Occupy Basement/Trickle Down

Respond to the cartoon.  Talk about any appeals that are made by the artist.  Be thorough.

Respond to the appeals. Compare the two cartoons, are they both appealing to the same audience?  How do you know?  DUE 11/30

Waiting for Superman

Questions for Waiting for Superman

1.    Who is the intended audience of the documentary?

2.    What is the purpose of the documentary?

3.    Is it successful in its intended purpose?

4.    What is the presentation that is made about public schooling?

5.    Where are most of the schools featured located?

6.    What is the ‘defined’ purpose of public schooling?

7.    What is your definition/purpose of public schooling?

8.    What is the assumption with the statistics?

9.    Were there any significant differences among the students featured?

10. The documentary says that students were separated or tracked based not just academics but obedience, discipline, effort and response to authority.  Are these worthy characteristics by which to judge students?

11. Are you being prepared for college?  2 year?  4 year?

12. If you had to go to one of the failing schools, would you try harder or would you give up?

13. Do you think that other students in big schools are being prepared?

14. What is the draw to these big schools?

15. Is college the only option for students of good schools?

16. What is Bill Gates’ interest in schools?

17. What made some of the featured schools sought after for parents and students?

18. What is the biggest obstacle to change?

19. How does the National Teacher’s Union explain the issues?

20. How do they impede the process?

21. Do you think that they intend to?

22. Is it really true that teachers can’t be fired?

23. What was the solution(s) offered for students?

24. What is your experience with school?

25. Was there any student responsibility or accountability?

26. Should all schools run the same?

27. What do the increased hours and Saturday school insure?

28. What did you notice about the alternative schools?

29. What are the pros and cons of tenure?

30. Why did Rhee come up against so much opposition?

31. Did her lack of experience help or hurt her and the things that she wants to do?

32. What is the difference between a student failing and a school failing?

33. What is the advantage of a lottery system?

34. What is the disadvantage of a lottery system?

35. What do you think will happen to those featured students who did not get into a different school?

36. Do you think that they will still be successful students?  Explain your answer.

Best and Worst of Times

What is the meaning of the cartoon?  Explain any background necessary for understanding.  Write about any appeals that the cartoonist uses.  DUE 11/10