Blog 8 Assignment

Lee Mitchell’s stance on lowering the drinking age in America to 18 is an idea I thoroughly support. I feel young adults should be allowed to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, bars, schools, and university functions. Responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling and educational programs similar to the ones we take about practicing safe sex.

As a citizen of the United States, you can drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, and risk your life as a member of the armed forces; all of which are privilege or requirements given to adults. Why is there a need to postpone consuming alcohol for three more years? Unlike other countries, the U.S. treats our emerging adults as infants and gets infantile behavior as a result. If we change our attitudes towards young adults, more maturity and social responsibility would be expected of them.

Lowering the age to 18 would reduce the abuse of alcohol among young people. Studies have proven that the U.S. has the strictest youth drinking laws and yet we have the most drinking-related problems among our teenagers and young adults. Other countries around the world allow young adults to drink and scientific evidence supports those countries rarely abuse alcohol. If lowering the drinking age can improve the quality of life by reducing alcohol addiction and abuse, I hope one day our country will take the necessary steps to make 18 be the age at which you may legally consume an alcoholic beverage.

Texas Should Enforce Surveillance Cameras in Childcare Centers

With the number of working parents increasing, childcare is becoming an essential part of more households.  Being a mom of a three year it is important to me to have the ability to watch my son at his childcare facility. I have been an educator at private preschools for the past four years and have had the luxury of being in the same building as where my son attends school. Most parents do not have the assurance that I do when they leave their child to go to work.  Usually parents either wait until the end of the day and hope they see their child’s teacher before they leave or have to step away from work to make a phone call to the childcare center in order to know about their child’s day. I feel that Texas should enforce all childcare centers to have surveillance cameras in the classrooms and outside on the playgrounds.

 A video surveillance system at any childcare facility can help keep the children safe and provide parents with peace of mind. For those who don’t have a child, the feeling of leaving your “life” in the care of a stranger is the hardest thing for a parent to do. The teachers at childcare centers play a huge role when they have children 8+ hours a day.  The center becomes a second home to your child. When a child comes home with a scratch that’s unexplained or a diaper that hasn’t been changed in hours, it is natural for a parent to think the worst.

 On another hand, having surveillance cameras in the classroom is an asset to teachers. It provides protection to the caregivers in the event of any negative accusations. Having cameras in the classrooms and letting the parents have access to them daily via a secure webpage will help keep the children safe, provides peace of mind to parents, and provides evidence for any incidents or accusations that may occur.  

Stage 6 Blog Assignment

While reading my classmate’s article, “Unnatural Consumption”, I couldn’t help but to continuously nod my head in agreement with the facts and opinions she stated in her article. Being a young mother of a three year old, I try my best to make sure our family consumes organic foods and in efforts to maintain a healthy diet.  I have always felt a bit “iffy” about the chicken nuggets at McDonald’s and the lunches provided at our local elementary schools.  My question has always been:  What’s really in the meat?

 Christine does a great job of explaining what the “pink slime” is and how it’s processed.  It is quite upsetting that we allow this concoction of ingredients to be on the market without the appropriate labels. As a parent it is unacceptable to let our children indulge this product.

 I agree with Ms. Christine and believe that every meat product offered, not only to our children but to adults as well, should be clearly labeled with what hormones and chemicals are being put into it. It is only fair for us to know what really is in the “pink slime” and from there we can decide whether or not to buy it. I hope that one day Christine’s notion that we should take it one step further and actually make it illegal to process and sale the “pink slime” is possible.  In my opinion, the United States has always been the last to make a situation better in regards to the well-being of her citizens. We seem to be more worried about monetary issues rather than protecting our health.

As a whole, I completely agree with Ms. Christine’s stance on the “pink slime” issue.  My family’s health is the most important thing to me and therefore I want to always be educated in everything I do and give to them.  Being able to clearly and easily know what is in the food that we feed our children will not only make a parent’s life easier, but make our children’s lives as safe, happy, and healthy as possible.  

Texas Should Ban all Cell Phone Use While Driving

              Austin is one of the cities that prohibit texting while driving. However, Texas State and Local Government should take it one step further and ban all cell phone use when driving any motor vehicle at all times.

              Distracted driving continues as a local hot issue in Texas. Cell phone use increases significant concerns about safety when driving. There has been countless crash and fatality data that prove cell phones are a contributing factor. Texas has banned all cellphone usage while driving in school zones, drivers younger than 18 and to bus drivers that have passengers 17 years and younger present. If it’s important not to be on the phone in school zones because of safety then it should be just as important, if not more, to be off of your cell phone when you’re driving 65+ MPH on the highway, on the busy feeder roads or in your local neighborhoods.

             In my opinion when this issue is brought up people forget about the safety concerns that are connected because they feel like they are being told what to do. However, if Texas passed a law prohibiting all cell phone use while driving then we would see a significant decrease in car accident and car related fatalities. We should be responsible for being 100% aware of our surroundings when operating a motor vehicle because it only takes driving 30 MPH to have a fatal accident.

MeanRACHEL: The Texas Shame Act

         Rachel Farris, author of one of the Texas blogs, MeanRACHEL, made some personal statements and comments on her blog, The Texas Shame Act. She commented on a comic related to the controversial law passed in 2011 requiring women to undergo an ultrasound before having an abortion. This comic appeared in the “classifieds” section of the Austin American-Statesman.
         Rachel clearly describes the ridiculous outrage the anti-abortion groups are triggering. She boldly explains the “off balance” appearance of what’s being said on both sides. On one side, the anti-abortion groups state that this is a personal issue that should not be placed in the context of humor; the other side says that it plays no harm. Rachel’s conclusion to this is that it’s just a comic strip. She explains that there shouldn’t be any harm in her wanting to enjoy breakfast and coffee while reading the Sunday paper. She completely understands that this law is about protecting the health of women, but is alarmed with the stance some people are taking, which claims you shouldn't read the comic. Rachel states that comic strips like Zits can bring up the issue of menopause and appear as non-controversial, so why does this particular comic need to be taken out of proportion?
          I’m one that agrees with Rachel. I completely believe that women should be able to make their own choices in their life, but we are talking about a comic strip. I thought people who read “the funnies” have a sense of humor?

Getting Kids Outside: Recent Science adds Evidence on the Benefits

       The article published in the Austin American Statesman titled Getting Kids Outside: Recent Science adds Evidence on the Benefits specifies about how you hardly see children running around outside- being kids. It is very common now days to find kids gathered around the television, watching movies, playing video games or on the computer. The author expresses concern because not only can this cause obesity and diabetes, but there are even more dangerous health concerns to the recent shift to "climate- controlled comfort" including ADHD and different types of depression.
       The International Journal of Obesity specifically stated the hazard health problems that lead to obesity. Many think obesity comes from the lack of exercise, but it also forms when the body doesn't have to work to warm up or cool down which means it will burn fewer calories. Other Studies from different college institutions such as Peninsula College of Medicine accurately showed prove that playing and exploring outdoors produces a greater feeling of happiness, decreased tension, and confusion and of course more energized.
The author continues on to explain that natural lighting from the sun give our bodies vitamin D. Children are lacking vitamin D not because they aren't drinking their daily dosage of milk, but perhaps they aren't going outdoors daily. The author has expressed that being outdoors reduces attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
        We encourage our kids to be imaginative, explore and of course while doing so we want them to be safe. The habit we have is staying indoors assuming that it's either the most convenient and/or most safe to let our children do the exploring and such. Parents are busy and seem to not have time to take two-hour walks, hikes, trips to the park, etc. It's been a natural upbringing to introduce our kids- this young generation- to electronics to help amuse and entertain.
         The author of this article's main purpose is to focus the readers on the harmful effects that come with staying indoors in the climate controlled environment. This article consists of different techniques that introduce the outdoors to children by leaving windows open to be able to smell the fresh air to taking an hour out of our busy lives and going outside. I like the argument expressed because there are valid points and information that are taken into consideration when talking about this very sensitive issue. I highly agree with the author that we have the ability to stop/slow down child obesity.

Despite Reform, Violence Rises Among Youths at Juvenile Lockups

       On Feb. 12, 2012 the Texas Tribune published an article titled Despite Reform, Violence Rises among Youths at Juvenile Lockups. It stated that at Giddings Facility, one of six secure juvenile correctional institutions in Texas, there has been quite a substantial amount of youth-on-youth violence. Since 2007, the rate of confirmed assaults more than tripled. However, the bigger problem back then was the staff physically and sexually abusing the minors. Funny how the reforms pass, that issue dies down, but then the youth-on-youth aggressiveness more than triples. I feel like the facility is using this issue to cover up the background information- the sexual and physical assaults.  
        Despite the minor-to-minor confrontations, the officers most requested technique is using pepper spray instead of physical force to stop the fights. As an adult, reinforcing authority by using physical force is a better tactic than spraying a harmful chemical that irritates the eyes- in the circumstances that these officers are in. 
       Although replacement techniques are underway, such as rooms where minors can vent and get their aggression out , my question is why is the facility now trying to make drastic changes to their environment when these problem have been occurring since 2007? They are heading in the right direction, but I feel like the officers will always be one of the top reasons why the juvenile's act in chaotic ways. There should be surveys, programs made where these minors can express the way they are treated by the adults- the officers.