current events

This week in History – January 29-February 8

Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

January 26

1837 – Michigan admitted as 26th U.S. state

1861 – Louisiana becomes 6th state to secede

1863 – Massachusetts Governor receives permission from Secretary of War to raise a militia organization for men of African descent (54th Massachusetts Regiment)

1905 – World’s largest diamond, the 3,106-carat Cullinan, is found

1934 – Nazi Germany & Poland sign non-attack treaty for 10 years

1956 – 7th Winter Olympic games open in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

2006 – Western Union discontinues use of its telegram service.

 

January 27

1785 – University of Georgia is founded, the first public university in the United States

1888 – The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C.

1967 – the united States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union sign the Outer space Treaty in Washington, D.C., banning deployment of nuclear weapons in space, and limiting use of the Moon and other celestial bodies to peaceful purposes.

 

January 28

 

January 29

1595 – William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is presumed to have it’s first performance.

1613 – Galileo Observes Neptune but fails to recognize what he sees

1959 – Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” is released

1984 – Space Shuttle 41-B (STS-11) Challenger launched

 

January 30

1781 – Articles of Confederation ratified by the 13th state, Maryland

1835 – Richard Lawrence misfires at President Andrew Jackson in Washington DC in 1st attempted assassination of a US President

1862 – US Navy’s 1st ironclad warship (Monitor) launched

1933 – Adolf Hitler named German Chancellor, forms government with Von Papen

2003 – Belgium legally recognizes same-sex marriage

 

January 31

1865 – Gen Robert E. Lee named Commander-in-Chief of Confederate Armies

1990 – 1st McDonalds in Russia opens in Moscow, world’s biggest McDonalds

 

February 1

1327 – Edward III crowned King of England

1790 – US Supreme Court convenes for the first time

1793 – French Revolutionary Wars: France declares war on the United Kingdom and the Netherlands

1861 – Texas secedes from the U.S.

2003 – Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107 disintegrates during reentry

2013 – The Shard, the tallest building in the European Union, is opened to the public.

current events, Education Policy

4 Day School Week

Link | Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

4 Day School Week

I actually support the way that the school districts in Colorado and Idaho did this reform.

In Colorado:
They took a day away from formal instruction on Fridays. 2 Fridays a month are professional development, 1 day is special tutoring for students that need the extra help, and the final friday is left for the teachers own discretion. Administrators, school board officials, and politicians believe that teachers should only need 1 class period to plan their day. A lot of teachers don’t even have that luxury. They continue their work after school and on the weekends but do not get extra pay for working more. Since teachers are not paid hourly and paid on salary and in most states based on performance, they do not get overtime pay.

I’ve known teachers who stay at their school preparing lessons and activities till 6, 7, or even 8pm. But having these set-aside days to have professional development, lesson planning time, and personal time to do what they need to as teachers I think will pay off in the end. As of right now in Colorado in their first year their reading scores increased by a few margins. Math scores stayed stagnant.

current events

School Shooting

Link | Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

School Shooting

Once again, someone without any morals goes and shoots up a school. Why do people feel the need to go to a school and shoot KIDS!! They haven’t done anything wrong to you. They are just there to learn. They are completely innocent children. How can you morally go there and shoot at them and try and kill them. I don’t practice religion but I hope you rot in hell.

current events

George Zimmerman once again arrested

Link | Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

George Zimmerman once again arrested

Am I the only one that is NOT surprised at the fact that George Zimmerman was arrested again. Now, I do not believe that he “murdered” Trayvon Martin. However, I do believe he should have received manslaughter. Now he is beating on his estranged wife who filed for divorce a few weeks ago. He obviously has anger problems that he was just really good at hiding in the courtroom.

Obama decisions on Syria

Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

Obama week update

In my opinion, I think Obama has actually taken the correct and smart route of this whole debate over military intervention of the Syrian civil war.

He’s not just taking split second action even though he has the power to. He’s waiting for the UN to determine what should be done. He attended the G20 summit last week and all the countries seem to be looking at America and Obama for international leadership as they all usually do.

I honestly think that the countries around the world have learned a lot from mistakes and are being a lot more sensible with this whole thing.

I honestly believe that if our own countries borders are not in danger w shouldn’t get involved. The other countries should join together and take action. We need to stop being the mediator in everything.

And I do know that is all just a fantasy. I know we may be one of the youngest countries in the world we are still more powerful and more influential than most civilizations that have been around since ancient times like Egypt.

As stated in previous posts. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you disagree with mine then so be it. It’s your opinion and I won’t shove mine down your throat and I expect the same respect.

current events

Syrian Conflict

Link | Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

Syrian Conflict

So, this whole Syria thing is getting intense. I have been trying to formulate my own opinion on the whole topic. 

First, the use of chemical weapons is completely immoral. Anyone that uses them should be put to death. Honestly, if you want to hurt another human being just because you don’t like them to me honestly does not morally give you the right to do whatever they want. 

As for our intervention, I do not believe that the US President nor the US Congress can authorize the military strike. I believe that the UN should authorize it just as Putin said. The UN is there to take care of International conflicts and one country should not be allowed to be the determinate of what is to come of this situation.