October 2
News
Friday, 22, 2004
Randi Tallman
Joyce Dibble teaches her 5th period chemistry class using newly discovered technology.
Chemistry teacher finds Web solution
BY RANDI TALLMAN
MIRADA STAFF
When chemistry teacher Joyce Dibble started teaching in 1979, she relied on blackboards, white boards and lectures to communicate with her students. Now, 25 years later, the Internet and computers have replaced the old methods and have created a more modern and reliable way to educate her students. Before becoming involved with iMET (Internet Masters In Educational Technology), Dibble was very reluctant to use computers in the classroom. Using the computer seemed to be too much work, for not enough results, Dibble said. However, Dibble has found that it is a lot easier than she thought. I have discovered that by using the resources that are available via the Internet, I do not have to create everything from scratch, Dibble said. She can also post class assignments, due dates, grades, and day-today activities, which are accessible 24 hours a day. In addition to classroom web sites, students are also able to create their own web pages at Think.com. Dibble is leading the way in technology in the classroom and giving students the opportunity to see all the ways the Internet can be used as an educational tool. Dibbles grandmother taught in a
Teacher Feature
one-room schoolhouse in Santa Cruz from 1908 to 1912, and her parents were teachers as well. Her mother taught rst and second grade, and her father was an industrial arts teacher for the California Youth Authority in Norwalk. Her teaching career began in 1979 at El Camino High School where she was a student teacher in biology and chemistry. However, in 1980 during the teaching surplus she was laid off and found an alternative job as a real estate agent, only to return back to teaching after two years. For the next three years, Dibble was constantly relocated. Although she had been teaching at Arcade for two years, she was really waiting for a better position to show up. This position came during July of 1986 when she was offered a job teaching chemistry at Rio and although her rst few weeks took some getting used to, she was happy to have the help of Marian Gribskov, another chemistry teacher at school. Whenever I needed help he was always there, Dibble said. His advice and assistance were an essential part of my success in surviving those rst years teaching chemistry. Aside from teaching, Dibble enjoys gardening and taking care of her son.
n the last presidential election, 75 million people eligible to vote didnt. Out of the 186 million eligible, only 60 percent went to the polls. Does this statistic humiliate anyone else? It should. Who is to blame for this shameful voter turnout? According to reports, it is the young as well as women who are least likely to vote. We, as teenagers who will be eligible to vote soon (if not already), need to realize that voting is not just for old people. Recent data has shown that only 45 percent of the eligible young have registered for this election. To make matters worse, past elections have proven that many of those who register will not actually show up at the polls on Election Day. So the question is: Why dont people vote? Recently, Oprah dedicated an entire show to uncover the answer to this question. With guests such as Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Christina Aguilera, and P. Diddywho sported a shirt with the phrase, Vote or Die! Oprah questioned her audience, which was intentionally lled with women who had never been registered, why they had never voted. Their replies, typical of those in America who dont vote, were nothing but excuses. Most responses fell into one of these three categories: 1) I dont have the time, 2) I dont have the knowledge, or 3) I dont have the passion. None of these reasons are valid. Oprah knew it too, and to use her own words, those who dont vote are dishonoring not only our country but everyone who died and risked their life to give us the privilege to vote. Think about all the people who left their families and children, about those who risked public mockery, who got spat on, and arrested. Think about all the people who gave their lives. Now think about this: out of 172 countries that have gures available, we rank 139th in voter turnout. We are a disgrace, and Im sure to countries like Venezuela South and Africa where people have faced down armed guerillas, gunre and car bombs in order to vote, we project
I
Failing to vote is simply shameful
Randi T.
a real positive image. What is holding us back? We dont have threats like in other countries that could discourage us from voting. Is it that we cant t a couple hours into our schedule to do some research on a computer or read a newspaper, or is it that its too much of a hassle to take 15 minutes to stand in line, sign our name, and punch a card or touch a screen? Its simply laziness. Voting has a purpose. There is a social contract between the government and its citizens. In order to have a good government, we must take on obligations, such as the obligation to vote. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, government derives its power from the consent of the governed, consent that must be renewed through voting. Even though people should be encouraged to vote, we shouldnt have to spend millions of dollars to put on campaigns to boost numbers. It seems that this year efforts to get people to vote are at an all-time high. Celebrities are everywhere trying to make voting seem cool or chic. But, it seems like the goal is becoming more focused on just getting anyone and everyone to vote, rather than stressing the importance on becoming educated about the process and the issues. In fact, one young woman who was registered during a Rock the Vote promotion said during a later interview, You want to know the truth? I dont even know whos running. Ouch. Voting is not just about showing up, going into the booth blindly, and coming out feeling good as you put on an I Voted sticker on. It is about taking the time to go to web sites like VoterVirgin. com, and not allowing your vote to devalue that of someone who actually knew what they were voting on. Dressage Championships Junior Katie Blair won Dressage Championships at the rst two levels in the Northern California Junior Championships. Dressage is a method of horseback riding in which one trains a horse to execute precise movements. She can now travel to Los Angeles, to compete in the Open Championship. Holiday Poinsettia Sale Its never too early to be thinking about the Holiday Poinsettia Sale! For ten dollars each, you can purchase a six-inch poinsettia plant. The payments are due by Dec. 6. All prots from this sale benet the Rio Americano High School Landscape and Outdoor Renewal Project. Because of fund raisers such as the poinsettia sale, the school has new ower beds, picnic tables, and an overall improved campus.
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