DOLPHINS `07 - `08

Ben Wilkoff asks:

If my students can do the majority of their work with writing and reading online…If my students can receive all of their assignments online…If my students can maintain constant contact with their friends, classmates, and teachers online…If my students can create spaces to come together or work alone online… What do should we do in the classroom?

This man has a very good point. Everything can be accomplished using the internet. Contacts, papers, homework, interaction, everything.
This is the comment I left:

Many things can be accomplished over the internet. You can have a discussion, in words or in writing. You can assign things using blogs, wiki’s, podcasts, voice threads, etc. I personally think school would be a lot better if it was done online. Students wouldn’t have to get up at 6 and go to school. They can get up at 8 and be at their full potential because of the rest. One thing that would suffer are friendships. You would be alone all day online. At school you get to see your friends. Sometimes I think face to face interaction is important because seeing the persons facial expressions is sometimes important. Also the tone of their voice is important.

Well, this isn’t the newest news but many people don’t know about it. Kelsey Briggs was an adorable 3 year old girl when she was killed. She was born on December 28, 2002 and passed away on October 11, 2005. She was born after her parents got divorced. Kelsey lived with her mom, but was a daddy’s girl.

At the ages of one and two, she was a happy and energetic little girl. The first signs of abuse towards her were noticed at the beginning of 2005 when Kelsey’s mom began dating a man named Michael. Mid January of 2005 was when Kelsey broke her collarbone and got many bruises (this was in her mothers care.) On January 24, 2005 she was put into the care of her grandmother, on her fathers side of the family. While she was with her grandma, she visited her mother. On April 18, 2005 Kelsey’s mother married Michael. How could a mother marry a man who was harming their child? Kelsey’s dad was in the army, so he wasn’t around at these times. At the end of April that year, Kelsey broke both of her legs (again in her mothers care.) In May (2005) Kelsey was put in state Department of Human Services, custody. On May 4, 2005 she was moved into the care of her grandmother, on her mothers side. On June 15, 2005 she was moved back into her mothers care after going to court. The judge stated that Kelsey’s abuser was “unknown”. On August 27, 2005 Kelsey’s paternal grandmother saw her for one last time. This happy, healthy, child changed into a child that no one recognized. She changed a lot, so did her personality. October 11, 2005 Kelsey’s stepfather, Michael, kicked or hit her so hard in the stomach, it killed her. Kelsey died just days before her did came home from the war. Instead of a happy reunion with his family and daughter, he had to bury his little girl. A law was passed after her death to protect other children. Michael was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Her mother was sentenced to 27 years for enabling abuse. Now, April 28 is known as “Kelsey Briggs Day.”

Notice how swollen the bruise on her hand is.

What would you have done differently in this situation?
Who do you think is most at fault here?

Leave lots of comments please.

This is a voicethred that shortie4ever and I wrote and recorded. Hope you like itt =]