This is what the author wrote, “At last year’s International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, students at Edmund Burke presented a range of co-curricular projects. In one math class, high school students conducted a statistical analysis of slavery today. One student recited a poem on the theme of human bondage. Another produced a DVD of digital images featuring women and children enslaved around the world. Others created pamphlets and handed them out on the streets of Washington, D.C., to educate passersby to the suffering of 21st century slaves.

Click Here to read the article.

Check out our blog post on Abolition Day at Burke.

Make sure you check out Burke’s Facebook Page for great photos of today’s Homeless Walk by the entire school.  If it’s your first visit to our Facebook page – make sure that you “Like” it – so that other cool updates show up in your newsfeed.

You can read the full New York Times Article Here

The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of service members but bans those who are openly gay. Under the 1993 policy, service men and women who acknowledge being gay or are discovered engaging in homosexual activity, even in the privacy of their own homes off base, are subject to discharge.

lots of articles out there on this today. There is, of course the possibility this will be overturned, or something else will happen, but it’s an exciting step forward anyway!

There are tons of ways you can show your support as a GLBTQ person or Straight Ally.

Check out:

HRC (human rights campaign) – the Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

The Trevor Project - The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Project 10 - Public school program providing on-site educational support services to youth. History, how to get involved, and advice column.

GLSEN - GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation -The Matthew Shepard Foundation tries to raise awareness and promote human dignity for everyone by engaging schools, corporations, and individuals in dialogues. These dialogues take many forms; some are presentations, some are interactive seminars, and some are web-based. Ultimately, we try to cross boundaries between straight and gay in order to bring people together.

There are many more resources out there, linked from each of these sites.

You can read more about these events and the political backlash here…(an associated press article)

I won’t preach about why this is happening, or comment on the sadness of all these events, but instead, I wanted to share a great resource for GLBT Youth, and a place you could donate time or money if you wanted a way to help, or to honor the memory of those we’ve lost in the recent weeks.

The Trevor Project (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/) is an amazing resource. They have a 24 hour / 7 day a week lifeline:

There’s also great resources for suicide prevention, warning signs, lots of local resource information, as well as educational tools, and ways that anyone can volunteer there time or donate money.

As these suicides are making front page news, think about ways, large or small, that you can help make this a safe and loving place for all GLBT youth to live and grow up in.

If these words weren’t convincing enough, here’s some celeb’s plugging the trevor project:

and finally, a video that tells you a little bit about what the trevor project is, and what they do:

Last Friday, the whole 9th grade class got together to learn about one of DC’s coolest parks while helping clean it up. Working with Parks and People at their Riverside Center, students learned about DC history while putting in some focused work outside. The 9th grade Service Learning programs asks students to reflect on their environment and how they can impact their communities through green living and their carbon footprint. Thanks to the 9th grade team of advisors and parents for a great day of learning and service!

Check out the brick wall from Marvin Gaye’s house!

Click here to check the 100 great(!) photos at BurkePix or just click here to go right to the Slideshow!

Part of being a teacher is modeling for students what I expect, and so this summer I took a trip of my own to find stories about the human cost of war and nuclear weapons. There is no better example of the effects and dangers of nuclear war than Hiroshima, Japan.

With a grant from Fund for Teachers, I traveled to Japan for two weeks to meet with two Hibakusha (literally “explosion affected people”) and the footage I collected will be made into a movie with the help of my students in Artivism-Moving Image. I also spent two days in the Hiroshima Memorial Museum, learning more about Hiroshima through stories and artifacts. I learned that the issue of nuclear weapons is complex and difficult, but that the clear bottom line is that we can never again repeat Hiroshima. Witnessing the effects of the bombing, in terms of stories of pain and survival, have brought me to a new level of awareness with teaching Activism and helping students understand the realities and costs of war..

I’ve been meeting some (super) cool people.  And I’ve been getting to know a lot about autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities by talking and meeting with parents and students and teachers, and by spending time with researchers.

I’ve spent most of my time at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, with my Great Aunt Martha Denckla (she’s a research scientist there, and a professor of Neurology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the nearby JHU medical school.)  I’ve sat in on conferences full of (difficult!) scientific talk and (crazy-freaky) statistical language (hi Rachel!)  But everything is really so fascinating once it starts to make sense (Oh, and there’s some good free food.)

Today, Martha was teaching JHU students how to test for executive functioning.  She discussed an interesting case of a young boy who was initially diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, but was later diagnosed with minor ADHD and tourette’s (a VERY unusual case…)  Anyway, I’ll have lots to talk about for my presentation. Missing Burke, and can’t wait to see everyone soon.

SENIOR PROJECTS!

For two weeks after AP’s, seniors can now choose to undertake their own self-designed adventures. In its pilot year, 5 brave seniors have decided to be the pioneers in what will hopefully become another Burke tradition.

All this week we’ll be highlighting each of the Senior Project Seniors and their amazing work.

First up: Michael Curcio working with F.O.R.C.E. (Friends of Rock Creek Environment)

In his own words:

“For my senior project, I am working for Friends of Rock Creek Environment (FORCE) in Chevy Chase D.C. I have been working on a video that discusses the groups construction of a Rain Garden at Chevy Chase Library. Rain gardens help absorb rain water so it does not go straight into Rock Creek, which carries trash and pollutants. During the project I have spent time filming in Rock Creek and have learned much about the environment and watershed there. When I complete the video, it will be posted to the blog.”

Here’s some more info about F.O.R.C.E.

Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment (FORCE) is a nonprofit organization working in Montgomery County, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., to protect and restore Rock Creek.  Since its founding in 2005, FORCE has become just that–a force for positive change in the Rock Creek watershed.