Here we are, almost finished with the first five weeks! How did that happen?! Communications students did good first projects having to do with political communication throughout the past 100 years. They discussed who was in office, who was reporting, what technology was used, and what the issues were. It was nice to see the evolution of interaction between politicians and the public. We are wrapping up this unit by watching All The President's Men, the story of Watergate and the journalists who uncovered it. Novel and Film is loving reading "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption." I bet you didn't know that was the full name of the story! There are parts that are graphic and possibly uncomfortable but in the long run, it is a fabulous story of hope. Part of what we have talked about is the right to feel uncomfortable and the freedom of speech. We have begun to discuss why authors write the things they do and how sometimes it can be graphic or offensive. I pr
I find it so hard to believe that at this point, none of you were born yet when 9/11 happened. It doesn't seem possible that your only knowledge of it is as a point in history while so many of us remember that day and the aftermath so clearly. I guess that's how the generations before me feel about the Kennedy assassination and Pearl Harbor. In classes this week, we began two great topics, in movie form to start. Communications is starting a unit on communication and politics by watching The King's Speech. We will discuss how the communication of events, policies, and actions in the political arena have been transmitted to the general public over the years. We will also eventually discuss the current state of political communication and how it impacts our lives and our votes. All views are welcome as it has always been a teacher's responsibility to remain neutral. In Novel and Film, we finished watching The Perfect Storm. One night's assignment was to check o