Illinois Pension Crisis

Again, looking through articles and trying to find my way into the facts, I found myself staring at an article from npr.org titled, "Shortfall Threatens Illinois Pension System". The author, David Schaper, took the approach I was looking for: really discovering what caused this mass pension crisis and what position the state is now in. "According to the Pew Center on the States, Illinois is worst in the nation when it comesto setting aside enough money for its pensions". Basically, Illinois is not meeting the standards already set for paying into pension funds and not overspending money that the state may not actually have. However, through a study in 2008 on states' pension funds, Illinois set aside just 54% of the money that's been promised to workers and retirees. Those kinds of shortcomings and lack of money has now set Illinois back $77.8 billion dollars that the state now owes towards pensions and unpaid pensions. Lawrence Msall, president of The Civic Federation, a Chicago-based group that keeps tabs on state and local government finances stated that, "...the pension underfunding has grown dramatically by almost 300 to 400 percent over the last decade, because the state has used gimmicks...it has ignored its pension obligations, it has borrowed or had partial pension holidays, and it has just flat out not made the adequate contributions to the pensions". These kinds of blatant ignorances for a state is simply appauling and not to mention widely unacceptable. Illinois has the worst track record in terms of staying on top of pension payments and meeting requirements, in many ways "shooting themselves in the foot" for future years. They are currently working on finding ways to meet the pension payments they owe, which at this point are simply growing each year. I guess the state will just have to sit back and see how the local government is going to handle this disaster.

Illinois Pension Crisis

One essential aspect of my project was to find out what the other side was saying; what those legislators hiding in the capitol buildinghad been releasing to newspapers about the situation and the state of, well, the state. I decided that researching what the press was saying was important because that was half of the driving force behind the entire pension explosion: to a certain extent, it was a he-said-she-said game. The teachers were crying that it was the state's fault and the state was pointing their fingers at the teachers and somehow through all of the yelling, there was no way to truly understand what the truth was. I went on WSJ.com, found the US tab and began looking through the impressive collection of Illinois pension articles when I came across one article titled, "Illinois Pension Crisis Eludes Easy Solutions", written by Michael Corkery. In the article, it basically summarized the entire pension problem, but its focus seemed to zero-in on what he possible solutions were to the problem aswell as what lawmakers were hoping the revisions would be. "The lawmakers are also entertaining the politicallydifficult idea of applying broader pension changes made this year for newly hired employees to current workers". This could mean that new employees would be in a position of not recieving their pensions as early as others, it could mean having to pay more into the pension fund, some new teachers may not recieve their pensions at all, and even still, many districts may have other money taken out of school budgets to make up for the state's mistakes. These potential revisions also put the future of teachers at risk because without the availability to a pension and knowing that teachers do not have access to social security because of the pension program, many students may no longer entertain the idea of becoming a teacher due to insufficient benefits. However, the problem still remains...Illinois has $82 billion unfunded pensions liability that is projected to grow to $139.8 billion in 2030. So the question is, What is the fate of the pensions?

Illinois Pension Crisis and SB7

While researching the actual legislation that is being discussed around the pension crisis in Illinois, I found a website, http://www.ieanea.org/banner/get-information-on-the-school-reform-bill-sb7-here/, that allowed me an inside look at what is actually being changed as well as what changes within the writing will help or hurt the current issue. Some of the background info of what the bill lays out is as follows:

Key Provisions of Senate Bill 7

Educators Voices Will Be Heard

From the beginning of discussions, IEA,IFT,CTU refused to give in on the subject of our

members’ collective bargaining rights,

collective bargaining in the Performance Counts proposal.

SB 7 retains teachers’ democratic right to negotiate with their employers,

despite the call for the elimination of

ensuring their professional input factors into important discussions about class size,

curriculum and other areas that impact student learning and success.

SB 7 also maintains the right to strike for both Chicago and downstate teachers.

For teachers outside of Chicago, the bill includes a provision requiring management and

labor to make their last, best offers public for 14 days after unsuccessful mediation.

Other existing strike provisions remain unchanged. For teachers in Chicago Public

Schools, the IFT and IEA were unwavering in their support of keeping CTU’s right to

strike.

Experience Counts

IEA,IFT and CTU worked hard in the face of strong opposition to ensure that

teachers’ years of experience into account in decisions about filling vacancies.

SB 7 takes

Under the bill, districts would consider numerous factors in making such decisions,

including certification, qualifications, performance and relevant experience. The definition

(criteria) of relevant experience can be bargained.

SB 7 also establishes new Reduction in Force (RIF) procedures for teachers

outside of Chicago.

Effective immediately upon passage, a complex system of “performance tiers” will be

established that:

• existing law;

First, establishes categories of teaching positions, as is currently done under

qualifications;

Second, places teachers in each category who have the required certifications and

• tiers,” which are defined based upon tenured status and varying levels of

performance ratings.

Third, places teachers in each category into one of four groups, or “performance

• The bill requires that RIF notices be sent 45 days (previously 60) before the end of the school term. In addition, it defines that qualifications can now include criteria other than legal ones, but districts have strict timelines on publishing qualifications and job descriptions for positions prior to sending RIF notices.

Finally, ranks teachers within each category by seniority.

Existing collective bargaining agreements with RIF sequence language will be grandfathered until expiration, or until June 30, 2013, whichever comes sooner.

Tenure that Ensures High-Quality Teachers Lengthy and serious discussion in this area resulted in positive changes in current tenure laws, which will take effect after PERA implementation. IEA, IFT and CTU believe these changes our best new teachers are granted tenure benefits within reasonable timeframes. will promote the integrity of the teaching profession by ensuring that

Under SB 7, the standard probationary period to obtain tenure remains four years.

To obtain tenure during a

four-year period a teacher must:

• have two “proficient” or “excellent” ratings in two of the last three years;

o a “proficient” or “excellent” rating is required in the fourth year.

IEA, IFT and CTU were able to negotiate an accelerated tenure process into SB 7

to allow exceptional new teachers the ability to achieve tenure in just three years. To obtain tenure in a each of his/her first three years. SB 7 will also provide the benefit of three-year period a teacher must receive “excellent” ratings intenure portability within Illinois districts when:

• The teacher is granted tenure in one district, and

•“Excellent.”

When either of the two criteria are met, a teacher, upon moving to a new district, will be Eligible for tenure in that district in two years with “excellent” performance. This provision will take effect after PERA implementation.

These provisions will allow teacher's rights to be heard and respected without the elimination or silencing of teachers unions. Much of the writing also included the importance of maintaining the pension system and finding other ways to solve Illinois' "Broke" state. With the help of SB7, the pension crisis may have a light at the end of the tunnel.

Illinois Pension Crisis

One of my major sources for this project is the blog by Fred Klonsky at http://preaprez.wordpress.com/page/2/. Fred is my Uncle Mike's brother and has not only been an educator for many years, but has also made it his mission to bring light to the current issue about pension in Illinois. Fred's posts have helped me because it allows me to grasp an inside look at a teacher's perspective about the issue. One of his most recent posts included details about the trip to Springfield that many teachers made in order to make a case to legislators about their proposed solutions to the pension issues. Some of Illinois most recent ideas have included raising the age that pensions can be recieved, lowering the actual amount of money that will be included in any given pension, potentially raising taxes and ultimately having citizens pay for their own pensions, and some legislators have even considered canceling pensions all together until Illinois can gain back the money that they seemingly do not have. As one may have assumed, none of these options have been sitting well with teachers. Many critics of the situation have found that blaming the teachers is the way to go and others have gone as far as to say that teachers are not as important as CEOs or leaders of Fortune 500 companies and shouldn't even be paid as much as they are currently being paid. These kinds of assumptions and closed-minded comments are what is majorly setting back the ability for us to move forward with the issue and continue finding answers. The trip to Springfield was ultimatelty a successful one and the mass group of teachers that drove down made a statement for those all around the state who are at risk of being shoved to the side at the end of the situation.

Illinois Pension Crisis

When I was first deciding what I was going to research for our "Marketplace of Ideas" final issues project, I wasn't really sure what I would be able to find that we had not already somewhat touched upon in class discussions. We have researched and talked about everything from abortion to school violence, race or religion, freedom of speech or Invisible Children. I was on a mission to find something that had not necessarily been a big topic of discussion in class and something I could really dive into and teach people about.

 The Illinois Pension Crisis, as some like to put it, is a fairly new development in the economic standings of pension for teachers in Illinois. After the protests and chaos that ensued around the Wisconsin decision to cut out unions in negotiations for benefits as well as their collective bargaining rights, many states began to worry about the possibility that they may be targeted next. While the teacher’s unions in Illinois are safe, their pensions may not be. Each state in the United States of America is required to pay a pre-set amount of money into the pension fund for their state, ultimately paying the government so they in return can keep up with the demand of pension that is given to teachers after retirement. Around 1994, the Illinois government decided that they no longer wanted to pay into this system, therefore creating their own pension system that was kept within the state and allowed somewhat of a loophole for the state and allowing teachers to keep their growing pensions. While this seemed like a decent idea at the time, the more months and years that passed started adding up, in return continually adding to the amount of money Illinois owed to the government and their implemented pension fund. Now, seventeen years later, the government wants the billions of dollars Illinois owes to the pension fund and Illinois is screaming mercy because according to the state government; we’re broke! We don’t have the millions and millions of dollars that we should have been paying the government just like every other state did because we thought there was a way out and instead the country was keeping a tab on how much debt we were in with the pension fund. Now that the state is in this “pickle” if you will, the teachers are getting repeatedly bashed for their unwillingness to simply give up their pensions. Not many are focusing on the state and how the state government messed up, but instead are placing blame towards teachers who don’t want to give up the money some have worked 20+ years for. There has been talk of legislative reforms to make gaining pension slightly more difficult, possibly raising taxes, and even keeping money from some teachers because of the growing debt that Illinois has dug for themselves.

What's Going on in the World?

Wisconsin Union Fight

The problems that have sparked in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio have grabbed national attention. The governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, put out legislation ultimately undercutting collective bargaining and the ability to organize in unions. Governor Walker, being the first Republican governor Wisconsin has had in some time, has upset not only the middle class workers of Wisconsin, but also the Democratic lawmakers who feel he is simply out to get the unions because of their agreement to cut wages and benefits to help balance finances within the state. With the dispute heating up, many Democrats decided to actually flee the state in order to avoid voting on the issue, further postponing the decision and allowing the fight for justice to ultimately continue. The Democratic concern about Mr. Walker's motives were highlighted when a prank call revealed his plans to not only carry out his plan, but also the Republicans plot to trick Democrats back into the Capitol, ultimately trapping them and therefore coming to a conclusion on the issue that has sparked so much controversy. Walker claimed that the phone call was simply a distraction to him, but that his legislation on the issues concerning unions-- which would take away union power to bargain on anything besides pay-- was simply an effort to improve the tough financial situation the state is currently in. He claimed that the legislation overall would save the state 1.44 billion dollars, but as the riots continue it would seem that the state is only losing money after the protests closed down local schools in Wisconsin as well as other businesses and jobs for a few days. Only time will tell if the problem gets resolved or if the Democrats of Wisconsin will simply be hiding in the Chicago area forever.

I became aware of the issues going on through news stories, but I was more aware than ever when I took a trip to the University of Wisconsin and drove through the protesting for a good five minutes. The issue that is being protested is one that I feel is worth fighting for and I respect what teachers as well as other unions are doing to try and stop the legislation from passing. My mom is a teacher so I know how upset she would be about the entire situation and to be perfectly honest, I think the governor is being completely closed-minded about the state's financial situation. I am not in any way trying to play down the severity of their financial problems, but I simply cannot believe that the ONLY way to improve debt is by taking away the rights of unions across the state. While I thought the fleeing of Democrats to Illinois from Wisconsin was somewhat childish in a way, I can understand their outrage and the proposal for this legislation as well because they are firm believers in the rights of unions and the importance of respecting middle-class workers. The most shocking part of the situation to me was probably the prank phone call made by Ian Murphy, a blogger in New York, not just because of the somewhat humorous nature of prank calling a governor; but the simple fact that Mr. Murphy got answers from the governor that are essential to the decision by both Democrats and other Republicans. The idea to "trick" Democrats into voting for the legislation completely disgusted me and I feel that as a governor, the protesting by unions and fleeing of Democrats should be a red flag that maybe your "grand decision" may not be as golden as it was a few weeks ago. People are clearly unhappy, people that voted for Mr. Walker are clearly unhappy, and I for one would be surprised if he makes it through the rest of his term with no problems. Taking away the rights of unions is the exact opposite of what unions are supposed to do. Workers unions as well as teachers unions were put in place to protect the rights of those within the union and tries to cut out the opportunity for lawmakers and business-owners to exploit their work and pay. I think the entire idea of the legislation is single minded and completely ineffective leaving the governor looking more like a stubborn fifth-grader than an established and respected politician.

Mock Trial Recap

During the trials, I found myself considering the issues of sexual harassment in a very different way because in the beginning I considered sexual harassment to be very black and white. Without consent of sex, it can be considered rape; in an office, asking for sexual favors in exchange for job opportunities is harassment as well as illegal. However, I found that sexual harassment was more than just black and white. There were gray areas. Everywhere. Did the woman actually say no or was saying no a game her and her boyfriend often played, did the man at the office actually say things with sexual overtones or was he trying to be friendly and the other employee simply took the comments too seriously. Tons of gray area. This was a concept I struggled with as the entire trial process began to unfold because gray area can be tricky and it takes a lot of detail to dilute gray back to black or white. In the first trial, I thought Kevin Murphy was guilty the second I heard Elyse Robert's testimony. Black and white. But then the details of her attendance as well as her normal conduct in the office were brought to light and my so sure opinion was being tested with every testimony. In the end, we as a jury came to a pretty unanimous decision of guilty, which I have to say I agree with. The most compelling facts for me was Elyse's need for therapy after her encounters with Kevin, the lack of help given to her by her supervisor as well as others who knew about the harassment, and the comments Kevin seemed to be making to her in the office. These facts drove me to the conclusion that Kevin was in fact guilty and that the verdict was the right one. The only thing I can think of that would have changed my mind about the verdict of guilty was if the supervisors would have done something to remedy the situation and then the harassment had stopped because then the solution would have been reached and taking the issue to court would have been a gross over exaggeration by Elyse.

In the other trial, I felt that the trial really could have gone either way. The question that I kept asking myself, even on the prosecuting side was whether or not Susan Williams actually had the opportunity to leave and chose not to or whether she simply stayed due to the force of David Jones. I would have to say that I was frustrated with the verdict of innocent because of how well I felt I knew the case and I personally thought there was more evidence supporting guilty rather than innocent. I think that the most compelling facts the jury somewhat ignored was David's testimony alone. He openly states Susan said no, but proceeded to tear her shirt, put on a condom before anything even happened between them, and said he was somewhat frustrated by the lack of sex they were having in the relationship. I can understand both sides to be honest and I think there were many more pieces of evidence to consider in the second case because of the subjectivity of the testimonies.

I think after sitting through this mock trial experience I have found that it is very important for people to understand not only the severity of sexual harassment, but also the different kinds of sexual harassment that actually fall into the category. While the gray area is irritating, it is important to recognize because many of the answers fall into the middle ground where one piece of evidence or one statement can truly alter whether or not harassment actually took place. I do not feel there are real sexual harassment problems at Deerfield, but I also do not want to discount that it could be happening. Just because I have not seen or experienced it first-hand does not mean it might not be happening to someone else. A big problem with the existence or non-existence of sexual harassment is the lack of knowledge of what constitutes as sexual harassment. A kid may whistle at another or make a sexual joke, but where is the line? Some students may be more sensitive to comments with sexual overtones where as others may feel they are harmless comments clearly made for entertainment and poking fun at another. I think the reason sexual harassment may not be a problem here is simply because those kinds of actions I feel are taken very seriously by both the faculty and the students. I feel we are bright enough as a student body to understand that full blown sexual harassment is not acceptable. Then again, as I stated before, it is really up to each individual student whether or not they feel a certain comment or action is sexual harassment or jokes made by immature teenagers. Either way, if a student feels they are being sexually harassed it is the faculties responsibility to take these claims seriously and not dictate whether they feel the situation is sexual harassment or not. It is important for students to feel they are being protected so each claim needs to be carried out and remedied in order to keep a safe, productive, and sexual harassment free learning environment for all students.

State of the Union Address

While watching the State of the Union Address, I found myself considering not only the words of President Obama, but also paying attention to the entire dynamic of the room as the speech was going on. His focus for this particular State of the Union Address was unity and the importance of the country coming together in a time of need; putting aside all differences to work towards a common goal. In order to further drive this point, the representatives from each state sat together instead of the routine Democrats on one side and Republicans on the other. All attendees of the speech wore ribbons showing their support of the Tucson shooting that had happened prior to the speech and there seemed to be senses of comradery among the group as they listened to our President speak.

At first, I jumped into my normal critique of the president because I personally feel that President Obama has a tendency to promise too much to the country. Rambling off a list of ten agendas is setting the White House up for failure. I would much rather hear about three or four solid and realistic goals for the upcoming year that I as a citizen can be confident will be accomplished as opposed to knowing that only three from a list of ten were achieved; I will be left disappointed that the other seven were not equally as successful. Aside from the normal banter about what has been done and what still needs to be improved, I noticed that President Obama put an extreme emphasis on education and the importance of improving, maintaining, and excelling towards a greater education system with less flaws. This promise was one that I was particularly interested in because as a student, we are often told here at Deerfield how great we have it. To be honest, in middle school and even through my first couple years in High School I could tell you everything that was wrong with our school and a number of ways that all of these problems could be remedied. However, it is important to understand that there aren't thousands of Deerfield High Schools covering our nation. There are schools with outdated materials, not enough funding, little to no parent support, lack of motivation from kids, issues with violence, drugs, attendance, graduation rates; the list goes on and on. It is important to recognize those schools like Deerfield, but far more important to not only acknowledge, but to take a stand for those schools who find themselves to be the polar opposite of Deerfield. I know that I cannot take my education for granted because not everyone is as fortunate and the need for a good education is in constant demand. We need educated students to find themselves at universities in order to grow up and help our country grow and learn. We need education to help our students further our nation because without education, there is no way to move forward. Barack Obama made sure to announce and pledge his devotion to improving education and I for one am happy he did.

In a Heartbeat Final Reflection

There is a saying that Leigh Anne Touhy carries around with her on a little card. It is a saying by Bill Graham and one that Sean and Leigh Anne have taken very seriously since they were married. The saying goes, "The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. The greatest waste in all our earth, which can not be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day". It may seem that the Touhy's continue to reiterate the same point- they give and they feel giving is essential- but that's just it. Part of the reason the family puts so much emphasis on giving is because they have completely immersed themselves into the act and roles of giving, helping, and caring. The last part of their book really rounded out this point because in the entire story, not once do they seem pretentious about their helping or flaunt the charity they have done. Sean and Leigh Anne do what they do because they are rooted in the value of helping those in need. Many people will give to a charity and then speak about their donations for weeks, others might help out at a food kitchen, but again it becomes a public display of the good people should be doing out of the goodness of their hearts; not to gain some sort of societal approval.The book and the Touhy's really taught me that giving isn't something you should have to be talked into, but something that you should want to do. No matter what the situation, there is someone who could be worse off than you are. Recognizing that there is always something that could be done and taking the first steps in making a difference can make everlasting impacts. This book has inspired me, as cliche and corny as that may sound, but it has really affected how I want to view myself as a person. I wish everyone could do something little because small acts can truly change the world. I like to think of myself as giving, but what does that really mean? I give when I'm pestered to give or asked to? I lend a hand cause I actually want to, not because I think karma's gonna help me out at some point? This book really made me think of how important it is to stop and take a look around every once in a while because who really knows the kinds of things you could be missing.

In a Heartbeat Post 5

When Michael and Collins were ready to head to college, it seemed no surprise that they both chose to attend their parent's alma mater, Ole Miss. Both Collins and Michael were excited to head out on their own and begin the next phase of their lives, but there was no way they were going to go about it alone. Sean and Leigh Anne noted that on multiple occasions Collins was the one who got homesick and had to be cared for by Michael, when all through high school it had very much been the other way around. Along with continuing to spend most of their time together, their relationship began to break down racial walls that had been built up at Ole Miss for decades. In the deep south, it is no surprise that even now, race is not as accepted as in other parts of the country. However, Collins and Michael were not ones to stand with the crowd and found constant ways to maintain their sibling relationship, whether their friends approved or not. Lucky for them, those around them were always a little shocked at first, but were more than welcoming to both. Michael often ate lunch with Collins at her sorority house and the occasions often included some of the other football guys because Collins had developed relationships with them too. The racial blocks were going to be broken down with Michael's strong defensive-football mind and Collins' cheerleading and their peers were going to just have to deal with it. The maintaining of the relationship for me is a huge thing to recognize because it reinforces that Michael was not a house guest of the Touhy's even though he may have started out that way. Michael was a concrete part of the family, especially as a support system for his sister. Their adventure through college was not only more enjoyable together, but further strengthened the love and care they had for each other.

In a Heartbeat Post 4

One extremely inspiring part of the book was a section written by Leigh Anne and Sean's son, Michael. In a situation as moving and uncommon as that of the Touhy family, I think it can be easy to focus on the family doing the good deed (I am in no way saying they do not deserve recognition because they certainly do) and somewhat overshadow the child that they brought in. Michael's section of the book is decently small, a mere two and a half pages, but the message is extraordinary. Michael talks about the will he constantly had inside of him to not give up, to make something of himself, and to not allow his circumstances to overtake the person he had the potential to be. A lot of kids in Michael's position- homeless at some points, hungry, without family, and in need of support- would simply fall through the cracks or allow their circumstances to define who they are. It takes an amazing fire within someone to chalk their entire past up to simply that; the past. Many allow their pasts to decide their futures or don't reach beyond what most expect of them. Michael Oher could have easily decided that no one expected him to pass fifth grade, so why do it. He could have easily said there was no point in reaching goals because no one would recognize them. He could have easily given up and allowed drugs and gangs to overflow his life and potential. However, Michael channeled his rough childhood into a passion to do something beyond his means, a passion that no one could take away from him. Even Sean and Leigh Anne note that Michael doesn't dwell on his past or complain about the hardships he has gone through. He leaves the past where it belongs; behind the person he has become. Michael says, "I don't dwell on the past. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself because I didn't have a place to stay a lot of the time. It is what it is. Take it and run with it. That's why I'll never, ever wake up and be comfortable with my situation-- it'll always be unbelievable."

In a Heartbeat Post 3

One of the most important parts of the next section of the book for me was when both Sean and Leigh Anne were discussing Leigh Anne's nightly ritual with her children. Every single night she will venture into each child's room, kiss them on the forehead, and say "I love you". For most people, especially in this area, the simple act of saying goodnight and showing affection is common and not given a second thought. Leigh Anne thought the same thing. However, as soon as Michael became a permanent member of the family, he not only got his own bed and room, but was also immediately included in the nightly ritual. The first few times Leigh Anne said "I love you", there was no response at all which never really bothered her. However, on one night about three months after Michael first stayed with the Touhy's, Leigh Anne once again gave him a goodnight kiss and said "I love you" which was met with Michael uttering as she left the room "I love you too". This particular instance in the book really hit me because it was just another reinforcement that Michael was a true and loving member of the Touhy family. He was not a charity case the family took in out of pity, he was not thrown to the side after a few months, but he was then S.J.'s brother, Collins' brother, and Leigh Anne and Sean's second son. Race, size, and circumstance did not affect or alter the way his family viewed him because there was no way their care for each other could be measured. At one point early in the book, Sean and Leigh Anne make a point to say that what they did for Michael was nothing compared to what he has done for them. They are now a stronger, closer, and more loving family because Michael is now a part of their lives. Time after time people all around the world look right through the Michaels everywhere. He is a kid walking on the street with a bag full of clothes, he is a kid at school who doesn't seem to eat lunch because he doesn't have the money, and he is the boy who has had every obstacle taunting him to fail. It takes a special person to see that boy; black, white, tall, short, skinny, or large and love him for the person he is, not the judgments we may make. As Sean has said, "we all begin on the same page and we're all going to end on the same page".

In a Heartbeat Post 2

As I got deeper and deeper into the book, I discovered that both Leigh Anne and Sean were faced with childhood obstacles such as poverty and death. This came to me as somewhat of a shock because from what I had heard previously about the family, they were in fact very wealthy. Never the less, both Sean and Leigh Anne had to face their own hardships which is where they found how important giving truly was. Sean was raised in a loving family with four children who lived on the modest salary of a gym teacher. Most of Sean's inspiration and love came from his dad, but when Ed Touhy had a stroke the family was left with less than they had ever had before. Sean received a lot of support from his community and that help combined with the strong value of giving his dad had filled him with made for a very ready-to-give man. Leigh Anne was also raised far from rich with an ex-war veteran father who worked in the police force and a mother who worked hard to uphold an interior design business. There was no room for fancy cars and ultra fine clothing when her parents were determined to put two kids through private school as well as making sure Leigh Anne had the ability to attend college. Leigh Anne also was exposed to giving at an early age because her mother firmly put a value on helping others. One of Leigh Anne's close friends, Liz Marable even at one point found herself living with Leigh Anne's family because of her mother's love of helping others. Finding out both of these backgrounds actually made me more understanding of the Touhy's emphasis and love for giving to those around them. As Leigh Anne says, "God gives you money because he wants to see how you handle it". Yes, the family has a private plane and sure they could probably fund an entire school, but I doubt that they would ever have a problem just as easily giving those things up in order to help out someone in a more difficult position. They have instilled these giving values into their children as well; S.J., Collins, and Michael are expected to give to those around them and have now discovered their own love for helping those around them. Leigh Anne and Sean's backgrounds also helps explain the constant array of children coming and going at their house and their immediate love and care for Michael Oher. Michael hit a soft spot with both Sean and Leigh Anne, so their acts of kindness towards him were simple gestures at first, but soon grew to the love and respect they now have as a family.

Free Reading Post 1

For my outside reading I chose to read In a Heartbeat, the story of the Touhy family and their incredible journey through their lives as well as the taking in and adoption of their son, Michael Oher. The Touhy's have recently shared their story on another global level; the popular box office hit, The Blind Side. While the movie was the outer layer of their story, Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy decided it was important to let the country and even the world into the whole story about their trials, tribulations, and the importance of family and love. When I first saw the Blind Side, without a doubt I was moved by the story; it was a great movie as well as stacked with a cast who portrayed the family in a way that the audience couldn't help but love. However, I couldn't help but think that this family might have been too good to be true. Allowing a young black boy into your home without much knowledge about him or where he has come from, especially in the deep south and the community the Touhy's lived in, seemed like some sort of godsend. As I began to read the actual book written by the parents of this NFL superstar, I realized that this was no sudden act of kindness, but rather the same giving that Sean and Leigh Anne were used to. I was instantly moved by their message of giving as opposed to receiving and their ability to look beyond what is on the surface to find something beautiful.

Abortion

1.     After viewing both of the sites, I feel that I have a better understanding of what each side of the argument is as well as which points both sites hoped to highlight. I thought that NARAL- Pro Choice America had a more inviting and user-friendly site. The visitor was not bombarded with facts or pictures, but rather was presented the side without much imposition of ideas. Of course, I might have thought this way because of my stance on the issue. I found the National Right to Life website a little more invasive and up front about the issues that surround abortion. I thought the pictures were very graphic and the details of the procedure were surprising, but I felt myself somewhat questioning my position after viewing the sight. Given that emotional response, I figured that the sight must have at least been slightly effective.

2.     As a 17 year-old girl, I have to say I would not be thrilled about having my parents know I was considering an abortion, but I do feel that it is important for the parents to know if their daughter is planning on having the procedure. I only consider this because I would want my parents to be concerned and willing to help me in any way they could given a situation like a teenage pregnancy. I do not, however, feel that the parents of a minor should have consent of the abortion unless the girl is under the age of 17. I feel this way simply because by the age of 17, contrary to what some science may prove, I think a girl is educated enough to decide what may be best for her and her unborn child.

3.     I think that the father should be notified of a daughter wanting or receiving an abortion because as a parent he would be equally as responsible for protecting his child as the mother. I can see why a man may not have an educated stance on pregnancy simply because they do not have to go through it, but as a father one has the responsibility to take care of his children.

4.     Illinois law at this point seems to have restrictions on access and use of abortions, but still has it available with the consent of either parents or spouse. I think that most of Illinois’ laws are properly laid out because there should be some restrictions on the availability of abortions and the reasons women are seeking them. I would change the law that states that no insurance can be offered to cover an abortion simply because it is a medical procedure and some people need the support of insurance companies if they need or want an abortion.  

Death Penalty #3

Stages:

In order to attempt to protect the rights of the accused, the police have to make an educated arrest and in the process of the court, the defendant has to be considered innocent until proven guilty. While both these ideas in theory should be decent standing points to uphold the rights of the accused, there is a certain pressure that comes with a murder that may sway decisions and choices. Often times, when a crime is committed, the people of the community no longer feel safe and immediately look towards the police force to restore the safety they are used to. With this pressure, it is easy for the police to make mistakes or jump into an arrest without sufficient information about the person they may be arresting. Once the defendant is in trial, the phrase "innocent until proven guilty" is brought into play; however, the people on the jury have a burden that is not easy to carry. They are deciding between life and death for a human being. While hearing the gruesome details of the case, I'm sure it isn't easy to keep in mind that the person who is being prosecuted might be innocent. It is in the best interest of the people for someone to be blamed. I think that the rights of the accused should be protected, but I think it is hard to do so when the person is being accused of murder.

Methods:

There are a number of methods used during executions such as firing squads, hanging, gas chambers, lethal injections, and electrocution. Hanging was popular and the primary method of execution up until 1996. Firing squads are still used, but only primarily in Idaho. Gas chambers were used until they were ruled a "cruel and unusual punishment" and the last use of a gas chamber was in 1999. Electrocution was used until about 2008 until it too was deemed a cruel and unusual punishment. Lethal injection today is the most widely used form of execution. In my opinion, lethal injection is also the most humane of all of the execution methods simply because it is the fastest and although I do not feel that the prisoner should be excused of all pain, it is the least uncomfortable for the person being executed.

State By State:

From what I found, the southern states seem to be the most prominent in holding death penalty inmates and actual executions. Texas, being the large state it is, is the leading the state in inmates and executions. I was surprised by the states that had no death penalty at all, but I was even more surprised by those states that did not have life without parole. Also to my surprise, there seemed to be more white inmates in most states rather than black inmates completely discounting the argument that some may have concerning racial disparities concerning the death penalty.

Death Penalty Information Center:

This information agrees with what I said previously about the lack of racial disparities in the death penalty because the pie chart shows that 56% of defendants executed were white. The economic effects of the death penalty seem to be less than actually holding an inmate for an extensive period of time or even life. The numbers of executions peaked in 1999 and were slowly decreasing until a slight spike in 2009. The public opinion recently has been only 33% for the death penalty, with most leaning towards the option of life without parole plus restitution.

Clifford Boggess and the Death Penalty

In my personal opinion based on the information presented in class, I do believe that Clifford Boggess should have been executed. This was a difficult and somewhat lengthy debate because I found myself going back and forth between the person Clifford was and the person he seemed to be. In the beginning, he was a cold blooded killer; one that loved the thrill of taking another person’s life and felt little to no remorse about the crimes he was committing. After time on death row, it would seem that Boggess was taking a new perspective on life and what he had done. He expanded with art, became a loyal and devoted follower of Jesus Christ, and claimed over and over again that he was apologetic about killing the two old men. However, I found myself getting more and more aggravated as Clifford went on and on about the person he had become. He seemed so cold about his murders, almost as if they were nothing. He rarely acknowledged himself as a killer or came to terms with what he had done because he was hiding behind his “Christian” way of life that he had somehow found on death row. It is unrealistic to think that he should sit in his cell, day in and day out, crying and repenting for what he had done, but he seemed completely unphased by what he had done and how it has affected people other than himself.

 I do believe that people have the ability to change, but not in the drastic ways that would need to occur in order for a killer to suddenly become a good person. Many people who are driven to kill have a psychological predisposition to have little to no feelings about killing and in some situations even enjoy what they are doing. Someone can change their outlook on life or their anger management, but it isn’t as simple as changing what a person is biologically destined to do. I have to say that I have a lot of faith in human beings, but I sincerely believe that a lot of what Clifford Boggess said was simply what he thought everyone wanted to hear. Even when Lisa Hazelwood wrote Clifford simply asking for an answer as to why he killed her grandfather, he stuffed the letter with bible passages and found what seemed like every way possible to avoid the question. She found the letter as equally frustrating as I did which in many solidified the fact that she wanted him to die. In taking Clifford’s life, I do feel the justice system gave the families of the victims at least a little peace of mind in knowing that this killer was not going to have the opportunity to hurt anyone else. I know that personally, it would be a relief to know that the justice system put an end to the person who took a loved one from me.

While Clifford appeared to have made some decent life changes in prison, I don’t believe that someone who has the ability to live with the actions they have committed, like taking another person’s life, can be any kind of value to society. There are many devoted Christians in the world who would never even consider the possibility of murdering someone, there are rising artists all over the world who can travel and find inspiration without having to be behind bars. I can’t find any possible way to justify Clifford Boggess as an asset to society because he was secure with his decisions to execute a living, breathing, human being just like himself. It may seem harsh, but if he was okay with doing it once, and then okay with doing it twice, I am a firm believer that a third time really isn’t going to mean anything to his conscience.

Bullying

Bullying has literally been around for centuries. Whether it was pushing books out of a "nerds" hands, actually physically hurting someone, or simply calling another person names, it exists and has existed all around the world. I think it is completely unrealistic to believe that the entire problem is going to completely be solved considering as time goes on, bullying gets more "sneaky", more high tech, and more dangerous.
When we talked about the case of United States vs. Lori Drew, the bullying wasn't even kids on kids, it became something grown adults took part in. Lori Drew was the mother of a young girl who went to school with Megan Meier, an 8th grader at Immaculate Conception School in Missouri. Drew wanted to see if Megan had been saying negative things about her daughter on MySpace, so she created a fake account and pretended to be a boy named Josh Evans. After a little time of flirting and creating a relationship, Josh told Megan that the world would be a better place without her and he no longer wanted to be her friend. These actions ultimately led Megan to kill herself. The main thing that truly gets to me about this case, is the fact that a 47 year-old woman had nothing better to do with her life than terrorize a 13 year old. That is the textbook definition of pathetic. It doesn't matter that Drew thought Megan was saying nasty things about her daughter because as a mother, Drew should have used the opportunity to teach her child that sometimes fighting back is not the answer, but rather deal with the problem as a mature and growing girl. Instead, Lori Drew paved the way for her daughter to never leave high school, even as a 47 year-old woman. Drew was convicted but then acquitted for charges of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, but not charged for her direct actions in harassing the young girl who took her life as a result of this woman's actions. This in some ways is the perfect example of how bullying has taken a dangerous turn, it is no longer about fighting your own battles because in some cases the players aren't following the rules.
When we were watching the MTV series, If You Really Knew Me, I was surprised at how strongly I believed that challenge day could be a real solution to the entire bullying problem. I do not think that bullying is necessarily a problem at Deerfield, but that is not to say that people don't start drama, girls don't say nasty things to each other, or that people are made fun of. As horrible as it may sound, I somewhat think that those actions are part of growing up because you need to go through those things to realize how juvenile it is as an adult. There are always going to forms of bullying taking place, but I really believe that Deerfield has implemented a policy that is enforced; zero tolerance when it comes to bullying or harassment. With all that being said, some schools (like the ones Jamie Nabozney attended) really have no control, or choose not to take control, of bullying problems. I think that programs like challenge day are real solutions to this problem because it eliminates the lecturing aspect that so many kids have experienced when the topic of bullying is brought up. Challenge day is interactive and gives students an opportunity to see that they may have more in common with the people they bully than they might originally think. It gives a personal addition to people who may not be seen as human on a daily basis.
The problem of bullying can't be eliminated completely, it just is not a realistic goal. However, we can work to find effective and working solutions to keep the problem under control.

Students and the Fourth Amendment Response

While I truly believe that the ideas of the Fourth Amendment should be held to a high and serious standard, I do believe that the perameters laid out by the Supreme Court are both reasonable and necessary. The overall idea of the search of a student is well within the guidelines needed to keep students, teachers, and the school safe and well protected. In some cases, the search of a student may include that of a random drug test conducted in an extracurricular setting.
In the case of Vernonia vs. Acton, it was stated that when signing up for sports within a High School, students are willingly subjecting themselves to a lack of privacy such as changing, showering, and traveling with the team. When a student is knowingly signing up for a sport that involves a lack of privacy, who is to say that the school cannot then take necessary actions to ensure that their students are not taking part in illegal or harmful activity. While i personally don't agree with the idea of drug testing in a high school enviornment, I do understand why the courts would rule it within Constitutional rights to do so. Privacy cannot be an arguement when the idea of privacy is already halfway out the door.
The Supreme Court stated after the case of NJ vs. TLO and Vernonia vs. Acton that a warrant or probable cause was not necessary for the search of a student as long as the seach was reasonable as well as that drug testing was within Constitutional rights of the school to do so. After looking over the evidence that was presented in the cases as well as the debate in class, I have to say that I agree with the stance the Supreme Court has taken on drug testing within a High School enviornment.

Freedom of Religion Response

When reviewing the First Amendment Survey, I cannot say that I was surprised that when asked which part of the First Amendment was most recognizable, people most commonly voted freedom of speech. However, I did find it somewhat interesting that the least recognizable was the right to petition simply because it becomes so relevant when protesting, gathering a group, or fighting an issue. The survey was one that I found informative and also intriguing because it brought up questions that may not be directly related when talking about the First Amendment because they brought up issues such as religion in schools, seperation of church and state, and even going as far to ask whether or not corporations and businesses have the same free speech as independent citizens.
I then went on to research teaching religion in schools and read the article titled, Revising History: What happens in Texas won't stay in Texas. It spoke about the recent debate in the Texas curriculum about what can or cannot be taught in social studies classes around the state. The fight is mainly about whether or not the presence of Protestant Christianity should be included when speaking about our countries founding. I must say, I have to agree with the decision to keep religious views outside of the educational system. I feel that in some ways, inviting religion into class discussions opens the floor for more religious than factual based arguements or discussions. A simple conversation about science could suddenly take a turn for the creation of the universe, which then in many ways pulls the entire context of the original conversation out of the equation. In this day and age there are far too many religions, religious beliefs, and lack of religious beliefs to impliment a sound and respectful religious system within the educational enviornment.