Newsletter of November 8, 2005

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Lisa Gives Birth; oh also, Middle School Student & Teacher Workshop Next Week (Nov. 16)!

The big news is that Civitas' own Lisa Granich-Kovarik gave birth last Thursday to Alice Kofi Annan Granich-Kovarik, with a little bit of help from Frank Kovarik. Alice became part of the "NewsChannel 5" viewing audience at 9 pounds, 4 ounces and 21 and a half inches long! All of the rest of us at Civitas congratulate Lisa, Frank, and Alice's older sister, Mira. Most importantly, we congratulate Alice for choosing her parents wisely! At five days she is already crawling around her crib so quickly that everyone is calling her "Scooter."

On a much more mundane level (but still very important), our annual Fall Middle School Model United Nations program is next week, Wednesday, November 16.. The event will be at the Khorassan Room in the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel at Lindell & Kingshighway Blvds in the city's Central West End (click here for map and directions).

The agenda for the morning includes an interactive PowerPoint presentation on the United Nations and our Model UN program, a resolution simulation, and a performance by drummers and dancers from Cote d'Ivoire. Students are encouraged to come with questions about both the "real" United Nations and our model United Nations. The world is in considerable turmoil now and we want to work hard to prepare all students and adults to become more effective global citizens. We look forward to seeing everyone at the workshop!

We hope that all schools have their transportation arrangements in place. If you need assistance, please contact us as soon as possible.

Should any teacher have any questions about any topics, they can contact the Civitas office at (314) 367-6480 or [email protected].

Middle School Country Selections for 2005-2006
New Civitas Participant Handbook Published and in Distrubution

The new, improved Participant (Delegate) Handbook for Civitas students and teachers is now available for distribution. The first to receive the booklets were those at the Saturday, October 29 high school discussion group. The next large group will be the 500 middle school students and teachers who attend the November 16 workshop at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel.

Comprehensive information on the actual United Nations, the responsibilities of delegates in the Civitas model UNs and other important international topics are contained in the book. Of particular note is that we have more demographic information than ever before in this edition.

Printing copies of this participant handbook for all of our students and teachers would not be possible without the generosity of Ameren UE and its Administrative Assistant for Customer Relations, Marlene Wade. Ameren UE has supported Civitas model U.N. activities for nearly ten years and Ms. Wade has made the process more simple than ever over the past three years. We extend our deepest thanks to you!

Thanks also to Civitas staffer Bobbi Clemons who did most of the work in researching material for the book and in preparing the final copy. As always, her work remains invaluable.

We hope that you look forward to receiving your copy of the book. If you would like expedited delivery, please e-mail us or call us at (314) 367-6480.

To view some of the fine community work that Ameren U.E. is engaged with, please click on the link below.

Community Service Work by Ameren U.E.

Next Lively High School Discussion This Saturday, November 12!

Civitas high school discussion groups this Fall have been extremely lively and enlightening. We expect to have another one this Saturday, November 12, at Crossroads School from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (map and directions). Among the subjects that we considered discussing are:

1. Report on Michael Wilson's experience at the "Global Solutions, Local Connections Conference" (see story below).
2. The civil unrest in France and the plight of Muslims in that country.
3. Is the U.S. engaging in torture, and if so, is that acceptable?
4. CNN just reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair repeatedly failed to exert his influence with President Bush and to slow down the rush to war in Iraq, a former British ambassador to the United States claims. In excerpts from his book, serialized in the British newspaper The Guardian on Monday, Sir Christopher Meyer said Blair appeared to be "seduced" by the glamor of U.S. power and was reluctant to negotiate conditions with Bush for Britain's support for the war. What are your thoughts on this theory?
5. Is it a disadvantage to be called "Scooter?"

We are offering extended activity after the monring discussion. For those who are interested, we'll go out to lunch and then go see the movie good night, and good luck, directed by George Clooney (who also has a supporting acting role in the film). It is based on the interactions between veteran CBS-TV reporter Edward R. Murrow and Wisconsin Senator Joseph P. McCarthy. McCarthy held Congressional hearings in the 1950s in which he falsely accused many "ordinary citizens" and celebrities of being members of the Communist party.

When we have the exact times of the showing of the movie this Saturday at the Chase Cinemas and the Tivoli Theater, we will let you know. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail us or call us at (314) 367-6480.

As always, the morning discussion will feature a splendid mixture of tasty and nutritious foods and beverages!

At the bottom of this article, we have links to the "drafted list of nations" as well as photos and video from recent events.

Map and Directions to Crossroads School

Photos!

Streaming Video!

General Assembly Rosters for 2005-2006

Michael Wilson of Hazelwood Central Attends "Global Solutions, Local Connections Conference;" will speak to Discussion Group this Saturday

Michael Wilson, a senior at Hazelwood Central High School who joined the Civitas Model United Nations program this Fall (thanks to the persuasiveness of Faculty Advisor Pat Minute), wrote the winning essay for the Citizens for Global Solutions all-expenses paid trip to Santa Fe, NM for an international youth conference. He attended the conference this past weekend and met with some most interesting individuals involved in international affairs. Now back in St. Louis, Michael will report to our Civitas discussion group this Saturday, November 12. Michael assures us that he has much to share and that the conference was not a "snore-fest."

The theme of the conference was "Global Solutions, Local Connections, Making the Global Local, One Activist at a Time." Michael's essay entitled him to attend the conference with all expenses paid! While there, he met with the likes of former Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall.

Again, we want to thank Dr. Ronald Glossop for passing along information on the conference to us and for heading up the St. Louis chapter of Citizens for Global Solutions.

Click here to read Michael's essay.

Link to Conference Web Page

Next Civitas On-Line Conference is This Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7:00 PM

Utilizing our new capacity to have up to ten people simultaneously engage in an on-line activity, Civitas has begun a series of "on-line" conferences. Our next conference will be this Thursday, November 10, 2005. This is two days away and nine days before our high school Fall Model U.N. session. We hope to use the on-line conference as a means to help delegates further prepare for their responsibilities in the model U.N.

In this "webinar," we will present a "common screen" for all participants to go over information of mutual interest. At the same time, students and teachers can call into a special '800' phone number so that we can talk with one another and ask questions. If a student or teacher wishes to "take control of the meeting" to make a particular point, he or she will be able to do so.

If you have any questions about this, please e-mail us or call us at (314) 367-6480.
Link to Budget Conferencing

Survey on Whether The U.S. Senate Should Pass Legislation Banning Torture

NOVEMBER 7, 2005; President Bush vigorously defended U.S. interrogation practices in the war on terror Monday and lobbied against a congressional drive to outlaw torture.

"There's an enemy that lurks and plots and plans and wants to hurt America again," Bush said. "So you bet we will aggressively pursue them but we will do so under the law."

He declared, "We do not torture."

Over White House opposition, the Senate has passed legislation banning torture. With Vice President Dick Cheney as the point man, the administration is seeking an exemption for the CIA. It was recently disclosed that the spy agency maintains a network of prisons in eastern Europe and Asia, where it holds terrorist suspects.

Our question is, "If President Bush says that the United States does not torture, do you think that it is necessary for the U.S. Senate to pass legislation banning torture?"
Survey on Whether The U.S. Senate Should Pass Legislation Banning Torture

Previous Survey Results!

Last newsletter's question was:

Survey on Should There Be More Male Teachers in Elementary Schools?

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A University of Missouri professor says elementary school students aren't seeing enough male teachers.

And the National Education Association agrees. It says only nine percent of elementary school teachers in the country are male. Researchers link the shortage to several things, from lower test scores for young boys to the absence of male role models, other than in sports.

To respond, Missouri-Columbia education professor Roy Fox has created Men for Excellence in Elementary Teaching. He says the program will offer financial incentives and mentors to steer more beginning male teachers to the younger grades.

Do you think that there is a shortage of male teachers in elementary schools in the United States?

Responses:

1. Yes 10 (91%)

2. No 0 (0%)

3. Not Sure 1 (9%)

COMMENTS ON THE ISSUE

Comments on Should There Be More Male Teachers in Elementary Schools?

Tianay Pulphus; Jennings High School, 2009

I think that there is a stereotype that goes unsaid by us as far as "male teachers" go. You never hear that many males say "When I grow up I want to be a teacher." Now I'm not saying every male should become one, but I had a male 5th and 6th grade teacher as well as some scattered in with Junior High/High School and I think that we should be exposed to as many viewpoints as possible. I think that we should have more of that "male counter-point" in school. Also, I think that men bring a type of guidance that females can't do. When you look at older movies, the father wore the "pants" in the house. I feel that male teachers are like that in schools. You can go to them and talk to them (which is easier for most males) and you can also have more fun with them. Now don't get me wrong I like female teachers and females (considering I am one -smile-) but I feel that there would be SOMETHING missing without them in our educational systems.

Alison Reed; Rosati-Kain High School, 2008

I think that it's vital to have more male teachers in the classrooms. While I firmly believe that men and women share an equal capacity to teach, I also believe that boys need positive male role models to help grow into productive, capable adults. Besides this, I think that all children should learn how to interact with and respect members of both sexes, both in school and society.

Katie Fanning; Lindbergh High School, 2008

Why does it matter if teachers are male or female as long as we still have elementary teachers? I have not heard of any conclusive studies linking a lack of male teachers to significantly lower scores for young boys.

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