As social scientists, the students now look to the Middle East, examining the themes of adaptation and cooperation.  We analyze natural and human-made barriers, using photos, maps (of the entire region and of the Old City in Jerusalem), and anchor texts: The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss and The Seed by Isobel Pin. Students are challenged to think about the following framing question throughout the unit: How is cooperation essential for survival?

We have placed our discussion pods in close proximity to the fence that divides ToMorrow Island from Ramapo in hopes to begin a discussion about barriers that are impacting the students’ lives in the virtual world.  This is a barrier that they actually face each day.  Next I will ask Old Indigo on ToMorrow Island if the students at The Elizabeth Morrow School may be interested in a lively discussion/debate about the topic.  Baby steps….

TEACHER RESPONSE from Julia Jaffee:

Yes, your teacher has purple hair.  Now, let’s get to work! Teaching in Second Life inspired and rewarded students and teacher alike.  The ability to communicate with students in a virtual environment heightened the notion of the classroom. The students relished in creating new images of themselves, and also stepped up to the plate, so to speak, and participated in the activities connected to our curriculum.

The curriculum itself worked quite well in the Second Life format. We entered Second Life as part of the immersion portion of a middle school humanities unit on the Middle East.  Immersion lessons, by nature, encourage students to explore, record, and share.  Second Life worked perfectly for such lessons! Students were able to thoughtfully discuss questions in small groups about barriers, natural and human-made, in the discussion pods.  The ability to view pictures and maps of the Middle East on a giant flat-screen TV in world also facilitated learning well.  Students also learned how to build walls in Second Life, and then discussed the pros and cons of their creations. What an incredible opportunity!

[9:48]  Palior SMSVoyager: ciao
[9:48]  Una SMSVoyager: ciao
[9:48]  Palior SMSVoyager: come ti chiami
[9:49]  Una SMSVoyager: mi chiamo Farrah E tu?
[9:49]  Palior SMSVoyager: mi chiamo anthony
[9:49]  Palior SMSVoyager: come stai
[9:50]  Una SMSVoyager: sta cosi cosa e tu?
[9:50]  Palior SMSVoyager: sta bene
[9:50]  Palior SMSVoyager: quanti anni hai
[9:50]  Una SMSVoyager: Ha tredici anni e tu?
[9:50]  Palior SMSVoyager: ho tredici anni
[9:51]  Palior SMSVoyager: quanti fratelli
[9:52]  Una SMSVoyager: ho un fratello e tu?
[9:52]  Palior SMSVoyager: ho un frattello
[9:52]  Palior SMSVoyager: dove abiti
[9:52]  Una SMSVoyager: Io abito nella Montebello e tu?
[9:53]  Palior SMSVoyager: io abito nello airmont
[9:53]  Palior SMSVoyager: arivederchi

Many of the students are new to Second Life, some had forgotten login or basic skills- but enough of them were functioning as student mentors and we are off to a good start.  Using Poinkey’s Pods was a plus — but also required some management as many were still unsure of how to sit properly and we ended up with a few “singles” in what is designed to be a two-person pod (yes– some had threee when students unknowingly sat on each others’ laps—at least I think it was unknowingly )  Pics tomorrow and more conversations–Next we plan on taking them into Decka’s Decks to try multiple person conversations – and from there we will use multiple classes betqween the high school and middle school .  NOTE:  Once again – it was a teacher – speaking to another teacher that now has three more of our Foreign Language Department on board to use Second Life.

[11:10]  Kythera SMSTrekker: most teens make da mistake of not keepin their credit info secure
[11:10]  Shanka SMSTrekker: and credit cards dont have fixed amount
[11:10]  Shanka SMSTrekker: tummy
[11:10]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Yeah, and most can’t get out of debt
[11:10]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: for a loooong time

[11:10]  Joella SMSTrekker: yea and without a fixed amount they can spend a ton and get into alot of trouble
[11:10]  Centes SMSTrekker: teens should have a credit if they have a job that can pay the credit card bill
[11:10]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: what if their cars break down and they need a place to stay and food for theior tummioes

[11:11]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: They have to watch what they spend on it though
[11:11]  Kythera SMSTrekker: also most kids dont hav a job that could pay huge credit card bills
[11:11]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Most aren’t that bright
[11:11]  Stateira SMSTrekker: and if you lose cash, thats it, its gone. but if you lose a credit card, you can call your carrier andcancel your account so you arent charged with purchases youdidnt make
[11:11]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: true

[11:11]  Stateira SMSTrekker: mhmm(:
[11:11]  Centes SMSTrekker: This convo is intense
[11:11]  Kythera SMSTrekker: in sum ways thats ok but stil….
[11:11]  Shanka SMSTrekker: double a is very irrespnsible and i cant

c him have the responisbility to have a credit card
[11:12]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: credit cards are a symbol of responibility and teens need to feel good bout themselves
[11:12]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: TOP IT
[11:12]  Kythera SMSTrekker: but…would a kid feel good if they went

into debt?
[11:12]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: It’s irresponsable to give them that “reponsibility” Harrison
[11:12]  Joella SMSTrekker: teens may feel goood but they will relize they spent more money with a credit card then they could of with cash
[11:12]  Stateira SMSTrekker: well never mind feeling good, what happens if theres an emergencey and you dont have any money on you?

[11:13]  Centes SMSTrekker: Credit cards are something someone with trust can only handle
[11:13]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: but they will feel responsible and try not to get into debt
[11:13]  Joella SMSTrekker: then how about debit cards in case of emergencies. that way its money they have
[11:13]  Kythera SMSTrekker: yeah but wat if they make a huge mistake
[11:13]  Shanka SMSTrekker: umm i like money

[11:14]  Stateira SMSTrekker: well if they make a mistake, they’ll have tofix it. theyget a learning experianceout of it
[11:14]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: then they are in trouble but credit cards are important for teens
[11:14]  Kythera SMSTrekker: yeah but do you like money y

ou have to bac w/ interest?
[11:14]  Joella SMSTrekker: yea but th

eir credit score will be bad and then they will end up paying more because of the higher interest
[11:14]  Centes SMSTrekker: Credit cards these days are the safe way to keep money
[11:14]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: thats great5 double a
[11:14]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Don’t forget those high interest rates….. o_O
[11:14]  Kythera SMSTrekker: so r debit cards
[11:14]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Debit is b

etter.
[11:15]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: It’s safer
[11:15]  Kythera SMSTrekker: thank u!!
[11:15]  Shanka SMSTrekker: credit cards get kids into debt b.e they charge such high interest rates and kids think they r cool b.e they have it and think they r rich when they arent
[11:15]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Exactly Shanka
[11:15]  Joella SMSTrekker: safe and c

onvienent yes but more dangerous. and credit cards could cost you alot of money
[11:15]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: yes but the longer they have credit cards the more expierenced they become and then they will have a better credit score
[11:15]  Kythera SMSTrekker: very tru…thx shanka
[11:15]  Stateira SMSTrekker: actually

, teens w/ credit cards qualify for favorable interests on allll types of loans
[11:15]  Centes SMSTrekker: teens have other options like having a low credit limit
[11:15]  Shanka SMSTrekker: cash is

like a bank account r the safest and credit cards are like stocks very risky

[11:15]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: not if they use them right
[11:15]  Stateira SMSTrekker: not necessarily
[11:16]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: But teens often don’t
[11:16]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: well no

w they are educated
[11:16]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: They don’t have the minds of adults yet
[11:16]  Stateira SMSTrekker: if they have a fixed limit on the credit card, they cant get into debt
[11:16]  Joella SMSTrekker: teens often go on a spending spree and then they are up to their ears with debt
[11:16]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: agree

d
[11:16]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: wit stat
[11:16]  Centes SMSTrekker: Shanka do u feel teens shouldnt have crredit cards b/c most teens relay on parents for money
[11:16]  Shanka SMSTrekker: yes s

o let the adults keep the credit cards and let kids borrow it when they need to

[11:17]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: You can still overspend thou

gh, right?
[11:17]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: With fixed credit
[11:17]  Kythera SMSTrekker: if teens make mistakes with their credit card….the lower their credit score and reduce the ability 2 obtain credit
[11:17]  Shanka SMSTrekker: no how
[11:17]  Joella SMSTrekker: but credit c

ards don’t have limits. they are limitless amount of money and this would lead to you owing alot of money
[11:17]  Kythera SMSTrekker: tru
[11:17]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: veru tru

[11:17]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: *very
[11:17]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: some jobs require credit cards in order to qualify
[11:17]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Jobs for teens?
[11:17]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: and same with loans
[11:17]  Stateira SMSTrekker: if teens can

maintain a good credit history, you’ll obtain lower auto and homeowners insurance premiums
[11:17]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: yes

[11:17]  Kythera SMSTrekker: yeah…4 teens?…i dont think so
[11:18]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Liike what?
[11:18]  Stateira SMSTrekker: so you can actually save money with credit cards
[11:18]  Joella SMSTrekker: yea but it

is harder to get loans if you have a bad credit history
[11:18]  Shanka SMSTrekker: yes so kids should just be trusted with money (cash) and let kids use credit cards from their parents when they

REALLY need it like we said before kids dont have adult minds yet
[11:18]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: like if they want a college loan or a car loan
[11:18]  Centes SMSTrekker: Zerlin do u believe that a parent should have trust in there child even if there irresponsible
[11:18]  Kythera SMSTrekker: but we r tlakin bout kids our age….
[11:18]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: tell the

m
[11:18]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: no not really
[11:19]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Why shou

ld they trust them?
[11:19]  Kythera SMSTrekker: i wouldnt
[11:19]  Shanka SMSTrekker: i disagree
[11:19]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: ok
[11:19]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Cassy will represent the disagree
[11:19]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Or Shanka
[11:19]  Kythera SMSTrekker: yeah!!

!!
[11:19]  Stateira SMSTrekker: well they should be given a spending limit in the beginning, but as they get older they get more respnsiblee
[11:20]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Doesn’t mean they won’t overspend
[11:20]  Kythera SMSTrekker: tahts

tru…but kids our age want 2 spend
[11:20]  Stateira SMSTrekker: yes it does
[11:20]  Shanka SMSTrekker: actually cassy can take stand
[11:20]  Stateira SMSTrekker: if theyre given aspending limit, they CANT go over it
[11:20]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: In conclusion, we feel that teens should have credit cards becuase if they get into an emergency like if their car breaks down, they need to buy food, a hotel room and maybe pay for the car to get fixed and they dont carr

y around cash like that
[11:20]  Joella SMSTrekker: in conclusion we believe that kids should not have credit cards because they can get into a lot of debt, sometimes they are irresponisble, they might go on a spending spree and they will have bad credit history so they won’t be able to get loans in the future.
[11:20]  Stateira SMSTrekker: cant**
[11:21]  Shanka SMSTrekker: pyrhha plz spell right
[11:21]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: als

o it will give them expierence with credit cards and bills for the future
[11:21]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: Are we done?
[11:21]  Stateira SMSTrekker: y

epp
[11:21]  Kythera SMSTrekker: no wait
[11:21]  Shanka SMSTrekker: nice job everyone
[11:21]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: ye

ah nice job
[11:21]  Kythera SMSTrekker: stopp wait
[11:22]  Joella SMSTrekker: and are we really that resbonsible?? sometimes moeny is indespensible to us because our parents could just pay for us. those aren’t the kind of peop,e who sdould have a credit card
[11:22]  Pyrrha SMSTrekker: k
[11:22]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: should we stop now?
[11:22]  Shanka SMSTrekker: yes

s
[11:22]  Zerlin SMSTrekker: ok
[11:22]  Kythera SMSTrekker: sure
[11:26]  Platform-Five whispers: Platform-Five now descending.
[11:26]  Stateira SMSTrekker: well…that wasfun…

The topic for the 8th grade class debate was whether or not teens should be allowed to have credit cards.

POD 2

[10:03]  Platform-Two whispers: Platform-Two now ascending.

[10:06]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: look outside the pod

[10:06]  Titania SMSTrekker: ik

[10:06]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: someone start the debate

[10:07]  Euphemia SMSTrekker: do u think peopl should have credit cards

[10:07]  Titania SMSTrekker: yes i do

[10:07]  Bondia SMSTrekker: not teens

[10:07]  Titania SMSTrekker: yes they should

[10:07]  Nora SMSTrekker: yes i do

[10:07]  Bondia SMSTrekker: they would spend o much money nd not pay it back

[10:07]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: why do u think teens should have credit cards titania

[10:07]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: or anyone

[10:07]  Titania SMSTrekker: responobility

[10:08]  Bondia SMSTrekker: teens dont have much resposibleity…..

[10:08]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: what about responsibility

[10:08]  Titania SMSTrekker: u dont know that

[10:08]  Nora SMSTrekker: they can be responsible if you make them pay

[10:08]  Bondia SMSTrekker: noooo cause they dont have a job so they cant pay it back

[10:08]  Euphemia SMSTrekker: they shouldnt have credit cards

[10:08]  Titania SMSTrekker: it will teach them resposoblitiy

[10:08]  Bandusia SMSTrekker: i think that young adults such as teens should not have credit cards bc of the financhal slop . if adulst with a greater income can not pay off a bill how can a teen?

[10:09]  Bandusia SMSTrekker: no bc they arent responsible

[10:09]  Bondia SMSTrekker: but teens dont have money like parents do

[10:09]  Nora SMSTrekker: it depends on the teen

[10:10]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: money is earned with responsibility. you wouldnt give a teen $3,000 in cash. whats the differencce

[10:10]  Nora SMSTrekker: no difference it depends on the person

[10:10]  Titania SMSTrekker: they could be not every teen is irrresponsible

[10:10]  Bondia SMSTrekker: its more for credit cards

[10:10]  Bandusia SMSTrekker: bc if the teen is given a credit card and spends so much they cant pay it off the bill is going to be increased or the parenst will be paying for it

[10:10]  Euphemia SMSTrekker: yes

[10:10]  Bondia SMSTrekker: no

[10:10]  Euphemia SMSTrekker: ok

[10:10]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: Teens must learn that credit is expensive and that they will end up spending much more money on item that they would otherwise need because of interest.( Randy Scott helium.com)

[10:11]  Xenia SMSTrekker: but sometimes if you make mistakes with your credit card your interest rate can increase and then you have to pay more money in the end

[10:11]  Alesana SMSTrekker: yes

[10:11]  Renate SMSTrekker: yes but some teens get into sucj bad debt that they wil be like 60 by the time its all paid off so over that time they rnt going to buy anthing else anyway so even if they learn the lessinb they wont use it

[10:11]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: well if the parents know that the teen is responsible enuf 2 hav 1 then they can giv them 1

[10:11]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: yea

[10:11]  Alesana SMSTrekker: its to big of a responsibility for a teen

[10:12]  Brangane SMSTrekker: no matter how responsible they are, they need to be an adult, mature. And if they get a credit card, and lets say they loose it. it takes a while to pay it off

[10:12]  Bandusia SMSTrekker: u to

[10:13]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: no interst

[10:13]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: interest*

[10:13]  Titania SMSTrekker: yes but its new to them so they will make mistakes

[10:13]  Bondia SMSTrekker: no

[10:13]  Euphemia SMSTrekker: yeah thats true

[10:13]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: $6,000 mistakes

[10:13]  Nora SMSTrekker: thay will but as long as thay are not drastic

[10:13]  Titania SMSTrekker: so

[10:13]  Bandusia SMSTrekker: the avrige debt for the american is 20000 $ imagin the avrige if teens had that

[10:13]  Titania SMSTrekker: omgz thats lots

[10:13]  Nora SMSTrekker: so

[10:14]  Metcalfia SMSTrekker: its the average debt of a college grad without tuition or car is $6,000

[10:14]  Titania SMSTrekker: so so

[10:14]  Nora SMSTrekker: how old r they

[10:14]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: well you have to b the one that makes the right choice we all no right from wrong

[10:14]  Brangane SMSTrekker: yes but its yerresponsibility

[10:14]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: well then those parents hav their own problems anyway

[10:14]  Leonora SMSTrekker: because they think that you can handle the freedom

[10:14]  Alesana SMSTrekker: it is the parents fault but its not completely

[10:14]  Xenia SMSTrekker: well if you dont have a job you shouldnt have one because your nnot earning anything just spending

[10:14]  Renate SMSTrekker: just b/c u KNOW right from wrong doesnt mean u will DO wats right

[10:15]  Alesana SMSTrekker: yes

[10:15]  Brangane SMSTrekker: but stillits YOUR responsibility, if you really think that you could handle it, thats your problem but if you loose it, dont blame anyone but yourself.

[10:15]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: you learn from your mistakes

[10:15]  Cava SMSTrekker: exactley

[10:15]  Xenia SMSTrekker: yeah you will stillspend money no matter what. even if you are responsible

[10:15]  Brangane SMSTrekker: but you wouldnt make mistakes if you choose the right desicion

[10:15]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: ok but they are still alowed 2 hav one, its not like its against the law

[10:15]  Alesana SMSTrekker: but u shoodnt want to make a huge mistake like that

[10:15]  Renate SMSTrekker: ur rght b4 u spend anything u shud have an incmoe

[10:16]  Alesana SMSTrekker: you shouldnt have to lean the hard way

[10:16]  Brangane SMSTrekker: exactly

[10:16]  Renate SMSTrekker: y shud they have 1 just b/c its not agantst the law doesnt mean they can handle it

[10:16]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: ok well then parents shud giv RESPONSIBLE kids credit cards

[10:16]  Cava SMSTrekker: why even have a cc anyway it just makes you take advantage

[10:16]  Leonora SMSTrekker: thats the only way you learn though

[10:16]  Alesana SMSTrekker: thats why when yyour a mature adult you should have a credt card

[10:16]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: and MATURE kids

[10:16]  Brangane SMSTrekker: yes i agrede

[10:16]  Xenia SMSTrekker: yeah and why would you want to spend so much money inthe end if you got things that you dont really even need

[10:16]  Brangane SMSTrekker: but adults are much more mature then kids

[10:16]  Brangane SMSTrekker: comeonm

[10:17]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: you should b mature but if your not mature mayb it can teach them a lesson to b mature

[10:17]  Renate SMSTrekker: sometimes though people can make the same mistake over and over again and not learn the lesson wat about those people

[10:17]  Renate SMSTrekker: they’ll never learn

[10:17]  Alesana SMSTrekker: thats a very hard lesson

[10:17]  Alesana SMSTrekker: you shouldnt have to leanr that way

[10:17]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: but if they are paying the amout they will learn

[10:17]  Renate SMSTrekker: and even if u lear the lesson its eaiser sed then done

[10:17]  Alesana SMSTrekker: theyre other ways of learning that dont cause u debt

[10:17]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: well if they get in very bad debt, dont u think theyll be smart enuf not 2 do t again cuz they know the consequences

[10:18]  Cava SMSTrekker: yes

[10:18]  Cava SMSTrekker: yes

[10:18]  Brangane SMSTrekker: listen, i think that no matter how mature u are, its for ADULTS not teens. teens are sure to loose the credit card. IT TAKES SOOOLONG TO PAY IT OFF

[10:18]  Alesana SMSTrekker: yes!

[10:18]  Brangane SMSTrekker: yeah(:

[10:18]  Renate SMSTrekker: just b/c they know they made a mistake and not to do i again its eaiser sed then done

[10:18]  Xenia SMSTrekker: you shouldnt have to make the mistake of spending too much mnoneyto learn how to use a credit card

[10:18]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: CANCEL IT

[10:18]  Leonora SMSTrekker: it is alo posible for an adu.lt to lose their credit card also

[10:18]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: IF U LOSE IT CANCEL IT

[10:19]  Brangane SMSTrekker: but if you cancel it,u still havhe to pay itoff

[10:19]  Renate SMSTrekker: we r not supossed to be talking about if u lose it or not wat does that have 2 do with teens and CC

[10:19]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: after that nuthin well happen

[10:19]  Xenia SMSTrekker: yeah and its not like you will only make the mistake once.

[10:19]  Brangane SMSTrekker: theres no point

[10:19]  Cava SMSTrekker: and u will be so far into debt yr partents cant help u out

[10:19]  Alesana SMSTrekker: yeah

[10:19]  Renate SMSTrekker: exactly ur ;ikley 2 ake the same mistake over and over

[10:19]  Brangane SMSTrekker: ya

[10:19]  Renate SMSTrekker: u may not learn

[10:19]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: well then maybe they shudnt have givin it 2 u in the first place

[10:19]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: yes they can they can look after you and see how much your spending

[10:19]  Renate SMSTrekker: EXACTLY

[10:20]  Renate SMSTrekker: thats wat i’m saying they shudnt have 1

[10:20]  Alesana SMSTrekker: sometimes kids get the credit cards themselves

[10:20]  Brangane SMSTrekker: exaclt zwetana

[10:20]  Xenia SMSTrekker: yeah and then you end up just wasting even more money

[10:20]  Alesana SMSTrekker: not th parents

[10:20]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: well im just sayin y wud a parent giv u a cc and not help u even a litle

[10:20]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: not exactly

[10:20]  Brangane SMSTrekker: no matter who gives it to you, its still your responsibility

[10:20]  Alesana SMSTrekker: its not there problem

[10:20]  Brangane SMSTrekker: exactly

[10:20]  Alesana SMSTrekker: if they dont give it to you

[10:20]  Alesana SMSTrekker: they should

[10:21]  Alesana SMSTrekker: but not all parents do

[10:21]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: they shud giv it 2 u?

[10:21]  Cava SMSTrekker: mmmhhh

[10:21]  Alesana SMSTrekker: nd where does that leave you?

[10:21]  Alesana SMSTrekker: in debt

[10:21]  Alesana SMSTrekker: for years

[10:21]  Cava SMSTrekker: yea

[10:21]  Renate SMSTrekker: they will help u a little but that doesn t mean buy everythin nd if ur parent sayd they’ll help u magority of the people will take advatgae

[10:21]  Brangane SMSTrekker: my parents no for sure they would not take a chance like that

[10:21]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: not all the time tho

[10:21]  Brangane SMSTrekker: exactly

[10:21]  Renate SMSTrekker: xactly many parent wudnt

[10:21]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: not evry1 in the world always goes in2 debt

[10:21]  Jess SMSTrekker: credit cards are bad for kids

[10:21]  Alesana SMSTrekker: they r

[10:21]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: then they wudnt hav ccs 4 any1

[10:21]  Renate SMSTrekker: it just doesnt make sence 4 them 2 have 1 its not nessacary

[10:21]  Brangane SMSTrekker: they are bad

[10:21]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: we r not talking about kids we r talking about teens

[10:22]  Xenia SMSTrekker: yeahh its really a waste of money to give an irresponsible teen a credit card

[10:22]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: i think we all know that

[10:22]  Alesana SMSTrekker: yes

[10:22]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: its bout teens

[10:22]  Renate SMSTrekker: same thine teens kids we’re not talkiing abut 6 year olds

[10:22]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: no its not a waste of time if you learn a lesson\

[10:22]  Leonora SMSTrekker: they should have ccs because if thye dont go into debt as a teen you probably will as an adult’

[10:22]  Cava SMSTrekker: and adults

[10:22]  Renate SMSTrekker: if thats wat u mean

[10:22]  Brangane SMSTrekker: okay but it rlly is a waste of money, if your going to want a credit card, why would you pay MORE money on yourself when your parent has one?

[10:22]  Alesana SMSTrekker: most teens will only spend it on luxury items

[10:22]  Cava SMSTrekker: yea why not use cash

[10:23]  Platform-Four: You have been paged by Bondia SMSTrekker on Platform-Four

[10:23]  Brangane SMSTrekker: obviouslythey have the money for you. so no need for a credit card, just use cash

[10:23]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: even adults go in2 debt so its the same 4 adults so do u think adults shudnt hav ccs either??

[10:23]  Jess SMSTrekker: not all ppl are going to be in debt

[10:23]  Renate SMSTrekker: eacly teens dont need CC it just is an unnessacry risk

[10:23]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: yea you havea point

[10:23]  Brangane SMSTrekker: exactly

[10:23]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: yea they do

[10:23]  Xenia SMSTrekker: yeah and then youend up buying what you want and you buy to much

[10:23]  Alesana SMSTrekker: most TEENS will be

[10:23]  Jess SMSTrekker: not really

[10:23]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: and wat about adults 2??

[10:23]  Brangane SMSTrekker: teens will take advantage and buy NEEDLESS things on a cc

[10:23]  Renate SMSTrekker: yea adults go into debt but it will be even worse wuth teens

[10:23]  Xenia SMSTrekker: yeah teens should use cash not credit cards

[10:23]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: did u learn about sumthin called the great depression

[10:23]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: adults can b as bad as teens

[10:24]  Jess SMSTrekker: true

[10:24]  Brangane SMSTrekker: they dont always go ibnto debt

[10:24]  Alesana SMSTrekker: yes they can

[10:24]  Cava SMSTrekker: very

[10:24]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: that was caused partly by adults going in2 debt

[10:24]  Alesana SMSTrekker: but

[10:24]  Renate SMSTrekker: yes the great depessiion 1 of the main causes was CC

[10:24]  Alesana SMSTrekker: teens dont have the maturity adults have

[10:24]  Brangane SMSTrekker: but not ALL ADULTS GO INTO DEBT

[10:24]  Jess SMSTrekker: CC are fine & thats final!

[10:24]  Brangane SMSTrekker: NO!

[10:24]  Leonora SMSTrekker: yeha but teens didnt have ccs it was the adullts

[10:24]  Jess SMSTrekker: rar

[10:24]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: and not all teens go in2 debt]

[10:24]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: the great depression was a long time ago and that cant happen again because of they new deals

[10:25]  Alesana SMSTrekker: not true

[10:25]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: yea

[10:25]  Brangane SMSTrekker: not at all

[10:25]  Alesana SMSTrekker: our economy rite now is terrible

[10:25]  Alesana SMSTrekker: were one step away from a depression

[10:25]  Alesana SMSTrekker: were in a recession

[10:25]  Brangane SMSTrekker: exactly

[10:25]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: no were not

[10:25]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: but there isnt going to b a great depression

[10:25]  Xenia SMSTrekker: so i guess nomatter who you are you should watch what you buywith a credit card and be carefulv with whatyou spend

[10:25]  Renate SMSTrekker: but thats not the piont the piont is it is bad enough wuth adults going into debt we donot need to ad teens into the mix also

[10:25]  Alesana SMSTrekker: we r

[10:25]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: were far waway from that

[10:25]  Brangane SMSTrekker: why spend more money on needless things? even a credit card for teens is NEEDLESS!

[10:25]  Jess SMSTrekker: credit cards are fine for teens

[10:26]  Alesana SMSTrekker: yeah!

[10:26]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: they r

[10:26]  Alesana SMSTrekker: they arent

[10:26]  Leonora SMSTrekker: yeah

[10:26]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: yes they r

[10:26]  Brangane SMSTrekker: this isnt just responsibility we r talkinq about we are talkinq about age

[10:26]  Renate SMSTrekker: Y, Y R they fine 4 teens???????

[10:26]  Jess SMSTrekker: if you think credit cards are fine say yes

[10:26]  Alesana SMSTrekker: i meant yeah bout something else not bout teend having ccs

[10:26]  Leonora SMSTrekker: the young people need responcibility

[10:26]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: and some adults act lik they are 10

[10:26]  Jess SMSTrekker: ys

[10:26]  Jess SMSTrekker: yes

[10:26]  Xenia SMSTrekker: yeah but not all teens are responsible

[10:26]  Renate SMSTrekker: hats not a debate u have to say Y!

[10:26]  Alesana SMSTrekker: they will have debt!

[10:26]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: but not all ppl of the same age have the same responsiblity sum r more mature

[10:26]  Alesana SMSTrekker: tons of it

[10:26]  Alesana SMSTrekker: they shoodnt learn the hardway

[10:26]  Brangane SMSTrekker: im not chanqinq my oppinion

[10:27]  Jess SMSTrekker: adults have the same risks as kids

[10:27]  Alesana SMSTrekker: noooo

[10:27]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: ok then ud hav 2

[10:27]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: yes they do

[10:27]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: ya hey do

[10:27]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: they*

[10:27]  Renate SMSTrekker: i still think teens shudnt have CC…….thanks guys 4 a good debate!

[10:27]  Brangane SMSTrekker: nobecause what u dont understand is that they aere MUCHH MORE MATURE THEN US.THEY HAVE MUCH MORE EXPERIENCE

[10:27]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: not relly

[10:27]  Alesana SMSTrekker: YES!!!!!!!!!

[10:27]  Alesana SMSTrekker: yes they do

[10:28]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: no

[10:28]  Alesana SMSTrekker: they lived longer then us

[10:28]  Brangane SMSTrekker: same thanks. (:

[10:28]  Alesana SMSTrekker: they experieced more

[10:28]  Brangane SMSTrekker: …

[10:28]  Alesana SMSTrekker: experienced*

[10:28]  Xenia SMSTrekker: i dnot think they should have them.theyd waste too much money on wants

[10:28]  Brangane SMSTrekker: yes.

[10:28]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: that doesnt matter

[10:28]  Brangane SMSTrekker: yes it does!

[10:28]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: no

[10:28]  Leonora SMSTrekker: i agree that teens should have credit cards because it gives them freedom, responcibility and experience and if they go into debt thye learn from their mistakes

[10:28]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: yes it doews

[10:28]  Renate SMSTrekker: thanks guys

[10:28]  Zwetana SMSTrekker: yes good

[10:28]  Alesana SMSTrekker: thank you

[10:28]  Jess SMSTrekker: credit casrds aref ne

[10:28]  Alesana SMSTrekker: for a good debate(:

[10:28]  Xenia SMSTrekker: thanks.

[10:28]  Proxy Hillburn is Online

[10:29]  Jess SMSTrekker: no

[10:29]  Brangane SMSTrekker: cc are not for teens but alright.

[10:29]  Renate SMSTrekker: i’ll do the desagree

[10:29]  Brangane SMSTrekker: thanks guys. (:

[10:29]  Xenia SMSTrekker: okay

[10:29]  Lindemannia SMSTrekker: they are

[10:29]  Jess SMSTrekker: okay!!!

[10:30]  Bandusia SMSTrekker: in conclusion of teens having credit cards i think they should not be given the responsibilty of such money. the debt is verry destructing iit could change your live for ever. responsibilty is tackin advantige from aduts but we need to give our children a good futrue.. thank u for your respect every one

[10:31]  Titania SMSTrekker is Offline

[10:33]  Bondia SMSTrekker is Offline

[10:33]  Platform-Four whispers: Platform-Four now descending.

Family and Consumer Science teacher, Gail Yodowitz, had her students debate the issue of the media’s impact on kids’ food choices –  and as always, the kids had some pretty interesting things to say!

POD 2
[8:03]  Platform-Two whispers: Platform-Two now ascending.

[8:04]  Lei Hillburn: Hello will

[8:04]  Lei Hillburn: We are here today to discuss tv food advertising.

[8:04]  Quachita Hillburn: hi

[8:04]  Arkansas Hillburn: i agree that tv influences a child’s diet

[8:04]  Lei Hillburn: i disagre

[8:05]  Quachita Hillburn: i agree

[8:05]  Banalore Hillburn: I also agree that tv influences a childs food choices

[8:05]  Lei Hillburn: what about you banalore

[8:05]  Lei Hillburn: The adds don’t buy the products for the kids

[8:05]  Arkansas Hillburn: Children see about 4,000 to 6,000 tv ads a year, and 4,000 of them are about junk food

[8:05]  Lei Hillburn: no matter how hard they try : )

[8:06]  Banalore Hillburn: some kids get addicted to tv and cannot stop

[8:06]  Quachita Hillburn: true also obisiti comes in

[8:06]  Lei Hillburn: Parents are the ones with the final decision

[8:07]  Banalore Hillburn: yah, an tv makes kids think that the food is cool with enjoying music and funny characters

[8:07]  Lei Hillburn: so its there decision on what they buy for thier children

[8:07]  Quachita Hillburn: it comes in because kid just sit and wach tv and body fat stores

[8:07]  Arkansas Hillburn: well sometimes parents don’t let them buy products but there are patterns in purchasing

[8:07]  Lei Hillburn: yes that’s where i’m coming from!

[8:07]  Quachita Hillburn: yes and its not right

[8:07]  Arkansas Hillburn: Most ads do not promote healthy foods

[8:07]  Lei Hillburn: no

[8:08]  Lei Hillburn: and the parents buy this stuff

[8:08]  Banalore Hillburn: some parents are not being as serious as they should be when it coms to food choices

[8:08]  Arkansas Hillburn: i never said that all ads do

[8:08]  Quachita Hillburn: parents should buy healthy food 4 them and not select non healthy

[8:08]  Lei Hillburn: and their not the ones who watch the advertising

[8:08]  Banalore Hillburn: yah they shood

[8:08]  Arkansas Hillburn: so it is kind of the parents fault

[8:08]  Lei Hillburn: exactly

[8:09]  Banalore Hillburn: yes, it’s the way they treat their children

[8:09]  Quachita Hillburn: true but u want 2 live long and by eating healthy it helps

[8:09]  Lei Hillburn: the parents buy it but don’t watch the adds so the adds don’t persuade them

[8:09]  Banalore Hillburn: yes it does

[8:09]  Banalore Hillburn: by doing that you will b strong and have more energy

[8:10]  Quachita Hillburn: yes you can play sports and have fun

[8:10]  Lei Hillburn: Although i agree that healthy foods should be more advertised

[8:10]  Banalore Hillburn: yes they shood more than junk food

[8:10]  Arkansas Hillburn: I think once a child sees a food ad on tv they crave that product

[8:10]  Quachita Hillburn: ya then kid will eat better

[8:11]  Landro Hillburn: hi im new im agree

[8:11]  Lei Hillburn: landro what position are you

[8:11]  Landro Hillburn: agree

[8:11]  Quachita Hillburn: so do u have any thind 2 say

[8:11]  Lei Hillburn: im really outnumbered here now

[8:11]  Landro Hillburn: yes

[8:11]  Lei Hillburn: go back and grab someone who’s disagree

[8:11]  Quachita Hillburn: then say ur mind

[8:12]  Lei Hillburn: but i can type faster than all of you in second life

[8:12]  Arkansas Hillburn: 90% of United States TV ads are about food. That there has to say something for itself

[8:12]  Lei Hillburn: lol this will be a tough battle

[8:12]  Landro Hillburn: ahh yea rite 

[8:12]  Landro Hillburn: w,e,

[8:13]  Lei Hillburn: but maybe the best diplomat

[8:13]  Banalore Hillburn: tv people try to convinice children so they cood get money

[8:13]  Lei Hillburn: win

[8:13]  Arkansas Hillburn: ya money is the big thing in ads

[8:13]  Lei Hillburn: but the parents buy the products without even watching the adds

[8:13]  Lei Hillburn: !!!

[8:13]  Banalore Hillburn: yep

[8:13]  Landro Hillburn: food safty and intervention postivly in fulenes colage kids

[8:14]  Quachita Hillburn: yes that is why people shold advertise healthy foods

[8:14]  Lei Hillburn: hmm

[8:14]  Lei Hillburn: sorry about that

[8:14]  Banalore Hillburn: well it influences more children becuz they watch tv a lot!!!!!

[8:14]  Landro Hillburn: food choices during teen years may influens canser risk later in lif

[8:15]  Landro Hillburn: ew

[8:15]  Arkansas Hillburn: parents should cut down on their child tv time

[8:15]  Landro Hillburn: i know rite

[8:15]  Banalore Hillburn: yes and make them go outside to get some energy

[8:15]  Lei Hillburn shouts: but the parents buy the products without watching the adds!!!

[8:15]  Arkansas Hillburn: that way there will not be a lot of unhealthy food products in there house

[8:15]  Quachita Hillburn: 4 en example the fruts they put when they say real fruit juice its true

[8:16]  Banalore Hillburn: yah and also they shood lower the amolunt of food they show on tv

[8:16]  Landro Hillburn: yes they should

[8:17]  Quachita Hillburn: yi think they shold lower the pice on healthy food and raise the price on non

[8:18]  Lei Hillburn: kids should know what food choices through shool and FACS

[8:18]  Banalore Hillburn: yes and reduce the amount of junk foods needed

[8:18]  Landro Hillburn: i donbt have anymore facts abotu this i only had 2

[8:18]  Quachita Hillburn: yes the shold also give more choices of healthy foods a schools

[8:18]  Banalore Hillburn: but their parents also need to try to tell them

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

POD 5

[7:56]  Platform-Five whispers: Platform-Five now ascending.

[7:56]  Lafiel Hillburn: what just happened?

[7:57]  Lafiel Hillburn: hi

[7:58]  Nuevala Hillburn: is everyone on the agree side

[7:58]  Rain Hillburn: no

[7:58]  Nuevala Hillburn: no

[7:58]  Rain Hillburn: im disagree

[7:58]  Lafiel Hillburn: i am on the agree side

[7:58]  Nuevala Hillburn: me 2

[7:59]  Latro Hillburn: me 2

[7:59]  Rain Hillburn: say i if ur agree

[7:59]  Nuevala Hillburn: i

[7:59]  Rain Hillburn: now say I if ur ur disagree

[8:00]  Latro Hillburn: i m agree

[8:00]  Rain Hillburn: ok thts everyone

[8:00]  Nuevala Hillburn: ?

[8:00]  Rain Hillburn: except me

[8:00]  Latro Hillburn: k so does someone want 2 start

[8:00]  Lafiel Hillburn: u know 177 million children under 18 r overweight or obese

[8:00]  Rain Hillburn: im disagree lartos agree nuevala is agree and lafiel is agree

[8:01]  Rain Hillburn: k

[8:02]  Latro Hillburn: people r atracted by sports players drinking or eating food products and they will think they r cool if they drink it

[8:02]  Nuevala Hillburn: yea

[8:02]  Rain Hillburn: fast food can be healthy there just not healthy when alot is consumed

[8:02]  Latro Hillburn: i agree

[8:03]  Lafiel Hillburn: two thirds of commercials r food ones

[8:03]  Nuevala Hillburn: i think if kids watch tv less they will se less fatting commercials

[8:03]  Latro Hillburn: i agree but thats what kids do!

[8:04]  Rain Hillburn: true there should be more comercials tellin kids to get up and platy

[8:04]  Rain Hillburn: play sorry

[8:05]  Latro Hillburn: and shows like spongbob make them want 2 eat because of something like a krabby patty

[8:05]  Nuevala Hillburn: lol

[8:05]  Lafiel Hillburn: 22 million of the 177 kids r under 5 years old and they r overweight

[8:05]  Lafiel Hillburn: from watching t.v ads

[8:05]  Latro Hillburn: ya

[8:05]  Rain Hillburn: but children dont worry about tht they dont pay attention to that they just wait for the funny parts

[8:06]  Lafiel Hillburn: children become over weight because of the food ads. there r so many of them

[8:06]  Latro Hillburn: r u kidding thats what my cousins do jon they always want hamburgers cause of krabby patties

[8:07]  Nuevala Hillburn: children could exercize wile they watch tv and stuff

[8:07]  Rain Hillburn: or just sto[ wathcing tv

[8:07]  Lafiel Hillburn: i dont think they would want to excersise

[8:08]  Latro Hillburn: would u want 2 stop whatchin tv

[8:08]  Nuevala Hillburn: no

[8:08]  Rain Hillburn: there should be a time were cable goes off like at 3 45 it goes off then at 7 00 it goes bak on

[8:08]  Lafiel Hillburn: my sister always jumps around though when she is watching t,v

[8:08]  Nuevala Hillburn: thats on m tv

[8:09]  Rain Hillburn: ya really

[8:09]  Latro Hillburn: ya but the piont of tv is to relax

[8:09]  Nuevala Hillburn: u kan set up a timer 4 as long as u want 2 watch tv

[8:09]  Rain Hillburn: yes

[8:09]  Latro Hillburn: ok ur right

[8:10]  Nuevala Hillburn: it goes like 30 minutes then 60 90 120 and thats it

[8:10]  Rain Hillburn: yes kids should only have an hour to watch tv

[8:10]  Lafiel Hillburn: ya

[8:10]  Latro Hillburn: why wood they shut off the tv for an hour thats how the tv companies make there money

[8:11]  Rain Hillburn: and parents should control childrens tv

[8:11]  Latro Hillburn: just sayin

[8:11]  Nuevala Hillburn: i think kids can wach tv as long as they want as long as they exercise

[8:11]  Lafiel Hillburn: well parents can shut it off

[8:11]  Rain Hillburn: they should also not shop with there kids so the kids cant get the products and the parents get them there self

[8:11]  Lafiel Hillburn: well kids dont excersise a lot

[8:12]  Lafiel Hillburn: some do

[8:12]  Latro Hillburn: kids should not be forced 2 exercise acording to united nations

[8:12]  Nuevala Hillburn: there are good commercials about like 2 quit smoking or 2 eat healthy

[8:12]  Lafiel Hillburn: well they should know to excesise

[8:13]  Rain Hillburn: thts why tv needs a system were cable can only be watched 7:00 to 9:30

[8:13]  Nuevala Hillburn: there already is 1

[8:13]  Lafiel Hillburn: that means no money for t.v companies

[8:13]  Nuevala Hillburn: true

[8:13]  Rain Hillburn: ok well it should be free and for every single tv in the world

[8:14]  Latro Hillburn: but thats also not apart of the constution they should not be forced to do anything

[8:14]  Nuevala Hillburn: true that

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________[7:57]  Clovetor Hillburn: this is wierd

[7:57]  Clovetor Hillburn: were like over the ocean

[7:57]  Copper Hillburn: hi ik

[7:57]  Dhaka Hillburn: i thinkwe r in the sky

[7:57]  Clovetor Hillburn: oh

[7:57]  Copper Hillburn: who r u sitting nxt 2

[7:57]  Windseer Hillburn: we r not in the sky its a chat room

[7:58]  Clovetor Hillburn: oh

[7:58]  Windseer Hillburn: alright so lets do this thang

[7:58]  Shenyang Hillburn: goyanks

[7:59]  Dhaka Hillburn: I agree that television influences the food choices of children.

[7:59]  Copper Hillburn: i believe television influences kids choices

[7:59]  Clovetor Hillburn: me too

[7:59]  Windseer Hillburn: I think that tv doenst affect liitle kids

[7:59]  Clovetor Hillburn: i think it does

[7:59]  Windseer Hillburn: well most of the things r good

[7:59]  Windseer Hillburn: like healthy

[7:59]  Shenyang Hillburn: I agree that tv commercialsi nfluence kids

[7:59]  Copper Hillburn: small children cant tell the diff. between their fav. tv shows and ads

[7:59]  Quachita Hillburn is Online

[7:59]  Clovetor Hillburn: not most of them r healthy though

[7:59]  Shenyang Hillburn: the food looks to good to be true

[8:00]  Clovetor Hillburn: i agree witcopper

[8:00]  Windseer Hillburn: no im serious they even make games to choose the rite foods

[8:00]  Dhaka Hillburn: if your parents spoil you or don’t care about what you eat or buy, your food choices are made by yourself

[8:00]  London Hillburn: i think that they use celebrtities to make kids want there items

[8:00]  Dhaka Hillburn: yeah i c that all the time

[8:00]  Windseer Hillburn: well ur parents should keep a good tv watching environment

[8:00]  Copper Hillburn: banning fast food can reduce the # of overweight children by 18%

[8:00]  Harbin Hillburn: Well some kids know what to and not to eat and can make chioces not accoridng to ads

[8:00]  Dhaka Hillburn: wow

[8:00]  Shenyang Hillburn: kids think that toys that come with food make food taste better

[8:00]  Windseer Hillburn: dont agree

[8:00]  Shenyang Hillburn: why do you not agree

[8:00]  London Hillburn: they give out prizes so kids wan them

[8:01]  Dhaka Hillburn: television ads are placed between meals so that kids will want the snacks that are advertised

[8:01]  London Hillburn: it addictinging

[8:01]  London Hillburn: for kids

[8:01]  Copper Hillburn: commercials make kids ache 4 food

[8:01]  London Hillburn: i no

[8:01]  Windseer Hillburn: kelloggs will start to show healthier ads

[8:01]  Copper Hillburn: do we have any people here that dont agree

[8:01]  Dhaka Hillburn: i luv commercials more than shows sometimes so do my sisterts

[8:01]  Windseer Hillburn: Me

[8:01]  London Hillburn: they will eat junk food instead of good food

[8:01]  Dhaka Hillburn: i mean sisters

[8:01]  Shenyang Hillburn: when kids watch tv food commercials are alway in between the shows

[8:01]  London Hillburn: they will change their habits

[8:01]  Windseer Hillburn: I am the only one that disagrees

[8:02]  Shenyang Hillburn: ya

[8:02]  Clovetor Hillburn: also kids thatsee thing that look good rly rly rly ant it

[8:02]  London Hillburn: u gotta eat good food

[8:02]  Windseer Hillburn: well i think that i have stated my point and am outnumbered

[8:02]  London Hillburn: or else u will get fat

[8:02]  Dhaka Hillburn: and there r so many commercials that r repeated

[8:02]  Shenyang Hillburn: fine ill changer sides

[8:02]  Clovetor Hillburn: somethimes kids get cofused between whats good and bad cause of commercials

[8:02]  Dhaka Hillburn: its annoying

[8:02]  Windseer Hillburn: not true u dont always get fat its just not a good balanc

[8:02]  London Hillburn: u willl be not be happy with ur results

[8:03]  Copper Hillburn: there r being plans 2 study inks between ads habits and food choices

[8:03]  Dhaka Hillburn: yeah but 2 much fat can lead 2 probs

[8:03]  London Hillburn: if u eat too much though

[8:03]  Windseer Hillburn: yes ai agree on that

[8:03]  Dhaka Hillburn: yeah and most ads are for fast foods

[8:03]  London Hillburn: overeat

[8:03]  London Hillburn: yeah

[8:03]  Clovetor Hillburn: its not fat thats the prob its how much you eat

[8:03]  London Hillburn: lke mcdonalds

[8:03]  Windseer Hillburn: but its not good if u overeat o good foods either

[8:03]  London Hillburn: yeah

[8:03]  Clovetor Hillburn: yea

[8:04]  Copper Hillburn: diets of eating just eating whats on tv is putting weoght on children

[8:04]  London Hillburn: they also say its going to be fruity

[8:04]  London Hillburn: \but its not

[8:04]  London Hillburn: they lie

[8:04]  Shenyang Hillburn: when kids ask for tastey food its because kids at school have them

[8:04]  Clovetor Hillburn: when irts not rly fruity

[8:04]  Dhaka Hillburn: wellthere was this guy in florida whowas in the news that ate mcdonalds everyday and he died

[8:04]  Copper Hillburn: weight*

[8:04]  Windseer Hillburn: no it is affectinfg them in a good way like i previously dsaid

[8:04]  London Hillburn: they say the bad stuff in small text on food coimmericals

[8:04]  Clovetor Hillburn: yea he died cause he ate 2 much

[8:04]  Harbin Hillburn: the ad doesnt but the food for the kids so they may never even try it..

[8:04]  London Hillburn: yup

[8:04]  Shenyang Hillburn: windseer this shenyang im backing you up

[8:04]  Copper Hillburn: fat can sometimes b good but 2 much of it will get u sick

[8:05]  Dhaka Hillburn: but do parents rlly no if their kid is sharing food at school

[8:05]  Windseer Hillburn: u cant die of overeating its a hard process

[8:05]  London Hillburn: fastfood ruins their life in a lot of ways

[8:05]  Windseer Hillburn: i know

[8:05]  Copper Hillburn: but eventually u will

[8:05]  Windseer Hillburn: so

[8:05]  Harbin Hillburn: The ads may influence what the kids get want but not what they gett

[8:05]  Dhaka Hillburn: srry my spacebar isnt working well

[8:05]  London Hillburn: yeah

[8:05]  Clovetor Hillburn: u can dies cause if u overeast then u can get too fat and not have the rite nutrients in you

[8:05]  Windseer Hillburn: and i thought this was about kids not adults

[8:05]  Copper Hillburn: u wanna ddie from eating what commercials say are “FRUITY”

[8:06]  Clovetor Hillburn: its bout both

[8:06]  London Hillburn: u gotta listen to the food pyramid

[8:06]  Windseer Hillburn: u need nutrients and u get them often in amny foosds

[8:06]  Copper Hillburn: exactly

[8:06]  Harbin Hillburn: Ppl r educated in school and stuff that ads lie so they dont buy that stuff

[8:06]  Dhaka Hillburn: still unhealt y eating as a kid can lead to adult probs

[8:06]  Shenyang Hillburn: you see when kids get foods they barely know about them and then they start like the food and then they keep getting it

[8:06]  London Hillburn: a lot of grains an d meat and veggies

[8:06]  Clovetor Hillburn: but only untill 6 grade b 4 then they dont know that

[8:06]  Windseer Hillburn: rite

[8:06]  London Hillburn: not oils and fats

[8:06]  London Hillburn: yup

[8:06]  Shenyang Hillburn: we are home

[8:06]  Copper Hillburn: need 2 eat real fruits not fuity snacks or drinks

[8:06]  Windseer Hillburn: yes but oils and fats are occasional

[8:06]  Harbin Hillburn: Lots of kids are sooo used to ads and almost immune to it so they ignore it

[8:06]  Clovetor Hillburn: yea

[8:06]  Windseer Hillburn: and with moderation

[8:06]  London Hillburn: ya i agree

[8:06]  Copper Hillburn: not many

[8:07]  Dhaka Hillburn: but kids think they taste good so they just keepon eating

[8:07]  London Hillburn: they repeat so much

[8:07]  London Hillburn: i ni

[8:07]  Windseer Hillburn: kids arent immune to veggies

[8:07]  London Hillburn: i no

[8:07]  Windseer Hillburn: they just choose nt 23

[8:07]  Harbin Hillburn: But none is even better than moderation

[8:07]  London Hillburn: ya

[8:07]  Dhaka Hillburn: but how many of u liked spinach as a kid

[8:07]  Windseer Hillburn: no i dont agree

[8:07]  Copper Hillburn: the ads give wrong messages about what is healthy

[8:07]  London Hillburn: i donbt like them either but it is healthy for me

[8:07]  Windseer Hillburn: u can have moderation

[8:07]  London Hillburn: ya

[8:07]  Windseer Hillburn: evry1 needs sweetes

[8:07]  Harbin Hillburn: no windseer i no … theyre immun to addddds

[8:07]  Shenyang Hillburn: its just that we make them tast better by offering something like a dfip with it

[8:08]  Windseer Hillburn: noooo

[8:08]  Windseer Hillburn: theryre nottt

[8:08]  Harbin Hillburn: Who r u shenyang

[8:08]  London Hillburn: once u see the nutriction facts u r sppechless

[8:08]  Shenyang Hillburn: go yankees

[8:08]  Copper Hillburn: right more kids need 2 check the nutrition facts

[8:08]  Windseer Hillburn: but u can still moderate

[8:08]  Windseer Hillburn: have small portion smayb

[8:08]  London Hillburn: ya

[8:08]  Dhaka Hillburn: i no im surprised they post them in mcdonalds

[8:08]  Clovetor Hillburn: also kids get atracted 2 ads bc somethimes they use prizes and contestes

[8:08]  London Hillburn: i no

[8:08]  London Hillburn: its crazy

[8:08]  Harbin Hillburn: Alot o f kids notice the dif. between want s and needs and dont bother to ask for the food on the ads

[8:08]  Shenyang Hillburn: im ryan

[8:08]  Windseer Hillburn: thts wut i am talking about people say t2 eat better foods

[8:09]  London Hillburn: when they see they can win 100 dollars they want to buy that itme

[8:09]  Copper Hillburn: yes but many r spoiled and still ask’

[8:09]  Dhaka Hillburn: remeber there r a lot of kids that r spoiled out there

[8:09]  Dhaka Hillburn: that watch tv

[8:09]  London Hillburn: the odds r like 1in 30

[8:09]  Clovetor Hillburn: yea but i know that when i c somrthin on ads i want it no matter wat it tasetes like

[8:09]  Shenyang Hillburn: alot of foods on tv are good foods

[8:09]  London Hillburn: its almost impossible

[8:09]  Clovetor Hillburn: not rky most r bad

[8:09]  Lionheart Hillburn is Offline

[8:09]  Copper Hillburn: that doesnt mean its healhty

[8:09]  Harbin Hillburn: and plus in the end the kids dont make the decision on what to eat the parents do

[8:09]  London Hillburn: ya

[8:09]  Windseer Hillburn: 1 in 30 is not even close its more like 1 in 1,000,000

[8:09]  London Hillburn: i no

[8:09]  Copper Hillburn: yes but some parents may nit b responsible

[8:09]  London Hillburn: they lie so much in the commercials

[8:09]  Shenyang Hillburn: no 1 in 10000000000000000000000000

[8:10]  Dhaka Hillburn: thats wazt im saying

[8:10]  Clovetor Hillburn: but if u wine enough ur parents can get oit 4 u

[8:10]  Harbin Hillburn: most telivised foods are really bad

[8:10]  London Hillburn: 1 in 10000000000000000000000000000000000000

[8:10]  Windseer Hillburn: the thing is, kids just hav 2 learn from thier parents wut is good and wut is bad

[8:10]  London Hillburn: lol

[8:10]  Harbin Hillburn: you just cant tell

[8:10]  Copper Hillburn: thats not true

[8:10]  London Hillburn: u gotta listen to ur parents

[8:10]  Harbin Hillburn: whos copper

[8:10]  Shenyang Hillburn: who is harbin

[8:10]  Harbin Hillburn: hannah

[8:10]  Copper Hillburn: some parents rnt responsibe

[8:10]  Shenyang Hillburn: o

[8:10]  London Hillburn: they not what is good and wat is bad 4 u

[8:10]  Harbin Hillburn: copper who r u

[8:10]  Harbin Hillburn: ???

[8:10]  Copper Hillburn: kate

[8:10]  Windseer Hillburn: u absolutely hav 2 listen 2 ur parents they kno best

[8:10]  Dhaka Hillburn: wat if ur parents rnot a good influence though

[8:10]  Harbin Hillburn: hi kate

[8:10]  Shenyang Hillburn: shenyang thats me is ryan

[8:10]  Copper Hillburn: no some parents dont and hi

[8:10]  London Hillburn: then dont listen

[8:11]  London Hillburn: ask a friend or cousin

[8:11]  London Hillburn: or uncle

[8:11]  Windseer Hillburn: well then they r bad parents that a different top[ic

[8:11]  Clovetor Hillburn: some parents just dont rly try 2 b healthy they get u whatever u want

[8:11]  London Hillburn: or aunt

[8:11]  Shenyang Hillburn: the winner of this debate is AGREE

[8:11]  Windseer Hillburn: nuh uh

[8:11]  London Hillburn: yes

[8:11]  London Hillburn: AGREE

[8:11]  Copper Hillburn: yes we kinda knw that

[8:11]  Harbin Hillburn: Usually if parents are a bad ifluence the kids still learn whats right outside of home

[8:11]  Clovetor Hillburn: yea agfree wuns

[8:11]  London Hillburn: yeah

[8:11]  Windseer Hillburn: im making good points back aand forth

[8:11]  Shenyang Hillburn: sorry windseer but you LOST

[8:11]  London Hillburn: its irresttble to kids

[8:11]  Clovetor Hillburn: lol

[8:11]  Dhaka Hillburn: yeah by eating the cookies they sellhere

[8:11]  Dhaka Hillburn: that r loaded with fat

[8:11]  Windseer Hillburn: noooooo

[8:11]  Windseer Hillburn: nooooo

[8:11]  Harbin Hillburn: yeaa dissagree is good to

[8:12]  Harbin Hillburn: !!!!

[8:12]  Windseer Hillburn: MODERATION

[8:12]  Copper Hillburn: no some friend have unhealthy foods and r bad influenc3s

[8:12]  London Hillburn: 300 for evey cookie almost

[8:12]  Windseer Hillburn: thank u harbin

[8:12]  London Hillburn: caloies

[8:12]  Shenyang Hillburn: cookies are good once in a while but not allthe time

[8:12]  Copper Hillburn: right

[8:12]  London Hillburn: yes tr

[8:12]  London Hillburn: ue

[8:12]  Harbin Hillburn: Thank you windseer

[8:12]  Clovetor Hillburn: winseer i know but who actually does moderation

[8:12]  Dhaka Hillburn: thats not wat happens here

[8:12]  Shenyang Hillburn: ive run out of things to say

[8:12]  Harbin Hillburn: (Imm dissagree

[8:12]  Windseer Hillburn: u havnt said anything ryasn\

[8:12]  London Hillburn: ok

[8:12]  Windseer Hillburn: (cool)

[8:12]  Shenyang Hillburn: HARBIN AND WINDSEER LOST

[8:12]  Harbin Hillburn: i want to get off this podd already

[8:12]  London Hillburn: ya

[8:12]  Windseer Hillburn: ryan, ur ruining it

[8:13]  Copper Hillburn: where r u

[8:13]  Copper Hillburn: ryan

[8:13]  Shenyang Hillburn: what copper

[8:13]  Harbin Hillburn: I under stand the agree position but in the end parents make the last call cause they have the money

[8:13]  Windseer Hillburn: true tht

[8:13]  Dhaka Hillburn: wat if urpayed alloance

[8:13]  Clovetor Hillburn: no but tennagers have money and cars so somethimes parents dont

[8:13]  Copper Hillburn: i understand harbin and windseer but ads r big influences

[8:14]  Harbin Hillburn: That runs out quickly and only pays for a bag of chips

[8:14]  London Hillburn: sound efffects make it look crunchy

[8:14]  Windseer Hillburn: kids dont go out with money to but these thingss\ whe n thtey r attracted 2 them

[8:14]  Clovetor Hillburn: yea even 4 parebnts ads r big

[8:14]  Harbin Hillburn: besides how many times have you spent ur allowance on food?

[8:14]  Windseer Hillburn: which is a young age

[8:14]  Shenyang Hillburn: THE WINNER HAS BEEN AGREE FOR 10 MINUTES

[8:14]  Dhaka Hillburn: likecars and good cooking supplies

[8:14]  Windseer Hillburn: ryan, come on

[8:14]  London Hillburn: .0

[8:14]  Copper Hillburn: stop shenyag u rnt focusing

[8:14]  Dhaka Hillburn: i would

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Although our islands are physically adjacent – we are still not able to truly interact…Baby steps…You’ll note Struveana made his feelings very clear about this by raising a fence and wearing a militaristic avatar…

I might also add that I spent a great deal of time with Bernajean Porter and after watching her coach my kids last year and attending her storytelling camp last summer, I had learned quite a few skills to really coach kids to get to the heart of the story – or the message in this case. Echoing back to them what I heard them say – would get them to revise it – fine tune it and make it clear and hopefully powerful. It was really easy for them to generate a list of “complaints” and to talk about what they didn’t like but I kept reminding them that we needed to be part of the solution. So when they contributed something I would ask what the solution might look like – and we’d do some word play with it – That prompting seemed to get them on track with some of the positive comments. At one point I remember saying, “this reads like you think that your teachers wake up in the morning and start thinking of ways to make your life miserable!” What’s the flip side? — What are the teachers dealing with?

Then we started the arduous task of filming. The script was in a “rough cut” sequence and every student recorded every line. Hours were spent in the TV studio where we all learned quite a bit about filming, lighting, sound, etc.. and if you knew what landed on the “cutting room floor” (or, in this case, the trash bin in iMovie!) it would amaze you. The whole “future simile” section got wiped – (*the future is like a ball rolling down a hill- if you don’t grab it right away you might never catch up” – ” “the classroom shows us yesterday but the computer shows us the future” “the future is a bright white light shining outside” and many many more just didn’t make it into the script we ended up with because we just couldn’t fit it all in. We were aiming at 3 minutes and were already way past that. The creativity of my students amazed me! The kids started to ad lib- and I let them. “School should be more like a game…” was an ad lib— But, as always, we were under an enormous time crunch (and I take full responsibility for that as I had NO idea how time-consuming the process would be-duh!) so we had to keep it as simple and as “uncluttered” as possible. This was probably a blessing in disguise as I feel we would have ended up with a full length epic had we not had a deadline.

Then it was time to start the editing and we solicited the remarkable talent of Marianne Malmstrom- you may know her as the rainbow-winged samaritan in Second Life, “Knowclue Kidd”. We started chopping up the raw footage until we had every line grouped and listed in an excel sheet. We starting pulling them in and moving them around – trying to make sure that reach student was represented and that the stronger lines were used repeatedly. The kids wanted their Second Life footage used as well and always up for a challenge, Knowclue started inserting the machinima that her students at The Elisabeth Morrow School had filmed in Quest Atlantis and coached my kids in Second Life to film theirs. Putting it all together came down to (and slightly past) the wire. A snow day came to our rescue and we were able to devote some uninterrupted hours editing, and filming last minute footage with my kids logged into Ramapo Islands on their “day off”. Finally, we added original music, “Harpsicord” created by a former Suffern Middle School student, Larry Bordowitz.  Seeing the power of their film, and their message,  the kids are already asking to start a new video-this time about Second Life and video games!

The Net Generation wiki cn be found at: http://netgened.wikispaces.com

Most importantly, the kids reported feeling empowered, and that they had stayed true to their original message: The future belongs to them – and we are charged with the grave responsibility of getting them prepared for it.

Thanks to all of those who take up the torch each day—you know who you are! Keep the fire burning!

No Future Left Behind

Here is an unedited example of a portion of one group’s chat log:

[6:12]  Hermes SMSVoyager: I read monster
[6:12]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: hello.
[6:13]  Hermes SMSVoyager: k i’ll start.
[6:13]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: im 16
[6:13]  Hermes SMSVoyager: quote – who is speaking or saying the quote
[6:14]  Hermes SMSVoyager: ?
[6:14]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: monster?????
[6:14]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: oh< im not saying i. people are saying it about me
[6:14]  Hermes SMSVoyager: is there any certain person
[6:14]  Hermes SMSVoyager: ?
[6:14]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: his name is leo, he is realllyyyy anoying
[6:15]  Hermes SMSVoyager: oh and what can you in fer about the quote?
[6:15]  Hermes SMSVoyager: infer*
[6:15]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: well, i dont think its true, well some of it is. i just think i dont care what people say
[6:16]  You: do you guys love school like me?
[6:16]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: ummm ewww
[6:16]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: no way
[6:16]  Hermes SMSVoyager: i dont go to school i am like 19
[6:16]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: no college/
[6:16]  You: dont you go to a big school then?
[6:16]  Hermes SMSVoyager: what percentage of people like you hilliri and what percentage doesnt like you
[6:16]  Hermes SMSVoyager: ?
[6:17]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: i dont no, my group like me but i dont care about anyone else
[6:17]  You: hiliri? are your friends popular and cool/mean too?
[6:18]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: apsaloult
[6:18]  Hermes SMSVoyager: what does that word say/
[6:18]  Hermes SMSVoyager: ?
[6:18]  Hermes SMSVoyager: absolte?
[6:18]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: *abolutely
[6:18]  Hermes SMSVoyager: oh
[6:19]  You: do you guys like running? i love to run. but im not very fast
[6:19]  You: thats ho i earned my name loser”
[6:19]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: an agat, i dont know if i go to a big school< i just go to a high schoolk
[6:19]  You: how*
[6:19]  You: o
[6:19]  You: i go to a very little school
[6:19]  Hermes SMSVoyager: donald how did you feel when everyone ignored you and called you loser
[6:19]  Hermes SMSVoyager: ?
[6:19]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: i dont lke getting sweaty
[6:19]  You: elemntary school
[6:20]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: yea how did u feel. i would of hated it
[6:20]  You: i felt horrible. they just ignored me the whole time; basicly.
[6:20]  You: i felt really bad
[6:20]  You: ;(
[6:20]  Hermes SMSVoyager: oh thats horrible
[6:20]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: that would never happen to me, but im sorry it happend t you
[6:21]  Hermes SMSVoyager: what was the little girl’s name that you saved?
[6:21]  You: why wouldnt t happen to you?
[6:21]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: how old was shye?
[6:21]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: im like the most popular goirl in the grade!
[6:21]  You: she was very young. and she was a friend. but i didnt ectually save her
[6:21]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: you dident?
[6:22]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: i though you did?
[6:22]  You: nope. it turns out that she went back home after an hour. the police were actually searchiing for me th whole time. i thought they were looking for claudia (the little girl)
[6:22]  Hermes SMSVoyager: oh when you went out to save her why were you so dedicated to save the little girl? was it because you wanted to redeem yourself and lose the nick name loser or was it because something inside you knew you should do?
[6:23]  You: no. i felt sorry for her. i couldnt beleive she ranaway. her mother was scared and i didnt want claudia to freeze to death. in the snow
[6:23]  Hermes SMSVoyager: h thats nice
[6:24]  Hermes SMSVoyager: after the running away incident how did peopl treat you at school
[6:24]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: well yea that is nice. did you have any relations to the little girl
[6:24]  Hermes SMSVoyager: ?
[6:24]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: were rthey still bullys? or did tney see the good in you/
[6:24]  You: umm. the girl was very cute. i rode my bike past her huse everyonce and a while
[6:25]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: oh, so like she wa not your like sister or friend from school?
[6:25]  You: they were still bullies but they thught i was dumb. but some thought it was caring for me to try to save her so they picked my for kickball
[6:25]  Hermes SMSVoyager: hilliri was the reason you were mean to stargirl because you were afraid she would steal your popularity cause she was nicer than you?
[6:25]  You: she was alot younger then me
[6:25]  You: nope
[6:26]  Hermes SMSVoyager: and that ppl liked her better
[6:26]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: people know im not that nice. it just anoyed me that people could like someone like tht
[6:26]  Hermes SMSVoyager: oh
[6:26]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: she was like sooooo weird
[6:26]  Hermes SMSVoyager: do you and stargirl ever become friends?
[6:27]  You: you dont like wied people? people say im wierd
[6:27]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: yea well i just dident like the way people liked her.
[6:27]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: no me and stargirl never became friends
[6:27]  You: why ?what was wrong ith her?
[6:27]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: she lives in nher own little world
[6:27]  Hermes SMSVoyager: so your saying you were jealous without using the word jealous
[6:28]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: she had a differnt outlook on life and the way she acted
[6:28]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: yea i guess, not really tho
[6:28]  Hermes SMSVoyager: ask questions about me
[6:28]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: why are you named monster
[6:29]  You: did you ever caught by police. and why were you always running? what did you do wrong?
[6:29]  Hermes SMSVoyager: thats my nick name i got it from the police my real name is steven harmon
[6:29]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: why do they call you that though?
[6:30]  Hermes SMSVoyager: i did nothing wrong the police arrested me because they thought i was involved in a robbery and murdr case although i wasnt
[6:30]  You: wy did they arrest you and not the person who did it?
[6:30]  You: why*
[6:30]  Amaliar SMSVoyager: where you friends w. the real convict?

[7:43]  Ballesty SMSTeacher: thanks for sitting in, I told them you complimented their discussion and the other groups were saying, ” Why didn’t she sit in on our discussion?!”  I love when they compete for praise & positive reinforcement!
Here is the chat log (unedited):

Jess SMSTrekker: GO TO YOUR DESIGNATED DISCUSSION PODS AND KEEP THIS NOTE CARD OPEN SO YOU CAN DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:
1. Define the world “culture.” What is it? What does this word
mean to you?
2. How are your family’s culture and traditions affected by where
you live?
3. What effect does your culture have on you as a person, your identity, or your self esteem?
4. How is your main character’s environment affecting how they
feel about themselves and/or their family’s culture

[7:05]  Agnia SMSTrekker: culture is the way someone lives
[7:05]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea and maxi was not forgetting their culture in sudan
[7:06]  Agnia SMSTrekker: what do u guys think
[7:06]  Agnia SMSTrekker: culture is like how you do things
[7:06]  Amsen SMSTrekker: ya but he has made some changes when he came to the us like how he acts
[7:06]  Agnia SMSTrekker: what foods u eat
[7:06]  Agnia SMSTrekker: stuff like that
[7:06]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea it’s wat u belive also
[7:06]  Amsen SMSTrekker: like mawi has learned that he doesnt hve to fight like he does in sudan
[7:07]  Agnia SMSTrekker: how you do things around thehouse
[7:07]  Agnia SMSTrekker: what sports you play
[7:08]  Agnia SMSTrekker: thats what culture is
[7:08]  Chaser Brody: can you be more specific about what culture is? And how does Mawi experience “new” culture?
[7:08]  Jess SMSTrekker: culture effects the way u act
[7:08]  Chaser Brody: How?
[7:08]  Chaser Brody: examples plz
[7:08]  Agnia SMSTrekker: he eats injera bread
[7:08]  Jess SMSTrekker: ur religion wat u belive!
[7:08]  Amsen SMSTrekker: and the soup hnsha
[7:09]  Agnia SMSTrekker: we are relating it to mawi now
[7:09]  Agnia SMSTrekker: guys
[7:09]  Agnia SMSTrekker: he relates halloween to his holiday
[7:09]  Jess SMSTrekker: they could fight in sudan but now in america they can’t1
[7:09]  Agnia SMSTrekker: whats it called again
[7:09]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yae
[7:09]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yea?
[7:09]  Amsen SMSTrekker: his traditions have changed since he moved to the us before he went around saying hoyo, hoyo and now it is trick or treat
[7:09]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yea*
[7:10]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yeah
[7:10]  Jess SMSTrekker: yup
[7:10]  Agnia SMSTrekker: he remembered his holiday where they say hoyo hoyo and he pretends that halloween is that holiday
[7:10]  Jess SMSTrekker: Talk about Q #4
[7:11]  Agnia SMSTrekker: our families
[7:11]  Agnia SMSTrekker: culture
[7:11]  Amsen SMSTrekker: he tries to fit in but some kids bully him thats when he fight bak
[7:11]  Amsen SMSTrekker: like when sam cornerd him in the school yard
[7:11]  Agnia SMSTrekker: we live in American so we eat a lot of fast food and play a lot of baseball and other american sports
[7:11]  Jess SMSTrekker: we follow our ancestors belives
[7:12]  Amsen SMSTrekker: we live the american dream
[7:12]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea do american stuff
[7:12]  Chaser Brody: Hmmmm DO we? Do we live it or do we aim for it?
[7:12]  Amsen SMSTrekker: the american way of life
[7:12]  Agnia SMSTrekker: aim for it
[7:12]  Chaser Brody: AHhh I see
[7:12]  Amsen SMSTrekker: aim for it bc not everyone is perfect
[7:12]  Agnia SMSTrekker: we try and follow it as best we can
[7:12]  Jess SMSTrekker: well we want to achive different things in america b/c we have more stuff
[7:13]  Amsen SMSTrekker: it is like unwritten rules that we all just do
[7:13]  Agnia SMSTrekker: more opportunities
[7:13]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea
[7:13]  Amsen SMSTrekker: like if u dont play sports ppl think ur wierd or somethin
[7:13]  Agnia SMSTrekker: we live bc we are scared about what other people thik
[7:13]  Jess SMSTrekker: we aim higher than other countries
[7:13]  Amsen SMSTrekker: good point jason i agree
[7:13]  Agnia SMSTrekker: to many people are under peer pressure
[7:14]  Amsen SMSTrekker: bc we have higher standards for ourselves
[7:14]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea, wat question is this/
[7:14]  Chaser Brody: So you are saying we aim higher than, CHina? India? England? Australia?
[7:14]  Agnia SMSTrekker: i dont know
[7:14]  Ballesty SMSTeacher: REMEMBER IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT COMES UP FROM THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD DISCUSS IT EVEN IF YOU DON’T GET TO ALL THE QUESTIONS TODAY. YOU WILL HAVE MORE TIME NEXT WEEK TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, SO USE YOUR TIME TO HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS EVEN IF THEY DRIFT AWAY FROM THE QUESTION. FEEL FREE TO REFERENCE THE BOOK WHEN ANSWERING QUESTIONS. USING THE TEXT FOR QUOTES IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE DOING!
[7:14]  Chaser Brody: *smiles* intresting thing to research at another time, eh?
[7:14]  Jess SMSTrekker: ok
[7:14]  Amsen SMSTrekker: i think that we try to put ourselves at the top
[7:15]  Agnia SMSTrekker: lets do #3
[7:15]  Amsen SMSTrekker: but countries like china out work us
[7:15]  Amsen SMSTrekker is Online
[7:15]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea america is #1
[7:15]  Agnia SMSTrekker: they work harder i guess
[7:15]  Agnia SMSTrekker: in money
[7:15]  Agnia SMSTrekker: not hardworking
[7:15]  Jess SMSTrekker: and millitary
[7:15]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yeah
[7:15]  Agnia SMSTrekker: lets do #3
[7:15]  Jess SMSTrekker: ok #3
[7:15]  Amsen SMSTrekker: i think that we think that we’re #1 but we aren’t making inventions as much as we use to
[7:16]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea but do #3
[7:16]  Amsen SMSTrekker: china is starting to creep up on us
[7:16]  Agnia SMSTrekker: we almost think that we have to do things like everyone else or we wont be liked or talked to
[7:16]  Jess SMSTrekker: culture on you as a person
[7:16]  Jess SMSTrekker: people might judge u b/c of ur culture
[7:16]  Amsen SMSTrekker: this is #3 we r talking about how we live our life and how living in aMERICA EFFECTS US
[7:17]  Chaser Brody: China has more honor students than the US has students Did you know that?
[7:17]  Jess SMSTrekker: ur culture effects wat people think of u
[7:17]  Agnia SMSTrekker: i personally dont buy abercrombie, but generally everyone else does bc they wanna be “cool”
[7:17]  Agnia SMSTrekker: people think they have to be like everyone else

[7:17]  Chaser Brody: do you mean what people here in America think or what the world thinks of Americans?
[7:17]  Agnia SMSTrekker: both
[7:18]  Agnia SMSTrekker: and what we think of ourselves
[7:18]  Amsen SMSTrekker: it is the american image that everyone is rich just like what mawi’s family thought
[7:18]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea people juge you on ur clothes, hobbies and stuff
[7:18]  Agnia SMSTrekker: we have a stereotype to follow almost and if u dont u are considered weird
[7:18]  Chaser Brody: so – are you saying that ther is a problem inside America with how accepting or not we are of each others different cultural heritage?
[7:18]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yea
[7:18]  Jess SMSTrekker: yup
[7:19]  Agnia SMSTrekker: we should follow our own things and dont worry about what everyone else thinjs
[7:19]  Chaser Brody: religion, ethnicity, wealth, job, race, etc?
[7:19]  Agnia SMSTrekker: thinks*
[7:19]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yeah
[7:19]  Jess SMSTrekker: but we are a nation of immigrants
[7:19]  Amsen SMSTrekker: ya
[7:19]  Agnia SMSTrekker: exactly
[7:19]  Agnia SMSTrekker: so we should all have different beliefs for plenty of thing
[7:19]  Agnia SMSTrekker: s
[7:19]  Jess SMSTrekker: so every 1 is differerent in the Us
[7:19]  Agnia SMSTrekker: like sports, clothes
[7:19]  Chaser Brody: that brings us back to the American Dream – the melting pot was supposed to give everyone a chance to be successful? Is it happening?
[7:19]  Agnia SMSTrekker: and other stuff
[7:20]  Jess SMSTrekker: religion,
[7:20]  Agnia SMSTrekker: sort of
[7:20]  Amsen SMSTrekker: but we do we all have differnt religions and hobbies thats wat makes everyone unique
[7:20]  Agnia SMSTrekker: for some people
[7:20]  Jess SMSTrekker: yea
[7:20]  Agnia SMSTrekker: and for others it hurts more than helps
[7:20]  Agnia SMSTrekker: but everyones hobbies are pretty much the same because u wanna be “cool” or popular
[7:20]  Jess SMSTrekker: in the book they are adapting to the american life, b/c they don’t fit in
[7:21]  Amsen SMSTrekker: everyone has a chance in america if u get good schooling
[7:21]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yeah
[7:21]  Agnia SMSTrekker: they wanna fit in so they dont get beaten up
[7:21]  Chaser Brody: does everyone have a chance to get good schooling?
[7:21]  Jess SMSTrekker: exactly
[7:21]  Agnia SMSTrekker: and so they can focus on school as much as they can
[7:21]  Jess SMSTrekker: not in all parts of the US
[7:21]  Agnia SMSTrekker: most people but not everyone
[7:22]  Amsen SMSTrekker: ya this book is a perfect example an african kid in a refugee camp goes to america and lives on welfare then get a full scholorship to harvard
[7:22]  Amsen SMSTrekker: everyone has a chance in this world
[7:22]  Agnia SMSTrekker: what do u mean a perfect example of the american dream?
[7:23]  Amsen SMSTrekker: it is just a matter if u take the chance and use it
[7:23]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yeah
[7:23]  Jess SMSTrekker: yeah
[7:23]  Agnia SMSTrekker: and u focus on important things, not what people think of u because ur hobbies or sports u play
[7:23]  Agnia SMSTrekker: okay lets do #4
[7:24]  Chaser Brody: welll so what are the important things?
[7:24]  Amsen SMSTrekker: lets do #4
[7:24]  Agnia SMSTrekker: school or if you are going to get to college playing a sport
[7:24]  Agnia SMSTrekker: whatever gets u to the best college
[7:24]  Agnia SMSTrekker: bc better education means a better job
[7:25]  Agnia SMSTrekker: which means more $ and u can live a better life
[7:25]  Amsen SMSTrekker: he is taking advantage of his good schooling
[7:25]  Agnia SMSTrekker: yea
[7:25]  Agnia SMSTrekker: lets do #4
[7:26]  Agnia SMSTrekker: mawi isnt fighting anymore like he used to because he wants to fit in and so he doenst get in trouble from his family or school
[7:27]   or
yeah b/che will get in trouble more and not get a scholarship
[7:27]  Amsen SMSTrekker: wat do u think his dad means when he says I WILL MAKE YOU LOST???
[7:27]  Agnia SMSTrekker: mawi is trying to keep his culture for ex.injera bread
[7:27]  Agnia SMSTrekker: ruin his life
[7:27]  Amsen SMSTrekker: wat do u think his dad means when he says I WILL MAKE YOU LOST???
[7:27]  Jess SMSTrekker: he will get in trouble more in the US
[7:27]  Agnia SMSTrekker: but mawi is changing his culture more and more to fit in and get the best education that he can get
[7:27]  Agnia SMSTrekker: answering amesen ruin his life
[7:27]  Jess SMSTrekker: yeah
[7:28]  Chaser Brody: that is called assimilation – is it good ? or not?
[7:28]  Jess SMSTrekker: he says that alot
[7:28]  Agnia SMSTrekker: its good for his education but bad for keeping his culture
[7:28]  Amsen SMSTrekker: yeah
[7:28]  Agnia SMSTrekker: its a matter of perspective
[7:28]  Jess SMSTrekker: yup
[7:28]  Agnia SMSTrekker: its good in one way, but bad in another
[7:29]  Amsen SMSTrekker: i think it gives mawi discipline
[7:29]  Chaser Brody: so as a society – what can we do to make it easier to maintain ones heritage and still live the American Dream?
[7:29]  Jess SMSTrekker: true b/c he wants to fit in, but shouldn’t forget his lifwe in sudan
[7:29]  Agnia SMSTrekker: do what u can to get the best education and job, but at home follow ur culture
[7:29]  Chaser Brody: Amsen – can you give an example of the discipline comment?
[7:30]  Agnia SMSTrekker: amsen?
[7:30]  Amsen SMSTrekker: i think that if it wasnt for his dads discipline he will think he can do watever he wants
[7:30]  Chaser Brody: THank you for letting me be a part of your discussion. I will post this on the Ramapo Islands blog today! Very good thinking!
[7:31]  Agnia SMSTrekker: okay i have to give the notecard so this is the end
[7:31]  Agnia SMSTrekker: thanks
[7:31]  Platform-One whispers: Platform-One now descending.
[7:32]  Ballesty SMSTeacher: THANKS, THE KIDS ARE REALLY RESPONSIBLE I LOVE HOW QUIET AND THOUGHTFUL THEY ARE!

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