Class Today

Today was a catch-up day, and we were told to finish the 3 maps we started yesterday. After finishing labeling the maps, we were allowed to work on any homework we had, or we could start the blog. I chose the second option and am currently writing this blog in class. After I find enough words to make up the 150 word blog, I don't really have any homework to do. I do have math homework which I can't do in school because the textbook I need to do it is at home sitting next to my bed. As I'm writing this blog the class has somehow found out that a man with the name Robert Shick had killed with his wife and was put in jail for 18 years. Because your name is also Robert Shick, the joke is now that you are this bad guy. It's the first topic this class has found interesting that is actually funny instead of annoying. If you ever need to stalk someone our class could definitely help you out.

I'm Running Out of Map Titles

            Today in class we continued on the power point from yesterday, and talked about the time zones. We learned that along with Greenwich Mean Time, on the opposite side of the Earth is the International date line. After we finished the power point, we then shifted into labeling maps. We were given 3 maps that we had previously learned about in class. We were instructed to include a list of different things including the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Because of the club fair, we had shortened classes so we spent the rest of class doing this.We will then use these maps as references for the rest of this unit.

History Behind the Map

Today we continued our unit on maps and learned some things about the history of them too. We learned that  Eratosthenes created the original map as a reference tool for navigators, and at the time the map was only half of the world we know today. However, some of it was pretty accurate and it surprised me at how much they knew that long ago. This map was very different looking but for one of the first ever maps I was impressed. After this we continued to look at many other maps and they progressively got more detailed and more alike to maps now a days look like. One thing I found interesting was a map we saw that had Australia on the left side instead of the right, which was something I had never seen before. 

'The West Wing'

Today we were instructed to again watch the clip from, The West Wing, and listen to what the O.C.S.C. people were saying. The clip starts off with them listing basic facts on why the Peters Projection is more accurate then the Mercator map commonly used in the education system. After informing the two people watching the presentation that countries and continents are all out of proportion, they go into the more social aspect of it. The presenters explain how, "In society we unconsciously equate size with importance, and even power." They explain how 3rd world countries may be valued more if they had their correct size. After winning them over on those facts, they start talking about if the map was flipped. We are so used to having the top be the top that 3rd world countries down at the bottom may not get as much attention than if the map was switched and they were at the top. This was then what started a big debate in our class the other day and is where the video ends.

More on Maps

         In today's class, we got a little off topic with questions and conspiracies we all had. The first thing we talked about was Christopher Columbus and how he's not the great guy people made him out to be. Instead of being the amazing explorer who was the first person to discover the America’s, he actually stole land from Native Americans and enslaved them and shipped them to Europe. We then got off topic and somehow got to the topic on if the Earth is flat. After some arguing and Mr. Schick attempting to keep the class together, we started the power point. We began talking about what geography was and more on maps. Geography is the study of the physical features of the earth and the arrangement of places. Because today was a D day all classes were shortened so we lost time and didn't get to do much else. We talked a little more on maps and we learned that cartography is the science or practice of drawing maps. 

Is Our Map Wrong?

           Today in class we learned that the standard map we're used to seeing is actually wrong. When we watched the Netflix clip from the show West Wing, the character presents the idea of finally switching schools over to the 'correct' map, the Peters-Projection map. In the clip, it shows how distorted the previous map was compared to real life sizing. In a standard map, Greenland is about the same size as Africa. However, as we learned today in class Greenland is actually about 1/14 of Africa. Along with this, other countries appear to be larger/smaller than what is true.
          Along with learning that our map may not be the most accurate, we talked about why the map is facing in the direction it is. What determines that North should be at the top and South the bottom? In another clip from the show, West Wing, the presenter talks about this and flips the map upside down. After hearing that I began to think more on it and realized he makes a very true point. Why does Greenland and Canada get to be at the top but Australia has to be at the bottom? If the map was flipped would other countries have more importance than the ones important today?

Test day

        Today was our first test day of the school year, and I had completely forgotten about it until I walked into class. I hadn't studied or even glanced at my notes, and I was starting to freak out. The tests were passed out and the first few questions were multiple choice. Luckily I could answer them by memory, and got through the first page easily. I flipped the page over and I thought I was doomed. I decided to answer the ones I knew I knew of the top of my head, and I skipped the rest. I went on to the first essay question and writing it I felt pretty good. I had been interested by the topic of Socrates when we learned it in class so the information stuck with me well and I was able to easily write the first essay. Moving on to the second essay I decided to take a little break and go back to the 2nd page of questions. I was still pretty lost, and instead of stressing about it I just went back to the other essay. It was a question I knew was coming and one I had semi-prepared for. I got through the essay and I realized I was one of the last people working. I then decided to go back to the second page and try as hard as I could to remember what we had learned in class. A few things I did have to guess on, but I finally finished the test, turned it in, and hoped for the best.

Test on Monday

            Today in class our original plan was mixed up because of technical difficulties, but we spent the beginning of class going over any questions we had. We found out that if we ever have to leave early due to sports or an appointment, we don't have to email Mr.Schick and he will know already. After going over a few questions, we were told we have a test on Monday. The essay prompt for our test is the quote by Socrates, "The unexplained life is not a life worth living." My approach on this essay is to relate Socrates method of asking many questions to Elbert Hubbard's A Message To Garcia. Socrates was all about asking question after question, trying to get the persons full knowledge out of every question. Hubbard's view however was instead of asking questions, just get the job done. He was very traditional and straight to the point, unlike Socrates.

More on Socrates

      Today we learned that although he is remembered as a brilliant philosopher, Socrates was actually charged with 2 crimes. Because his teaching method was so new and different, he was actually charged with corruption of Athens youth. Along with this, Socrates was charged with the crime of impiety. A trial was called for his two crimes, and he had one chance to defend himself. He defended himself saying, "Its my job to be the gadfly to the lazy sluggish horse that is Athens." and, " I should actually be rewarded with free dinners for life." For someone so smart this really surprised me that on  his one chance to defend himself he said those things. The jury took a vote and Socrates was pronounced guilty. As a result of him being guilty of his two crimes, he was sentenced to death by hemlock poison. While in jail waiting for his death day, his supporters were actually able to convince the guards to let Socrates go free, but on his one chance to escape Socrates refused. He proved his loyalty and did drink the poison, killing him within the hour.
        We had a discussion in class on whether we though Socrates should have been guilty or not, and after learning all the facts about him and living in todays world the whole class voted him to be innocent. However, when we voted in the perspective of a ancient Athens jury member, we voted him guilty. It was interesting to see and helped us understand better why Socrates was found guilty.

Ancient Greece

         Today in class we continued on with the word arete and dug further into ancient Greece. We learned that in 508 BC was the first time in recorded history when people revolted against their rulers. The Greeks were able to meet at the agora, with was the center of athletic, artistic, and spiritual life. Also considered a gathering place or a marketplace. They had a sort of meeting where they demonstrated polis, where political entities were ruled by their bodies of citizens.
        As we continued the lesson, we started talking about Socrates. Socrates was a brilliant man and one of the 3 philosophers of ancient Athens. He started out in the working class and was a stonemason before heroically fighting in the Peloponnesian war. As he got older, he started teaching young kids and instead of telling them if their answer was correct or wrong, he would ask them a series of more questions to determine their true beliefs to the extent of their knowledge. This method wound up being named, "The Socratic Method. " This method was essentially what led to the scientific method, used everyday by scientists around the world. Although many thought the socratic method was great, it did have some controversy. Because Athens was so popular and full of brilliant minds, people from all around the world would travel to Athens. However they traveled to Athens teaching with traditional teaching, which centered around Greek Gods. This had people thinking and questioning, and the socratic method was often at odds with traditional teaching. That concluded our lesson and overall I enjoyed today's class and getting to learn new thing that relate to things in my present day.

notes on excellence

           Today in class we learned more about the essay, A Message to Garcia.  The essay was written by Elbert Hubbard and was originally published as an inspirational essay. The essay was written in March of 1899 and soon after it went viral. People all over the country were buying a copy and it became so popular it was actually translated into 37 different languages for people all around the world. In total, over 40 million copies of the essay were sold, and it was reprinted as a pamphlet and a book. It was also made into a movie, not only once but twice in 1916 and 1936. The essay was written to give readers the message to take initiative and to not slack off. This is what lead us to the topic of the last blog when we related this message to our high school experience.
          As class went on we began to talk about the word arete and what it meant. We learned that it was a word originally used by the greeks, meaning "excellence of any kind". This is related to the message that Hubbard was trying to give while writing this essay. This also relates to the topic we discussed at the end of class today, which is knowledge. In my opinion I like the message, A message to Garcia, gives to the reader and understand why it was and still is so popular.

A Message to Garcia

My interpretation of A Message to Garcia is teaching you a lesson to always be like the man who delivered the letter, Rowan. When asked to give the letter to Garcia, Rowan did not ask why or even ask who Garcia was. He took the letter and set off to complete the task. In my opinion, I think this is to inspire you to do as Rowan did. To complete every task you're given no questions asked. Also, Rowan showed excellence by not only accepting the mission, but completing it and getting out alive. I do think this essay relates strongly to me as a reader beginning my high school career. It relates to me getting my work done when teachers assigned it, not complaining or asking why, but just getting it done. It also relates because it inspires us to show excellence just as Rowan did and make it out of high school not only doing what we're told but going above that and doing what some might think to be impossible.

My First Day

Today was my first day of school, and I was surprised at how much easier finding everything was. I started off the day a little nervous and a little stressed out. My mom and I were running a little late and I didn’t have enough time to put my bag in the locker room and I started to panic. Luckily, since my mom works here I was able to put my bag in her office and had more time to go to my locker and make it to first period on time. As soon as I sat down in my first period algebra 2 class, we were given problems to solve. Although we were given a ton of new information, the class went by pretty fast and I was feeling much better than the morning. As soon as I stepped out of math class, I realized how crowded the hallways were. It made things more difficult, but I was still able to find my class in the five minutes I had. After second period was advisory, and I already knew I had friends in this class and it was a nice break from the morning. The break advisory gave me made the last period before lunch even easier. Also, we had a break in that class to take pictures. Then we had lunch, and I was able to sit with my friends and finally eat what I brought. Everything after lunch seemed to drag on, but again I was glad to have a free period as a break to get some homework done before my last period. The end of the day was quick and at 2:45 my day was finally over. I was happy to have had a successful first day of high school.