Another WRITING on the Wall (We DO Need Education!)

Hello children! It's blog time once again, so gather 'round on the rug and set Indian style while I summarize an article once again! And yes I know it's only Monday, but blogging is just so much fun I can't help myself, plus I'm something teachers like to call an OVER-A-CHIEVER!

1. Today my article is titled The Writing on the Wall and it's contemplating whether or not handwriting has a place in this digital age. And turns out it does! Educators insist that handwriting is important because research shows that when children are taught how to write, they are also being taught how to learn and how to express themselves (and that sounds important indeed!). Handwriting IS the fundamental building block of learning because it filters into all other academics: math, tests like the SAT, not to mention better spelling.

2. The audience is teachers, students (only so they can gripe about it & the chances of it meaning more homework!), and concerned (and nosy) parents, oh and me because I did just read it (and contrary to what you might think I do not fit into any of the above mentioned categories)! I know this is the audience because it's concerned with education and so are teachers, students, and parents.

3. I am interested in this article simpily because I found it ironic to read about an article that insists handwriting matters, only to turn around and blog about it. ha ha (twisted isn't it!?!)

4. I didn't really know anything about this topic before the article, but I figured it would be challenged sooner or later since people seem to spend more time online and/or texting instead of talking face to face or actually writing things out with pen and paper. Once I started reading the article I also assumed handwriting would get a thumbs up.

5. I learned that: in 1904 penmanship was practiced 45 minutes a day (I know!), and now it averages about 15 minutes a day! Educators are also noticing a significant decline in the quality of students' handwriting and an increase in the frequency of problems such as letter reversal. And the final thing I learned was less of a fact and more of a soundbite that I found interesting : "no one has suggested that the invention of the calculator means we don't have to teach kids to add, and spelling is still a prized skill in the era of spell check, [so why stop penmanship?]". OH SNAP!!!!

6. When will penmanship (handwriting) ever be completely obsolete? I hope never, if simpily for the sake of humanity.

If you are interested, I got this article out of the Nov. 12, 2007 issue of Newsweek, but that might be hard to find unless you are a magazine hoarder like me!

Thank you for your time, be sure to tune in next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Article Activist

1. The article titled: D.C.'s Assault on the Second Amendment, is about D.C.'s recent law proposing to ban guns, and how they were pumbled by both individuals and the appeals court for doing so. It was ruled that the proposed law violated the Second Amendment, the right to "keep and bear arms".

2. This article is targeted at people who live in D.C. or who are just interested in our nations crazy government. But it's for anyone who wants (or feels intitled) to read it.

3. This article interests me because I am shocked that the Constitution has withstood the test of time, that the Second Amendment is still relevant and still being challenged after all these years, and quite frankly because, when are guns ever boring?

4. No, I was not aware this issue was being callenged before I read this article.

5. The District said the Second Amendment was outdated and meaningless (I know!), because it was designed for militias (which obviously aren't a problem anymore).

Americans, on the other hand, thought the passing of the law would lead to the downfall of all the other rights of the people.

And finally, strangely enough individuals also felt that if they had a "God-given right to life" then they had the (obviously God-given) right to posses a gun. The question: Does God indorse guns?

6. What were the framers thinking when they thought it would be a good idea to give everyone in America firearms?

Did D.C. really think they could get away with this? Really? Beat the Second Amendment?

This is the article I read:
www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=21578

Ello, Ello

Hi, I'm Brittany and this is my blog!!!! (hints the title "Brittany's Blog!)

To get started I will list a few random facts about myself:

• I really love music (especially 80's music!)
• Me and my friends saw a platypus! (not really)
• I like jello..............a lot!
• I'm a homo sapien! (who isn't these days?)
• I love shoes!
• I heart art!
• Everyday for breakfast I eat dinosaur shaped toast!
• I like bright colors!
• I still listen to casettes!
• I own a unicorn! His name is Garth and he controls rainbows!
• I want to live in London!
• I'm best friends with Bob Barker!
• I actually like books (and not just comic books either, even though their pretty much buck!)
• I invented the wind!
• I love fashion! (plaid is the best pattern ever!)
• My favorite color is burnt umber!
• I heart Sweeny Todd!!!!!!!!!!!
• John Bon Jovi is my hero.
• I fought in the civil war!
• And finally, I am a vampire!

I will now leave you with a quote:

"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace." -John Lennon