Dress Code Debate

THS Rule 15 ­ Dress and Appearance: 

● Dress and grooming should be neat, clean, and appropriate. It should not constitute a safety or health hazard or be such that it might hamper the educational process.
● Students’ clothing shall thoroughly conceal all undergarments.
● Clothing must cover the torso, including the back (both upper and lower), midriff, sides, and chest. Sleeveless shirts shall be permitted, but the fabric between neck and shoulder must be at least as wide as a dollar bill and the arm holes must be small enough that the wearer’s sides are covered. The upper leg must be fully covered as well, at least to the length of the wearer’s thumbs when standing erect with arms straight down at the sides.
● Students’ heads must be uncovered and eyes unconcealed.
● Any clothing or jewelry deemed disruptive, unsafe, or items/clothing with drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, profanity or sexually related, or otherwise disruptive symbols are not permitted.

What is allowed?  What isn't?  Are male and female students treated equally?  Are these rules fair?  Could they be worse?

Before Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, citizens weren't required to wear the Islamic cover known as the hijab and the country's fashion was almost identical to that of the United States and Europe. After the revolution, though, the hijab became required by law.

Although the standard black hijab is still commonplace—especially in rural areas in the country—Iran has recently seen a fashion renaissance, and cities like Tehran are becoming home to new and innovative designers. The clothing may still have to respect the Islamic dress codes, but the bright colors and designs would never have been seen a decade ago in Iran.

Believe it or not the restrictions in Iran are nothing compared to those enforced by the Taliban in Afghanistan or by ISIS.

Final thought:  Are our school rules too strict or not strict enough?  Would school uniforms help students learn?  What do you think?

Ohio: THE Birthplace of Aviation

First in Flight or the Birthplace of Aviation?

Ohio's fight to defend the legacy of the Wright Brothers soared forward Tuesday in a unanimous vote to repudiate Connecticut's claim that another aviator beat them as first in flight. The Ohio House approved a measure disputing Connecticut's challenge, and it heads next to the state Senate.  Lawmakers are responding to a 2013 Connecticut law that honored aviator Gustave Whitehead as beating Dayton-born Orville and Wilbur Wright's 1903 flight off Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, by two years.  Sponsoring Rep. Rick Perales said Ohio can't stand by while another state "sees fit to change history."

What is the evidence in support of Whiteheads claim?  Against?    Is there evidence of bias?

What do you think?

Attack of the Drones

Is this reality or science fiction?

What exactly are 'drones?'

Is the United States the only country to use drones in combat?

What ethical or moral implications does using drones create?

How have modern weapons like 'drones' changed the way we fight wars?

What do you think the rules should be on the use of these powerful weapons?

Compare them to President Obama's '5 Rules For Covert Drone Strikes.'

Justice Department memo reveals legal case for drone strikes on Americans.

What do critics of the Drone Program like Senator Rand Paul (KY) have to say?

Whats next in Drone Warfare?  Are we asking for a Robot Uprising?

Whats the danger when the President becomes 'judge, juror, and executioner?' 'OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!'

Casino Capitalism

How can we condemn the the riots  and not the Intolerable Conditions that caused them?

Are the riots in Ferguson and Baltimore just about race? 

If not what are they about?

What is 'Casino Capitalism?'

 What does my old Miami professor have to say about how we fix it?  

White Riot

At one point in the evening, over 4,000 people were gathered in the community of 23,000. They were causing chaos as liquor bottles were thrown, stores were broken into and cars were tipped over. Bonfires were set throughout the town’s streets. Light posts and signs were torn out of the ground. Town residents reported that most in the crowd were loud, obnoxious and drunk. At least 20 people were taken to area hospitals for various injuries, mostly from thrown bottles.

Eventually, after copious amounts of property damage had been done by the out-of-control  rioters, police were called into the scene to disperse the crowd. People in the crowd apparently started throwing beer bottles at the police and shouted obscenities. Tear gas was shot into the crowd and pepper spray was used on individuals who allegedly confronted police in a physical manner. One 18-year-old told the local paper Saturday night that it was a “blast to do things you aren’t supposed to be doing.” He also suggested that they were revolting from the cops.

Is this another description of the despicable behavior in Baltimore? 

 How is media perception different when white people riot?

Is the media's bias showing? 

White or Black, there is no excuse for this type of violence right?

What would MLK say? 

Are we going backward or are we going forward?

Why you got to bring Mammas into it?

What is a 'Thug?'

Life or Death?

Convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is set to return to court today for the next phase of his trial, when prosecutors will argue that he should be sentenced to death for his role in the deadly attack in 2013.   Read more....

What has the Defense strategy been so far?  Has he denied guilt?

What do the victims say?

What does the Tsarnaev family say?

Who are Dzokhar's supporters?

What do you think?  Why?

Myth of Accountability

The explosion in Ferguson has left us a lot of scraps of American culture through which to view what happened and what it means. It’s hard to see all the pieces at once, to make them fit into one narrative. One lens sees racism -- individual, historical, structural. Another sees police brutality and the militarization of the police. Another focuses on our gun culture and how for a large segment of this country to condemn any gun violence, no matter how outrageous, is to somehow restrict our freedoms. Another turns the killing inside out and treats Darren Wilson as the victim. Another sees power disparities, class disparities and economic disparities. Another sees media delight in all the titillating violence breeding more violence that stimulates product sales. Another promotes fear -- a different fear depending what race you are, but fear of the other, nevertheless. And another simply sees the grief of Michael Brown’s parents.

What is the Myth of Accountability?