EdList Digest #511 - Sunday, February 6, 2000

  Re: EdList Digest #508
          by "Rhonda Moses" 
  Dr. Suess site - Read Across America
          by "Susan Nixon" 
  "Women's Basketball" message -- the WHOLE story!
          by "by way of Susan Nixon " 


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: EdList Digest #508
From: "Rhonda Moses" 
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 13:54:55 -0500

This is inappropriate for this listserv!
----- Original Message -----
From: Edlist 
To: Edlist 
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 1:00 AM
Subject: EdList Digest #508


EdList Digest #508 - Wednesday, February 2, 2000

  Womens' basketball
          by "by way of Susan Nixon " =

  Early Learning Resources
          by "Susan Nixon" 
  St. Patrick's Day Site
          by "Susan Nixon" 
  *Wonderful* Online Class sites
          by "Susan Nixon" 
  Not too late for doing an Online Class!
          by "Susan Nixon" 


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Womens' basketball
From: "by way of Susan Nixon "

Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 18:07:08 -0700

Just thought I'd mention that I *love* watching womens' basketball on T-V.
They've got some great legs... and oooooo, that cleavage!  Great stuff.  =
I'm
guessing that most guys wouldn't watch at all if their uniforms were
baggier.

Jerry



----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Rowling biography sites
From: "Susan Nixon" 
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 18:07:57 -0700

Interview: http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/author.htm

Interview: Stories from the Web
http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/stories/rowling/index.htm

Mini-autobiography: http://harrypotter.okukbooks.com/rowling2.htm


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Early Learning Resources
From: "Susan Nixon" 
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 18:11:46 -0700

http://www.meddybemps.com/7.1.html

Sequence of skills development, with activities.  Includes a section on
online activities.



----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: St. Patrick's Day Site
From: "Susan Nixon" 
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 19:11:43 -0700

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Thebes/9893/stpattyday.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: *Wonderful* Online Class sites
From: "Susan Nixon" 
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 21:08:04 -0700

The Online classes are *beginning* to post their information.  You may =
find
one or more of these class sites helpful in your teaching, or of interest
to your students.  Susan

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>=


*** Keep this one on file through the presidential election season: Our
"Balloteers" students are maintaining a daily elections newspaper, =
offering
news of the presidential campaigns, local political news and information
about the governmental process. Their newspaper is located at
. Feel free to use it in
your classrooms to show your students what other kids have to say about =
the
elections.

*** The schools participating in "On the Trail with Lewis and Clark" have
each taken on the task of researching a particular native American tribe =
on
the Lewis and Clark route. Their reports are starting to come in at


*** Each classroom in "Dinosaurs Alive" has "adopted" a dinosaur to
research. Take a look at the in-depth information that a young classroom
can gather when motivated to publish online. These younger grades, of
course, are very visual, too. Their Web pages are a delight.


*** "Blue Ice" schools are collecting and comparing weather data each week
on the private site. They're also researching the animals of the Antarctic
food web. As they learn about the factors relating to food webs - habitat,
prey and predators, climate, adaptation, etc., their research grows in
scope. Look at the chart of animals that is beginning to collect
information. 

*** In the "North American Quilt," students answer research questions on a
variety of geography topics. The information they gather is published in a
public "quilt" of information that makes us aware of our likes and
differences. 

*** "Physics Park" students have been very busy sketching their =
preliminary
roller coasters design. By doing so, they can review each other's work and
make suggestions. This has been a busy few days at "Physics Park." The
initial concepts are hard, and the task of drawing their preliminary plans
is challenging. What fun it is to see the ideas materialize at


*** Ditto for our "Ocean Explorers." This is the week the participating
schools must vote on the destination they will all head for in their
virtual voyages, so the line has been buzzing with persuasive pictures and
text, as they try to get the other schools to vote for their destination.
See the results at 

*** Zeus Speaks is, in fact, our liveliest program, with hundreds of
contributions each week. The school Web pages reflect the activity. Art
work, poetry, stories, reports on the gods and goddesses and essays on
ancient Greece dot the pages at


*** And DoodleOpolis doodlers are keeping notebooks where they can jot =
down
sketches of their built environment. This one's a small group and the
pictures are just starting to materialize. It's fun to see.




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Not too late for doing an Online Class!
From: "Susan Nixon" 
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 21:08:52 -0700

                ***** Extra Sessions This Year *****

You may have noticed that while, in years past, we've only offer two
sessions of each of our programs, this year we are offering three. That
means that if you have been hesitating to jump onboard, you still have
another chance. Our spring session begins in March of 2000. For two
programs, Blue Ice and Dinosaurs Alive, we are also experimenting with a
summer option (July/August). If there are enough interested, we'll run
those courses.

Sign up for the March and July sessions at


Next year we're planning to run "open enrollment" for all the classes -
meaning that you can start and stop at anytime of the school year. We've
been surveying active teachers about this option, but we'd invite others =
to
comment now on the implications of such a system. Let us know what you
think!


----------------------------------------------------------------------
End of EdList Digest

_________________________________________________________________
Missed a digest?  Check http://www.CyberSpaces.net/Edlist/
for digests 91 and later. Contact list administrator Susan Nixon
mailto:DesertSky at Cyberspaces.net for earlier issues.

Visit the Edlist Home page at
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/9781/Edlist/Edlist.html


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Dr. Suess site - Read Across America
From: "Susan Nixon" 
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2000 13:08:07 -0700

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Thebes/9893/thedrsuesspage.html

If your school is planning a Read Across America celebration, there might
be something at this Suess site which is helpful.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: "Women's Basketball" message -- the WHOLE story!
From: "by way of Susan Nixon " 
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2000 13:44:13 -0700

On Tues. Feb. 1, I posted the following outrageous message on several 
listservs:

     "Just thought I'd mention that I *love* watching women's basketball
      on T-V.  They've got some great legs... and oooooo, that cleavage!
      Great stuff.  I'm guessing that most guys wouldn't watch at all if
      their uniforms were baggier."

Then, I sat back and watch the sparks fly.  Actually, there weren't as =
many 
"sparks" as I expected.  Apparently, most of you know me all too well and 
realized that (as always) there must be a "method to my madness."  And =
those 
folks were 100% right.  Many of you who do NOT know me that well reacted =
as I 
had hoped you would... with anger, indignance, even outrage!  Some took me =
to 
task publicly on the listserv.  (I was called everything from a "sexist =
pig" 
to "ignorant.")  One person criticized me privately, off the listserv.  =
What 
really bothered me, though, was the fact that several people actually 
"reported me" to my supervisor rather than having the guts to confront me 
personally.  (I have e-mail, a telephone, and they know where I work.)

Five people who obviously "understand" me (if that's possible) wrote to me =

privately, off the listserv, by the way, and made a comment along the =
lines 
of "I know you're up to something" or "Uh oh, Taylor's at it again."  =
Thank 
you for not jumping to conclusions.

Why then, you ask, would I post such inflammatory comments?  (Ok, you =
didn't 
ask, but I'm going to tell you anyway!)  

A couple of weeks ago, I was walking down the halls in one of the high 
schools in which I work. As I passed a small group of girls, I overheard =
them 
talking about what a "cute butt" various guys had.  One even said =
something 
about "wanting to give his butt a squeeze."  I didn't think too much about =

this until the next day.  This time I was in a different school and passed =
a 
group of boys AND girls.  One of the boys said something like "Yeah, she =
has 
a nice set of t*ts."  One of the girls in the group smacked him on the arm =

and said something like "Cut that out. Don't talk like that!"  Again, I 
didn't give this a whole lot of thought.

Then, I read an article in the local newspaper about some comments made by =

Meredith Vieira on the nationally syndicated T-V show "The View."  (You =
know, 
the one with Barbara Walters, Star Jones, etc.)  On a show which aired =
right 
before the Super Bowl, Vieira actually said, "The Super Bowl is all about =
the 
butts, isn't it?"  Also, the show has a "Question of the Day."  Guess what =

the "Question of the Day" was on that day?  "Would women watch the game if =

the players wore looser pants?"

(Now would be a good time to go back to the top of this message and =
re-read 
my original posting.  See any similarities?)

After reading about Vieira's comments, I wondered how people across the 
nation would react to them.  I hopped on the Internet and searched for 
reactions... and searched... and searched.  I could find no significant 
"outrage" being expressed about Vieira's blatantly ignorant comments.  In 
fact, quite the opposite.  In one of the "online message boards" at ABC-TV =

(http://www.abc.com/theview), I found literally thousands of postings.  =
Here 
is a sampling:

     "I am human and if someone catches my eye, I will be the first to
      admit it. I have a thing for running backs myself. I LOVE the legs
      on some of them, LIKE for instance Mike Alstott of Tampa Bay =
Whoooeeee!
      Run baby Run. NOW that is just my personal choice and what I find
      attractive. It is NOT why I watch the game but its a nice benefit I 
must say."

     "Just wanted to add that yes, woman would still watch but the huddles
      wouldn't be as interesting!"

     "I'd watch regardless of what the players wear, as I love the
      sport--the fact that they wear those great tight pants is just
      icing on the cake!!"

     "I really do like an interesting game...but there is nothing
      like watching the tight ends!"

There were many, many posting along the same lines.  Not all of them, though. 
 There WERE occasional postings like this one, but they were definitely in =

the minority:

     "I am offended by the question about 'Would women still watch the =
Super
      Bowl if the pants were looser?' I have been a football fan since I =
was
      a little girl and believe me, the pants the players wear have =
nothing
      to do with the game. Why would you stereotype women as only watching
      the Super Bowl for the men in short tight pants? That is =
ridiculous!"

All this made me wonder what reaction would follow if, for example, ABC 
sports commentator Jim Gray had previewed the Women's Basketball =
Association 
playoff game by saying "It's all about the cleavage!"  I'd be willing to =
bet 
his JOB would be in jeopardy!!

All this brought me back to the recent comments I had overheard from those =

girls and boys in the hallway.  I started thinking.  (And you know how 
dangerous that can be, right?)  This past year or so, there seems to be a 
heightened awareness about various forms of "sexual harassment."  I =
wondered 
about the following topics:

     1. Is there a "double standard" when it comes to sexism (and sexist 
remarks)?
     2. In our schools, do we tolerate sexist remarks more from girls than =

from boys?
     3. Do you know of any "sexual harassment" situations in YOUR school?
        Would you share them?

If you have read this far, I appreciate your willingness to give me chance =
to 
explain my actions and the approach I decided to take to open up this very =

important topic to discussion.  (It's a little like those stupid greeting 
cards with the big, red letters 'S-E-X' on the cover, then when you open =
the 
card it says something like 'Now that I've got your attention, Happy 
Birthday!')

Respectfully (as always),

Jerry Taylor
Technology Integration Teacher
Greece (NY) School District
Web page - gojerrytaylor.homepage.com

P.S. To those of you who were quick to react to MY comments:
     I hope you are JUST as outraged by Meredity Vieira's comments,
     and that you'll write to ABC-TV to tell THEM off, too.  You can
     e-mail them from:
            http://abc.go.com/theview/main.html




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Summer field study trips
From: "Susan Nixon" 
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2000 18:22:06 -0700

A friend of mine found corporate sponsors and went to Costa Rica a few
years ago.  It was a wonderful experience.  In case any of you are
interested, here is information about some workshops this summer.  Susan
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>=
>

RAINFOREST and MARINE BIOLOGY WORKSHOPS	

Hello. Our organization offers Rainforest and Marine Biology Workshops
for Educators/Students in 8 different countries at the present.

During 1999 forty six universities were represented by faculty, students
and staff along with community colleges, high school groups, science
professionals and lay people with an interest in natural history and
other topics covered in our programs. Participants came from across the
U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and the Far East. Groups included Penn
State University, Purdue University, University of Maine, Muhlenberg
College of Pennsylvania and the College of New Jersey to name a few.

After reviewing the brief program descriptions outlined below, please
consider offering these opportunities to Students, Faculty, Staff and
other interested parties in your Department or at ....detailed WORKSHOP
ITINERARIES and REFERENCES from past participants are available upon
request. 

Undergraduate and Graduate credit is available for all programs through
Aquinas College of Grand Rapids, Michigan (details below). Credit for
our course in Australia is also available through James Cook University,
Queensland, Australia. 

CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMS can be developed for "specialty groups". 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Mike Nolan, Director

******************************************************************
Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit
29 Prospect NE Suite #8
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
Phone/Fax: (616) 776-5928/Toll Free: (877) 967-7467 
E-mail: rainforest at mail.org or mnolan01 at sprynet.com
******************************************************************

*Sites: Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, southeast
Alaska and Australia

*Workshop fees are waived for those bringing 10-14 full paying
participants, depending on the Workshop site (does not include
international and/or domestic airfare). 

*WORKSHOPS are field oriented and focus on natural history, rainforest
and marine ecology, conservation, land management, medicinal uses of
native plants, local cultures, archaeology and geology.

*Instruction features local Biologists and naturalist Guides.
 
*Proceeds go to the WORKSHOP host organization in each country and help
support valuable conservation and education efforts.
 
*Three Undergraduate or Graduate credits are available for attending
through Aquinas College of Grand Rapids, Michigan (www.aquinas.edu).
Contact Tim Bennett at 616-459-8281x5469 or by e-mail at
bennetim at aquinas.edu for registration information and materials.

*Customized programs can be designed for "specialty groups"

                                BELIZE*

Length: 14 Days/13 Nights

Cost: $980.00 per person

Host/Workshop Coordinator: Belize Tropical Education Center (TEC)/Tony
Garel, TEC Director/Belize City, Belize

Topics Covered:
Tropical Moist Forest Ecology/Marine Ecology/Mayan Archaeology/Garifuna
and Creole Cultures

*Pre/Post-Workshop extension to Tikal in Guatemala is available

                                COSTA RICA*

Length: 12 Days/11 Nights

Cost: $925.00 per person

Host/Workshop Coordinator: Juan Pablo Bello/San Jose, Costa Rica

Topics Covered:
Tropical Rainforest and Dry Forest Ecology/Conservation and Land
Management/Geology/Volcanoes/Costa Rican history

*Pre/Post-Workshop extensions to Corcovado and/or Tortuguero National
Parks are available

                                HONDURAS*

Length: 14 Days/13 Nights

Cost: $1050.00 per person

Host/Workshop Coordinator: Suyapa Dominguez, EduEco Director/San Pedro
Sula, Honduras

Topics Covered:
Tropical Rainforest and Marine Ecology/Conservation and Land
Management/Mayan Archaeology/Garifuna Culture/White-Water Rafting

*Pre/Post-Workshop extension to La Mosquitia and the Rio Platano
Biosphere Reserve is available 

                                PANAMA*

Length: 14 Days/13 Nights

Cost: $1100.00 per person

Host/Workshop Coordinator: Win Rice/Panama City, Panama

Topics Covered:
Tropical Rainforest and Marine Ecology/Conservation and Land
Management/Geology/Volcanoes/Indian Cultures/R.O.P.E. Course/Bird and
Bat Ecology/White-water rafting/History of Panama/Panama Canal
Engineering and Operation

*Pre/Post-Workshop partial and complete Panama Canal transits are
available

                                ECUADOR*

Length: 14 Days/13 Nights

Cost: $1100.00 per person

Host/Course Coordinator: Jatun Sacha Foundation/Dr. Michael McColm,
Ph.D./Quito, Ecuador

Topics Covered:
Tropical Rainforest Ecology/Biodiversity/Conservation and Land
Management/Quechua Indian Culture/Volcanoes/Shamanism

*Pre/Post-Workshop extensions to the Galapagos Islands and/or Cuzco and
the Lost City of the Incas-Machu Picchu are available

                                PERU A*

Length: 14 Days/13 Nights or 7 Days/6 Nights

Cost: $1350.00 per person-14 Days/13 Nights
       $895.00 per person-7 Days/6 Nights

Host/Workshop Coordinator: Dr. Paul Beaver, Ph.D./Tampa, Florida

Topics Covered:
Tropical Rainforest Ecology/Primate Ecology/Biodiversity/Conservation
and Land Management/Indian Cultures/Shamanism

*Pre/Post-Workshop extensions to Cuzco and the Lost City of the
Incas-Machu Picchu and/or the Galapagos Islands are available

                                PERU B*

Length: 14 Days/13
Nights                                                             
Cost: $1490.00.00 per person

Host/Workshop Coordinator: Dr. Paul Beaver, Ph.D./Tampa, Florida

Topics Covered:
Tropical Rainforest Ecology/Primate Ecology/Biodiversity/Conservation
and Land Management/Indian Cultures/Shamanism/Inca archaeology at Cuzco
and the Lost City of the Incas-Machu Picchu

*Pre/Post-Workshop extension to the Galapagos Islands is available

                        SOUTHEAST ALASKA

Length: 14 Days/13 Nights

Cost: $1050.00 per person

Host/Workshop Coordinators: David Berg/Petersburg, Alaska/Camille
Ferguson/Sitka, Alaska
 
Topics Covered:
Temperate Rainforest and Marine Ecology/Conservation and Land
Management/Marine Mammal Ecology/Geology/Glaciers/Volcanoes/Indian
Cultures/Russian History/White-water rafting/Raptor rehabilitation

                                AUSTRALIA

Length: 15 Days/14
Nights
                                       
Cost: $1350.00 per person

Host/Workshop Coordinators: James Cook University/Dr. David Pearson,
Ph.D./Director, School of Tropical Biology and Dr. John Choat, Ph.D.,
Director, School of Marine Biology/Queensland, Australia

Topics Covered:
Tropical Rainforest and Coral Reef Ecology/Conservation/Biodiversity/
Local Cultures

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM

TO REGISTER, COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW AND SEND IN A $200.00 DEPOSIT
($150.00 IS REFUNDABLE UP TO 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF A
WORKSHOP). CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO RAINFOREST AND REEF.

                        WORKSHOP DATES 2000* 

Please be aware that the Workshops are popular and some fill quickly. It
is recommended that you contact us concerning availability prior to
registration.

BELIZE: 14 D/13 N Jun 14-27_____Jul 5-18_____Jul 12-25_____Aug 2-15_____ 

COSTA RICA: 12 D/11 N Jun 12-23_____Jul 10-21_____Aug 3-14_____

HONDURAS: 14 D/13 N Jun 12-25_____Jul 10-23_____Aug 1-13_____ 

PANAMA: 14 D/13 N Jun 17-30_____Jul 15-28_____Jul 29-Aug 11_____ 

ECUADOR: 14 D/13 N Jun 15-28_____Jul 13-26_____Aug 1-14_____

PERU A*: 14 D/13 N Jul 15-29_____Jul 29-Aug 12_____

*Our Peru A Workshop can be offered to individuals begging on most
Sundays and for a minimum of 2 participants, any 
day throughout the year.
 
PERU B: 13 D/12 N Jun 24-Jul 6_____

SE ALASKA: 14 D/13 N Jun 15-28_____Jul 2-15_____Jul 20-Aug 2_____ 

AUSTRALIA: 15 D/14 N Jun 14-29_____Jul 12-27_____Aug 1-16_____

                        PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY
 
Name (as it appears or will appear on your passport): 

Last________________________________________First_______________________

Middle_________________________

Professor/Teacher:_____Student:_____Grade Level/Year:_____

Other (describe):________________________________________

Permanent Address:____________________________City:_____________________

State/Province:___________________

ZIP/Postal Code:____________Country:____________________

Current Address:____________________________City:_____________________

State/Province:___________________

ZIP/Postal Code:____________Country:____________________

School:_____________________________________________

School/Business Phone: (           )____________________________________

                  Fax: (           )____________________________________
 
           Home Phone: (           )____________________________________

E-mail Address: ________________________________________________________

Dietary Restrictions: __________________________________________________

Important: If your ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER and/or E-MAIL ADDRESS will
change at some point following registration, please supply this
information and the dates when they will become effective. For
University students and others that may be moving often, please include
a PERMANENT mailing address with your registration form.

*Other Workshop dates throughout the year are available upon request

Rainforest and Reef
29 Prospect NE Suite #8 
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA


----------------------------------------------------------------------
End of EdList Digest

_________________________________________________________________
Missed a digest?  Check http://www.CyberSpaces.net/Edlist/ 
for digests 91 and later. Contact list administrator Susan Nixon 
mailto:DesertSky at Cyberspaces.net for earlier issues.

Visit the Edlist Home page at 
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/9781/Edlist/Edlist.html