TEACHERS STRIKE! Acapulco teachers strike over drugs

Not over fair employment conditions but over salaries. Well, sort of.   Drug cartels in Acapulco are "requesting" that teachers fork over half of their salaries to them.  IF they do not there will be violence.  Last night, five severed heads were found at the doorstep of an elementary school as a  response to the protest.   If you were living in Acapulco what would you do?   Would you continue to go to school?  What would you want your teachers to do?   Would you protest?   Would you hide?http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/22/world/americas/mexico-acapulco-teachers/index.html

Call of Duty in the English Classroom?

Here is an interesting news clip from NPR discussing a new game that puts you in the battlefield as a journalist and not as a soldier.  It looks like another example of how technology could potentially play out in the classroom if you as a player are writing the story.   The question: Does this glamorize violence in a new way?  Should video games that provide morality be played in the classroom if they allow students to be engaged in what they are doing?   Just think of how much students would write and use real world applications of reporting and photojournalism....Here is a link that looks at the game with a trailer too.

Hi Everyone! Thanks for joining in on our discussions!

I thought this would be a good opportunity to look at this video from Frontline:Battle for Haiti since we have been discussing the problems of Haiti recently.   This particular movie is incredible in the portrayal of the struggle and problems that Haiti is facing.   It really brings the issues to light and put faces to the problems.   Very powerful.  It's 2 hours long so if you want to watch the whole thing feel free.   If not, when you post something and you are discussing a certain part, please post the time on the time meter so that we can all take a look at the particular scene you're discussing.   Can Haiti be rebuilt?