Why do people gossip and spread rumors? We've all had that kind of urge. But why? Here are some possible reasons:
- To feel superior
When people are feeling bad aboutthemselves, they sometimes thinkthey’ll feel better if there weresomeone worse off than they are.
- To feel like part of the group
If everybody else is gossiping or spreading rumors, you might feelyou have to do the same thing in order to fit in.
- For attention
When you know a secret that nobody knows, or are the first personin your group to hear a rumor, it can make you the center ofattention.
- For control or power
Certain people always want to be in control and at the top of theladder.
- Boredom
Did you know in many studies, boredom was the number 1 reason why young people say they spread rumors? ... Read more about Gossip and Rumors - PBS kids Its my Life.

Related article: "But rumours sell. People tend to believe in a rumour if it is against the party they hate. This is worrying because people cannot make an informed decision based on rumours." The full article - The Bangkok Post Friday March 3,2006

• The New York Times- Learning Network - Not Just the Facts
Overview: Students explore the difference between hard news, news analysis and (rumors and gossip) ... They then endeavor to write an analysis ... using local sources and drawing their own conclusions. Go to this Media Lesson.
• The Learning Foundation - "News vs Gossip" - Simplified Mock Trial.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Analyzing the Substance and Credibility of Newspapers -
Students share opinions about the factors that influence their decisions about which newspapers to read. They then analyze the tone, content and perspective of major newspapers and rank them based on personal criteria. Go to this Media and ESL Lesson.

• Related Thai stories - Rumor Nation - The Asian Sentinel and "But rumours sell." - The Bangkok Post
• The Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trials
- The Case of Slanted News
- "News vs Gossip"

Where will new, real sources of growth come from? Not from Wall Street, probably. Nor, obviously, from Detroit. Nor from Silicon Valley, at least not by itself. Well before the housing bubble burst, the big productivity gains brought about by the 1990s technology boom seemed to be petering out.
So for the first time in more than 70 years, the epicenter of the U.S. economy can be placed in Washington. And Washington won't merely be given the task of pulling the economy out of the immediate crisis. It will also have to figure out how to put it on a more sustainable path - to help it achieve fast, broadly shared growth and do so without the benefit of a bubble. Obama said as much in his inauguration speech when he pledged to overhaul Washington's approach to education, health care, science and infrastructure, all in an effort to "lay a new foundation for growth." Read this New York Times article » By David Leonhardt

• The New York Times - Learning Network - A Plan for Recovery -
Overview: Students examine the "who, what, where, when, why and how" of the proposed stimulus plan for the U.S. economy; they then write their own proposal outlining how stimulus funds might benefit their community. Go to this Economy and Society Lesson.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Exploring the Impact of Keynesian Economics During a Recession -
Overview: Students define and examine the role of Keynesian economics during recessions and depression, then write a memo to President Obama advising him on how to put Keynesian principles into practice. Go to this Economy and Society Lesson.

To complete her cross-examination, prosecutor Sarah Carr, 16, had one final question for Andrew G., 17, the defendant in a recent case at the youth court in Colonie, N.Y.: "Didn't you know it was wrong?" Andrew nodded shyly, eyes averted. He knew that stealing a $4.97 Star Wars action figure from Wal-Mart was not only a petty crime but also a geeky one in the eyes of his high school peers, some of whom were serving on the jury. From the story - A Jury of Their Peers By Jeremy Caplan - Time Magazine

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Exploring the Youth Court System by Engaging in a Mock Trial -
Overview: Students learn about youth courts and explore the system further by engaging in a mock youth court trial. Go to this Law and Society Lesson

• The Learning Foundation - "Did Li Qingyou Break the Law?" - Simplified Mock Trial Lesson

The new cells come from patients with 10 incurable genetic diseases and conditions, including Parkinson's, the paralyzing disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, juvenile diabetes and Down's Syndrome.
"They allow researchers ... to watch the disease progress in a dish, to watch what goes right or wrong," said Harvard's Dr. Doug Melton, who will head up the distribution of the cells. "I think we'll see in the years ahead that this opens the door to a new way of treating degenerative diseases."
Every cell in the human body contains the same genetic instructions, and in people with inherited genetic diseases, every cell carries the same mistakes, Daley and Melton said. More in this Article » By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor - Reuters

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Learning How Stem Cells Can Repair the Body -
Overview: Students research stem cells to learn how they function, the distinguishing characteristics of types of stem cells, and how stem cells may be manipulated by scientists to help bodies heal and regenerate unhealthy or damaged cells.  Go to this Health and Science Lesson.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Learning About Cell Renewal Throughout the Body -
Overview: Students learn about the latest research on cell and tissue renewal. They then explore the various internal body parts and systems examined in these studies.  Go to this Health and Science Lesson.

Newspaper Headline read: Bookstore wants ten year old in Jail!
The newspaper article claimed: "The bookstore doesn't care about the boy's future and only cares about making money. The staff are not acting like Thai people, who are kind..."

Within a week of the newspaper coverage, sales at the bookstore had dropped by 90%, customers stopped coming, and two bookstore staff quit because they were afraid of the threatening phone calls to the store....

• This is the second of two related Learning Foundation Simplified Mock Trial cases:
- The Case of Slanted News Lesson Plan.
- The Case of the Stolen Comic Book.

Chat room image Florida online reading - selling newspapers image source newscopy.org

A Newspaper that looks for possible stories from Thai web site bulletin boards, blogs, and chat-rooms picked up the story spreading about Lek who had claimed her teacher had stolen her hand phone.

The newspaper called her mother for an interview.
Lek’s mother told the Newspaper that Ms Lawson hated her daughter and took her hand phone to punish her.

The Thai Newspaper printed a story: Headline News - "Teacher abuses kid"
The story added that the school in which the teacher taught was very bad and should be closed until the government investigates.

The same day, a parent of a student from the school sent the newspaper article to the head of the school.
He translated the article for Lek's teacher, Ms lawson, who became very upset.
"That's not true!" She said. "They lied!"
"Don’t they need any evidence to show what they print is true?"

The Newspaper said it was just passing along stories that interested readers and the damage to Ms Lawson and the school were their own fault not the Newspapers.

• This is the third of three related Learning Foundation Simplified Mock Trial cases:
- "I can say what I want!"
- "I was just protecting my kid"
- "News vs Gossip"

Dead zones occur when excess nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, enter coastal waters and help fertilise blooms of algae, a process called eutrophication. Major nutrient sources include fertilisers and the burning of fossil fuels.

The result is an increase of nutrients in the water - usually nitrogen or phosphorus - that triggers a frenzy of action from microscopic organisms.

First phytoplankton take up the nutrients and produce organic matter than eventually sinks to the bottom and dies. There bacteria consume the organic matter and use up the oxygen as they do so. Article link - Telegraph.co.uk News.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Creating a Classroom Ocean Exhibit to Increase Awareness of Marine Health and Sustainability -
Overview: Students brainstorm topics related to the health of our world's oceans. They then create presentations about specific issues affecting oceans for display in a classroom exhibit. They then write letters of invitation to guests to view the exhibit. Go to this Science and ESL Lesson.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Exploring Natural and Human Threats on Fresh Water and Marine Ecosystems
Overview: Students examine various fresh water and marine ecosystems, researching the aquatic life they support, threats from nature and humans, and preservation efforts. Go to this Science Lesson.

As advanced science (communications and international agreements) play a larger role in courtrooms across the country (and the world) judges who earned degrees in English, the humanities (or only Law as in Thailand) face the daunting task of making informed decisions about some very technical disputes. Read the entire article Judges get crash course in sciences - By Mike Baker - Associated Press Writer.

"... This is a problem for Thailand. They ignore the scientific evidence. The judge, the attorney, the police... I think they don’t know much about forensic science, especially DNA...." read the rest of the Interview with Dr. Porntip - Foreign Correspondent.

• WWS - World Wise School- Is That a Fact?
Overview: Understanding the difference between fact and opinion is critical to our ability to examine our reactions to events and people. Stereotypes and prejudices are often based on opinions that are perceived as facts. Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet.

• The New York Times - Learning Network  Learning About Cell Renewal Throughout the Body -
Overview: Students learn about the latest research on cell and tissue renewal. They then explore the various internal body parts and systems examined in these studies.  Go to this Science Lesson.

• The Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trials - "What to Teach" - Simplified Mock Trial.

(AFP)
Wicha Mahakhun, a former Thai judge and (military coup sponsored) constitution drafter, stated:

"People, especially academics who want to see the constitution lead to genuine democracy, are naïve. We all know elections are evil. Even HM the King places trust in the judges; would you condemn them?" From the article: Charter drafter pans 'evil' elections - The Nation.

Giles Ungpakorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University charges:

"The drafters will claim they are following the policies of the palace, but it's much more complicated than that, .... Moreover, the monarchy is just one institution. There are 65 million other people in Thailand who deserve an equal say in how the country is run."
"The (18th Thai Constitution) has a problem right from the start,... Giving power to unelected civil servants who tend to be very conservative is a step backwards." From the article: The Rise of Thailand’s Third Branch - By Daniel Ten Kate   - The Asia Sentinel.

• WWS - World Wise School- Is That a Fact? -
Overview: Understanding the difference between fact and opinion is critical to our ability to examine our reactions to events and people. Stereotypes and prejudices are often based on opinions that are perceived as facts. Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet.
• The New York Times - Learning Network - Educating Youth on Voting and the Electoral Process -
Overview: Students create voter education campaigns to raise awareness of and interest in the government for future voters. Go to this Building Society and Law Lesson.

Related - The Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trial cases and Lesson Plans:
• "It's my country/I can do what I want!"
• "Making Patriots in Thailand"
• "Only One Way to Think"
• "Freezing Bus Fares" - Appealing a lower court opinion.
• "The 18th Thai constitution?" - What makes a law good lesson plan.

- The Prince, who had first thought all of his dreams would be met by finding a real princess, discovered that nothing he nor anyone else did for the Princess was enough for her.
- She blamed and complained to everyone that she was not being treated like a real princess, and this tortured her in mind and body.
- The Prince having seen what life would be like with the Princess called off the wedding.
- The Princess said it wasn't fair to cancel the wedding since she was a real princess which was what the Prince had wanted.

• The Learning Foundation - "Hard to Please" - Simplified Mock Trial - Lesson Plan

Kelly Jo Dowd learned she had cancer when her daughter, Dakoda, was 9.
"My hope for Dakoda is that she grows up and does something that she genuinely loves from her heart," Kelly Jo said. "I want her to be a good person, a good strong woman, which I know she is going to be."
Kelly Jo's eyes watered. It was time to go. As she began to slide out of the restaurant booth, Dakoda clutched her hand and helped her to her feet.
"She's the only person I can talk to about some things," Dakoda said. "I tell her everything." The Article »

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Writing Articles About Adults Who Have Made a Difference in the Life of a Child -
Overview: In this lesson, each student will consider a special adult who plays a significant role in his or her life. Through peer interviews students reflect on their feelings about this important person, then write newspaper articles sharing their discoveries. Go to this ESL Lesson.

Over half of Thailand's provinces were under martial law, controlling freedom of speech, press and assembly, during the referendum to pass the 18th Thai Constitution. Martial law persisted up to and including the referendum, and stayed in force up to and during the parliamentary elections in December 2007.
Even the military appointed prime minster acknowledged that the constitution had many problems which he suggested could be corrected once an election was held and the military controlling the country was replaced.The Democrat Party encouraged its members to vote "Yes" on the military created constitution suggesting if it was not passed the military would either keep it anyway, revise it as they wished, or simply keep the country under martial law.
Eligible Thai voters are expected to vote and a record that they voted is kept.
There were 45 million eligible voters at the time of the referendum, and 11 million of them voted "Yes" for the constitution, leaving 67% who did not vote for the constitution. 19 million "chose not to vote" and 11 million voted "No." (This data was reported by the Thai Election Commission on August 2007)

---

• The Learning Foundation - "The 18th Thai constitution?" - What makes a law good lesson plan.

• The Learning Foundation - "It's my country/I can do what I want!" - Simplified Mock Trial Lesson Plan.

• Related Lesson: The New York Times - Learning Network - Explore the positives and negatives of democratic governments and dictatorships - Go to this Building Society Lesson

"Socrates...the consummate inquiring mind in history wrote nothing, accomplished nothing, and made his mark by standing around a rock, questioning people ... When an audience is interested in questioning the world, then nonsense blows away like a morning mist .... Read more

• World Wise School - Worksheet - Students will learn to identify and modify generalizations.
This activity introduces students to the difficult concept of generalization so that they will challenge generalizations made about people... Go to this Building Society Lesson 

• WWS - World Wise School- The Blind Men and the Elephant -
  Lesson Objectives:
  - Students will develop sensitivity to others' points of view.
  - Students will understand the importance of having as much information as possible before coming to conclusions.  Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet.
• The New York Times - Learning Network - Educating Youth on Voting and the Electoral Process -
  Overview: Students create voter education campaigns to raise awareness of and interest in the government for future voters. Go to this Building Society and Law Lesson.

Related - The Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trial cases and Lesson Plans:
• "Only One Way to Think"
• "It's my country/I can do what I want!"
• "Making Patriots in Thailand"
• "Freezing Bus Fares" - Appealing a lower court opinion.
• "The 18th Thai constitution?" - What makes a law good lesson plan.

"The movement, which Mao had asserted would ensure permanent revolution, was in fact launched mainly to purge his political rivals... after his introduction of the catastrophic Great Leap Forward in 1959. The widespread chaos resulting from this triggered a famine in which 28 million people starved to death." - Go to the article - Times Online UK
• A Learning Foundation Lesson - Compare and Contrast Thailand now with China's Culutural Revolution - Go to this ESL Law and Society Lesson.

• World Wise School - Opposites Lesson -
  Students will recognize that their classmates hold a variety of opinions. This activity is designed to illustrate the variety of perspectives and opinions represented in the class. It will help students understand that perceptions are influenced by personal experience and taste as well as cultural background. Go to Building Society Lesson Worksheet.

• World Wise School - Is That a Fact? -
  Overview: Understanding the difference between fact and opinion is critical to our ability to examine our reactions to events and people. Stereotypes and prejudices are often based on opinions that are perceived as facts. Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Educating Youth on Voting and the Electoral Process -
  Overview: Students create voter education campaigns to raise awareness of and interest in the government for future voters. Go to this Building Society and Law Lesson.

Related - The Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trial cases and Lesson Plans:
• "It's my country/I can do what I want!"
• "Making Patriots in Thailand"
• "Only One Way to Think"
• "Freezing Bus Fares" - Appealing a lower court opinion.
• "The 18th Thai constitution?" - What makes a law good lesson plan.

No previous Pakistani leader has been impeached. The military will not let him be persecuted, it said, quoting a senior army officer it didn't name. Pakistan's military is seeking to broker a deal to let President Pervez Musharraf make an "honorable exit" and retire with immunity from prosecution, the Sunday Times reported.
(There have been 4 coups since Pakistan was founded 60 years ago. but the military has controlled the country for most of that time.) More on this subject - Bloomberg.com

Compare Pakistan with Thailand, which staged its 18th military coup in 2006. The military then wrote its own laws to prosecute Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted prime minster. Thai courts protected the military from prosecution for the coup.
This week Thaksin gave up on getting justice in Thailand and returned to exile in Britain. More in this New York Times article.

(AFP)

Looking Back - In the most bizarre case, a junta-appointed court dissolved Thai Rak Thai for trying to gain power through unconstitutional means even as it upheld administrative orders from the generals who tore up the constitution when they took power. The decision essentially gave legal legitimacy to coups.
Many political analysts in Thailand accepted the court decisions at the time under the belief that they would be one-off measures to get the country through the political crisis. But then the military-appointed assembly took another step by permanently changing the constitution and the law to reflect the dubious legal interpretations. Read the Asian Sentinel Article » - By Daniel Ten Kate

• A Learning Foundation Lesson - Using these examples Compare and Contrast the rule of Law in Pakistan and Thailand - Go to this ESL Law and Society Lesson.

Related - Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trial lesson Plans:
• "It's my country/I can do what I want!"
• "The 18th Thai constitution?" - What makes a law good?
• "Making Patriots in Thailand"
• "Only One Way to Think"