Ethic Soup

School Principal Jumps in Icy River to Rescue Boy

Cocheco River in New Hampshire

HERO GWEN RHODES 

When Gwen Rhodes went to work last week, she had no idea that she would be celebrated throughout the country as a hero. Rhodes is the principal of a New Hampshire elementary school, Gonic School, on the outskirts of Rochester, NH.

If I had a child in elementary school, especially a child who has special problems, I would move Heaven and  Earth to have Gwen Rhodes (pictured right) as the principal of that school. And, if I was a parent of one of the children in Gonic School today, I would know that my prayers for my child's school experience had been answered.

RESCUES BOY IN ICY RIVER

Principal Rhodes risked her own life in order to save the life of a student. She jumped into the frigid Cocheco River to save 10-year-old Andrew Brown, who had fallen through the ice, reports Huffington Post.

Andrew, who has autism, ran away from a teacher after a morning recess. He ran through the woods behind his grade school and onto the frozen river. The teacher and principal Rhodes ran after him and saw Andrew stop on a section of thin ice and then fall through the ice.

 YOU WERE ON THIN ICE SON

Rhodes ran onto the river's thin ice and reached the little boy, making use of tree branches along the river bank to pull the boy and herself to safety. The chilling experience left them both with hypothermia and bruises, but alive. Left, Andrew warms up in hospital.

"They were both up to their chests in water," said Lieutenant Dennis Dube, Rochester Fire Department, reported by Reuters. "(Rhodes) saved us from performing a very technical rescue," Dube said. "We're calling it a very brave act. Normally we don't condone such a thing, but she was stuck in a hard place there."

WOW!

Not only did Gwen Rhodes rescue a boy who could have drowned, but she became a role model for us all, and through her example, we are inspired. We want to believe that those who watch over our children are willing to risk their own lives to save our child. And, maybe, should we be desperate for help ourselves, someone will be there to help us, too. Yes, Virginia, there are good people in this world! 

Does your child's teachers and school principal follow their codes of ethics?

CLICK & READ:"School Administrators Code of Ethics" 

CLICK & READ: "Code of Ethics Assn. of American Educators" 

                              

  by Sharon McEachern

Football Coach Brands Bullying Victims 'Queer' and 'Cry Babies'

A high school football coach in Wyoming was forced to resign as coach following controversy over a sexist and homophobic questionnaire he gave to his teenage players called the "Hurt Feelings Report," reports the Casper Star-Tribune.

BULLIED KIDS AT RISK

This a time when bullied kids are committing suicide and massive campaigns to end bullying are emphasizing that kids must tell someone what's happening to them.

Yet, this sarcastic survey demeans any potential complainer who's been bullied in school as a "little sissy and "girly-man," while it calls the bully a 'Real Man.'

And, don't you know that's what the coach calls himself? Although, parents must have better descriptors.

What Medical School Actually Gave Conrad Murray a Medical Degree? Meharry Medical School

 

The trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, personal doctor to pop-icon Michael Jackson, finally began September 27, more than two years after Jackson's death.

I've been watching the trial on CNN's channel HLN -- until it drives me crazy and I have to turn it off. And, that occurs every time I turn on the TV to watch this trial, eventually.

Commentator Nancy Grace, described by the Los Angeles Times as "HLN supernova...for her spitting pro-prosecution fury," asked on-air: "Where did Conrad Murray get his medical degree? That school must be proud." 

MURRAY REALLY HAS A MEDICAL DEGREE?

Well, I've been asking myself the same question.

As each bit of evidence is introduced concerning Murray's actions, and unbelievable inactions, I ask myself: "How did this man manage to get a medical degree?" And, then I ask: "What medical college actually let him graduate as a doctor of medicine?"

After all, he was trying to give Jackson CPR with only one hand, and on a soft bed mattress instead of an ungiving floor. Even gradeschoolers know CPR. He was giving Jackson Propofol in a home setting when a hospital surgical setting is required -- if you're interested in keeping your patient alive.

Instead of calling 911 to get an ambulance for Jackson, he waited for 23 minutes while he talked on the phone to one of his three young girl friends. And later, while in the ambulance with Michael Jackson on the way to the hospital, Murray talked on his cell phone to another of his girl friends. Just saying... 

Horrible Third Grade Quiz Suggests Killing Illegal Immigrants Possibility

 
 

It's very disturbing that yet another American social studies teacher has allowed racist and anti-human rights suggestions to be admitted into the classroom and influence students.

WHAT IS AN ILLEGAL ALIEN?

This time it was in Duluth, Georgia. A social studies teacher, at  Chesney Elementary, gave third-graders a homework quiz based on a story called "What is an illegal alien?" 

The lesson included a multiple choice question which asked: "What does the U.S. do with illegal aliens?"

Here are the possible answers:

A.  The U.S. puts them to work in the army;

B.  The U.S. shoots them into outer space;  

C.  The U.S. puts them to death;

D.  The U.S. sends them back where they came from.

Hip, Hip, It's Pi Day! Have Some Pi-Pie

 
 

Happy Pi Day! Today's date is March 14, or 3.14, the first three digits of pi, and that's equal to the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.

This is a special day for math geeks to revel in the glory of pi. Ain't it grand? And to celebrate Albert Einstein, whose birthday is today too.

Celebrations for the enigmatic number -- which never ends and never repeats -- are many and usually pie-related events including: pie-throwing contests, pie-eating contests and pie-give-aways.

Black 10-Year-Old Student Refuses To Play 'Slave' for Teacher

  
 
Teacher, Teacher

by

Sharon McEachern

 

Teacher, teacher

Open your ears

Hear your student cry his tears.

 

Teacher, teacher

Open your eyes

See your student how he cries.

 

What's wrong Teacher?

Are you deaf, dumb?

You get some that crazy rum?

 

You can't feature

Me as a slave

Me and mine already gave.

 

No, no teacher

I'm only ten

But still I will not pretend.

 

You be the slave

I'll be master

Then you will learn much faster.

 
HOW CAN A TEACHER be so insensitive as to ask a black child to play a slave for a social studies lesson in a simulated slave auction? Apparently a fifth grade teacher in Gahanna, Ohio, doesn't understand why her/his actions would be considered inappropriate or even insensitive. To me, this has the ring of other examples where educators have been blindly or obstinately intolerant. Isn't that the definition of "bigoted?"

 

Praise Valued by College Students More Than Sex or Money

 

SELF-ESTEEM, say college students, is more important to them than sex, money, favorite foods or, yes, even alcohol. Whoa! Who would have figured that?

Young people crave praise, boosts to their self-esteem, say researchers.

"It is somewhat surprising how this desire to feel worthy and valuable trumps almost any other pleasant activity you can imagine," said Brad Bushman, lead author of the research and professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University, reports Science Daily.

New Veterinarian Oath Now Recognizes Animal Welfare

 
 

HOW COULD ANYONE NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR WELFARE?

Good news for pets! It seems that new veterinarian graduates will actually swear to protect pets' welfare.

What's surprising about that? Well, they've never done it before. But, just last week, the American Veterinary Medical Assn. (AVMA) announced the addition of the words "animal welfare" in the oath taken by new veterinarian graduates.

The Revised Vet's Oath:

"Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence."

CLICK & READ: AVMA ANIMAL WELFARE PRINCIPLES  

PA School District Used Laptops to Spy on Students: Follow Up -- Privacy Lawsuit Settled

 

WORSE THAN PEEKING THROUGH A KEYHOLE -- Last Spring a suburban Philadelphia high school took privacy invasion to new heights when an administrator spied on students at home through the kids' laptop webcams. Good God!

The 6,900 students in the Lower Merion School District had no idea that the free Macbooks they received from their schools came with a surveillance program, supposedly to help track missing laptops.

SCHOOL SPIED ON KIDS AT HOME

Instead, the webcams were turned on through remote access to watch what some of the kids were doing in the privacy of their own bedrooms. Harriton High student Blake Robbins (pictured above) was disciplined by his electronic-snooping school administrators for what they thought they saw him do at home.

All this came to light when Robbins' vice principal, Lindy Matsko, advised him that the school had a picture of him "engaged in improper behavior" in his home. Lordy, Lordy! What in the hell was going on?

INVASION OF PRIVACY

Next came the big lawsuit for invasion of privacy. The lawsuit was settled this month. Who was the big winner? It wasn't the kids. 

 

Ethics Follow-Up: Students Wear KKK Hoods & Robes -- Even in Croatia.

 

KKK HOODS & ROBES IN SCHOOL

A teacher of an honors history class in the American South was featured in yesterday's post because she allowed her students to wear the hood and robes of the Ku Klux Klan in high school -- to teach racism.

The source for this follow-up post today came from an editorial, on a website for Irish men -- "it's man stuff," entitled "Croatian Ku Klux Klan kiddies."

IMMIGRATION ISSUE & RACISM

The Irish blog talked about Ireland's immigration situation, an influx of 'New Irish', in a global context. Currently there aren't as many jobs to go around in Ireland, resulting in some resentment towards those from overseas, said the 'joe.ie.com' editorial.

"This time: Irish hospitality v Croatians in white sheets."