An Education Crisis (Part 1)
The effects of school on high school students’ creativityBy Brendan Chan, Alumnus
It is well known that creativity is important in all aspects of life. It not only stimulates the creation of new and innovative ideas but also plays a large role in students’ development, especially during high school. As defined by the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education, creativity is an “imaginative activity fashioned so as to produce outcomes that are both original and of value.”
An Education Crisis (Part 2)
By Brendan Chan, Alumnus
Scholarly Conflict and Key Players
Education lacks the ability to nurture creativity in children needed to adapt to our changing world. In his article, “Fostering creativity or teaching to the test? Implications of state testing on the delivery of science instruction,” Christopher Longo suggested that standardized curriculums are teaching high school students in the United States for the test rather than stimulating creativity and self-motivational learning. By reviewing and analysing research done by others, he outlined his paper, beginning with a lengthy history of standardized testing. Then, he moved on to talk about its implications and how state testing could go hand in hand with creativity. What Longo found was that students were being spoon fed information in order to score well on tests, in turn reducing the motivation in students to inquire into their own learning. (more…)
An Education Crisis (Part 3)
By Brendan Chan, Alumnus
Discussion
Schools in North America are teaching an outdated curriculum that is not only preventing students from keeping up with the changing world, but also fails to encourage self-learning, a crucial component of creativity. The North American education system was born out of the capitalistic model of the economy, in which education systems resemble assembly factories where large groups of students move from teacher to teacher, class to class, and grade to grade. The system’s rigid use of standardized testing to produce students with set skills and standards contributes to the reduction of flexibility in, and the commodification of, education. (more…)
Food Security: The Future of Food
By Brendan Chan, Alumnus
An article about a couple from East Vancouver and their garden was published in Georgia Straight. According to the couple, Jodi Peters and Jeffery Radke, the reason why they decided to rent was because they were allowed to grow their own food. However, this statement was not formalized as part of the contract. The couple has been renting since November 2009, and their garden has been running since then. Their extensive knowledge on food has transformed a normal green lawn into a flourishing Gaia’s Garden that consists of a vegetable garden, a greenhouse, rain barrels, and an aquaponics system. Through gardening, the couple has been able to not only sustain themselves, but also grow food for their neighbors and others in the community. However, on August 5, 2011, they were given instructions by their renter to remove the garden. (more…)
Staying Human in an Engineered Age
By Brendan Chan, Grade 12
Changing and supposedly improving our lives, technology is forever reaching for the stars. There will come a time when our generation will have to make a choice; one that will ultimately save humanity or destroy it. I’m talking about genetic engineering. It’s already at our doorsteps and threatening the very fabric of humanity. Futurists tell people that it will improve our lives, help the poor, and stop death, but the consequences remain concealed. To drive the notion home, if we allow genetic engineering, we will essentially be opening Pandora’s Box.
The Integrity of Science: Climate Change
By: Brendan Chan, Grade 12
Climate change is one of the most important issues in the world today; yet there is still so much debate on whether or not humans are at fault. Despite agreements by many scientists that the planet is warming due to increased concentrations of heat-trapping gases and that the increase in the concentration of these gases over the last century is due to human activities, there are still assaults on climate science by deniers. Reasons for their denials may be for scientific recognition, money for research or possibly because they fear the truth
Throughout history, scientists have worked to gain recognition and build a reputation. If we look back in time, scientists build their status by not only supporting conventional theories, but more so by demonstrating that the scientific consensus is wrong. Galileo, Pasteur, Darwin, and Einstein are all examples of this. For climate deniers, climate change offers an opportunity for scientists to go against climate change, despite compelling and comprehensive evidence that humans are directly responsible for the increase in greenhouse gases. Often, deniers pick up on obscure facts from climate scientists to support their argument. These are never facts about climate change in general, but rather small changes in numbers. Since this is science, there is always room for mistakes, and it’s those mistakes that the opposition to climate change takes advantage of. However, the mistakes are small, and it is important that people don’t get confused about whether or not climate change is real. There are basic facts that scientists urge people to realize, such as the fact that the earth is warming at a fast rate, and the rise in CO2 levels. Just to get a sense of what climate skeptics do, in Science (The Worlds’s Leading Journal of Original Scientific Research, Global News, and Commentary), there was an article on climate change with a picture of a polar bear on a drifting ice piece. Climate deniers called climate change a conspiracy because the photo was photo-shopped to make people feel sorry for polar bears.
Today, it’s all about following the money, especially in politics. Before the Copenhagen conference in 2009, an event, Climategate, revealed emails from scientists showing that they had changed facts to persuade the public to believe in climate change. However, these were emails and not data, and thus susceptible to the harsh language, and jokes that may be considered serious to others. These emails created a huge distraction from the climate talks and would play a part in a failed attempt to do something about climate change in Copenhagen. Ultimately, scientists need money for research; if their job was to deny climate change, then most likely they will do what it takes to prove that point. At the same time though, they are ruining the integrity of science. I believe that science is an educational tool to seek out the truth, to prove theories, and discover new things. However, in the circumstance of climate change, science seems to become more a political tool to confuse or persuade the public mind on behalf of their employer.
Despite how advanced society is becoming, we still can’t decide if climate change is happening. Scientists have the facts to prove it, yet media and deniers get people’s full attention. When someone says that society should wait until scientists are absolutely certain before taking any action, it is the same as saying society should never take action. According to a letter in Science (The Worlds’s Leading Journal of Original Scientific Research, Global News, and Commentary), climate scientists from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences all call for an “end to McCarthy-like threats of criminal prosecution against our colleagues based on innuendo and guilt by association, the harassment of scientists by politicians seeking distractions to avoid taking action, and the outright lies being spread about them.” These debates around climate change ultimately allow for no action to take place.
Nanotechnology – coming to a fridge near you!
By: Brendan Chan, Grade 12
There comes a time when enough is enough! There’s no question that food, the crucial item all humans need to survive, is becoming an issue. With a growing population, it is inevitable that we will find ourselves wondering how we are going to feed future generations. “The tools of science will be critical for bringing about food security and well-being for a global population of more than nine billion people in 2050 in the face of enormous technological, climatic and social challenges,” predicted a paper published this August by the Royal Society. Well today, scientists are working on a way to fix our food problem! They have found a way to mix nanotechnology into our food and call it “the promises of nanotechnology.” However, there are others who see this as a threat to food and our health. Although technology has brought us so far in life, it’s time to draw that line and say enough is enough!
Basically, nanotechnology manipulates atoms and molecules to perform a new function. In the food industry, nanotechnology is already being used for processing, cultivation, production, and packaging. This enhances shelf-life, gives new tastes or textures, and, of course, lowers those calories. One may ask, what’s wrong with that? Well, long before our time people called “farmers” would grow food from “seeds”. Somewhere along the line the word farmer has changed to scientist. Scientists’ first task as farmers was to create a better product known as genetically modified (GM) foods. This eventually led to a series of food crises in Europe, which later led to the ban of GM foods in Europe. It’s important to note that a 2003 survey by the Pew Research Center found that the majority of people in all countries surveyed felt that GM foods were “bad.” The lowest scores were in the US and Canada, where 55% and 63% (respectively) were against it, while the highest was in Germany and France with 81% and 89% disapproving.
European countries are pushing for better knowledge of their food and how it’s being produced. But where are Canada and the US? Well, Robert B. Zoellick, a United States trade representative, indicated that the European position toward GM foods was “immoral,” since it could lead to starvation in the developing world. They argue GM food is a way to solve this problem. Nanotechnology is their latest attempt at a solution, and the general public has no clue about it. It’s still not researched enough; its effects on the human body are still unknown. Although tests aren’t totally conclusive, researchers from ABC Science say “there’s a growing body of scientific evidence that indicates nanoparticles can cross into the body’s cells and cause damage. Questions have been raised over whether nanoparticles and even larger micro-scale particles in the diet can inflame the gut, and testing is required to check if nano-food ingredients or additives affect nutrition.”
Without variety, where does the future of our food lay? Even though we go down to that grocery store and see foods galore, we really have no clue where it came from, who grew or produced it, or how it was grown or produced. We have become disconnected with our food and it’s time realize that creating food has huge side effects which, in the long term, is not a solution to the world’s food problem. We have to look at real solutions instead of creating new problems. Nanotechnology has its benefits, but it screams out problems, not only for the general public but for traditional farmers as well. Food is one of those topics that we can go on and on about. Unfortunately, its history and its development has become a sad story which needs to be re-written. Nanotechnology can do many things such as make fast-food fat free, but what are the consequences? Engineered food will have an impact on health, society, and the environment. By turning food into an engineering process that can be patented, we are saying that food can be owned, and the companies who own it effectively decide what society eats. “The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000… Now, our food is coming from enormous assembly lines where the animals and the workers are being abused, and the food has become much more dangerous in ways that are deliberately hidden from us. This isn’t just about what we’re eating. It’s about what we’re allowed to say. What we’re allowed to know.”- Food Inc.
What’s new in the Organic Garden?!
By: Angela Ho, Grade 10
Over the past year, Windermere’s organic garden has drastically evolved, with new additions attracting the attention of not only the Windermere student body, but also of neighbourhood schools and of other members all over the community. If you have ever looked at the garden through the windows surrounding the courtyard, you might have noticed a big, commercial, hot-tub-looking object sitting on one side. Well, that is in fact an Earth Tub, which is an enclosed composting machine that features powered mixing that speeds up the decomposing processes. After digging trenches around the garden in August, electricity was installed, meaning that the Earth Tub will finally be put into use starting this school year! If properly managed, fresh compost should be available for use in a matter of 3-4 weeks. And, how can you be a part of this? Simple! You can contribute just by tossing your fruit and vegetable leftovers into the compost bins located around the school.
During the hot months of summer, student volunteers dedicated their time to maintain the garden. All the days of watering, fertilizing, and weeding have paid off as plants are flourishing and productive. Some of the things that were harvested include tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, garlic, potatoes, cilantro, basil, and a wide range of berries. It doesn’t end there; other crops such as radishes and squash have yet to be harvested! Some produce had been donated to a Collingwood program and to the Renfrew-Collingwood Senior Society, and some had been taken home for volunteers to enjoy. The garden is currently run by two grade-12 students, Brendan Chan and Cassandra Ly, as their leadership project. This school year will bring exciting new projects. We promise students not only tasty treats, but also the opportunity to experiment and discover.
Caged Bird
By: Brendan Chan, Grade 11
I am lost.
I can’t get out,
I can’t stop.
I’m stuck.
The boot is simply too tall,
and I am simply too short.
Lost in my world;
stuck in my dream.
Words, thoughts,
feelings;
I can’t connect them.
One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap to What?
By: Brendan Chan, Grade 11
Far away from our beloved Earth is a system that people have always dreamed of touching. It is a world deep with mysteries, and secrets. I’m talking about our solar system; more specifically, the moon. It began as a competition between the U.S. and the Soviets to win the Space Race. In other words, it was a race to be the first to reach the moon. Many believed during this time whoever was first to reach the moon would win the Cold War as well. By 1957, the Soviets were already one step ahead with their satellite. Believe it or not, but U.S. media had to tell the frightened citizens that the satellite in space couldn’t drop nuclear bombs from that altitude. People were scared, and they needed to be cheered up, and that’s exactly where Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon came in. Now I ask: was it all a hoax?
War on the People
By: Brendan Chan, Grade 11
Our society exists in a world where money is everything. Business is everything – this is a world where presidents and CEO’s provide our country with the life we all enjoy. In other words, ours is a society where Friedman’s belief of the global free trade system has been entrenched into our minds; but it wasn’t easy. Although Milton Friedman won a Nobel Prize in economics, his capitalistic ideas weren’t an easy concept to pass, especially since he lived during a time of nationalization. Eventually, Friedman had his way, and his ideas evolved into our current free trade system, where almost everything is owned by a private company. This rise of capitalism is how Friedman created an economic miracle. Yet the majority of people didn’t know the terrible and shocking truth that was the result of Friedman’s ideas.
Milton was a man who believed that having restrictions on companies only slowed them down and didn’t bring out the full potential of the profits that could be made; he had to change how people thought. He did this by using what the CIA calls “cleaning the slate,” or in other words, emptying a person’s mind. As a result of ‘cleaning the slate’, Friedman could fill vulnerable minds with his ideas.
Generation Me
By: Brendan Chan, Grade 11
Over many generations, people have changed in the same way as animals. We adapt to our new surroundings and learn
our manners/behaviours from our parents. Today, a major problem exists. To put it simply, our manners have disappeared. As a result, people have become selfish and in a world that needs more help than ever, selfishness is not the solution.
To begin, as teenagers, we feel we need certain things such as computers, cell phones, and video games. Living in this increasingly changing world means that we the people have to change our behaviours as well. Is change always a good thing? The answer is no; not always. Has society noticed that everyone talks on cell phones instead of meeting with others in person? Where’s the interaction? Why don’t people want to see each other? Or how about the fact that more and more people are either playing video games or working? Why do we interrupt someone when they’re talking? Where are our manners? Communities are no longer close to each other. Parents are constantly busy at work, kids are always at school; there’s just no time for anyone except for ‘Me, Myself and I’. People are simply immersed in a world where work and money overrules all. Our society has definitely changed, a point summarized precisely by Valerie Pringle, a CBC journalist, “I’m always being shocked. No one signals, people don’t say hello back when you pass them in the park, people walk three abreast on the sidewalk and don’t move for anyone. Who says excuse me or sorry or thank you anymore?”
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Dawn of a Thirsty Century
By: Brendan Chan, Grade 10
Imagine yourself dying of dehydration. You have no way to quench your thirst…
You keep walking hoping you’ll find a water source, but all you find are polluted areas with unsafe drinking water. So you keep walking knowing your very life is at stake. Finally, you find an area of clean water but as you get closer you realize that it belongs to a private water company. Disheartened and exhausted after your long walk, you give up. This is what happens to about 30,000 children who die of hunger, thirst, or of preventable diseases. All of this revolves around Earth’s precious fresh water.
Today’s problem is that we use too much freshwater to stay sustainable. With more water becoming polluted, our supply of fresh, clean water is decreasing. We currently have access to 0.08% of Earth’s freshwater, yet it’s estimated that our usage of water will increase by 40%.
Warriors of the Year
By: Puneet Riar, Grade 11 & Emily Chan, Grade 10
All throughout the year, there have been some amazing, dedicated students. Those who possess those awesome leadership skills, those who have an exceptional community service record, or that person who is just an awesome friend or a great role model. Or maybe, even that teacher who doesn’t get mad if you chew gum in class.
Are We Supporting Animal Cruelty?
By Brendan Chan, Grade 10
Have you ever watched Tarzan, Beethoven, Babe, or the Discovery Channel? These movies are about wildlife and make a lot of money, plus we enjoy watching them; so what’s the problem? What if they’re all involved with some level of animal cruelty? Can it be possible that we are actually supporting animal cruelty indirectly? No way! How can this be? The truth is that some of us actually support animal cruelty subconsciously. We are supporting the abuse by paying to watch the movie. For example, let’s say an animal documentary used trained animals and abused them; we would be supporting the show by watching or buying it and would be unknowingly encouraging the directors/ trainers to do it again by creating a market for such films. So here’s the truth…
Windermere Organic Garden
By: Cassandra Ly, Grade 10
There is nothing better than being able to walk outside into the school’s courtyard to see the wide variety of fresh and organic vegetables and fruits that are being grown. In only 2 years, the organic garden has flourished with potatoes to broccoli to tomatoes and even raspberries and blueberries. With the dedicated work of students and teachers, Windermere’s organic garden has become very, very successful. Recently, 7 new beds were built, adding on to the previous 5. These 12 beds will be the holders of parsley, cilantro, onions, lettuce, and many other vegetables, coming soon in the spring. On top of that, a salad bar will be in the cafeteria very soon, giving students the opportunity to make their own salads. The organic garden also has a great composting system, where students empty out the distributed bins throughout the school every few days.
January Warriors of the Month
This month, The Windermere Word would like to honour two very dedicated and hardworking students. Aside from the other various volunteer activities that they are involved in, such as the Organic Garden and ACTION, they’ve recently managed to organize Windermere’s Annual Canned Food Drive and surpassed their goal of collecting 2008 cans. They definitely show warrior spirit and bring optimism to everything they do. This month’s issue proudly presents Emily Chan and Brendan Chan (not blood -related)! They are to be commended for their organization and leadership skills.
LCD vs. Plasma
by Brendan Chan
Nowadays with high definition (HD) TVs becoming popular, a common question is which one is better, LCD or Plasma. Below is the basic outline or pros and cons for each:
LCDs use liquid crystals that prevent screen burn. Unfortunately, they also use fluorescent bulbs. So if the bulb ever blew out, it would mean time to get a new TV! An LCD’s life span is about 60,000 hours, and its screen size ranges from 12 to about 50 inches. LCDs use about .12 to .37 watts per square inch, which is about 106 watts for a 27 inch LCD TV.
