Newsletter of September 6, 2005

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First High School Discussion Major Success! Meeting this Sat. for Teachers and Students!

We want to thank all of the fine high school students who came to our first meeting and discussion group of the year last Saturday. We had thoughtful discussion on Hurricane Katrina, and future priorities for the United States, on John Bolton's recess appointment as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and on gasoline prices. At the bottom of this article, we have links to photos and video from the meeting.

This Saturday, September 10, we have a dual meeting for teachers and students. We will be meeting at Crossroads School (map below) this Saturday, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. We request that our high school faculty advisors come to only one meeting per year, and yes, this is it. We will review the schedule for the year, the roles of teachers and students in preparing for model U.N.s and other special events sponsored by Civitas. We are hoping to have Zach Steinart of the Washington University Model U.N. for high school students make a brief presentation! The meeting is informal and informative.

The "business" part of the meeting should conclude by 10:00 AM. After a snack break, we will resume with a discussion group. We invite teachers to remain and join students in considering current issues of the day. However, we recognize that this is a most busy time of the year for teachers, so we understand if they would leave before the discussion.

Among the topics that we can explore in the discussion group are:

1. How should a decision be made on whether to rebuild New Orleans and other disaster-prone communities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina?

2. Why do you think that the budget for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has been reduced since the Department of Homeland Security was established in 2002?

3. Do you think that nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court should reflect the views of the president or of the American people?

4. And our unanswered question from last week: 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

Photos!

Streaming Video!

Less than three weeks until first Middle School teacher meeting!

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 Showing Dead Bodies on Television and in Print Media

In light of the war in Iraq and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, there have been ample opportunities for the press to show photos or video of dead bodies. For the most part, the press has resisted. Do you think that the press should show photos or video of dead bodies?

Survey on Showing Dead Bodies on TV and in Print Media

Previous Survey Results!

Last newsletter's question was:

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?"

Responses:

1. More on fighting poverty. 11 (79%)

2. More on fighting Iraq. 1 (7%)

3. Neither 2 (14%)

4. Not Sure 0 (0%)

COMMENTS ON THE ISSUE

Brett DeLaria; S.L.U.H., 2008

Just as in the 1960s the war on poverty failed, because the distraction of Vietnam it would be the same. It suggests that we focus on the war on poverty. I believe the problem with that is "How can we combat poverty when terrorist are trying to disrupt our economy?" For example, ever since 9/11(the spark for the already shaky economy) the economy has been trying to recover. Because of terrorist attacks like these people lose their jobs. This is only one factor, but a very important factor. Therefore that's why I say and will say we must stay the course in Iraq to rid the training grounds of terrorist, and begin to change the Middle East so that people can live freely, and not forsake the Iraqi people, but also for the sake of the recovery, safety from terrorist disrupting and growth our economy.

Patty Rodriguez; Parkway North High School, 2009

If the government put more resources towards the war on poverty, but kept SOME resources still in Iraq, they would be responding to the U.S. citizen's complaints against the government that say the U.S. should try fixing its own problems, before others' while ALSO holding up the last part of its promise to the Iraqi people.

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

Putting money into a war on poverty again at this time would be a very bad thing. We can't just keep putting money into everything without getting more out of something. Since the war in Iraq is eating all of our resources as well as hurricane Katrina, this would be a terrible time to spend yet MORE money on poverty. Though it is a good idea, I think we need to wait until the war cools down and we rebuild from Katrina. Both need to be won/completed after all.

Stephanie Minor; Rosati-Kain, 2006

The war in Iraq is even more pointless than the war in Vietnam was. We aren't "winning" this war, so why are we over there? Further, what is the point of winning a war if what the soldiers come home to is their country slipping deeper into poverty?

Allen Stringer; Pattonville High School, 2009

None

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Resolutions (High School U.N.) for 2004-2005
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