SUMMER STUDENTS--STOP HERE

DON'T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BELOW THIS. THEY ARE OLD ONES. THANKS!

JOHN

Tattoos & Piercings

What do you think about tattoos and piercings? Would you ever get a tattoo or a piercing? Why or why not? Which one do you prefer and why? Are there any benefits to getting tattoos?

Some people say decorating your body disobeys the word of God . . . any comments on that?

Do you judge people by their tattoos or piercings? If you don't like them, would you not date someone who has them?

Jenny (11:00)

Equal Opportunities for Special Needs Students

All students deserve an opportunity to get a good education. In most of today’s public schools special needs students are separated from the general student body. The point of this is to give them a more individualized learning plan and more one-on-one help, but some people think that separating them from the general student body is just going to make it harder on them in the real world. Do you think that they should be separated or more incorporated into classes with other students? What are some ways for them to be socialized with the other students while still getting the education and help that they need?

Allison P (11:00)

Big Bang or Creationism?

Ever since the first human came to be on planet earth, we have been asking questions and trying to find answers to everything. One question still remains unanswered: how did we come into existence? Was there a big explosion or “Big Bang” that started it all, or were we created by a higher power. If we were created, did He just create us or did He create the entire universe, too?
Is there any concrete proof to support either idea? Or will this question continue to go on unanswered?

Alex Kocher (11:00)

Standard Achievement Tests

In the United States, beginning in third grade, students are required by law to take standardized tests. Tests such as Illinois Standard Achievement Tests and the ACT ask multiple-choice questions where only one answer is correct. Is this form of evaluation testing memorization and good test taking skills or actual knowledge that the student has gained from the school? Are teachers being forced to teach only what the state says is important?

Students who speak other languages such as Spanish are also forced to take the standardized tests in English. Students coming from households where English is not the spoken language do not begin learning English until third grade, the same year they must start taking the ISAT or some other test. Schools are funded based on how well their students perform, but if the students in the school do not read English well enough to be able to read the questions, how can they possibly be successful at taking the tests? Since the students cannot even read the test questions, why should they even attempt to answer the questions? Should the tests be offered in other languages? Is there another way that student progress could be monitored other than taking standard achievement tests? Do you think these tests really measure academic achievement? What comments do you have about standardized testing in general?

Morgan R. (11:00)

Long-Distance Relationship

How long can you be faithful to someone until you get to see him/her again?

Would you rather have a long distance relationship or a relationship where you see/spend time with that person every day?

Do you believe your love will last during a long-distance relationship?

What do you think are the biggest obstacles to overcome for an established couple entering a long-distance relationship?

Should a new couple ever try a long-distance relationship?

Thanks for your help!

Samantha E. (11:00)

Should Welfare Recipients Get Drug Tested?

Should people who receive government welfare be drug tested? Do you think people who receive government aid should be spending money on necessities rather than drugs? or is it their choice what they spend their money on? but is it their money? Is it the taxpayer's money? Is it constitutional to drug test them? Do you think this is a big issue in today's government spending? Do you think the amount of people on welfare would decline if drug testing was implemented?

-Brett Scott (11:00)

How much do we help?

Does it benefit the United States to continue to take the lead in international affairs? In your opinion, why does the U.S. often take the initiative when we perceive or learn of a problem another country is having? Eldridge (11:00)

Healthy lunches?

Should schools get rid of unhealthy food and start serving healthier foods to their students? Would students get better grades if they were to have healthier lunches?

Here are some recent findings:

Most students who eat school lunch tend to weigh more than those who bring lunch from home.

Schools don’t give a wide variety of fruits or vegetables to students.

Schools put greasy food out where the students can see it but they hide the fruits and vegetables so the students are more likely to grab the bad food.<

It’s the same as eating breakfast, if you eat breakfast before school you tend to be more awake and be able to pay more attention. If you eat something healthy or something somewhat nutritious then you have a better chance of being more awake after lunch and will be able to listen in class.

So, what do you think--are unhealthy lunches in schools a problem that needs to be addressed? What was your experience with school lunches?

Hillary Moore (11:00)

Animal Testing--right or wrong?

There has been great controversy on whether animals should be used for cosmetic and scientific research and testing. Some people say yes because they say there is no other way to test these products to see if it is safe for human use; others say no because the animals have rights and that scientists need to find an alternative ways to conduct their experiments. So who's right? Should animals be used for testing? Or should scientists work harder on finding other alternatives? Please explain your reasons for your views.

~Lauren (11:00)

Drink legally at 18?

Do you think the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18 years of age? Do you think kids of 18 can handle themselves? Should they be able to attend bars? Should DUI be more strict? Will the liver at 18 years old be mature and able to handle the alcohol? If you are allowed to buy tobacco and can legally have sex and can vote in elections and can get drafted to help protect our country, should you also be able to drink legally at age 18?

Landon Weitekamp (11:00)

Pay college athletes?

Should NCAA players be paid to play? Should it be for all sports in NCAA? If no, for what sports should athletes be paid, and why?
Will there be a limit to how much a player can make? Can division II and III schools pay their players too?
Do the players deserve money? If so, why? Will players still take advantage of the system if they don’t get paid? Do you think a scholarship is enough for players already? Where will the money come from? Will teams still be fair, or will the teams with more money dominate?

There have already been many cases of college athletes taking bribes and cheating for eligibility; is it time we made the change to pay our athletes in college to avoid these problems or will the problems get worse?

Jake Rone (11:00)

War on Terror

Do you find the war on terror in the Middle East to be necessary? After the many years that have passed since 9/11 do you think that we are causing more harm to these people? Why do you feel we have stayed and sent so many soldiers over to complete this task? Do you feel that our country is wasting young lives and wasting money by being involved in their affairs?

Darci (11:00)

Marijuana--Legalize it, or not ?

Marijuana--Should it be legalized? Most people have their own opinions to everything, of course, but is marijuana as bad as some say it is? Why is marijuana illegal in some states, but about 10 other states have passed state for it to be legal? Some say marijuana is helpful for some medical conditions and to reduce stress, among other benefits . . . what's your opinion? Would legalizing marijuana be harmful or helpful to our society? Would it stop drug wars? Could marijuana be a cure for some conditions? What are the disadvantages of legalization?

Shannon Adams (11:00)

unadopted orphans . . .

What if you didn't have a family? Where would you be? Who would you love? Who would you laugh and cry with? Can you imagine being an unwanted orphan who was never adopted by a family but just passed from one foster family to the next? ? Some people can relate to this, but others can't imagine a life without a family, no matter how dysfunctional the family might be. Some people pay attention to how many orphans there are in the world, but I feel that when the number is in the millions, it's way too many.

Do you have any experience with orphans?

If you were an unadopted orphan, how would you go about finding happiness? If you never found a family, could you accept other children in the same situation as your friends and family? That is, could you create a nontraditional family of your own made up of people who had similar circumstances to your own but were not blood relatives? What does it mean to be a "family" anyway, in your opinion?

Chylisa Holmes (11:00)

Oil Depletion

Why are oil prices on a constant rise? Do you think the high cost of gas today reflects a shortage of fossil fuel resources at a global level? If so, what are some influences causing oil depletion? Where should we start looking for other resources besides oil? Should the United States continue drilling in Alaska? How about in the gulf? What effect did the recent oil spill have on oil depletion? What can people do to better conserve oil in America?

Josh Witt (11:00)

Success

How do you define success? What does it take for you to accomplish it? Who do you feel are successful? Who helps you reach your success in life? When you hear someone say "he's a very successful man," what do you picture, or what does that make you think of? When you hear someone say, "she's a very successful woman," what do you picture, or what does that make you think of?

Thanks for your help!

Tavaruss (11:00)

Felons and the Job Market

Do you think it is discriminatory against felons to not give them a job if their criminal background has nothing to do with the job they are applying for? For instance, a felon is applying to work as a cook in the dietary department of a nursing home, and they have many years experience in food service and are well qualified for the position, but are turned down for the job because of their record. However, their criminal background has nothing to do with abuse, whether it be sexual abuse, battery, assault, or even elderly abuse, should they still be denied employment?

Prisons are overcrowded with many people who once they get released to begin with, they end up getting sent back to prison because they can't obtain employment, are pretty much shunned by society, and then have to turn to selling drugs or prostitution just to get by to make their bills. Sure, they did their crime and they have done their time, so why do they have to continue to be punished by society and employers even after they have paid their debt to society? Do you think it is discriminatory to these people who are well qualified, but get turned down because of mistakes they have made? Shouldn't it depend on what the convictions are on whether they can work in a certain field or not?

Obviously a person who is convicted of robbery or some sort of theft shouldn't be able to work in a bank, but shouldn't that person be able to work as a food service employee in a nursing home, or maybe be a factory worker who works in quality control? The job market these days is bad enough for people who have clean records, but shouldn't felons have the same chances to better their lives and become a better person and be able to pay their bills and not have to turn to committing crimes again just to eke their way through life, constantly looking over their shoulder for fear of going back to prison because they are turned away from so many employers?

Melinda (11:00)

Concealed Carry in Illinois

Should Illinois pass a law that allows trained and registered citizens in the state to carry a concealed firearm? Would carrying a concealed firearm prevent crimes? If so, what type of regulations and permitting processes should be put into place to control who carries and who does not?

Every state in the United States except for Wisconsin and Illinois have some type of concealed carry law in place. Most of the states require a class, a certain level of accuracy, age limits, background checks, and fingerprinting. Statistics say that once concealed carry laws were put into effect, violent crime rates have gone down substantially.

Clayton B. (11:00)

NBA Draft Regulations

Why do you think the NBA draft regulations were changed so that high school athletes must participate in at least one year of college before entering the professional draft?

Since 2005, the NBA has changed the minimum age for players from 18 to 19. Athletes like Sebastian Telfair and Lebron James (shown in photo) have both made successful careers in the league after being drafted straight from high school. Being so young and energetic, they have created an intensity in the league that might have been absent without them.

By today's rules, players like Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose must commit themselves to a single year of college before entering the draft. Do you think forcing these players to wait to profit from their talents benefits them in the long run? Why is going to college such a big deal, when these men are gifted with a skill that they intend to make a shot at a career with? When you stop to think about it, both these players (Telfair & James) have shoe contracts with brands like Nike and Adidas. They are young and in the public eye already, so is delaying them on their road to stardom a mistake? The implementing of these new (2005) rules is making it harder for talented athletes who are in the same position to make a career with their talents.

So, what do you think--is the rule forcing basketball players to play at least one year of college a fair rule? Is the rule beneficial and fair for everyone--the players, the universities, and the NBA? Or is the rule not beneficial and not fair to players?

Tyler Ribbe (11:00)

Death Penality

Illinois abolished the death penalty March 9, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn signed the bill and said doing so was "the most difficult decision" that he had ever made as governor, but he felt "it was the right step forward for Illinois."

Quinn also commuted the sentence of all 15 inmates on death row, and now they will serve a life sentence instead of the death row punishment.

My question to you is how does this make you feel about the decision of the Illinois law makers and Governor Pat Quinn? Also, how do you feel about the death penalty in general? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a state having the death penalty?

Tyler Farmer (11:00)

Is abortion ever okay?

Is choosing to have an abortion ever the right thing to do morally? Is choosing to abort your baby ever morally okay? Or do you think abortion is always morally wrong?

What if conception of an embryo was caused by rape or incest? What if the mother cannot emotionally care for an infant? What if having the child puts other children in the home at a higher risk--less money for food to eat, clothes to wear, shelter, or medical attention? What if adoption can't guarantee a loving home? Is abortion an okay choice in any of these cases?


Peggy B. (1:00)