The Life of a Breaker Boy

Figure 1 James the Breaker Boy.

Hello! My name is James and I'm 8 years old.  That is me in Figure 1!  I'm a Breaker Boy.  Many of you might not know what a Breaker Boy is.  A BREAKER BOY is a boy who picks small pieces of coal out of piles of rock.  You are probably wondering where I am and why I look so dirty.  I'm forced to break small pieces of coal in a thing called a breaker.  A BREAKER is a little room where coal is put into (1).  Every time coal is put into the breaker, BIG dust clouds fill the room.  That's why I look so dirty!

Figure 2 James and his friends in the breaker.

Look at me and my friends in Figure 2! We are working in the breaker.  My friends are different just like me! Because I'm a Breaker Boy, my day is different than yours, I learn a different way than you, and even the games I play are different than yours!

My day begins when my mama wakes me up for work.  I always wake up before the sun rise.  Sometimes I want to go back to sleep but Mama doesn't let me.  I always forget that I'm forced to go to work because I need to support my family (1). I always hear Mama and Papa talk about not having enough food to feed me and my 3 brothers and sisters and not having enough money to buy coal to heat our house.  

Figure 3 A coal patch town.

Once I am ready for work, I wait for my friends to meet me outside on the road (Figure 3).  My friends and I live next door to each other.  We all live in a patch town.  A PATCH TOWN is a big group of houses where my friends' families and my family are forced to live in (2).  The owner of the coal company doesn't want its workers to live anywhere else.  I heard Mama saying yesterday that more houses are being built because the town is starting to get very crowded.  

When all of my friends are ready, we begin our walk to work.  The sun still hasn't risen yet so our path to work is very dark.  Once my friends and I get to work, we sit down in the breaker and start breaking the coal.  My arms still hurt from yesterday so I'm not as fast as the others.  Mama always tells me I'm going to grow BIG muscles because I break coal for 15 hours everyday (5).  I continue to work until the big men tell me and friends that we're able to go home.  When we get out of the breaker I see that it's already night time. On our dark walk home I can barely walk!  My body hurts so much that my friends have to help me get the rest of the way home.  When I get home, my mama tells me it's time for dinner and then learning. 

You're probably wondering why I don't go to school like you!  I'm not able to go to school because I work a long time.  Some of my friends tried to go to school.  They had to leave because they didn't know how to read or write.  They weren't able to practice their reading and writing because they were too tired after work.  Unlike my friends, I'm able to read, write, AND do math!  Every night after dinner my mama sits down at the kitchen table and teaches me.  I really try to pay attention but I'm just so tired that I fall asleep after my long day.  Mama eventually wakes me and I walk up to bed.

Figure 4 Old church in the coal patch town.

THE NEXT DAY...

I woke up happy today because I don't have to go to work!  Me and my friends don't have to work today because it's a Sunday.  On Sundays, everyone from the patch town goes to church. After a short walk, everyone makes it to the church (Figure 4).  I think the church is SO big! My papa told me that him and a few other coal miners built it to make the patch town look nicer.

Figure 5 James and his best friends.

Once church is over, my 4 best friends and I decide to play some games together.  That's me and my best friends in Figure 5!  Their names are Joseph, Charles, Jack, and Ronald.  We're still wearing our handmade church clothes that our mamas made for us.  Charles tells us that he wants to play kick the can.  KICK THE CAN is a game where you have to kick a can before you are called on.  Once you're called on, you become the leader of the can.  I love playing kick the can (3).  It's my favorite game!

As I'm just about to kick the can my mama yells out to me.  I'm scared I'm going to get in trouble because I'm playing a game while I'm still in my church clothes. I quickly run to my house.  When I walk inside I see that Mama is crying.  Papa is sitting beside her and crying as well.  I ask them both why they are crying.  My mama says,

"James, I heard from a few friends that men in nice suits were at the coal company today.  My friends told me that they are changing the rules in the breakers."

I'm not sure what she means.  I'm not sure why she's crying.  My papa can tell I don't know what Mama means and he says,

"Son, this means that Breaker Boys don't have to work anymore.  The men in suits believed that you and your friends are too young to work in the breaker. It's too dangerous. The age to work was changed to 14 years old (4).  You and your friends can go to school now!"

I'm so happy and excited from the news that I quickly run outside to tell my friends.  I tell my friends that we're able to go to school so we can learn.  My friends are just as excited as me!  Joseph tells us that he's so excited to learn how to do math.  I want to know who the men in suits were so I can thank them for letting me and my friends be able to go to school and play games LIKE YOU!

For more information on the rule that changed the Breaker Boys age, click the link here: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/fairlaborstandardsactof1938.aspx


References

(1) Breaker Boys.  (2014).  The work of a breaker boy.  Retrieved from                         http://thebreakerboysbrianeicher.weebly.com/the-work-of-a-breaker-boy.html  

(2) ExplorePAhistory.  (2011).  Life in the coal patches.  Retrieved from                          http://explorepahistory.com/story.php?storyId=1-9-18&chapter=3

(3) Project Play.  (2017).  The rules of kick the can.  Retrieved from http://w                   ww.projectplaybooks.com/the-rules-of-kick-the-can

(4) Society for Human Resource Management.  (2017).  Fair Labor Standards            Act(FLSA) of 1938.  Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/rsourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/fairlaborstandardsactof1938.aspx

(5) Talking Points Memo.  (2017).  Breaker boys.  Retrieved from http://talkingp           ointsmemo.com/gallery/breaker-boys

How Bunnies Help Science

Animals in Science Experiments

Figure 1: Rabbit in wild

What are some small animals you can think of? Maybe you thought of bunnies, rats, cats, dogs, fish, frogs or even monkeys? Well, all of those animals can be used in science for experiments or tests. This is called ANIMAL TESTING. Animal testing has been around for hundreds of years and has helped scientists create new medicines and makeups. During animal testing, animals are kept in cages inside laboratories where they are watched and studied. The tests that scientists do on the animals are all trying to test whether the product or medicine is safe so that humans can take it and use it. Some examples of the tests are purposefully getting the animals 

Figure 2: Rat in wild 

sick to watch what happens, not feeding the animals, doing mini surgeries on them or even shock treatments. Some of the experiments may hurt the animals but some don't affect them at all. This seems cruel and unfair to the animals but in the past, animal testing has helped create some very useful medicines for humans and helped to make sure that household cleaning supplies like Windex, is safe to use.

Figure 3: Brands that test on animals

Some popular products that use animal testing are Post-Its, Vaseline, Windex, Band-aids and even Kleenex. Figure 3 shows a larger list of brands that you probably use all the time that test on animals. 

ANIMAL TESTING gained a lot of bad attention and has many different groups of people fighting against it and working to make it illegal. On the other hand, there are many groups of people fighting for it to stay legal. They're argument is that there have been a lot of important things that have come from animal testing in the past that have helped humans. Penicillin, asthma treatments and insulin are all originally from ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION and have helped millions of people since then. Another "pro" to animal testing is that there are not many options of other ways to do these kinds of experiments. Without using animals, humans would need to be used instead. Some cons of animal testing are that it is very expensive to house the animals and feed them everyday. Also, some of the experiments do not end up giving good results or just don't work, so the animal was experimented on for no reason. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to animal testing but it is important to know where you stand and what you believe is right. So, what do you think?

For more information on the pros and cons visit: http://animal-testing.procon.org/

For more information on groups against animal testing visit: http://www.petakids.com/animal-facts/animals-used-experiments/

References:

1. 

About animal testing. (2017). Retrieved April 14, 2017, from http://www.hsi.org/
campaigns/end_animal_testing/qa/about.htmlBBC - Ethics - Animal ethics: Experimenting on animals. (2009).
Retrieved April 14, 2017, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/experiments_1.shtml

Animal Testing [Photograph]. (2017). Retrieved April 27, 2017, from http://www.allaboutanimals.org.uk/PK-Testing.asp

Animal testing [Photograph]. (2014, December). Retrieved April 27, 2017, from http://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Animal_testing 

2. 
8 Products You Own That Are Tested on Animals. (2014). Retrieved April 21, 2017, from http://www.businessinsurance.org/8-products-you-own-that-are-tested-on-animals/

3 Ways to Buy Cruelty-Free Home, Health and Beauty Products on a Budget [Photograph]. (2016, July 31). Retrieved April 27, 2017, from https://thelifelongvegetarian.wordpress.com/2016/08/01/3-ways-to-buy-cruelty-free-home-health-and-beauty-products-on-a-budget/ 

3.

Murnaghan, I. (2017, April 12). Using Animals for Testing: Pros Versus Cons. Retrieved April 14, 2017, from http://www.aboutanimaltesting.co.uk/using-animals-testing-pros-versus-cons.html

                                                    How the government is protecting you

Image 1 (Tony the Cellphone)

Hey kids !! My name is Tony (Image 1) the cellphone. I come in all shapes and sizes. I'm here to tell you how I function because I wasn't born with the same parts as you have, but we aren't that different because I have a unique form of a brain! I'm here to tell you of all the fun and cool activities that I'm able to provide for you. I will also be telling you on how the United States of America government is watching me so it can protect you from potential dangers!

               You and I are alike!

Image 3(human brain)

                                             You and I have many similarities on how we work. You have a brain (Figure 2) that processes information and your movement. I have a thing called a circuit board (Figure1). The circuit board holds microchips and processors inside a cell phone which serves as the brains of the outfit. This means that every action and button you press on me, in seconds it processes that information and translates it to the action you desire.

Image 2(Cellphone body)

The Cool Features I can provide for you

Knowing how I work you should know some of the things that I am capable of. My main purpose is that I am a form of communication. I able to give you access to talk to your parents, your friends, and even anybody around the wolrd! I can also have access to the internet, so if you ever have a question, I will find it in a heartbeat. You can also take pictures, listen to music and even play games. Everybody loves playing games such as doodle jump and angry birds. (Figure 4) on me !They are interactive games which i can perform because i'm so advanced in technology I can do these great features that other devices can't provide.

 

 (Figure 4)

How the government watches me so they can protect you

Since I was invented with great power I have the ability to do great things and I also have the ability to do dangerous things. We all know that there are some very bad people out there that are breaking the rules. Its up to the government to protect us from these people so they wont abuse me or hurt innocent people such as yourself. The number one way people abuse me is that they can hack into somebody's computer and steal their personal information. Hacking is when somebody steals information or property of someone without permission. Making it difficult to recover important information such as credit card information. It's up to the men and women in blue, who are our law enforcement agents to use tactics such as surveillance. Surveillance is an observation or monitoring of a person or group. Examples of surveillance include surveillance cameras, wiretaps, GPS tracking, and internet surveillance. If the law thinks that there is illegal internet usage going on, that person is immediately flagged and they are under investigation for awhile to see if they are innocent or guilty. I hope Tony helped you understand how the cell phone can protect you, but also how you should use it responsible. The government tracks our phone records to help us, not to hurt us and if you didn't do anything wrong you shouldn't be afraid at all!

https://www.cia.gov/kids-page

References

1) (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2017, from http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs181/projects/ethics-of-surveillance/ethics.html

2) (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2017, from http://www.crossdomainsolutions.com/cyber-crime/



Man Vs. Wild Great RTV

This day and age we live in a time of entertainment that is run by reality television. Several of these RTV series have been running for a number of years and have spawned some of America's most influential members of society. How much of this RTV is quality content that holds some type of value other than drama? I believe there are quite a few examples - of this my favorite of which is Man Vs. Wild. Man Vs. Wild use 4 core values. These values educate the viewers , entertain extreme sports watchers,  promotes tourism and have an amazing host.

The main problem with most RTV series is that their is a lack of educational content. Man Vs. Wild is an exception to this rule. One of the main points of the show is to teach people how they could survive in several different climates and area's. This is done by showing which animals to avoid and the that are safe to eat. For example ,in the  Dominican Republic there was a giant centipede that was too poisonous to eat. If I was ever in this survival scenario, I would be delighted that I viewed that episode and learned that by eating that centipede I would have become paralyzed and died. This proves Man Vs. Wild has life saving value.

Man vs. Wild also is great television because it provides people with very entertaining survivalism which is a sub-genre of extreme sport. The show provides a great amount of extreme sports elements. These are demonstrated when the host performs some extraordinary stunts. Initially the show begins with the host jumping from a plane and skydiving to his location. A few more examples of extreme sports would be swimming in wild rapids or climbing 90 foot vines. life endangering stunts like these occur in a multitude of extreme sports platforms. The cross fit games devote a whole unit in there course to rope climbing. Skydiving is included as one of the most recognized extreme sport.These stunts have even gotten the attention of several online news-websites saying "their crew and camera kit are made of pretty stern stuff."(“Are You Tough Enough.” Http://Eds.a.ebscohost.com/Eds/Detail/Detail?Sid=a12991f7-124e-4c34-89b0-443938da80f3%40sessionmgr4009&Vid=0&Hid=4205&Bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=44601749&Db=Bth, Televisual, Sept. 2009, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid. Accessed 2017.) . These death-defying are performed jungle like landscapes to make them more terrifying.

When the crew of Man Vs. Wild is filming they take amazing shots of the landscape and country. This promotes tourism of the host country. This is beneficial because it helps developing countries establish better economies. A tourist would have viewed flora and fauna of that nation on the show. Tourists could also be excited to attempted the extreme camping that is done in the show. The charismatic host also heightens tourism.

Bear Grylls takes hosting the show very seriously. He has surprised and shocked the audiences at home by performing some outrageous survivalist acts; on camera he swam naked in frozen water,drank his own urine and ate several insects like spiders and grubs. These exploits have even caught the attention of "People" magazine. In an article about Grylls they went as far as to call him, "the MacGyver of the wild"(Dodd). Although Grylls was in the UK military for 10 Years. He still goes above and beyond expectations audience have of him.I and all the other Man Vs. Wild watchers are certain that he would do anything to survive. He is truly the MAN Vs.Wild.

This show demonstrates everything that belongs in RTV. It blends so many elements of good content together flawlessly. Even-though it still takes scrutiny a from articles like " Most Improved" saying "Bear allegedly slept in luxury hotels instead of being stranded on a desert island"(“Most Improved Bear Grylls.” Mclean's, 26 Nov. 2007, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=5fc08840-ce80-4f0c-a929f0b36e374dc7@sessionmgr4008&vid=0&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=27642101&db=bth. Accessed 2017.). Regardless if these allocations were true it still will not dispute that Man Vs. Wild is one of the best RTV series. Weather it is because of amazing stunts or the beautiful shots of the exotic countries he survive on. There is value in the show and something for almost everyone.

works cited 

“Are You Tough Enough.” Http://Eds.a.ebscohost.com/Eds/Detail/Detail?Sid=a12991f7-124e-4c34-89b0-443938da80f3%40sessionmgr4009&Vid=0&Hid=4205&Bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=44601749&Db=Bth, Televisual, Sept. 2009, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid. Accessed 2017

“Most Improved Bear Grylls.” Mclean's, 26 Nov. 2007, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=5fc08840-ce80-4f0c-a929-f0b36e374dc7@sessionmgr4008&vid=0&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=27642101&db=bth. Accessed 2017.

Dodd, Johny. “Force of Nature.” People, vol. 68, no. 23, 3 Dec. 2007, pp. 123–124, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=b39a1d99-97b6-4438-b04c-03677f8a0523@sessionmgr4009&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=27658669&db=a9h. Accessed 15 Feb. 2017.

RTV rough draft

 

                               Just a bunch of roses?

Nearing the end of its 21st season, "The Bachelor", a reality television show and also a dating game show, revolves around a single bachelor who starts out with typically 25 love interests in hopes to fall in love and find a wife by the end of the season.  Eliminations take place during each episode through the rose ceremony, where if a contestant receives a rose she moves on in the competition.  The contestants participate in group dates, one on one dates, and are taken all over the globe in order to get to know the man they will potentially be marrying.  The show is filled with a ton of drama, tears, and conflict, which would be expected when a group of women are pretty much dating the same man.  Although The Bachelor is mostly seen as cringe worthy and purely just for entertainment, there is much more to it than handing out roses, it is a quest for love. 

Firstly, this show has a very diverse group of women competing against each other.  They come from all over the country, have a wide range of occupations, different backgrounds and values. Some even had very tough pasts, such as Kristina Schulman from the current season.  She is a 24 year old dental hygienist who grow up in Russia.  She explained to Nick Viall, the current bachelor, that she did not have much food growing up.  She remembered her cupboards being bare and having to eat lipstick. On the other hand, contestant Corinne Olympios, a 25 year old from Florida, runs a multi-million dollar company that her parents started.  She lives a very lavish lifestyle and is constantly talking about her "nanny" that does everything for her.  I feel that this show really displays how strong and successful the women are as we learn about them and they're struggles.

                                                                                   Season 21 contestants and bachelor

Not only does this show bring the contestants and the bachelor together, but it also brings its viewers together.  One woman says that watching the The Bachelor with her daughter brought them closer as they bonded, shared opinions, and learned about each others tastes on men. She said "And despite all evidence to the contrary, a very real connection has grown out of this series: not between the Bachelor and his bevy of beauties, but between a mother and a daughter." (Good Housekeeping 107)  People actually have "Bachelor viewing parties" where they watch the show with their family and friends.  Often, viewers get attached to a certain contestant on the show and root for them as they move on in the competition. They even feel genuinely upset when that person gets eliminated. "Today, "The Bachelor" has become the sort of "go-to" romance reality program-for good or ill, a heartwarming program that brings groups of viewers together." (Advertising Age 32)

Another positive value of The Bachelor is the effect it has on the women who are sent home throughout the season.  These women have to compete for time and attention from one man.

It appears to be a very emotionally draining process, as there are many scenes and interviews of tears and outrage. These women really get to know themselves on a deeper level throughout this process.  They may walk away upset or heartbroken, but previous contestants have actually come out and said that they feel stronger as a person, and realized what they really want and need in a partner by their experience on the show.  In an interview with People Magazine, season 20's Jojo Fletcher said "it's overwhelming! It's crazy, but I'm so excited," she says of searching for, as she says, "a love I can rely on." As for her ex, there are no hard feelings. "I shared so many great memories with Ben, but I've moved on. I'm at peace with where I'm at." ( People 52-56) 
  
Finally, the main value of this show is that it leads two people to their true love.  It appears to be very difficult to compete against 25 other women for the love of one man.  It also appears to be tougher for the bachelor himself to go through a process of getting to know each woman and seeing if there is chemistry or sending them on their way, which is also a very hard thing to do.  While most reality shows are purely just for entertainment and there is no outcome or purpose, this show is different in a sense that we get to see people connecting and actually falling in love throughout the season.  This show actually has an outcome and that is hopefully finding a lifelong partner.

Unlike most reality television shows, The Bachelor actually has a positive outcome of two
people hopefully falling in love and getting engaged.  While most reality television shows have no outcome and are purely just for entertainment, The Bachelor displays the strength of women, helps them get to know themselves on a deeper level, and brings people together.   

                                             
                                                                     Works cited

People. 3/28/2016, Vol. 85 Issue 14, p52-56. 5p. 6 Color Photographs

Good Housekeeping. Aug2012, Vol. 255 Issue 2, p107-107. 1p
  
Advertising Age. 2/14/2011, Vol. 82 Issue 7, p32-32. 2/3p.