Journal 6

It was interesting when we were talking about the New Deal today and I said that I would reinstitute the Home Owner's Refinancing Act (HOLC) and the National Housing Act (FHA); I chose these two acts because many people were laid off from work and couldn't find other jobs. Also, they couldn't afford their homes because there morgages were affected by the economic crisis. These two acts helped people find employment and have means of keeping their homes.
I agreed with a classmate that the Works Progress Administration should be reinstituted because it provided jobs for people during the Great Depression; people built roads, houses, and distributed food. During times of crisis, it's important to keep people in employment so they can keep their homes and spend money. The economy will never get better if the money doesn't circulate.

Journal 5

If the Great Depression happened today I would have trouble giving up technology like my computer, TV, cell phone, iPod, etc. They're luxuries that I take for granted and I can't imagine my life without having them. Even though these electronics aren't a daily need they are a daily want that few Americans live without. I'd have to find alternative ways of staying informed since I watch the news on TV to find out what's going on. Also, I'd have to write all of my schoolwork by hand and I wouldn't be able to call my friends whenever I felt like it. My bus ride home would be silent because I wouldn't be listening to my iPod. Hopefully the Great Depression will never happen again, but if it would, it would be hard to live without technology; however, it's a luxury that Americans could live without if they needed to.

Journal 4

Teddy Roosevelt was the head of the United States Forest Service and if I were like him and decided to conserve thousands of acres of national forests, I would start by ceasing the production of new developments on farmland. When I was in elementary and early middle school, I remember seeing many cornfields close to where I live. Now, all of those fields are residential developments. The forests have also been affected by this too; animals are becoming endangered because their habitats are being destroyed. If we keep building houses and neglecting the well-being of the wildlife in our country, we won't have any more wildlife in our country. We've invaded many animals' homes already; we shouldn't take any more away from them.

Journal 3

I overheard a conversation between the factory owner and the labor agitators; the owner said that the agitators won't look out for me, but those who own the company and property. I don't think it's right that they will look out for me because they don't know what it's like to work in a factory. They won't ever know about the poor working environment, low wages, and long hours; if they are aware of it, then they probably won't do anything to improve the conditions. I wish that there was someone of authority who coulod be my voice and help workers like me have safer and better working conditions.

Journal 2

In Mexico, I work in a maquila (sweatshop) where I make T-shirts for very little pay. In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed and sweatshops spread rapidly throughout Mexico; many of them were, and are, illegal. During the week, my shift is from 8:30am to 8:30pm and if I don't finish the amount of clothes I'm supposed to complete in that time I must work longer hours with not pay. On Saturdays I work from 8:00am to 5:00pm without a lunch break and I earn $30 to $50 a week. Most of the people I work with are young girls who are 12 and 13 years old. I've never worn protective goggles or gloves when working even though many workers have lost eyes and fingers in our sewing machines.
Despite the mistreatment I've endured, I can't stop working because I've no other means of survival.

Journal 1

A late 19th century invention that effects my life today is the typewriter; it was invented in 1867 by Christopher Scholes. The typewriter evolved into computers and it was an important invention because computers are used on a daily basis today. I'm a high school student and I know that whenever I have a long paper to write, I'm not going to write out everything on notebook-paper when I can type it on the computer. I was taught how to type on a computer in elementary school and it's easier and faster to complete school assignments on the computer. Every day I have to write something for English or history class, and every day I'm on my computer completing the homework. I can't imagine having to use a pencil and writing out my work by hand! Thank you Christoper Scholes for your influenctial invention of the typewriter!!! It eventually made it possible for me to speedily complete my schoolwork!!!!!

Journal 8

We finished talking about the women's movement already, but it was a part of the struggle for equality theme that I didn't cover yet. It wasn't very long ago that women got the right to vote; however, I believe that gender discrimination isn't a major issue anymore. Obviously, it will never completely go away, but I personally see it as less of an issue than racial discrimination today.
What I do notice sometimes is discrimination of, not men against women but, women against men. It comes from simple sayings like, "Your a man, lift that heavy load!" but some phrases that seem harmless could really hurt someone elses feelings.
One time, a boy in my class didn't hand in his homework all week and the girls said, "That's just like a boy. A lazy bum." I didn't like that and it offended the rest of the boys in my class because they handed in all their work.
Also, a boy in gym class couldn't catch a baseball very well and girls mocked him by saying, "What are you a girl?!" and "Aren't you good at this? Your a guy after all." I found that especially disturbing because they were bad-mouthing him and themselves by stating that boys should naturally be good at sports.
In my mind, males and females should be on the same playing field in society. That's true gender equality. The only difference I can see between the genders is that girls can have babies and men can't.