A six-year old toddler is tested by an adult if he can recite
the period table of elements. Watch and see for yourself
the boy's mastery of this high school science lesson.
20091102
20091101
20091031
Let The Child Learn
Naren S. Vutukuru , 8th Grade
San Jose CA
Miller Middle School
I am growing up Asian in America and I am very grateful to be a part of this great country, the land of abundant resources. In this country there are so many opportunities for everyone, starting with an education. Here, every child is allowed an education with no regard to status or heritage. However, being Asian, I do know that this is not true in some countries in Asia. Instead of being educated, children are put to work. Child labor is one of the main causes of illiteracy in Asian countries, and poverty causes child labor. Some people from these countries have not received any education since childhood and may not have even laid eyes on the pages of a book. This is illiteracy. The fact of anyone being illiterate in the United States is thought quite unusual for children are legally bound to attend school here; however, it’s nonconformity to think these things in some parts of Asia especially in countries like India. Based on my frequent visits to the country, I found out that, children whose parents live in poverty and cannot support their family alone are forced into labor to set food on the table thus living without an education. I strongly feel that this is unfair. My recent viewing of the Oscar winning movie” The Slum dog Millionaire” which depicted the reality in some parts of the country, also made me think about the children in poverty. I can proudly say that, if there was one thing I would change in the world, it’d be elimination of child labor and enforcement of child education.
Education, essentially, is the ticket to a successful life. However, it is not a privilege that only a gifted and lucky few may obtain. I believe every child has the born right to an adequate education. However, if a child is strenuously working for a coldhearted man in a sweatshop somewhere fifteen hours a day everyday, where is this child’s education? The parents of this child may not be able to afford it, but there are thousands of people in similar circumstances. As more families are thrown into poverty, more people are born into poverty, resulting in an endless chain. The government should not let this slip by. It should be funding organizations, it should be initiating relief funds, and it should be making great efforts to help educate children in their countries. The government should provide free schools with adequate facilities so that the children whose parents cannot pay for school can receive an education. This way, child labor won’t be present. True, there are laws against child labor, but they do not necessarily prevent it. I believe laws against child labor should be strongly enforced, more than it is right now.
So, the government has a part to play by strongly enforcing child labor laws, even if it is , sometimes it is very difficult for government to keep track of every nook and corner, especially in rural areas. So, citizens themselves have some responsibilities too. Whenever a person sees or witnesses an act of child labor which is blatantly illegal, it is that person’s duty to report it to the government so that the employer responsible is punished. You see, many people employ children because they work cheap and don’t have much of a sense of independence—meaning they can be censured and castigated. This is also wrong. You must not employ children or even force them into labor because of these reasons. Also, people should not purchase items manufactured through child labor just because they are cheap. Therefore, all of us must make our strongest efforts to discourage child labor and even end it.
I think the message that I am trying to convey is that we all should realize that child labor and illiteracy in any country can damage that country’s prosperity. The people of the government should believe in the importance of an education and make their best efforts to make it so that kids don’t have to work and can receive an education. Also, the people of the country, as in citizens, also have a responsibility to prevent child labor in the country by reporting it to the government, by not hiring children, and by not purchasing products made through child labor. We all need to be aware that children are backbone to a stronger world, no matter in which part of the world they are in. Need less to say that the success and prosperity of any country relies mainly up on the literacy rate in that country. If children are properly enlightened through education in their prime years of their life, without wasting them in work, they will, indeed be the most valuable asset to their countries. So we all have to keep this in our minds and try to do as much as we can to eliminate child labor completely and facilitate child literacy. What more do we need to make the world a better place? I strongly wish to see this awareness develop in people’s minds and everyone to make sincere efforts for this good cause and finally one day, we could be proud of what we did to make the world a better place.
20091030
I don't like the military and the politicians!
Stan, portrayed by Austin Link from Jesse Bethel High School CA, rails against the military, the politicians, and the dogs of war. This monologue is from the collections of Roger Karshner.
20091029
The Quest to End Poverty
Maya Varma, 5th Grade
Cupertino CA
Challenger School Almaden
The world faces many problems today, like global warming, pollution, destruction of our environment, and many more. Fixing these problems would take the effort of many people together. If I could solve one of these problems, I would end poverty. When people do not have enough food to eat, they cannot be expected to help solve other problems. Without basic necessities in life like food, clothing and shelter they cannot be productive. Now, people are losing their jobs and houses. This problem is going to increase in magnitude in the coming days.
Ever since I can remember, my parents have told me to only ask for things I need instead of what I want. I had always pondered about the true meaning of this. After all, I “needed” a Wii game system because my friend had one. But I only understood what my parents meant on my last trip to India.
When my plane landed at the Mumbai airport, I happily jumped out and rushed into the airport. After waiting for a long time amidst a crowd of people, we found our baggage and climbed into the waiting taxi. The first thing I noticed were the swarmed streets with cars honking their horns every few seconds. The noise was deafening. I was amused by the cacophony around. Then, as my gaze shifted to the sidewalks, the smile faded off my face. I saw a family sitting on the streets with torn clothes and a shaggy blanket asking for money. As we traveled further into the city, I caught sight of a few more beggars. When we stopped at a traffic light, a woman with a little baby came to our car to ask for money. More children around my age or younger came by asking for money and selling the few things they owned. I then realized that even though India had a lot of big buildings and rich people, there were a lot of very poor people too. I decided then, that I would help in whatever way I can.
That trip changed my life. I do not take anything for granted anymore, since I finally realized that I was lucky to go to a good school, have a nice home and food to eat. Rather than brood over not getting a Wii, I decided to donate money for needy causes. So for my tenth birthday, I asked my friends to give me money instead of gifts, and made a deal with my parents to match the money I raised. I raised $570 and donated it to a local charity. Two more of my friends who had come to my birthday did the same – one of them gave money to the China earthquake and the other to a shelter for homeless people. I then realized that I had influenced my friends and they in fact, must have influenced other friends and we all together must have made a difference even if it’s very small. I plan on continuing to solve our world problems starting first by helping the poor, at my home making sure that I recycle, reuse, and reduce and also in my neighborhood and community. Taking public transport on at least a few days of every month would reduce our pollution levels and also give us our much needed exercise. We can also prevent animal cruelty by treating our pets well and allowing the wild animals to be free rather than destroy their habitat or confine them in cages.
It takes many people to create a change in the world, but one person can make a big difference. Because, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” So
let us start with ourselves.
Cupertino CA
Challenger School Almaden
The world faces many problems today, like global warming, pollution, destruction of our environment, and many more. Fixing these problems would take the effort of many people together. If I could solve one of these problems, I would end poverty. When people do not have enough food to eat, they cannot be expected to help solve other problems. Without basic necessities in life like food, clothing and shelter they cannot be productive. Now, people are losing their jobs and houses. This problem is going to increase in magnitude in the coming days.
Ever since I can remember, my parents have told me to only ask for things I need instead of what I want. I had always pondered about the true meaning of this. After all, I “needed” a Wii game system because my friend had one. But I only understood what my parents meant on my last trip to India.
When my plane landed at the Mumbai airport, I happily jumped out and rushed into the airport. After waiting for a long time amidst a crowd of people, we found our baggage and climbed into the waiting taxi. The first thing I noticed were the swarmed streets with cars honking their horns every few seconds. The noise was deafening. I was amused by the cacophony around. Then, as my gaze shifted to the sidewalks, the smile faded off my face. I saw a family sitting on the streets with torn clothes and a shaggy blanket asking for money. As we traveled further into the city, I caught sight of a few more beggars. When we stopped at a traffic light, a woman with a little baby came to our car to ask for money. More children around my age or younger came by asking for money and selling the few things they owned. I then realized that even though India had a lot of big buildings and rich people, there were a lot of very poor people too. I decided then, that I would help in whatever way I can.
That trip changed my life. I do not take anything for granted anymore, since I finally realized that I was lucky to go to a good school, have a nice home and food to eat. Rather than brood over not getting a Wii, I decided to donate money for needy causes. So for my tenth birthday, I asked my friends to give me money instead of gifts, and made a deal with my parents to match the money I raised. I raised $570 and donated it to a local charity. Two more of my friends who had come to my birthday did the same – one of them gave money to the China earthquake and the other to a shelter for homeless people. I then realized that I had influenced my friends and they in fact, must have influenced other friends and we all together must have made a difference even if it’s very small. I plan on continuing to solve our world problems starting first by helping the poor, at my home making sure that I recycle, reuse, and reduce and also in my neighborhood and community. Taking public transport on at least a few days of every month would reduce our pollution levels and also give us our much needed exercise. We can also prevent animal cruelty by treating our pets well and allowing the wild animals to be free rather than destroy their habitat or confine them in cages.
It takes many people to create a change in the world, but one person can make a big difference. Because, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” So
let us start with ourselves.
20091028
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