Week of March 2

Last Friday, the students all shared a commercial they had created for the game they made on their January book.  The students were asked to create a game telling about the events for their science fiction book.  Here are some pictures of the students sharing their games through the commercials.

We had a great debate this week on whether all students who are healthy, regardless of religion or beliefs, should be required to get a measles vaccine.  The students spent time researching both sides of the argument and only found out on which side they would be arguing right before the debate.  They were given about 5 minutes to use their research to write their opening statements, then worked with their group to decide who would say their statement.  When the other side was speaking, the students were asked to take notes to help write their rebuttals.  Again, every student wrote a rebuttal for their side, but only one person shared theirs on each side in the debate. Once both rebuttals were given, the students then wrote a closing statement.  

It was interesting to see and hear how their thinking about the topic changed over the course of the study.  Most of the students originally felt that vaccines should be a requirement, but by the end of the debate, their feelings had mostly changed.  Here are some of the reflections about the debate.

     "My thinking changed.  I thought that everybody should get the vaccine, but now I think different.  It's against the constitution.  There can be serious reactions that can lead to death.  It will make people turn against their religion."

     "At first I thought that people should get vaccines.  I still think it because a small number of people die with vaccines vs. a larger number of people dying without.  Another reason is that it saves money, time and lives.  That's why my mind didn't change."

     "At first, I thought that getting a vaccine would make everyone immune to the disease, which is true.  But know I know that there are severe side effects from rashes to death.  I also now know that it is unconstitutional to force people to do things against their will.  But I still think everyone should get one."

     "Before I thought that we should and that we shouldn't make everyone have a vaccine.  But the cons said the thing about how making people from religions have a vaccine when it's against them.  They said that that was like making a vegetarian eat meat for the rest of their life.  That is why I now think everyone shouldn't have to get a vaccine."

The Peacocks did a great job hosting the Seabury School Dr. Seuss Trivia Contest today.  They wrote and asked the questions, judged and kept score.  The Spirits won this year!  Congratulations to all of the teams on a job well done.