1.)Who do you think causes the achievement gap?
I think a little bit of everything contributes. First, not going to preschool does give you a disadvantage. Second, parents are sometimes not involved in what their children do or how they are doing in school. They may show no interest in their childrens education which may cause the kids to kind of give up on doing good in school. Also the teachers are lowering their level of expectations on some of those who were bad in the beginning but wanted to change after. Last,maybe culture may have a role in this as well.

2.) What can students do to close the gap?
What students can do to close this gap is to focus in school and worry about everything else outside of school. Also to leave al the "cool" thing aside and try to be competitive.

3.)What can parents do?
Parents could put their kids in preschool when they are 3 to 4 years old. This would give them an advantage in school and would probably be ahead. Also to be involved in what their children do at school and how they are doing. Last, they should see themselves as teachers and show interest in what their kids are doing.

4.)What can teachers/schools do?
Teachers should not lower their levels of expectations on some students because they may be bad in the beginning but they may turn out to want an education after. Also, school should give everyone a chance to succeed.

1.What did you think of Mr.Hayden?

He seemed to be a quiet guy and a nice person. I agreed with some things he said like the Iraq war being similar to the Vietnam war because its a war that is unecessary and too many soldiers are being killed.

2.Tom Hayden does not think of himself as a Civil Rights leader. Do you see him as one? Why or why not?
I do see him as a leader because he tried to stop a war that was being lost. He also registered a few blacks to vote and was a anti-civil war activist.

3. Tom Hayden feels the leaders are not as important. What does he mean by that?

I think Mr.Hayden means that a movement can not be done without the help of the people. For a movement to move forward and be succesful they not only need a leader but they need the people because without them there is no movement.

Today has been an ok day. It isn't the best one but everything has gone out fine. I was feeling sick in the morning but I seem well now. I'm getting myself ready for christmas and maybe Im going to put up my tree this Saturday. Im also going to see Tom Hayden today in Mr.Carr's class because hes going to speak to us. I am really eager to see him. Maybe I'll also go to the baketball game to cheer up the team. Maybe they'll win this time.

I think the sign "Stop hurting yourself" means to stop hurting ourselves. It says to not do things or actions that will affect not only us but the people that surround us. I think Mr.Phsu put it up there because many kids now have problems that are not known and he wants to remind us to not hurt ourselves.
Well yesterday my classmate drank and had severe consequences. First she only threw up but it got worse after because she was unconscious. Well she hurt herself because she put her life in danger and had to go to the hospital. Others were affected because we didnt relly know what to do and were right there when it all happened.