2nd Blog Posting

Anthony

Topic: Education

Title: New Sex Education Mandate Taking Effect

Author: Yasmeen Khan

Publisher: NY Times

Date: 1/30/12

Length of article: 2 pages

In New York, Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott announced in August that public middle schools and high schools would be required to fold sex education lessons into existing health classes, which already cover topics like nutrition, physical activity and preventing injuries.  Some districts took extra steps, and many schools voluntarily added sexual health to their curriculums, including here in New York City. But not all of them.  That led to concerns by advocates of sex education, including Planned Parenthood, that the city lacked a consistent approach.

The new sex education mandate takes effect this spring term, which begins on Tuesday for high school students.  However, some parent groups have criticized the city’s new policy, saying it is too graphic or that they would prefer abstinence-only lessons. Parents who object to lessons on birth control and preventing S.T.D.’s can write a letter to their child’s principal to opt out of some classes. The letter must stipulate that students will receive that instruction at home.

CONCLUSION

Sex education will be mandated in public middle and high schools of New York.  However, parents may have their children opt out of certain topics as long as they themselves teach their children at home.  In these middle and high schools, health classes must be taught by a licensed health teacher, and the Office of School Wellness program is offering free training for teachers and administrators. 

1st Blog Posting

Anthony

Topic: Technology/Science

Title: Bay Area Technology Professionals Can’t Get Hired as Industry Moves On

Author: Aaron Glantz

Publisher: NY Times

Date: 1/28/12

Length of article: 2 pages

Silicon Valley may be booming again, but times are still tough for the 200 out-of-work professionals.  Most of them hold advanced degrees in engineering and have more than a decade of experience in the technology sector.  They fill all of the seats in the City Council chamber and spill out into the aisles.  While Web-based companies like Facebook and Google are scouring the world for new talent to hire, older technology workers often find that their skills are no longer valued.  Why? “You’re not going to get a job that’s going to be assembly and filing and coding,” Mr. Hancock said, “and frankly, that can leave a lot of the older set a little bewildered.”  Some observers say much of this language is just code for age discrimination. They point to the case of Brian Reid, a 52-year-old manager who was fired by Google in 2004 — nine days before the company announced plans to go public — after his supervisors, including the company’s vice president for engineering operations, allegedly called him a poor “cultural fit,” an “old guy” and a “fuddy-duddy” with ideas “too old to matter.”

CONCLUSION

Technology companies are hiring less and less old people, because of the stereotype that the younger generation has better, more creative ideas.  These companies should handle job candidates on a case by case basis, and not immediately write off a man with graying hair in favor of a younger candidate. 

Reminders...

Hello,
Please remember to:
1) Not use your LAST name on the posting and as your user/author name.
2) Include "AP" or Associated Press as the name of the article's author - IF a by line is not included.
3) Select articles which are LESS/NO MORE than 2 weeks old.

Spring Semester 2012: Current Events

Hello and welcome to 2012 spring semester!  Students will be creating FOUR postings - TWO per quarter - on recent events in the United States.  They will also be making TWO COMMENTS per quarter on the postings.