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Life in the U.S.:  Making schools safe

Violence in schools

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

Last spring, there was bad news from a few schools in the U.S. Some students became very violent*. They brought guns and bombs to school. They killed their classmates. All Americans were shocked*.

There were many questions

Everyone asked, "Why did such terrible things happen?"

The government wanted to know, too. Congress* called many people to talk together in Washington, DC. Congressmen and women talked to teachers, students, psychologists*, police, and victims* of the violence.

The lawmakers* asked many questions: What makes a person act violently? Who is selling guns to young people? How do children learn to make bombs? Why would teenage boys shoot their classmates? How can we prevent* violence?

And there were many answers

The witnesses* gave different answers. They said that many things must change to make schools safe. Here are some of the things they said:

Children's needs

The family is very important in a child's life. Children need love and education from their parents. Society* must help parents to be good parents.

Some children watch TV or play video games for many hours each day. They don't learn how to get along with other people. Children need more time with parents and other children, face-to-face. At school, there should be more social play, sports, and games for everyone, not just the best athletes*. Schools should have more guidance counselors*.

We can all be kinder and gentler

Parents and schools must teach compassion*. Groups of students are often very cruel* to other students they don't like. They make fun of them and harass* them.

Children need to learn that each human being is valuable*. Parents and schools must teach students to accept* people who are different from themselves.

Violence is "in the air that children breathe"

The average child sees 37 acts of violence a day on TV! Children may learn that violence is fun. They may think that violence is an easy way to solve* a problem.

People can ask the entertainment industry* to create less violent TV shows, movies, music, and video games. Theaters can keep children out of "R-rated" movies. Parents can learn the rating systems for movies, TV shows, and games.

Dangers of the Internet*

The Internet is a powerful source of information. But it can be very dangerous for children. People have complete freedom on the Internet. There are websites* where anyone may learn to make bombs. People with violent ideas talk with each other in "chat rooms*." Parents need to carefully supervise* children who use the Internet.

Too many guns

The Constitution gives Americans the right to own guns. There are laws that say that children, criminals, and mentally ill people cannot buy guns. Congress wants the police to make sure people obey these laws.

Schools and courts must set clear limits

Schools have rules. But often young people break the rules. Sometimes they are not punished*. Courts have also let young people go free after breaking the law. Then a young person cannot learn the limits* for behavior. They cannot learn to be responsible for their actions. The rules must be clear. The punishment must be quick and fair. Children must know that people care what they do.

A dress code* may help in some schools. Students may not be allowed to wear coats, baggy pants, or hats in school. More schools will ask students to wear uniforms.

Schools may need more security*

There will be more fences, security guards, and police around some schools this September.

Some schools will use a metal detector* to check students as they come into the school building. Back packs may have to be made of clear plastic or see-through material.

At some schools, students will have to wear a photo ID.

TV cameras will be in halls, libraries, and cafeterias of some schools.

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Citizenship: Citizenship Day

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

September 17 is Citizenship Day.

It is a day that honors* citizens. Citizens are people born in the U.S. or naturalized*. It is a day to think: What does citizenship mean? What rights do citizens have? What are citizens' responsibilities*?

This day was chosen because it is the birthday of the United States Constitution*. The Constitution is the basic plan for democratic government in the United States. It was signed on September 17, 1787.

The Constitution tells the rights of the citizens. Some of these are the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the freedom to get together in groups. People, newspapers, radio, TV, and the Internet, have the freedom to print or say what they want.

There can be good government only when there are good citizens. Citizens 18 years old and older have the right to vote. This is also one of the responsibilities of citizens.

There will be an election on Tuesday, November 2. Voters will choose some town, city, and state officials on this day. They will vote on public questions about spending money.

Citizens must register before they can vote. People who move or change their names must register again. In many states this must be done 30 days before the election.

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Holiday pages: Labor Day

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

Most American workers were extremely poor 100 years ago. They were paid very low wages. Their working conditions were full of danger. They often worked 12 or 14 hours a day. There were no benefits*. Workers could lose their jobs if they joined a union*.

In the early 1900s many children worked in mines* and factories. They helped earn money for their families. There were no laws that said children must be in school.

Mary Harris Jones was a union organizer*. She knew that one worker had very little power against their employers. Workers could be powerful if they acted as a group. They had to get the public to see their terrible conditions. They had to change laws that hurt them.

She was a great speaker. Workers felt more powerful when they heard her. She was like a strong mother to them.

"Mother" Jones wrote about her work. These are her words:

"In the spring of 1903, I went to Kensington, Pennsylvania. Seventy-five thousand textile workers* were on strike*. Ten thousand of them were little children. They were striking for more pay and shorter hours.

"Every day, little children came into union headquarters*. Some of them had only one hand, some with the thumb missing, some with their fingers off. They lost them in the machines they worked on. The children were small for their age, and skinny*.

"I asked the parents if they would let me have their children for a week. I promised to bring them back safe and sound.

"The boys and girls carried signs that said, "We want time to play." We marched through New Jersey and New York. We went to see President Theodore Roosevelt. The president would not see them.

But we had let everyone know about the crime* of child labor."

Source: A People's History of the United States, 1492-Present by Howard Zinn

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Editorial: Meet the people

Welcome to all of our new readers. And welcome back to our regular readers.

This is Easy English NEWS' fourth year. Our purpose is to help you learn about life in the U.S. We hope you'll learn a lot of English, too.

I've been an ESL teacher for 32 years. I've written many books for people learning English. I like writing for a newspaper. All the information can be up-to-date* and useful.

Easy English NEWS is a "two-way street." Readers can send in stories and ideas. That makes it different from a textbook.

I'd like you to meet the other people who work on your newspaper.

This is Ya-ping Liu. He's from China. He was a reader of the paper before he came to work here. He is our business manager.

George Rowland is our copy editor*. He was Managing Editor of The Free Press (New York). George helps us to stay 99.99% error-free.

Steve Jorgensen makes sure that everything in Easy English NEWS fits nicely on the page. He used to design* books at Prentice Hall. He's our page designer.

Here's Tina Di Bella. She is our office manager. She enters customer information in our computer. She sends out the bills.

Do you like the idioms* and other illustrations? Dave Nicholson is our artist. He was an art teacher in the Ridgewood Public Schools.

Did your paper get to you on time? Thank Fumie Fukushima. She (and sometimes her whole family) helps to count, stuff, and pack Easy English NEWS each month. She's from Japan.

Many readers asked for sports news. That's why we can "ask Jim" Simms questions about sports. Jim is a walking encyclopedia* of sports.

There are a lot of volunteers too. One is Anna Eardley (she's my Mom). Another is Steve Pollack. (He helps when the computer crashes*.)

Easy English NEWS has many thousands of readers all across the United States and in eight foreign countries. More than a thousand classrooms use Easy English NEWS for reading, vocabulary building, conversation, and citizenship preparation. It is the fastest-growing little newspaper in the ESL world!

We're proud* of Easy English NEWS. But we always want to improve*. Please tell us your ideas to make the paper better and better.

Elizabeth Claire

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This is Your Page (readers' stories): Nine One One

My father came to visit us from China recently. One evening, he asked me how to make a call from here to China.

I told him to press 011 first, then press the country code*, the area code, and the telephone number he wanted to call.

After 5 minutes, the doorbell rang. I thought that was a little strange*. It was 9 o'clock in the evening. We were not expecting anyone to visit us. I opened the door. It was a policeman. He asked me politely*,"What happened?"

I was surprised. "Nothing," I said.

He said: "You just called 911." Then he asked, "Do you have children? May I see them for a minute?"

I understood that he thought I was beating my child. I asked my son to come out of his room. The policeman asked him: "Is every-thing OK?" My son nodded* with a smile. The policeman went out of the door and said, "Sorry. Have a nice night."

Suddenly I thought about my father. I ran into the bedroom. "Did you just make a phone call?" I asked him.

"Yes," he said. "I tried to call China. An American man answered the phone. I couldn't understand him, so I hung up."

I realized that my father must have pressed nine one one instead of zero one one.

I quickly ran out to catch the policeman. I shouted: " Please wait, please wait!" I caught him and explained about my father's mistake.

He smiled and laughed: "OK. Now he can easily remember the number. Tell him to call 911 when he has an emergency*."

Ya-ping Liu

Tenafly, NJ (China)

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Discover the U.S.A.-- People and Places

Immigrants and the U.S.A.

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

There are people in the U.S. from hundreds of different countries. Almost 9% of the people living in the U.S. today were born in another country. More than 800,000 new people come to live in the U.S. each year.

The states with the most immigrants are California, New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Maryland. But every state has at least some newcomers.

Where are the immigrants from?

During the 1700s and 1800s, most immigrants came from England, Germany, and northern Europe. Africans were brought to America as unwilling* immigrants.

Around 1900, people began to come from central and southern Europe. Jews and other Europeans came during the 1930s and the '40s

Starting in the '50s many Mexicans, and people from Central and South America came.

For the past 25 years, more people have come from Asia and the Middle East. Recently, people have started to come from Africa.

Why does the U.S. welcome immigrants?

Immigrants help the United States in many ways:

Many immigrants have excellent skills* needed in America. Other immigrants take difficult, dirty, or dangerous jobs that Americans do not want. Immigrants often work for lower pay. They are willing to work hard.

Immigrants increase the population. This makes more customers for people who sell things. Landlords rent apartments to immigrants, and builders build homes for them. There are more students for teachers, more patients for doctors. Some immigrants have money to start new businesses. This can create jobs for Americans.

Immigrants bring new ideas and new ways of looking at things. Most immigrants appreciate the freedom in the U.S. They are glad to be here. They make very good citizens.

How can someone immigrate to the U.S.?

One way to immigrate is to have a sponsor*. This can be a family member. Or a sponsor can be an employer who needs someone with special skills.

The person must wait for an immigrant's visa from the American embassy* in their country.

Some people may enter the country as refugees*. They were forced to leave their country because of war or persecution*.

There is also an immigration lottery*. It is for people from countries that do not send a lot of immigrants to the U.S. It is called the "diversity*" lottery.

Some investors* who have enough money to start a large business in the U.S. are welcomed as immigrants.

Is there a limit to immigration?

Yes. The number of immigrants that may come into the U.S. is set by law. This number changes each year. Each country has a limit, too. Some people wait many years to enter the U.S.

What about people who come without the proper visa?

Many poor people come to the U.S. to find jobs. They hope that they can send money home to their hungry families.

The U.S. government makes it very difficult for them. It's against the law to hire* a person who does not have permission to work in the U.S. People without legal visas can be deported*. Then they may not be allowed to come back into the United States for a long time.

How can an immigrant become a citizen?

• Enter the country legally.
• Live here 5 years (3 years in some cases); have a clean record* and good character*.
• Fill out an application.
• Pay a fee* of $225 plus $25 for fingerprinting.
• Take a test of English and American history and government.
• Take a loyalty oath*. Give up loyalty to one's former* country.

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Ask Elizabeth

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

Dear Elizabeth,

When I was nineteen years old, I was arrested* for shoplifting*. I was shocked that I almost went to jail. I've never been in trouble again. Later, this crime was erased from my record. Now I found out I can lose my green card and never become a citizen. Is that true?

Lazaro

Dear Lazaro,

A person needs a clean record* to get a green card or to become a citizen. Non-citizens can lose their green cards if they are found guilty of a crime.

In March 1999, the immigration court made a decision that affects many immigrants. It decided that it will "not accept* expungements*" to change the status* of persons with minor* criminal records. The law says that criminals* may not immigrate, they may not become naturalized* citizens, and they may be deported*.

That means that your record may be clean for some purposes. But it may not be clean for immigration purposes.

You will need to get a copy of your police record to see what is in it. You will need help from an attorney*. The attorney should be an immigration expert*. Get this help before you go to any appointment with INS.

Your experience gives a warning for any other immigrant: Do not get into trouble with the law.

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Crossword Puzzle

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

Across 1. A date on which something special happened in the past. 11. Twelve o'clock p.m. 12. Extremely 13. You __ I are friends. 15. A person who swims 16. Not me 17. South America (abbreviation) 18. She or he helps sick people. 20. Washington, __ __ 21. A famous movie about an extraterrestrial 22. Tennessee (abbreviation) 23. Preposition (Sit __ the table.) 25. Summer flowers 28. Run very fast 31. Spelling (abbreviation) 32. The one after the first one 35. To stop living 36. BE; It __ September. 38. Type of bread in southern states: corn ___ 39. Arms and ___ 40. Makes a noise like a pig 42. Short name for Edith 44. AIUI 45. Not open to the public 48. A dangerous creature 50. A part of a poem 51. Finished 52. Very overweight

Down 1. Replies to a question 2. At this time 3. Sounds 4. People who live in a prison 5. Something that happens 6. Run again 7. Senior (abbreviation) 8. Yeses; voting by voice 9. An expression of joy 10. What a teacher does 14. Move one's head to say yes 19. Sense organ for listening 24. Movement of the ocean 26. A thought or idea about something 27. The ninth month (abbreviation) 28. To look at someone in a negative way; to disapprove 29. Police Department (abbreviation) 30. Times of darkness 33. Companies (abbreviation) 34. Opposite of off 37. Something you can hear 39. Is alive 40. Not different 41. Go up 43. Enter a pool 45. For; taking the side of in an argument 46. BE; They ___ teachers. 47. A long, thin, snake-like fish 49. Touchdown (abbreviation)

		Answers to Crossword Puzzle

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QUIZ: How well did you read?

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

MATCH

Write the letter of the best meaning for each word.

___ 1.compassion		A. an act
___ 2.deed		B. a person who lives in a place
___ 3.diploma		C.a favorite saying of a person or organization
___ 4.resident		D.a feeling of understanding and sympathy
___ 5.motto		E.a paper that shows someone has graduated from a school
___ 6.labor		F.a promise that something will work properly or not break
___ 7.expert		G.a person who is responsible for a young person
___ 8.financial		H.a person who knows a lot about something
___ 9.guarantee		I.work
___ 10. guardian		J.having to do with money
___ 11.shoplifting		K.a small fish
___ 12.double		L.the edge of something
___ 13.limit		M.two times something
___ 14.salary		N.money that is earned by working
___ 15.sardine		O.taking things from a store without paying
___ 16.skinny		P.a group of workers who act together
___ 17.strike		Q.very thin
___ 18.tuition		R.something unsafe
___ 19.union		S.the cost of instruction
___ 20.hazard		T.stop working, in order to get better working conditions

Answers to Quiz 1. D 6. I 11. O 16. Q 2. A 7. H 12. M 17. T 3. E 8. J 13. L 18. S 4. B 9. F 14. N 19. P 5. C 10. G 15. K 20. R

My Score 20 correct: 17-19 correct: 14-16 correct: 8-13 correct: 0-7 correct: Expert! Very Good! Good Not Bad Atone!

Get the facts

1. What may be some causes of school violence?

2. What is the purpose of Citizenship Day?

3. What is the purpose of the Constitution?

4. What do Americans do on Labor Day?

5. Why did children march to see the president in 1903?

6. What is the purpose of a labor union?

7. Why does the U. S. government welcome immigrants?

8. What states have the most immigrants?

9. What can happen to an immigrant who is arrested for a crime?

10. How can an immigrant become a citizen?

11. Why are many towns holding Y2K meetings?

12. How can a person pay for college expenses?

13. What are some rules for fire safety?

14. What do the movie ratings G, PG13, and R mean?

Share your ideas

1. What does your school do to prevent violence?

2. Do you think there should be laws against violent movies? Against carrying guns? Why or why not?

3. How can schools teach students to be compassionate?

4. How do movie ratings help you?

5. How much TV is OK for a child to watch? An adult? Why?

6. Do you think a college education is worth the years of study?

7. What things will you do this month to get ready for Y2K?

8. Have you ever had to call 911? Tell about it.

9. How is an American dentist different from a dentist in your native country?

10. Do you think the U.S. is right to have a limit on the number of immigrants that may come into the country? Why or why not?

11. Is soccer a popular sport for women in your country? Why or why not?

12. Have you ever had a dream come true? Tell about it.

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Idiom Corner

Illustrations by Dave Nicholson

Can you match these idioms with their meanings?

			Meanings A. a party; an invitation to people to visit on a certain day B. a leader in an organization C. a son who is similar to his father D. a serious worry E. many people crowded into a small space F. a very small part of a large thing
___ 1. a chip off the old block		___ 2. a weight hanging over one's head
___ 3. a big wheel		___ 4. an open house
			Answers to Idiom Corner Quiz 1. C 4. A 2. D 5. F 3. B 6. E
___ 5. the tip of the iceberg		___ 6. packed like sardines in a can

Practice

Write the correct forms of the idioms in the blank spaces.

1. Ramon was unemployed. He did not know how he would pay his bills. He was two months behind on the rent. He could not sleep well because of the ________  ___________  _______  ____  _______.
2. The police caught a man stealing a car. but soon they learned it was just ______  ______ _____  ______  _____________.
3. Jerry became a policeman, just like his father. He's a real ______  ____  ____  ___ _________.
4. Tessa is quiet as a mouse at home, but she's a ____  ________ at her job.  She's vice-president of the bank.
5. The five o'clock bus was full of people ____________   ____  ________  ___  __  _ ___.
6. The Smiths have ___  ______  __________ on New Year's Day every year.  Their friends and family drop over to visit and eat.

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Funny Stuff

He: I see spots in front of my eyes. She: Have you seen a doctor? He: No, only spots.

What is the longest word in the English Language? Smiles. There is a mile between the first letter and the last letter.

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Ask Jim about Sports: Women's soccer team

© Jim Simms and Easy English NEWS, 1999

Dear Jim,

What did you think of the American women winning the World Cup in Soccer this summer?

Alejandra

Dear Alejandra,

Exciting!

It was an outstanding national sports event. The level of competition was tremendous. The skill level was outstanding. The teamwork was powerful.

The drama was so high, I never thought "These are women playing." I thought "These are great athletes* playing." Both teams were so good. The Chinese women were great. No one knew who would win until the last kick.

Ninety thousand people were at the stadium, including President Clinton. Millions of people around the world watched the game on TV.

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Culture Corner: Understanding movie ratings

Movie and TV ratings

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

G: General audiences*. This rating* means that it is for the whole family. There is not a lot of violence*. There is no bad language. There are no sex scenes.

PG: This rating means that parents' guidance* is needed. The movie may have some violence, brief sex scenes, and a small amount of bad language. Parents should read a review of the movie, and talk to adults who have seen it.

PG-13: This rating means that the movie is not suitable* for children under the age of 13. It may contain sex scenes, violence, and bad language.

R: This rating means that the movie is restricted. A person under 17 may not go into the theater without a parent or guardian*. The movie may contain a lot of sex, or a lot of violence or both. There may also be a lot of bad language.

NR: This means the movie is not rated. It is for adults over the age of 18 only. Contains a great deal of violence and/or sex.

TV ratings

There is a rating system for TV programs, too. Most of the larger TV networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) use this system.

Y: For children, all ages

Y-7: For children over 7 years

G: General audience (everyone OK)

PG: Parental guidance is needed. Watch the program with your children and decide.

TV-14: Not suitable for children under 14

TV-M: Mature audiences only (over 18)

In addition, the following letters tell why a program has an unsuitable rating.

V-violence; S-sex; L-vulgar language; D-dialogue (talk about sex or violence)

Video game ratings

There are ratings on the package of video games.

eC: Early Childhood. OK for children 3 and older.

E: Everyone. Suitable for ages 6+. May have a small amount of violence, comic mischief*, or bad language.

T: Teen. Suitable for ages 13+. May contain violence, bad language, and sex scenes..

M: Mature. This is not suitable for children under 17. May have a lot of blood and violence and/or sex and bad language.

A: Adults only. Sex and violence. May not be sold or rented to anyone under 18.

RP: Rating Pending. It has not yet gotten a rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

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Word Help Sample

© Elizabeth Claire and Easy English NEWS, 1999

These words may have many meanings. We give only the meanings that are used in this issue of Easy English NEWS.

arrest verb. To put someone under the control of the police.

athlete noun. A person who is good at sports.

attorney noun. A lawyer.

audience noun. A group of people who listen to or watch a movie, show, lesson, etc.

average noun. The result of adding a list of numbers and dividing the total by the number of numbers in the list.

benefit noun. Something good; an extra value from work, in addition to a paycheck: pension, vacation time, health insurance, etc.

broil verb. To cook under a fire.

clean record, to have a noun. To have never committed a crime.

code (area or country code) noun. A special number used when making a phone call.

compassion noun. A feeling of understanding and sympathy for others.

Congress noun. The representatives and senators who make laws for the U.S.

Constitution noun. The basic laws of the U.S. government.

copy editor noun. A person who corrects errors made by writers.

council noun. A group of people who make decisions for a town or organization.

county noun. States are divided into counties. Counties are parts of a state.

crash verb. (Said of a computer) To stop working.

credit report noun. A statement about a person's history of paying bills and loans.

crime noun. An act against the law: murder, robbery, selling drugs, etc.

criminal noun. A person who does an illegal act.

cruel adjective. Causing great pain.

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