IPS Year Round School?

Much controversy has arose since the Indianapolis board of education approved a new year round calendar permitting year round school for next year. The new calendar will include a 8 week summer, fall break Oct. 10-Oct17, Spring break lasting from Mar.26-April 2, and winter break lasting for 3 weeks. Do you think change is needed for IPS? Would the year round school year make a difference for students? Is this change probably going to take shape with other schools across the state?

http://www.indystar.com/article/20101124/LOCAL18/11240327/Year-round-calendar-approved-for-IPS?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com|default|pint

Considering the fact that more then 48% of the junior high students have a 3rd grade reading level and many have not been able to pass istep I think change would be the best way to face the problem. IPS has been having problems with its students attending school for the required 180 days, however due to the increase in breaks I do not see the new school calendar making a significant difference. It seems that the schedule is the same it's just that the students get a shorter summer but longer seasonal breaks. The new calendar may help the students who tend to miss a lot of school for whatever reason make up and hopefully improve the chances of more students graduate however I do not think this will make a huge difference. As for other schools depending on the results and benefits the school year brings other schools may adopt the new year round calendar.

Wild Tigers to be extinct in 12 years?

Wild tigers could become extinct in 12 years if countries where they still roam fail to take quick action to protect their habitats and step up the fight against poaching, global wildlife experts told a "tiger summit" Sunday. The World Wildlife Fund and other experts say only about 3,200 tigers remain in the wild, a dramatic plunge from an estimated 100,000 a century ago. Do you think there should be some sort of effort to prevent the extinction of the tigers? Why/Why not?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40298964/ns/world_news-world_environment/

I believe that the preservation of  would be a necessary cause because the tiger means so much to many different people around the world. To some the tiger is spiritually related, others see tigers as one of the wonders of the world. The extinction of the tigers would be a historic and sad event causing pain to many different groups of people. In my opinion, it would be a tragedy to lose such a beautiful animal on this earth. 

the Supreme Court of the United States listened to the oral arguments in the case of Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association. The Supreme Court is reviewing a California law that targets video games that give the player the option of “killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being.” A game is covered by the law if it displays acts that a “reasonable person” would find appeals to “a deviant or morbid interest of minors,” if the content would violate community standards on what minors should see, if the content lacks serious value, and if the player can inflict injury through “torture or serious physical abuse” of a human-like figure.The Supreme court argues that exposing certain materials to minors warp kids and turn them violent, others argue that the possible law is violates freedom of speech.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/04/26/2010-04-26_supreme_court_video_game_case_court_to_decide_if_state_can_ban_sale_of_violent_g.html
I believe that banning violent video games until a certain age would be extremely unconstituaional and that it would be violating freedom of speech.  Parents should be the judge of what their children should beable to play not the government. Another point I could make is that there has not been any scientific studies that have confirmed that violent video games alter the way kids think. If anything should be changed it should be the way parents handle deciding what they will allow their kids to buy and what they buy for them.

Colie Out?

After taking a rough hit in Phil. Eagles game there has been much specualation that the injury may prove to be serious enough to shorten Colie's career. Previously Colie had been out for a hand injury, with his second injury the colts worry that this may be the season ender causing the colts to turn to the 2nd and 3rd strings.

Austin Colie's injury has been confirmed. He suffered a concession, the degree is not yet known, however coach Cowell has confirmed that Colie will be out.