The follow-up to this story about a sex slave in California was published a while ago. I missed it, but here it is. The most infuriating part is how little America is doing to stop this. For example the Sun Spa massage parlor where the woman in the story "worked" is still open for business. The website where customers review the sex workers - myredbook.com - is still up and running. The information and pictures on this site are disturbing to say the least. It's clearly promoting illegal activity, so why can't the American government get it shut down?
I recently heard from an American high school teacher who wishes that his high school wasn't obligated to continue tolerating students until they are 21:
I am a high school teacher. We have a student who: often cuts school, often cuts class, never does any work...I know par for the course in today's society. Here are the kickers of the situation: He is 20 years old, parents live in South America, he lives in an apt near campus (with another horrific student), he has no job, barely speaks English, and according to his academic record he has no possibility of ever graduating from this HS. His stated purpose in coming to school is be "be near the 14 year old girls". He will stay until he is 21 when he is legally obligated to leave.The school administration is well aware of this "kid". It was apparently confirmed recently that he does live in our jurisdiction, and we have to keep him until he turns 21 in the spring. Everyone seems covered legally, it just turns my stomach.
Extra credit assignments will be written reports applying ideas from SLA class to a lesson you have taught and/or planned. Reports will be published on this blog so that other teachers can benefit from the analysis.
Step 1: Summarize a lesson. This could be a lesson from your own teaching experience or it can come from one of your methodology lesson plans.
Step 2: Analyze the lesson's theoretical foundation by applying ideas we've discussed in SLA.
Notes: The summary should be fewer than 200 words. The analysis should be 500 words or more. The conclusion should be fewer than 200 words. Reports should consist of paragraphs under headings. Possible headings:
I. Overview of the lesson
II. Theoretical justification of the activities
A. Right hemisphere participation
B. The Affective Filter, anxiety, and motivation
C. Input and Output
III. Conclusion
The headings above are not required (you may use any headings you like) but should give you an idea about the form I expect. Extra credit assignments should be emailed to jtrotta@gmail.com attached as word (.doc) files. The due date is Monday, December 4th, 2006.