ISSUES Panels On Education 3AEDU.wmv Recap: Abby/Elmo: Improved Technology Cookie/Alistair: Affordable Higher Ed, Better Teacher Pay Roosevelt / Sherlock: PreK, Primary Ed Oscar/BDM: Achievement Gap On the Achievement Gap https://youtu.be/2BDNM-wRZUI Recap Big Bird / Snuff: Provide better resources for schools Count /2HM: Struggling schools should receive more funds to raise test scores Oscar/BDM: Everyone should know the definition of the Achievement Gap. Lower Income Schools should receive more funds On Standardized Testing https://youtu.be/95DSDRMDhBY Recap Cookie/ Alistair: Standardized testing doesn't actually measure knowledge. Should be more creative. Count / 2HM: Tests should be based on skills, and not just one test. The Count believes in education and equality. Big Bird/ Snuff: Promotes the use of standardized computer adaptive testing. On Arming Teachers https://youtu.be/OPIw4fYhkuc Recap Cookie / Alistair: Teachers being armed would be too dangerous Ernie / Bert: Recognizes concern about this issue, esp. after Sandy Hook. Teachers should not have added resposibility of becoming security guards Virginia / Snerf: Complex issue. One would say teachers would want a sense of protection, esp. after school shootings. But, guns in school (i.e. ones registered to the teachers) could get in the wrong hands and actually increase the danger. On Equality 3AEQU.wmv On Drug Testing https://youtu.be/zuYg5nPLkrQ Recap Ernie / Bert: "As a scientist and a loving human being, Ernie does not want to see people that have less money and making less income be a product of a drug that they have no idea how it will affect them." Oscar / BDM: Should be required because some of the money could be misused to buy other drugs. Mr. Grouch grew up in a trashcan and can understand. Roosevelt / Sherlock: Should be mandatory. The priviledge could be abused. Abby / Elmo: Ensures that the money will be used for what they need and not what they don't need (i.e. drugs) On Affirmative Action https://youtu.be/POmSQRgnGZs Recap: Roosevelt/ Sherlock: Affirmative Action should be fair to all minorities, races, genders, sexualties, any belief Abby/ Elmo: It should be implemented in our country Virginia / Snerf: Can be both good and bad. On Minimum Wage https://youtu.be/O88q_IY-Xkc Recap Ernie / Bert: Raising Minimum Wage will increase Jobs Abby/Elmo: Raising the Wage means raising taxes Big Bird / Snuff: Workers need to support themselves; and the raising cost of higher education is keeping equal opportunity out of reach for many Cookie / Alistair: Raising Minimum Wage will reduce anxiety attached to high prices
On the Environment On Becoming Oil Free https://youtu.be/guZNuKaTIqY Recap Oscar / BDM: Solar Power Roosevelt / Sherlock: Can't have an abrupt stop, but must increase our use of geothermal energy, wind farms, and solar power. This will increase the job market. Count / 2HM: Increased focus on R&D on all types of Renewable energy On Health Care On Foreign Affairs On the Syrian Crisis youtu.be/VzuFEuYXzZc Recap Virginia / Snerf: Must help Syria Abby / Elmo: Americans have a reputation of helping. Cookie / Alistair: Situation is complex, must take in as many immigrants as possible as long as they are properly vetted. On Radical Islam (STARTS at 2:40) https://youtu.be/SIOQncgd9XA Abby/Elmo: Refused to answer the question because of the stereotypical bias of the question. Big Bird / Snuffy: Everybody gets equal. We are all one. We must continue our oversight of those not of this nation. Cookie/ Alistair: Education is key. Vetting is key. On North Korea https://youtu.be/-EadCNY0aks Recap Big Bird / Snuff: We should support and help Oscar / BDM: North Korea poses a real threat; we should be on guard, increasing our military without engaging. Count / 2HM: The situation is increasingly alarming. We must stop the situation now, before it becomes unstoppable. On Police Brutality https://youtu.be/nHm-XlQ-nFw Recap Big Bird / Snuffy: Federal Government assists local governments by providing body cams for all officers. Details a tazing of an arrested youth. Count / 2HM: Count wants to create a bigger sense of community. Cops who use brutality as part of their routine should be punished. But proactivity is key and trainings and cops from the communities they serve should be increased. Virginia /Snerf: Body cams are not enough. Oscar / BDM: Mandatory policy of body cams in all departments. Dash cameras also must be appropriately used. On Road Safety