What is being taught in school's these days?

First I'd like to start off this blog by saying Wow. This article by Vince Leibowitz on March 30, 2009 http://capitolannex.com/2009/03/30/analyze-evaluate-and-critique-becomes-new-strenghts-weaknesses-for-science-educators-in-texas/ is about what is going to be taught in science classes in Texas. What basically is being done is now everything in refernce to the bible or anything else along those lines is shifted to science. In my oppinion, I agree with Vince. The way he tied in the real facts to his article instead of simply throwing them out there was very assuring. I agree that if this shift is going to take place, then we will have to stick with it. This new teaching is doing away with any biblical reference which I do respect and agree with, but also does away with subjects like evolution, global warming, and gravity. I may not agree with all of these teachings, but I do think some of that stuff is fact.

This article is directed to people who see the same way he does. I think especially here in Austin this shift is a good one, but is also a controversial one (just like with every decision made in Texas). In this article he does point out his oppinion on the matter, and to a degree I see where he is coming from. In school's these days anyway, all that kids are taught is to take that stupid TAKS or TEKS test. On the science portion I think it would be better for EVERYONE's sake to just teach science. That way there is no question or confusion around it from personal beliefs...it should be just fact.

Guns in schools?

Well after alot of looking, I came across this article http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-guns_02edi.State.Edition1.290b017.html in the Dallas Morning News and it struck my fancy. This article by one of the writters for the Dallas Morning News is about whether or not staff and faculty should be armed at universities. The author starts out by explaing that State Rep. Joe Driver and Sen. Jeff Wentoworth are trying to get the word across about letting students and staff be armed around campus. Alot of this huff and puff boils down to what happened at Virginia Tech in 2007. I agree with the author in that no one wants that situation to EVER happen again, but does that mean to prevent it, we have to go to these great lengths? I disagree almost completly. The author points out that yes are there are places in every community that may need this kind of security and emergency personel on hand, but there are places like airports, polling places, and schools that ban the use of armed weapons(unless there is written authorization otherwise)...and I think it should stay that way. There are 11 universities in the country that allow concealed weapons in various areas of the school, and I think that is just asking for more trouble. I agree with the author in his statement that universities should be in the special category as gun free simply because it's a place to learn and get eduacated. I see where this want of security is wanted, but I think going to that extreme is just asking for it. I think that what happened at Virginia Tech was a terrible situation don't get me wrong, but if one of my teachers were to walk in to class one day with a gun under his belt or have a hand gun fall out of a student's back pack next to me, I would really not feel secure at all...regardless of if it was just for protection. The author states at the end of the article that, "students should never fear that someone around them is packing heat". I believe in having campus police on campus at all times for reasons that might come up like Virginia Tech. I know that police know what they are doing, and are there to protect everyone on the campus. I think this article was very interesting and I completly agreed with the author in that school should be a safe place for everyone.