Reasons to love and smile

Advanced US Blog Assignment #3

After reviewing 11 of the weaknesses of the United States Government under the Articles of Confederation listed below, select the one that was the most significant to correct and say why you believe it to be true.

1.Delegates were paid by the states who selected them

2.   Each state had one vote and 9 states needed to pass any law

3.   Unanimous vote needed to amend the Articles

4.   No National Courts

5.   No powerful Chief Executive

6.   No common currency

7.   Each state regulated its own trade 

8.   National gov. did not regulate foreign trade

9.   National gov. did not have the power to make treaties

10. No national Army and Navy
11. National Gov. could not collect taxes from States of Citizens

This link will display the actual Articles -------------->> 


        Transcript of Articles of Confederation: Just click the above link.

T

Rights vs Powers

Constitutional Law Assignment

Article [IX] The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

Article [X] The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Using the 9th and/or the 10th Amendment as legal evidence, argue for or against the right of marriage for same sex couples.  

Cross Country

9/22/2012

Berkshire Boys Cross-Country @ the Canterbury Invitational in New Milford Ct.

A great group of gentlemen make up the Boys  2012 Cross-Country Bear Team.  The team looks forward to working so hard that we improve our times beyond belief, and so far the top seven - Sam Sabin '13, Derrick Burt '16, Peter Giordano '15, Sash Podolsky '13, Cody Turner '13, Alex Fuller '13, and Wesley Lickus '13 have done just that as they all improved their 3.1 mile times by a range of 15 seconds to 51 seconds in one short week while competing at the Canterbury Invitational on Saturday.  As their coach I told the boys that their goal was to make me as proud of them after the race as I was of them for having the courage to start the race. I say courage for I remember being their age and so nervous that I could hardly stand before the starting gun fired.  Led by Sam Sabin's  time of 18:46, who one week earlier was not able to finish our time trial, each runner pushed hard and improved vastly in one week. Burt and Giordano took just under a minute off their times and finished their first race knowing that the best is yet to come.  Podolsky, Turner, Fuller, and Lickus ran tough over the hilly, yet fair, trail to finish our day.  In  the 34 years I have participated in this meet we  have been treated with class and dignity when we won, and we received equal treatment when we were weak.  I believe the entire prep school community knows and respects the great job that the Canterbury School does and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service to our students.  I will miss "The Saints" in my retirement from the coaching ranks. At the end of the meet Berkshire School was honored by the Canterbury Staff as they presented an award, accepted by Coach Gulotta on behalf of Berkshire, for our years of carrying on in the Twiggs Myers tradition of sportsmanship and integrity. To be honored in such an unselfish manner was a great tribute to all of the Bears who have run in the 40 years of the Canterbury invitational.

thought on teaching

Whenever students are in pain or under stress teachers are in pain and under stress as a result.  Caring so much for our kids makes this a job that pushes educators to attempt to be perfect every day.  Wow: we attempt to be something that is impossible.  Understanding our flaws keeps us sane.

questions

The only problem I am having using the blog as a vehicle to let students express themselves to each other, not just to their teacher, is that when students do not do the assignment on time it is noticed by all and it creates much more work for the teacher.  Maybe this is actually good, for it means the students are very much accountable for their effort or lack of same.  I find it stressful to always try to do the right thing.

on my mind

On a personal note:  it is hard to try to implement the use of the internet into the core of my teaching, but it does seem to be worthwhile.  I hope the kids are enjoying this new approach to writing on a blog which makes their work available to so many people.

Conlaw amendment assignment

 

 

Below are the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th amendments to the US Constitution.  Read them carefully then answer the following question by hitting the comment icon on this blog entry.  

With the purpose of the 13th and 14th to ensure citizenship for more than just the white race made clear: Why did we need the 15th and 19th amendments???

Remeber that the entire population of the earth could read your answer:  Write well.

 

Article XIII

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.  ^affects 11
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.   ^{ratified #13}

Article XIV

  All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.  No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

 The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.   ^{ratified #14}

Article XV

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.   ^{ratified #15}

Article [XIX]

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.  ^affects 15
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.   ^{ratified #19}

regret and disappointment

I am disappointed by the mean spirited political campaign that we are currently in.  How can the terrible deaths of American diplomats over-seas be used to gain political points so ruthlessly be a presidential candidate.  Some times leaders need to wait and have all the information regarding an incident before they stand in front of microphones and blame/insult people.  After realizing a bad mistake the respectful leader corrects their previous statement, but this time the candidate re-stated their mistaken opinion.  Do politicians think that if they lie enough we will believe the lie?

Essay question

Advanced US History Students:   Write a question here that you believe would be an excellent essay question for your test on the colonial period???

Missing/Needing People

Deb loves beaches

Some experiences make us very aware of the greatest joys in life.  With my wife on Cape Cod for a weekend, I have become painfully aware of how much I need her.  36 years of marriage and still no end in sight!  It is my wish that all who read this share a bond with another as close as ours.

Con Law Assignment

Link to US Constitution

Write a one sentence response to the following question>   What was the intent of the founding fathers when they wrote this paragraph of the US Constitution?

Article 1, Section 8, Paragraph 18 of the U.S. Constitution states:

"The Congress shall have Power: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."

Recipe # 2

My sweet wife made the second recipe in the One World Vegetarian Cookbook: Besari Dip.  It is my opinion that the ingrediants that makes up this concoction are fine, but the tomato pie I had with it far out-shined the dip. The Besari  was delicate and fluffy: it was served with heated chips and white grapes, as well as a fine red wine, but the grapes and the red wine were better than the Besari.  Now mind you that I have no real sensitive taste buds left, so I need tangy-sweet- sour-or something less light to stimulate my excitement for food, so this creation may please 9 out of 10 people.  It did not displease me, but I would not order it in a restaurant.  Two down--I am enjoying this.

Reality and nervous

My grandson and I are thinking about a positive start to the school year.

Here I sit in my classroom with school about to begin and I am nervous.  The butterflies are real, and the stress is amazing.  This is my 34th year and yet I feel like a rookie: why is this?  It is my hope that I want to do so well that I fear failure, and in the case of a teacher/coach, failure is anything short of perfection.  Yes I can teach and coach: can I teach and coach with total passion and compassion?  Will I make stupid regrettable mistakes or will I handle even the tough situations with dignity and grace.  Remembering all the times I said the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place, makes me shutter.  Saying your sorry is the right thing to do, but not making the mistake is the best thing to do.

I hope that my classes and my team learn to respect me, and that I am up to the task of having a perfect semester.