Tuesday March 3

I am feeling a bit philosophical about the education system after a couple of conversations with you. One of the ideas that was discussed was this article that bemoans (once again) the state of the US education system. There are some issues (in the article) that I want to address with this activity. First off, pay attention to the bold, underlined terms in the questions below. Focus on those terms as you answer the questions. This is not about right and wrong, this is about you thinking and reasoning. It is about you using the information that you possess to reason and make decisions.

The Love Canal Tragedy

Here is the introductory video that I want you to watch. The Love Canal Tragedy is a case study in the use and disposal of the chemicals that are a cornerstone of our quality and way of life. Here is a presentation done by Michigan Tech about Love Canal. It lists the chemicals and provides an interesting perspective on the event.

1. What are the important pieces of information that you think you should know about the Love Canal Tragedy?
2. Why do you think that this information is important to understand the relationship between environmental protection laws and Love Canal?
3. Identify the stakeholders involved in this event.
1. Ascribe moral, financial and economic responsibility as you see fit;
2. Which groups are blameless in this event?
4. Of the toxins that have been identified, find one that fits each of the following criteria (without repeating or using the same chemical for multiple categories).
1. Mutagens (Genetic)
2. Carcinogens (Cancer)
3. Teratogens (Reproduction)
4. Endocrine Disruptors (Hormones)
5. To improve your ability to visualize this event, create a timeline (or graphic organizer) that allows you to sequence the events.