Election 2008

The home stretch

As we head into the final days before Election Day, there are a lot of people talking about politics. This is a history making year in terms of candidates and early voter turnout. What are your thoughts about the election? What are your thoughts about the television and radio ads? Have you checked out the accuracy of the candidates' statements on PolitiFact? Check out the "Voting 2008" category on the NBZ and share your thoughts with other students and teachers across the Tampa Bay area.

And, don't forget to cast your vote through Kids Voting polling locations. If you are a Hillsborough County student, you will have the opportunity to vote in school. All other students can cast their votes at a Kids Voting polling location in their respective counties. If you have participated in early voting, please share your thoughts about the process.

The boys of summer head home

A bitter end to a sweet season

The Rays have had a fabulous season. Even though they did not win the World Series, the team has a lot to be proud of. Check out John Romano's article, "Rays miracle season over, but its effects will last," in the October 30 edition of the Times. If you did not read the article on October 30, you can read the article in the archives of the electronic edition or on tampabay.com. Share your thoughts about Romano's perspective and the Rays here.

Know your amendments

Be in the know.

Election Day is a week away. There is a lot of talk about the candidates in the news: national and local. Florida’s 10.5 million registered voters will vote “for” or “against” six proposed constitutional amendments. You will have the opportunity to vote through Kids Voting on November 4.

You can read about the proposed amendments at VoteSmartFlorida.org. You can search for St. Petersburg Times articles on the amendments by using the archives on tampabay.com.  Choose a proposed amendment and discuss the pros and cons of that amendment here. Do you think the amendment is necessary to be added to the Florida Constitution: why or why not?

AMAZING RAYS!

9=2!

Now, according to John Maddon's new math, 9=2! It was the bottom of the ninth, and everything was riding on pitcher David Price, who entered the game in the eighth. When Akinori Iwamura fielded Jed Lowrie's hard grounder and tagged second base at 11:40 p.m., history was made. Share your thoughts about the amazing American League Champion Series here.

School safety

Be safe

There are many examples of violence on the pages of the St. Petersburg Times. Look through today’s newspaper for examples of different kinds of violence. What are your thoughts about the articles you have found? Have you seen any violence firsthand? Do you see violence taking place on your school campus or on a friend's campus? Do you think your school is safe?  Is your school fair with its consequences?  Are there procedures the school’s staff does to make you feel safe at school? Share your thoughts about school safety on the NIE Blogging Zone.

Class schedules

Is change good?

Next year all high schools are going to a seven class schedule. Do you think you will be affected by this?  Will it help or hurt you?  Do you like your classes now?  Do you think this will eliminate some of you electives and why? Look in the St. Petersburg Times for articles about other changes that are taking place in your school and community that may affect you. Share your thoughts with other students.

Rules!

Rules and consequences

There are rules everywhere: at home, in public, at school. Every day students are required to follow school rules. Zachary Sharples was suspended for breaking one of the rules at his school. Look for other school news and issues in the St. Petersburg Times. Do these rules effect you? Do you think they are fair to the student population as a whole? Is your school district and school fair with the rules that are in place? Is your school fair with its consequences?  Share your thoughts on the NIE Blogging Zone.

Dealing with bullies

Bullies come in all shapes and sizes

One kind of conflict that can affect adults at work and kids at school or in their neighborhood is a conflict with bullies. Look in the St. Petersburg Times for an article about bullying. Can you relate to the people or circumstances in the article? Is the bullying obvious, or is it subtle? Are their bullies in your class or neighborhood? Do you find boys or girls are doing more of the bullying?  Have you ever bullied anyone or been bullied yourself? How does your school handle bullies? How safe is your campus? Share your thoughts with other students.

Hair today, gone tomorrow?

Seventh-grader Zachary Sharples loves the Tampa Bay Rays. So much so that he got a mohawk that has become the rallying hairdo for the surging baseball team. That style might be hot at the Trop. But it didn't go over so well at Lincoln Middle School in Manatee County. Zachary received an in school suspension for violating dress code. What are your thoughts about this issue and school dress codes in general? Do you think dress codes are necessary? Do you think Zachary should have been suspended for his hairdo? Share your thoughts here.

Who's afraid?

The Night Before Middle School

Characters in the novel The Night Before Middle School  by Tom Tufts express their fears about going to middle school, and even about noises in the night. Then they learn of something that really is cause for fear, an approaching hurricane. In the novel, set in Homestead, Florida, before, during and after Hurricane Andrew marched across the state, the children have to do many things to protect themselves.

Education is a way of protecting yourself. Look in today's St. Petersburg Times for stories about issues you might need to educate yourself about, to be protected, or for other stories about things you might be afraid of. How do you overcome those fears? Write your thoughts on this blog. Mr. Tufts may blog back!