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Dear Arthur,
This newsletter is our first of the 2005-2006 school year. We have vital information on upcoming high school and middle school events. In addition, we have a new survey concerning the "war on poverty" and the war in Iraq.
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First High School Discussion of the Year this Saturday, Sept. 3!
It's never fun when summer vacation ends, particularly when that occurs before Labor Day. However, Civitas is beginning its "Fall" schedule on the Saturday before Labor Day because we like to believe that our program is as fun as summer. We'll let you be the judge of this.
We will be meeting at Crossroads School (map below) this Saturday, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. As always, we will have a full mixture of nutritious and non-nutritious food. We like the idea of choice!
We will spend part of the morning outlining our ideas for this year's Civitas U.N. program, but we will spare plenty of time for informal discussion. Among the topics that we can explore are:
1. Should people be required to evacuate an area that is expecting a disaster like Hurricane Katrina?
2. Should states in the U.S. lower taxes on gasoline in order to help lower the price at the pump (remember that most gasoline taxes go to fund the building and maintenance of roads)?
3. Newly appointed U.S. ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton once said, "The United States makes the U.N. work when it wants it to work, and that is exactly the way it should be, because the only question, only question for the United States is what's in our national interest. And if you don't like that, I'm sorry, but that is the fact."
What do you think about his statement?
4. If "necessary," do you think that the U.S. government should reinstate a military draft to ensure that there are enough troops in Iraq and elsewhere?
These and other questions are ones that we will be exploring this Saturday. As always, the cost is free and the company is top-rate. We hope to see you there!
Map and Directions to Crossroads School
Middle School program begins a little later this year!
Out of respect to the tremendously difficult task that our middle school teachers have, we are beginning our program several weeks later this year than last. Our upcoming meeting schedule is:
1. Monday, September 26, 4:00 - 5:00 PM -- meeting for new or otherwise inexperienced teachers in the program. Agenda includes overview of the program. [Creve Coeur Government Center]
2. Monday, October 10, 4:00 - 5:00 PM -- meeting for all teachers. Agenda includes selection of spring dates for the Model U.N. sessions as well as country draft. [Creve Coeur Government Center]
3. Wednesday, November 16, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM -- student and teacher workshop on how to prepare to be a Model U.N. delegate. [Chase-Park Plaza Hotel]
Last year was an outstanding middle school year under the leadership of Lisa Granich-Kovarik. We are looking forward to even further improvement this year!
Survey on War on Poverty vs. War in Iraq
The percentage of the U.S. population living in poverty rose to 12.7 percent from 12.5 percent in 2003, as 1.1 million more people slipped into poverty last year, the Census Bureau said in its annual poverty report.
The ranks of the poor rose to 37.0 million, up from 35.9 million the previous year, the report said.
In the mid-1960s, President Lyndon Johnson and Congress embarked on a "war on poverty" to ensure that all American citizens would have a "decent" standard of living. However, the war on poverty was put aside as the war in Vietnam took more of the country's resources.
Do you think that at the present time, the U.S. should focus fewer resources on the war in Iraq and more on a renewed "war on poverty?"
Survey on War on Poverty and War in Iraq
Previous Survey Results!
Last newsletter's question was:
Do you think that it would be most appropriate for President Bush to nominate a "moderate" such as Sandra Day O'Connor to fill her position on the Supreme Court or someone more conservative who shares more of his views?
Responses:
1. "Moderate" like O'Connor 8 (89%)
2. "Conservative" like Bush 0 (0%)
3. Neither 1 (11%)
4. Not Sure 0 (0%)
COMMENTS ON THE ISSUE
Katie Fanning; Lindbergh High School, 2008
We all know it will be another neocon but hey, we liberals have dreams too.
Abigail Henderson, Fox High School, 2009
As the Kalamazoo Gazette said, "We'd rather the president nominate someone who recognizes the U.S. Constitution as a living document instead of nominating a strict constructionist who will not recognize past Supreme Court rulings as precedent-setting."
Joe Frank; Model U.N. alumnus, 1997
I don't think Jack Danforth would be the best candidate, because although he is pretty moderate, he is pretty staunchly pro-life. He is an Episcopal minister, after all. Still, given the heavy investment the Danforth Foundation has made in "life sciences", I can imagine he would vote in favor of embryonic stem cell research. Joe Frank [email protected]
NOTE: Since this poll was taken, President Bush has nominated Judge John Roberts from the D.C. Court of Appeals. Hearings on his nomination will begin in September.
Additional Links
Photo Gallery
Streaming Video [Real Media]
Civitas Calendar
Civitas Intranets Site
Civitas Home Page
Maps & Directions
Previous Newsletters
Resolutions (High School U.N.) for 2004-2005
Checklist for Writing a Model U.N. Resolution
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