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)

Bill Maxwell hates saggin' pants. Do you?

This is how St Petersburg Times writer Bill Maxwell began his Sunday column this week:

"All right, call me an old goat, a geezer, an old codger, a curmudgeon, an Uncle Tom or any other unflattering name.

I don't care.

Let it be known, here and now, that I hate saggin' pants. I dislike being in the company of anyone wearing these buffoonish, self-loathing and effeminate getups."

Click here to read the rest of the story, titled: "Pull up your pants, you big buffoon."
Some towns are actually passing laws to outlaw baggy pants that drift too far south. Where do you draw the line?

After you read Maxwell's column, click on comments below to read what other summer readers are saying and share your views on this XXL-sized issue.

Cartoon courtesy of www.cavalierdaily.com

It's Dali Time!

Students at Meadowlawn Middle School's Book It! camp are preparing for a trip to the Dali Museum. What do you know about this world famous surrealist artist, Salvador Dalí? What do you want to learn? If you have already visited the Dali, tell us what you liked the most. Whether you are a Dali-novice or expert, click on comments below and talk to us!

You can check out all kinds of Dali details at the museum's Web site: http://www.salvadordalimuseum.org

Gator Symphony

Click here read, see and HEAR gators sing!
If you were going to sing a line or two to a gator, what words and music would you use? Share your verse (and the tune we should sing it to) in the comments section.

Here is one to get you started. Sing it to the tune of Huey's Pop, Lock and Drop it -- which has a JAWS-style scary beat that the gators could dig . . .

Big Gator roll to da left (left)
then he roll to da right (right)
Roar more and drop it
underwater out-of-site
Tubas blow on the dock (dock)
Tubas blow to da boys (gators)
Blow B Flat note and
hear the gators sing all night

Read all about it!

Welcome to Book it! The next few weeks will be a fun-filled adventure where you will learn new skills and meet new friends. Reading the St. Petersburg Times will be an important part of each week so we want to know what you like to read about in the news. To get things started here at our blog, tell us what you like to read in the newspaper and why. If you haven't read the newspaper much, imagine that you were in charge of your own newspaper. What would the headline on the front page say today?

Your teachers have already given their views. Read their comments to find out more!

Are you ready to Sizzle, Summer Readers?

There are museums showcasing just about anything (or anyone) you can think of. If you were designing a museum, what would you put in it? Look in the St. Petersburg Times for current exhibits at local museums. Flip through the pages of the Times and study the advertisements. What do people value in our culture? Today's bobble head doll might be a valuable relic in the next century! What would you collect and put in a museum?  Share your museum ideas with other students across Tampa Bay by clicking on COMMENT and describing your dream collection.