was barely old enough to understand what was happening, but my sisters, being much older than me, understood all of it. I remember walking into their room and seeing candles lit, and my sisters siting on the floor, praying for peace for the families of the students and teacher who were killed.
12 students and 1 teacher lost their lives that day. James buss, being a teacher himself, should have had more respect for the poor souls who were so cruelly taken that day. "They knew how to deal with the overpaid teacher union thugs. One shot at a time!" he stated in his post. They teacher who reported Buss sad she was disturbed by that last sentence, "One shot at a time,". I too find it utterly disgusting that a teacher would celebrate the deaths of so many innocent people. That a teacher would practically say "good for you!" to the men who caused so much hurt for so many shocks me.
Many opposed arresting Buss. They stood behind the First Amendment. However, one police captain, Toby Netko said, "What happens when you say 'bomb' in an airport? That's free speech, isn't it?" he said. "And people are taken into custody for that all the time." Perhaps Buss' post was not so dangerous that he should be arrested, but what he said was outrageous, and the fact that anyone would celebrate such a terrible thing disgusts me.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
PLN-23
Saying "please"; an important concept in many homes. From the minute our children are old enough to talk, to every question they ask us, we say "Now what do you say?". Most children don't catch onto it right away. However, all children do eventually learn. In Mother's lawyer: Child killed for failing to say 'please' from Cnn.com, one man named Royce Clyde Zeigler beat his step-daughter, Riley Ann to death because the two year-old couldn't learn fast enough.
Riley Ann, as I blogged about previously, was a two year old who was found floating in a plastic box after obviously beaten to death. Riley's mother and step-father were arrested after her body was identified. However, it was not until Wednesday, the 28th of November that the true cause of Riley Ann's death was determined. Riley's mother's attorney admitted on Wednesday that "The stepfather of a 2-year-old girl lost control and beat her to death because she wouldn't say "please" and "yes sir,".
This article matters to me because, not only have I written about Riley Ann's brutal death, but because I have a niece about Riley Ann's age, and she too, is learning how to say please. I know how frustrating it is to listen to a little girl say "I want..give me...". However, I love my niece enough to never even think about striking her. My niece is going though a stage that consists of her telling me "no, I don't like you...but get me my blanket." So true, there are times when I scream inside. It is hard to hear your only niece tell you she doesn't like you, and then demand that you get her everything her heart desires. Fortunatly, unlike Royce Zeigler, I know that my niece will grow out of this stage, and that she will learn how to say "please" without us asking her to.
This article relates to the world, because of the mysteries and findings surrounding Riley Ann's murder. When two year-old "Baby Grace" showed up in a plastic box on Galveston Bay, millions of hearts went out to her. Everyone who heard about Riley Ann mourned her brutal killing. Thousands more were disgusted when they heard that the people who should have loved and cared for Riley Ann were the ones who beat her to death.
Royce Zeigler is almost twice my age, and he never learned what I have grasped at age fourteen: babies grow, and they learn. All they need is time, something Riley Ann's parents didn't give her.
Riley Ann, as I blogged about previously, was a two year old who was found floating in a plastic box after obviously beaten to death. Riley's mother and step-father were arrested after her body was identified. However, it was not until Wednesday, the 28th of November that the true cause of Riley Ann's death was determined. Riley's mother's attorney admitted on Wednesday that "The stepfather of a 2-year-old girl lost control and beat her to death because she wouldn't say "please" and "yes sir,".
This article matters to me because, not only have I written about Riley Ann's brutal death, but because I have a niece about Riley Ann's age, and she too, is learning how to say please. I know how frustrating it is to listen to a little girl say "I want..give me...". However, I love my niece enough to never even think about striking her. My niece is going though a stage that consists of her telling me "no, I don't like you...but get me my blanket." So true, there are times when I scream inside. It is hard to hear your only niece tell you she doesn't like you, and then demand that you get her everything her heart desires. Fortunatly, unlike Royce Zeigler, I know that my niece will grow out of this stage, and that she will learn how to say "please" without us asking her to.
This article relates to the world, because of the mysteries and findings surrounding Riley Ann's murder. When two year-old "Baby Grace" showed up in a plastic box on Galveston Bay, millions of hearts went out to her. Everyone who heard about Riley Ann mourned her brutal killing. Thousands more were disgusted when they heard that the people who should have loved and cared for Riley Ann were the ones who beat her to death.
Royce Zeigler is almost twice my age, and he never learned what I have grasped at age fourteen: babies grow, and they learn. All they need is time, something Riley Ann's parents didn't give her.
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