Newsletter of May 5, 2005

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Fifth Middle School Session of 2005 Successful

We want to thank students and teacher from Hixson Middle School (Webster Groves) and McKinley Classical Junior Academy (St. Louis) who did an excellent job in our fourth Middle School Model U.N. session of the year. The students passed resolutions on disease and medical care, pollution in 3rd World Countries and trial experiments in Renewable Energy, and Economic Reconstruction in Iraq. Delegates also heard presentations on Economic Reconstruction in Lebanon and Education in Africa. A measure to globally legalize drugs was defeated. We have a link to the revised resolutions at the bottom of this article.

Next Wednesday, May 11, students from Bunche Middle School (St. Louis), Jennings Middle School, and Maplewood-Richmond-Heights Middle School will have their session. Resolutions for the day include ones on animal endangerment, child labor, child slavery, and water purification.

The spring General Assemblies began on Wednesday, April 6, and continue every Wednesday morning until May 11th. Most student delegations have already turned in rough drafts of the resolutions to Civitas for feedback and are now working on improving and revising them. If you haven't done this yet, you still have time to send those resolutions our way! We've been continuously impressed with the critical thinking and creative problem-solving students exhibit in their resolutions. We're looking forward to watching more present their resolutions at the spring General Assemblies and working with their fellow students to tackle these serious world problems.

Middle School Resolutions!

Final Middle School Teacher Meeting this Monday at Chevy's

The final Middle School teacher meeting of the school year will be this coming Monday, May 9, at Chevy's Restaurant at 9119 Olive Street Road (link to map below). While we still have one student session to go this year, we wanted to meet early in May to get teacher reflections on this year's program and suggestions for next year. This meeting is definitely not too formal, not that any of ours is.

Chevy's has delicious Mexican food, American fare, and scrumptious desserts. We hope to see as many Middle School teachers there as possible.

Map and Directions to Chevy's Restaurant
Photos of April 20, 2005 Middle School MUN

Civitas Picnic this Saturday, May 7, followed by "The Interpreter"

The annual Civitas spring high school picnic is just a little over a week away. It will be on Saturday, May 7, from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM. This year we have a new location (Deer Creek Park in Maplewood). We will supply beverages, paper products, cups, etc. We would like to have everyone bring some food for a "pot luck" meal.

We have a softball diamond rented from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Just before 4:00 PM, interested students and staff will head for the Esquire Theater [6706 Clayton Road (map)], to see the recently released movie, "The Interpreter." It is a mystery involving an interpreter at the United Nations. Professional and amateur reviews have been most positive.

Directions to Deer Creek Park

Do you think that Evolution should be taught as the primary theory of how humans developed?

Eighty years after a famed courtroom battle in Tennessee pitted religious beliefs about the origins of life against the theories of British scientist Charles Darwin, Kansas is holding its own hearings on what school children should be taught about how life on Earth began. The Kansas Board of Education has scheduled six days of courtroom-style hearings to begin Thursday in Topeka. More than two dozen witnesses will give testimony and be subject to cross-examination, with the majority expected to argue against teaching evolution. Do you think that evolution should be taught as the primary theory as to how human beings developed, or should other theories be given equal time?

Survey on Evolution & Creationism

Previous Survey Results!

Last week's question was:

The city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri just worked out an arrangement where St. Louis City police officers can live outside the city after seven years of service. Previously, they had to live in the city while working in the city. Our question is, "Do you think that police officers in a city the size of St. Louis should have to live in the city?

Responses:

1. Yes 3 (38%)

2. Yes, but only for a period of time such as their first seven years on the job. 0 (0%)

3. No 4 (50%)

4. Not Sure 1 (12%)

COMMENTS ON THE ISSUE

Hamid Azimi; Teacher, Long Middle School

Police officers like any other citizens should be free to live wherever they want to live.

Anthony Keel; S.L.U.H., 2006

I am not sure about this issue. On the one hand, police officers should live around the people they protect. On the other hand, after seven years they have pretty much known the city and could be allowed to move out to the suburbs like many others, seeing as St. Louis is a mainly suburban city.

Essays for World Earth Day Contest Due This Friday!

College students & high-school seniors/juniors- the Citizens for Global Solutions of Greater St. Louis invite you to participate in a new essay contest for an all-expenses-paid trip to San Francisco during the first week of June 2005 to participate in the events related to the 31st anniversary international celebration of World Earth Day, organized in cooperation with the UN Environment Programme and environmental groups in the San Francisco area.

For rules and essay details please click on the link below. The deadline for essays is this Friday, May 6, 2005.

Link to World Earth Day Information
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