Thurs Nov 10

Homework:

• study for Ch 2 and 4 test on Monday:  Ratios, Rates, Proportions, and %

WE REMEMBER




As you enjoy your long weekend, take a moment to read this story and reflect on why you have Friday off.

Back in September, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies schoolteacher at Robinson High School, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?' She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.' And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.' At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven War Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned. Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

BRAINTEASER CONTEST

Will’s Sports Shop offered its customers a chance to win a new bike by guessing how many ping pong balls were in a large jar.  Alexis guessed 150.  Bernice guessed 20% higher than Alexis.  Friedrick guessed 25% higher than Bernice.  Gavin guessed 20% lower than Friedrick.  Brian guessed 10% lower Gavin.  Ken guessed 50% higher than Brian.  Ken guessed correctly and won the bike.  How many ping pong balls were in the jar?

Email your answer to mslamteach [at] gmail.com for a chance to win a bonus mark on your test!  You must show you how arrived at your answer.