Semester TWO, HONORS History Blog #1

Dear Mr. Obama,

It is due to unfortunate events that I write to you with an urgent matter. I need you to address many points which have seem forgotten.

Our youth has lost faith in your words. They no longer believe education is one of your priorities. Our great former President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, made drastic changes to our system, he took action within the few months after taking office. Mainly because he threaten Congress. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “I cannot go any faster than the people will let me,” I advice you to do the same. Our People are becoming outrage at the long process the Medicare Bill is taking to pass Congress, yet they don't get the blame, you do. So threaten Congress, set a conference were you demand them to pass your laws and bills. Set your standards because the people have set their own.

You have betrayed your word by sending more troops to Iraq, instead of bringing them home. The war is pointless. Waste no more money on War but on education. Rallies have been set up for March 4th, a nationwide rally protesting against budget cuts in our system. Students protesting against tuition increase in many state Universities. They want to be able to continue their education without having to make huge sacrifices. Many young students voted for you because you promised them better education and a wiser system, but you have done them wrong. Make time, save money to fund our education system. Books not Bombs.

America was founded by immigrants. We've heard this many times. It is never to be forgotten that everyone, except for Native Americans have immigrated from other countries. We have built a great nation that is worth every drop of sweat. We cannot fall after many years of greatness, not when we have made history. It is time to win our people back, to show them that you havent forgotten your roots, that you havent forgotten the struggle. Workers are a great part of this Nation, they want their voice to count. President Roosevelt created many worker organizations, I advice you to show support to these organizations, do not allow your governors to cut bugets fro schools or government agencies.

Stay strong, you will recover you followers. Keep your promise, do not be afraid of Wall Street, do not be afraid of change. Mr. President consider this humble advice, I know you will make a change.



Citations:

"The Political Scene: The New Liberalism : The New Yorker." The New Yorker. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. .

"The Test : The New Yorker." The New Yorker. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010.

GREENBERG, DAVID. "Book Review - Books About F.D.R. - Review - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. .

Semester TWO, Blog #8

Compare and contrast Barack Obama and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as presidents. Be sure to cover topics such as their responses to the economy, their interactions with the American public and their relationships with other elements of the US government (feel free to write about more, too!).
Your writing should come in the form of an editorial in which you take a side—you cannot write "as you can see they are similar and different!"
Your writing should also feature direct primary-source evidence from speeches and/or writings by both BHO & FDR.

NOTE: This blog is important...if you choose not to do it, you might find yourself less prepared for the quiz on Friday.

Semester TWO, Blog #7

Predict how companies or industries similar to the one that you worked at during internship would have fared during the Great Depression. Would your company have thrived or sunk? Why?

KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy is a charter middle school. The demographics are Hispanic, Latino, African-American a minority of Asian. If the school existed through the Great Depression, it might have sunk. The students' parents would have lost their jobs

Semester TWO, Blog #6

Choose one character from The Grapes of Wrath and list four important quotes said by or written by this character. Explain what you believe these quotes reveal about the character.

Jim Casy

"There's me with all them people's ever' time, I lay with one of them girls."

Casy was a preacher, that has since retired. He never believed he was destined to be a preacher, even though

Semester TWO, Blog #5

Media Saves the Beach

This is Dani Toscano's photo essay for Media Saves the Beach. I like this project a lot because she captures interesting objects in her images. All five pictures are well done and her writing carries a true significance of what the project was all about.

Inspiration At It’s Best

Thomas' American Icon's photo was one of my favorites. I love the angle and the perspective point in which he takes it. The sun is gleaming from under a house and the black and white effect makes it seem a burst of sun.

Media Saves the Beach

Shanna's Media Save the Beach drawing was incredible. Her point was clear and the humor was well put. She represented her ideas and the drawing captured your attention.

Photo Essay

 “All you have to do is make sure they practice, the eight graders will help them.” Ms. Luna. “They are having some trouble learning their concert songs and this will hopefully help. There is one cello, two violas and three violins. It won’t be too hard.” Mr. Duncan explained when he saw my worried expression. I am stuck with twelve students and they expect me not to worry.

They ran inside the room, threw their violins in the corner and sat down in the couches. The eight graders were right behind them, “They are going to be tough,” I said trying to stay calm. “Pick up your instruments and sit up straight,” I said with a strong voice, but the seventh graders looked at me with a puzzled face. One student in particular, his name was Alejandro; he looked at me with a daring look.

“Kimbuley, get out your viola,” Mayra said with a subtle voice. I stood behind them to make sure they are playing the correct notes. Kimbuley, another rebellious seventh grader, was a hassle; she will never obey instructions the first time. Yet it’s a matter of giving her some time to adjust to your company. “Why are you here, you don’t even play the viola,” Kim aggressively said when she saw me behind her. “It’s actually easy to play any instrument; you just need to read the music.” I told her coming around her. “Oh yeah, show me.” I didn’t react at first, then Mayra gave me her viola, I was confident because I had previously played the viola. After I demonstrated Kim my viola skills, she sat down next to me and we started playing together.

Iveth, an eight grader, knows how to handle difficult situations. Even though Alejandro was not cooperating, she never gave up on him. “Alejandro, come back and sit down!” she roared at him when he got up. He sat down, grabbed the violin and started playing. It was horrible; he played the wrong notes and bowed too hard on the strings. But slowly, Iveth helped him develop his skills. Within the first week he learned a two-minute s ong, but he had five more to go.

“There are only a few days left until they play at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, and these students are not ready.” Mr. Duncan said walking around the room. The students were working hard; I had never seen them so focused on their playing. They were finally in sync and their rhythm was flawless.

On the day of the concert they were calm. They followed directions and stayed quiet while Ms. Luna made her opening speech. You couldn’t tell they were nervous until they were called. Slowly the students got up and walked towards the stage, they walked with their heads down. They got their bows and waited for Mr. Duncan’s signal. When the first violin started bowing, the numbed sound echoed trough the Pavilion.  

Photo Essay

“All you have to do is make sure they practice, the eight graders will help them.” Ms. Luna. “They are having some trouble learning their concert songs and this will hopefully help. There is one cello, two violas and three violins. It won’t be too hard.” Mr. Duncan explained when he saw my worried expression. I am stuck with twelve students and thye expect me not to worry.

They ran inside the room, threw their violins in the corner and sat down in the couches. The eight graders were right behind them, “They are going to be tough,” I said trying to stay calm. “Pick up your instruments and sit up straight,” I said with a strong voice, but the seventh graders looked at me with a puzzled face. One student in particular, his name was Alejandro; he looked at me with a daring look.

“Kimbuley, get out your viola,” Mayra said with a subtle voice. I stood behind them to make sure they are playing the correct notes. Kimbuley, another rebellious seventh grader, was a hassle; she will never obey instructions the first time. Yet it’s a matter of giving her some time to adjust to your company. “Why are you here, you don’t even play the viola,” Kim aggressively said when she saw me behind her. “It’s actually easy to play any instrument; you just need to read the music.” I told her coming around her. “Oh yeah, show me.” I didn’t react at first, then Mayra gave me her viola, I was confident because I had previously played the viola. After I demonstrated Kim my viola skills, she sat down next to me and we started playing together.

Iveth, an eight grader, knows how to handle difficult situations. Even though Alejandro was not cooperating, she never gave up on him. “Alejandro, come back and sit down!” she roared at him when he got up. He sat down, grabbed the violin and started playing. It was horrible; he played the wrong notes and bowed too hard on the strings. But slowly, Iveth helped him develop his skills. Within the first week he learned a two-minute song, but he had five more to go.

“There are only a few days left until they play at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, and these students are not ready.” Mr. Duncan said walking around the room.