Prompt #9

By Braden Hanks




"'The links between student success and music education have now been demonstrated by brain researchers in multiple studies,' said Mary Luehrsen of the NAMM Foundation. 'These schools and districts are models for other educators who see music as a key ingredient in a well-rounded curriculum that makes music available to all children, regardless of zip code'", to quote a Miami Herald article about the best schools in the country for music education, such as the Atlanta Metro School Districts of Cobb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. These schools showcase the true importance of music education in developing students, and why we should always try to grow our local musical programs and support local performances.


Source: https://ddschools.wordpress.com/2016/03/29/second-best-communities-for-music-education-award/

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/celebrities/article143613439.html#storylink=cpy

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Police Requirements

By:Samantha Martinez

To become a police officer, you definitely have to have a high school diploma or a GED.  A college degree is not always necessary, but it does benefit you even more in your police officer career. Earning a degree in criminal justice or law enforcement can be a career advancement. Degrees can help you get into better positions in the department. Most federal and states departments demand for applicants to have a college educatiom.Police departments require for applicants to be U.S citizens or a resident. They also require the applicant to be 21, but some police officers start it off as young as 18 years old. It is also essential for the applicant to have a driver's license because most likely you will be driving a cruiser(police car). Typically, if you attend college, afterwards police academy is the next step.  Police academy is typically 3-4 months long. In police academy, you go through physical training and learn things in classes that  you will have to know to in order to become a  police officer. You will learn things about firearm use, self defense, accident and emergency response, etc. In police academy, you have to pass various different  exams that will you have to pass in order to become a police officer. Field training is the next of the police academy. After the completing the police academy and field training, you can apply to police departments. It is important to know that each department is different and require different things.

Knowing that after college, I will have to attend the police academy excites and terrifies me. Right now, it does not seem hard so I assume police academy will be a bigger challenge. I do not even have my driver's license yet and I am terrified to drive, but  I will have to learn and get it as soon as possible.

http://study.com/requirements_to_become_a_police_officer.html
http://discoverpolicing.org/what_does_take/?fa=requirements
http://discoverpolicing.org/what_does_take/?fa=training_academy_life

Prompt #10

By: Cassy Rymas


One show that is watched by thousands is ‘Suits’. However, this show misrepresents the legal field. ‘Suits’ is set at a law firm in New York City. The show is based around a talented college dropout Mike Ross, who works as a law associate for Harvey Specter, despite never attending law school. I have not watched this show, but just from what I have read up on it, it’s worth watching even though it’s not the reality of the legal profession.

the cover photo for 'Suits'

First and foremost, you cannot be a law associate without attending law school. You really can’t do anything in the legal field without attending three years of law school. This is essentially why the show works in some people’s eyes. That this situation is a metaphor for the high-end scale of the legal field. Throughout the show, you get a panicky feeling as you constantly think Mike is going to be exposed for not attending law school. This is the metaphor, lawyers at the high end of the scale are going to be exposed. One source relates it to ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ because although the actual situation the show portrays is impossible. The metaphor within the show is relatable.

the cover photo for 'law and order'

Another show that is watched by even more Americans is ‘Law and Order’, this too if full of misrepresentation. One example of misrepresentation is the rate of violent crimes. No one would watch the show if the crimes presented were boring. So, producers must keep it interesting and high speed with high end crimes. These crimes are usually classified as serious felony crimes which according to my criminal justice textbook only 10% of crimes actually are. Another problem of misrepresentation is the race of the criminals. A study done showed that the criminals were black 40-50% of the time. More specifically young black males.

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/01/suits-does-for-lawyers-what-downton-abbey-does-for-aristocrats/267280/
http://www.alternet.org/media/8-ways-crime-shows-law-and-order-mess-your-head

10 Facts of CJ

cassy rymas


1.The components of criminal justice include police, prosecution, judiciary, prisons, probation, and parole.

2.The criminal justice system has multiple and often conflicting objectives: the interests of the victim have to be balanced with the due process rights of the defendant, the broader public interest, as well as considerations of cost effectiveness.

3.Preventing crime is at least as important as punishing offenders. This is called deterrence. An example of this is the death penalty. Many people will avoid committing a crime if they know the punishment is serious, such as death.

4.The first US police force was in New York in 1844. It came from an English model of policing. The US reformed policing the world and many now follow what the US built.
Of all crimes, only about 10 percent are reported to the police. Reasons for that include that the crime was not that serious, it is felt that the police can’t do anything about it or that the victim is worried of not being believed. Also, if the victim knows the defendant then they are less likely to report the crime.

5.There are several different ways to punish an offender: financial penalties, community-based punishment (i.e. imprisonment), community service, a curfew, and a residence requirement, among others.

6.A suspended prison term is especially effective with young or first-time offenders as the mere threat of punishment is often sufficient. There is also a difference between jail and prison that many people do not know of. Jail is a year or less, prison is a year or more.

7.The judicial response to crime varies greatly from one society to another, even though the crime rates are similar. This is due to the discretion that is allowed at every stage. A prosecutor has discretion the most, and they’re able to use at any point. A judge also has a large amount of discretion in deciding the punishment given, there are guidelines for them to follow, though.

8.We expect our prisons to punish and to rehabilitate – we want offenders to come out as better people. This method of rehabilitation is called the reentry model. The goal is to reenter them into society and have them be an active member. Living the most normal life they could.

9.The prosecution is not subject to civil suit. Meaning a person cannot sue them for any wrong doing. However, they can still be legally punished.

10.Judge positions are life appointments. But they can retire or resign from their position. Also, a judge typically gets paid less than they did as a lawyer, but, the position of a judge is seen with higher prestige.

All facts came from my textbook.

Common Stereotype: Good or Bad?

By: Samantha Martinez

One of the most common stereotypes about police officers is that most eat doughnuts and drink coffee throughout their day. Even in television shows like, " The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" the stereotype is portrayed. The stereotype goes way back to the 1950's because their was a lot of doughnut shops frequently visited by police officers.  I mean what is so harmful about eating doughnuts and coffee during break? I think even people who are not police officers usually have  a doughnut and coffee throughout their day, but they do not get stereotyped off it.Even some police officers may not like to eat doughnuts. In my opinion,  I wouldn't mind eating doughnuts on my break and the public judging me off it, but people should not assume thats what cops do all day.  Cops have duties to complete like protecting the people and the community.

More often,during night shifts back in the day, doughnut shops were usually opened 24 hours a day. So cops would go there to fill out paper work or any other duty.Former Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper stated, " They could pack lunch, pray for all night diner on their beat, or fill up on doughnuts. Doughnuts usually won out. They were, to most palates,tasty, and they were cheap and convenient." There is still a few doughnut shops that are opened 24 hours a day and are visited by police officers. A website named  The Policy Daily even posts picture of police officers with donuts or any sugary foods.There is actually some doughnut places named, " Cops and Doughnuts," in Michigan. I find that very amusing and maybe one day I will visit one. 

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-doughnut-loving-cops-became-stereotype-180956730/
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/09/started-cops-eating-donuts-stereotype/

Musical Biography - Post #7

By Braden Hanks

Today, we will chronicle the history of one of the most influential band composers of all time: Gustav Holst.

Gustav Holst began his life being born in Chenltenham, England, on September 21, 1874, as the first of two children.  Through his early years, he frequently played piano, while violin bored him.  This enjoyment was then coupled with is unknown weak vision and asthma.

Holst entered the musical industry with his first organist job in 1893, which grew his knowledge of choral music and composition, which would influence his compositions all throughout his life.  It was only a few years later that Gustav would attend the Royal College of Music, where his picked up the trombone to earn money playing in orchestras and hopefully help his chest problems.

A few years later, Holst fell in love with a woman named Emily Isobel Harrison in 1901, as he began to write his most famous piece, The Planets.

After the release of his most famous work, Holst dove into the world of band music, coming up with such works as the two military band suites in both Eb and F.  It is thought he received most of his influence for wind music through the famous composer Raelph Vaughn Williams, whom he was close friends with.

Late in life, in 1930, Gustav wrote the great Hammersmith, along with taking a speaking job at Harvard in 1932.  Later, in 1934, he was given an option for a minor operation and limited life, or a major operation and a larger life.  He chose the latter.

The operation was successful in may 1934, but his heart couldn't take the strain.  He died on may 25th.

Prompt 8: Beyond the Job

By: Samantha Martinez

 

( NYP who delivered a baby on FDR drive.)

A police officer duty is to protect the community and minimize crime. Some officers have gone beyond those duties. An interesting article named " Meet the officers going beyond the call of
duty," by Ray Sanchez describes the events that some police officers are considered heroes.

 New York Highway and Emergency Service unit officers helped a woman in labor when she was in rush hour traffic.The heroic officer's names are Detective Sharpe Kevin Moran and Frank Denicola. It's amazing what officers that doesn't get as much attention as the negative things the news portrays.

In San Francisco, a heroic officer is named Officer Brian Kneuker and a couple other officers raised 400 dollars to provide a hotel and food for a homeless woman and her autistic son. It was not the duty for the police officers to raise money for no one, but they did it out of kindness. I think actions like these show that some police officers genuinely care about the people in the community. Officer Kneuker states himself, " Who knows where they could have ended up, but when we got the call, our goal was, were not going to have them end up on the street." Many more officers have gone beyond their job to help the people. The community should thank those who have. I hope to become one of these heroic officers myself.


http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/29/us/beyond-the-call-of-duty-policing-in-america/