Muslim pupils diverge on hijab

The controversy surrounding the Azalea Middle school student who wears the hijab demonstrated the problems that can result from prejudice or a lack of understanding about religious freedom. Today’s article provides the views of other Muslim pupils on the wearing of the hijab. What information could be provided in the Times about this particular situation at Azalea Middle School that would bring greater understanding to the students, teachers, administrators and families involved?

If you were an advice columnist for the Times and one of the players in this event had written you asking for guidance about their situation, how would you respond? Write a question from one of the people mentioned in the series of articles about this situation and then your response in the comments section below.

Here are links to today's and earlier articles if you want to revisit them before you post your advice.\

Muslim pupils diverge on hijab (Nov. 15)

Harassment of Muslim sixth-grader is deplored (Nov. 13)

Wilcox vows to investigate (Nov. 14)

Bully Blasters Week 4

One of the reasons why bullying is hard to stop is because sometimes the bullies are the kids who are popular, the kids everyone likes. The victims are often the unpopular or “weird” kids. Sometimes standing up to a bully means going against the popular view. Can you find an article about someone in the Times who risked his or her safety to stand up for the “underdog?” Click here to download your own Bully Blaster award to give to people you meet who stand up to bullies. (This can include you!)

Bully Blasters Week 3

Boys and girls can be both victims and bullies. Boy bullies are more likely to cause physical pain. Girl bullies are more likely to hurt feelings. Either way, bullying hurts everyone and needs to be stopped. Scan today’s St. Petersburg Times for examples of guys and girls in bullying situations. Draw a chart with two columns that compares your examples of boy and girl bullies. Click on the comment button below and share your observations with other Bully Blasters.

Bully Blasters Week 2

Bullying can take many different forms: teasing, threatening, hitting, stealing, and even gossiping. Some bullying hurts the body because the victims are hit in some way. Other bullying is emotional, like when one kid is left out of things on purpose and made to feel alone. Look through today’s St. Petersburg Times for words and pictures that show different styles of bullying. Clip them out and make a collage then draw a circle with a line through it it to indicate it should not be happening.
What picture, headline or article today made you think of a bully? Click on comments below and tell us about it. If you want to share your collage, you can scan it and email to jillwilson@sptimes.com or mail it to us: Times NIE, 490 1st St. S, St Petersburg, FL 33701

Bully Blasters Week 1

Whether its the war in Iraq, a local street brawl or a domestic abuse situation, you can read about conflict every day in the St. Petersburg Times. Find a story about conflict in today's Times. Put yourself in the shoes of one of the people mentioned in the story. What would you have done differently that could have changed this story?

One story you should read is on today's front page: Guns pause for bereft mom. (Click on the headline to go to story.)

This is the story of Denise Swisher of St. Petersburg who took to the streets after the shooting death of her son. Swisher handed out flyers and started conversations with the city's most troubled youths and their counterparts who were afraid of being beaten or shot. You can hear Denise Swisher talk about her struggle and see photos at pinellas.tampabay.com.