Current Event

        In a recent article by Peter S. Goodman, Business Editor of the Huffington Post, entitled "Chicago Teachers Strike A Push-Back To Education Reform," Goodman informs his readers of what the reforms were and why the teachers do not like them.

         Rahm Emanuel, the person who made this drastic reforms to the chicago educational system, "revoked a 4 percent raise that had been promised to teachers under their existing union contract." Emanuel thinks that test scores should depend on the raises the teachers get. Emanuel also stated that students get "the shaft" since the teachers just get the raises instead of earning them through the students test scores.

         The teachers, as anyone in there situation, didn't react to kindly to these new changes. They say that this isnt fair because they "are effectively getting stuck with accountability for complex social problems that extend far beyond their control." They go on to say that "no one in Chicago runs the risk of losing their job for failing to supply enough low-income housing. No one must satisfy a numbers-based standard for increased employment in impoverished communities. No one is on the hook to ensure that students show up well-fed and well-rested. All of these issues roll down to teachers, they say, directly influencing conditions in their classrooms. Yet they alone find themselves having to answer for the sole measured result: achievement on test scores."

       While reading this article I couldn't help but side with the teachers. No matter how good they are at teaching, some students will do bad on tests no matter what. The teachers shouldn't loose thier hard earned money because of it. Especially if it was already promised to them in a contract. These changes are unfair to the teachers that work hard to give there students the education they deserve and cutting their pay is not a good way to show appreciation for that hard work.

           I completly side with the teachers, something I thought i would never do, on this topic. The reforms should be changed back to the way they were. I would be irate if my pay, pay that was already promised to me, was cut due to circumstances beyond my control. I have said all i have to say about this topic, but i leave you with a question. If you were in these teachers shoes would you fight for your pay or would you just sit back and take it?

Literary Bucket List

1 Battle Royale - Koushun Takami: This book is a must read for any fan of the Hunger Game series. I liked the series and i heard this book was a lot like it so i figured i would check into it. From what i heard a class of kids are kidnapped by the government and forced to kill each other until only one is left standing.

2 The Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater: I want to read this book because the author wrote the Shiver series and i liked that series a lot, so i figured why not give this one a shot. It is about a "death race" so to speak. I read the back of the book and the inside cover and it caught my interest right away. I am looking forward to reading this book.

3 The Gray Wolf Throne - Cinda Chima: This is the third book in its series, the Seven Reamls series. I have read the first and second and I enjoyed them enough to want to read this one. This is also a fantasy book, which is my favorite genre, so that fact also picked my interest.

4 Calico Joe - John Grisham: I wanna read this one because my english teacher Mrs. Gillmore promoed this book in class and it is by John Grisham. I have read a few books by this author and i liked them so i decided to give this one a try.

5 Supernaturales - Eon Colfer: Eon Colfer is one of my favorite authors. The Artimas Fowl series is also one of my favorite series. Since this book is by him, I automaticly came to the decision that this book was worth my time and i want to read it ASAP!

6 The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor: I love everything about Alice In Wonderland. The books. cartoons, and the movie. When i heard there was a new book coming out that put a spin on the story i new i wanted to read it. A few of my friends have read it and they said it was good.

7 Seeing Redd - Frank Beddor: This is the second book in the Looking Glass War series. While I haven't read the first one YET, I still want to read this and the other book in the series, Arch Enemy. I know this book will be an amazing one and i can't wait to read it.

8 Arch Enemy - Frank Beddor: The third installment in the Looking Glass War trilogy.I want to read this one because I love everything dealing with Alice In Wonderland. I have ever since I first saw the cartoon when I was a little kid. So, I'm guessing there is a very good chance this book will be amazing.

9 The Serpent's Shadow - Rick Riordan: My brother, Austin, was reading this book and I sort of skimed it and it seems very interesting. I have read the other books in this series and I liked them
so I figured I would give this one a try.

10 It's A Book - Lane Smith: This book was shown in my class as a book trailer. It made me laugh and i like books that make me laugh. True, this book won't be high on my "to-read-list" but it will be read eventually.

WTC

             America is a strong country that will remain independent as it has since its conception. In the text it says that the building will be 1,776 feet tall. America got its independence in 1776. This was a message from the architects to anyone who dares threaten America that no matter what happens, no matter how badly the damage, we will retaliate and we will come back stronger than before.