Chemical castration

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chemical castration is the administration of medication designed to reduce libido and sexual activity, usually in the hope of preventing rapists, child molesters and other sex offenders from repeating their crimes. Unlike surgical castration, where the testicles or ovaries are removed through an incision in the body,chemical castration does not actually castrate the person, nor is it a form of sterilization. For this reason the term "chemical castration" has been called a misnomer.
Chemical castration is generally considered reversible when treatment is discontinued, although permanent effects in body chemistry can sometimes be seen, as in the case of bone density loss increasing with length of use of Depo Provera.Castration has, from time to time, been used as an instrument of public and/or judicial policy despite concerns over human rights and possible side effects.

Application

Chemical castration involves the administration of anti-androgen drugs, such as cyproterone or the birth-control drug Depo-Provera, which is given as an injection every three months, making compliance easier to track.

Effects

When used on men, these drugs can reduce sex drive, compulsive sexual fantasies, and capacity for sexual arousal. Life-threatening side effects are rare, but some users show increases in body fat and reduced bone density, which increase long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. They may also experience other "feminizing" effects such as gynecomastia (abnormal development of large mammary glands in males),reduced body hair,and loss of muscle mass.

Ethical objections

Although chemical castration is presented as a humane alternative to life-long imprisonment or surgical castration, the American Civil Liberties Union opposes the coerced administration of any drug, including antiandrogen drugs for sex offenders. They argue that forced chemical castration is a "cruel and unusual punishment", and therefore should be constitutionally prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. They also stated that it interfered with the right to procreate, and could expose users to various health problems. Law professor John Stinneford has argued that chemical castration, by exerting control over the mind of sex offenders to render them incapable of sexual desire, and subjecting them to the physical changes caused by the female hormones used, is a cruel and unusual punishment.
It has also been argued that, based on the Fourteenth Amendment, the procedure fails to guarantee equal protection - although the laws mandating the treatment do so without respect to gender, the actual effect of the procedure falls disproportionately upon men.In the case of voluntary statutes, the ability to give informed consent is also an issue; in 1984, the U.S. state of Michigan's court of appeals held that mandating chemical castration as a condition of probation was unlawful, on the grounds that the drug medroxyprogesterone acetate had not yet gained acceptance as being safe and reliable and also due to the difficulty of obtaining informed consent under these circumstances.

Studies

In 1981, in an experiment by P. Gagne, 48 males with long standing histories of sexually deviant behaviour were given medroxyprogesterone acetate for as long as 12 months. Forty of those subjects were recorded as to have diminished desires for deviant sexual behaviour, less frequent sexual fantasies, and greater control over sexual urges. The research recorded a continuation of this more positive behaviour after the administration of the drug had ended, with no evidence of adverse side effects, and recommended medroxyprogesterone acetate along with counselling as a successful method of treatment for serial sex offenders.

History and use by country

The first use of chemical castration occurred in 1944, when diethylstilbestrol was used with the purpose of lowering men's testosterone. Chemical castration is often seen as an easier alternative to life imprisonment or the death penalty, allowing the release of sex offenders while reducing or eliminating the chance that they reoffend.

United States

In 1966, John Money prescribed medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, the base ingredient now used in Depo Provera) as a treatment for a patient dealing with pedophilic urges, becoming the first American to employ chemical castration. Since then, the drug has become a mainstay of chemical castration in America. Despite its long history and established use, the drug has never been approved by the FDA for use as a treatment for sexual offenders.
California was the first U.S. state to specify the use of chemical castration as a punishment for child molestation, following the passage of a modification to Section 645 of the California penal code in 1996. This law stipulates that anyone convicted of child molestation with a minor under 13 years of age may be treated with Depo Provera if they are on parole if it is their second offense and offenders may not reject the treatment.
The passage of this law led to similar laws in other states, such as Florida's Statute Section 794.0235 which was passed into law in 1997.As in California, treatment is mandatory after a second offense.
Besides California and Florida, at least seven other states, including Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin, have experimented with chemical castration. In Iowa, as in California and Florida, offenders may be sentenced to chemical castration in all cases involving serious sex offenses. On June 25, 2008, following a Supreme Court ruling that the execution of child rapists where the victim was not killed was unconstitutional Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed Senate Bill 144, allowing Louisiana judges to sentence convicted rapists to chemical castration.

Europe

The drug cyproterone acetate has been commonly used for chemical castration throughout Europe. It is similar to the drug MPA used in America.
In the United Kingdom, computer scientist Alan Turing, famous for his contributions to mathematics and computer science, was a homosexual who chose to undergo chemical castration in order to avoid imprisonment in 1952.At the time, homosexuality was still illegal and considered to be a mental illness that could be treated with chemical castration.Turing experienced side effects such as breast enlargementand bloating of the physique.Two years later, he committed suicide. In 2009, the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, issued a public apology for the British government's "appalling" actions after an online petition seeking the same gained 30,000 signatures and international recognition.
In the 1960s, German physicians used antiandrogens as a treatment for sexual paraphilia.
On September 25, 2009 Poland passed legislation for forcible chemical castration of child molesters. This law came into effect on June 9, 2010 so in Poland "anyone guilty of raping a child under the age of 15 can now be forced to submit to chemical and psychological therapy to reduce sex drive at the end of a prison term".
On April 30, 2010 a man in the United Kingdom found guilty of attempting to murder a 60-year-old woman in order to abduct and rape her two granddaughters, agreed to undergo chemical castration as part of the terms of his sentence.
On March 4th, 2011 a 66 year old man in Germany was found guilty of molesting 400 children while he knew he had AIDS. He got a 9 year prison penalty and chemical castration is a part of his sentence.

Israel

In May 2009, two brothers from Haifa, convicted child molesters, agreed to undergo chemical castration to avoid committing further crimes.

Australia

In 2010, a repeat child sex offender who had been subject to chemical castration inappropriately touched and kissed a young girl. He was found not guilty by a jury, which was not informed of the context of his previous offences.

Argentina

In March 2010 Mendoza, a province in Argentina, approved a new law which allows rapists to voluntarily undergo chemical castration therapy in return for reduced sentences.

Some jokes

The Pope

The Pope is traveling by limo across America to make appearances.
One day he sees that his driver is taking him on an old dirt highway and the area is fairly desolate. He asks his driver, "You know, I've always had a chauffeur. I bet it's fun to drive. Would you mind if I gave it a try?"
The driver is a bit suprised, but agrees. After all, he is the Pope. The driver gets in the back of the limosine and lets the Pope take the wheel. The Pope is having such a good time that he speeds up. As he goes around a bend, a cop clocks him speeding and pulls him over. The officer walks to the window and upon seeing who it is, radios headquarters.
Cop: "I just pulled over a car for speeding, but it's someone special.
Should I give him a ticket?"
H.Q.: " Is it the governor?"
Cop: "Bigger."
H.Q.: "The President?!?"
Cop: "Bigger."
H.Q.: "Damn! Who's bigger than the president?!?"
Cop: "I don't know, but he's got the Pope as a chauffeur!"

Husband and wife

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. The next week the man realized that he would need his wife to wake him at 5.00 am for an early morning business flight to Chicago. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence, he finally wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5.00 am."
The next morning the man woke up, only to discover it was 9.00am, and that he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't woken him when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed ... it said... "It is 5.00am; wake up."

Marriage

A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?" "Sixteen," the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. "How do you know that?" "Easy," the little boy said. "All you have to do is add it up, like the Bishop said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer"

Three men

There were three stranded men walking down a sandy beach on a deserted island. They walk a little ways and find a magic lamp. So they decide since they are stranded that they might as well rub it. After they rub it a genie pops out and says each one has one wish.
The first man wishes he was at home having fun with his wife. POOF, he's gone
The second man wishes that he was at his favorite strip club, drinking a beer with his friends. POOF, he's gone.
The third man doesn't know what to do, so he thinks for a minute and says, "hmm, you know I really wish those two were back here to help me make my decision."

Jacob and Rebecca

Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding and on the way they pass a drugstore. Jacob suggests they go in. Jacob addresses the man behind the counter:
'Are you the owner?' The pharmacist answers yes.
Says Jacob: 'We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?'
Pharmacist: 'Of course we do.'
Jacob: 'How about medicine for circulation?'
Pharmacist: 'All kinds.'
Jacob: 'Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis? '
Pharmacist: 'Definitely.'
Jacob: 'How about Viagra?'
Pharmacist: 'Of course.'
Jacob: 'Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundice?'
Pharmacist: 'Yes, a large variety. The works.'
Jacob: 'What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?'
Pharmacist: 'Absolutely.'
Jacob: 'You sell wheelchairs and walkers?'
Pharmacist: 'All speeds and sizes.'
Jacob says to the pharmacist: 'We'd like to register here for our wedding gifts, please.'

Posted by: Mateo Consagra

Pet column: Service dogs specialize in autistic children

When a child is diagnosed with autism, parents’ lives change forever. The neurological disorder is characterized by abnormal social and communication behaviors and the presence of repetitive behaviors, such as hand flapping or spinning in circles, sometimes for hours.

Individuals may fall anywhere on the autism spectrum, from highly functioning to severely impaired.

Autistic children are prone to unintentionally wandering or running away, sometimes becoming lost. Some engage in self-injurious behavior, such as head-banging or self-hitting. And others experience frequent meltdowns, falling to the ground kicking and screaming.

Public environments tend to stimulate these children excessively, exacerbating symptoms. A simple outing to the store, or going through the checkout stand, can be horrible for parents, said Beverly Swartz of All Purpose Canines in Aberdeen, S.D.

Swartz trains service dogs for autistic children and has placed dogs with families throughout the United States and Canada. Dogs are taught to track children should they become lost. And children sometimes stop wandering altogether because they don’t want to leave their dog, often their only friend.

Autistic children may walk into oncoming traffic. Dogs, tethered to the child, are taught to stop at curbs. And strangely, although the children don’t realize they will be hurt by cars, they realize their dog will be hurt and they often stop willingly, Swartz said.

The leading cause of death among autistic children is accidents related to wandering, such as exposure to the elements and drowning.

Interrupted sleep patterns and night wandering are issues with autistic children. The dog is one tool to keep the child safe. Just as weighted blankets soothe and induce sleep in some autistics, the pressure of a 60-70 pound dog can soothe and induce sleep, too, Swartz said.

Dogs are trained to redirect the child during repetitive or self-injurious behaviors by bringing a ball to the child and other means. Parents are often able to redirect unwanted behaviors simply by encouraging the child to pet the dog.

Joanne Mañá

Short Jokes

Headmaster: I've had complaints about you, Johnny, from all your teachers. What have you been doing?
Johnny: Nothing, sir.
Headmaster: Exactly.

Mother: "Did you enjoy your first day at school?"
Girl: "First day? Do you mean I have to go back tomorrow?

Patient: Doctor, I have a pain in my eye whenever I drink tea.
Doctor: Take the spoon out of the mug before you drink.

Mary: John says I'm pretty. Andy says I'm ugly. What do you think, Peter?
Peter: I think you're pretty ugly.

A vampire bat came flapping in from the night, covered in fresh blood, and parked himself on the roof of the cave to get some sleep.
Pretty soon all the other bats smelled the blood and began hassling him about where he got it. He told them to go away and let him get some sleep. However, the bats persisted until finally he gave in.
"OK, follow me," he said, and flew out of the cave with hundreds of bats behind him. Down through a valley they went, across a river and into a forest full of trees. Finally he slowed down and all the other bats excitedly milled around him.
"Now, do you see that tree over there?" he asked.
"Yes, yes, yes!" the bats all screamed in a hungry frenzy.
"Good," said the first bat tiredly, "Because I didn't!"

....

Find others in this web page, enjoy!: http://www.funshun.com/jokes

Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist Irving Janis (1972), occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of “mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment” . Groups affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups. A group is especially vulnerable to groupthink when its members are similar in background, when the group is insulated from outside opinions, and when there are no clear rules for decision making.

Symptoms of Groupthink

Janis has documented eight symptoms of groupthink:

1. Illusion of invulnerability –Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking extreme risks.
2. Collective rationalization – Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions.
3. Belief in inherent morality – Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.
4. Stereotyped views of out-groups – Negative views of “enemy” make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary.
5. Direct pressure on dissenters – Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views.
6. Self-censorship – Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed.
7. Illusion of unanimity – The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous.
8. Self-appointed ‘mindguards’ – Members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view, and/or decisions.

When the above symptoms exist in a group that is trying to make a decision, there is a reasonable chance that groupthink will happen, although it is not necessarily so. Groupthink occurs when groups are highly cohesive and when they are under considerable pressure to make a quality decision. When pressures for unanimity seem overwhelming, members are less motivated to realistically appraise the alternative courses of action available to them. These group pressures lead to carelessness and irrational thinking since groups experiencing groupthink fail to consider all alternatives and seek to maintain unanimity. Decisions shaped by groupthink have low probability of achieving successful outcomes.

Examples of Groupthink: Past and Present

Examples of groupthink “fiascoes” studied by Janis include US failures to anticipate the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Bay of Pigs invasion, the escalation of Vietnam war, and the ill-fated hostage rescue in Iran. Current examples of groupthink can be found in the decisions of the Bush administration and Congress to pursue an invasion of Iraq based on a policy of “preemptive use of military force against terrorists and rogue nations”. The decision to rush to war in Iraq before a broad-based coalition of allies could be built has placed the US in an unenviable military situation in Iraq that is costly in terms of military deaths and casualties, diplomatic standing in the world, and economically.

Remedies for Groupthink

Decision experts have determined that groupthink may be prevented by adopting some of he following measures:

a) The leader should assign the role of critical evaluator to each member

b) The leader should avoid stating preferences and expectations at the outset

c) Each member of the group should routinely discuss the groups' deliberations with a trusted associate and report back to the group on the associate's reactions

d) One or more experts should be invited to each meeting on a staggered basis. The outside experts should be encouraged to challenge views of the members.

e) At least one articulate and knowledgeable member should be given the role of devil's advocate (to question assumptions and plans)

f) The leader should make sure that a sizeable block of time is set aside to survey warning signals from rivals; leader and group construct alternative scenarios of rivals' intentions.

http://www.psysr.org/about/pubs_resources/groupthink

GROUPTHINK

Reading Your Dog's Body Language (Yamila´s students)

Knowing how to read your dog's body language is the key to understanding your dog, assessing her attitude, and predicting her next move. Because dogs are non-verbal - their body language does the talking for them. Vocalization actually takes second place to a dog's body language. Once you learn these basic types of dog body language, spend some time observing dogs interacting with people and other animals in various situations. Understanding of dog body language can also help protect you and your dog from dangerous situations as well as aid in training or identification of common behavior problems.

Confident

The confident dog stands straight and tall with her head held high, ears perked up, and eyes bright. Her mouth may be slightly open but is relaxed. Her tail may sway gently, curl loosely or hang in a relaxed position. She is friendly, non-threatening and at ease with her surroundings.

Happy

A happy dog will show the same signs as a confident dog. In addition, she will usually wag her tail and sometimes hold her mouth open more or even pant mildly. She appears even more friendly and content than the confident dog, with no signs of anxiety.

Playful

A playful dog is happy and excited. Her ears are up, eyes are bright, and tail wags rapidly. She may jump and run around with glee. Often, a playful dog will exhibit the play bow: front legs stretched forward, head straight ahead, rear end up in the air and possibly wiggling. This is most certainly an invitation to play!

Submissive

A submissive dog holds her head down, ears down flat and averts her eyes. Her tail is low and may sway slightly, but is not tucked. She may roll on her back and expose her belly. A submissive dog may also also nuzzle or lick the other dog or person to further display passive intent. Sometimes, she will sniff the ground or otherwise divert her attention to show that she does not want to cause any trouble. A submissive dog is meek, gentle and non-threatening.

Anxious

The anxious dog may act somewhat submissive, but often holds her ears partially back and her neck stretched out. She stands in a very tense posture and sometimes shudders. Often, an anxious dog whimpers, moans, yawns and/or licks her lips. Her tail is low and may be tucked. She may show the whites of her eyes, something called whale eye An anxious dog may overreact to stimulus and can become fearful or even aggressive. If you are familiar with the dog, you may try to divert her attention to something more pleasant. However, be cautious - do not provoke her or try to soothe her.

Fearful

The fearful dog combines submissive and anxious attitudes with more extreme signals. She stands tense, but is very low to the ground. Her ears are flat back and her eyes are narrowed and averted. Her tail is between her legs and she typically trembles. A fearful dog often whines or growls and might even bare her teeth in defense. She may also urinate or defecate. A fearful dog can turn aggressive quickly if she senses a threat. Do not try to reassure the anxious dog, but remove yourself from the situation calmly. If you are the owner, be confident and strong, but do not comfort or punish your dog. Try to move her to a less threatening, more familiar location.

Dominant

A dominant dog will try to assert herself over other dogs and sometimes people. She stands tall and confident and may lean a bit forward. Her eyes are wide and she makes direct eye contact with the other dog or person. Her ears are up and alert, and the hair on her back may stand on edge. She may growl lowly. Her demeanor appears less friendly and possibly threatening. If the behavior is directed at dog that submits, there is little concern. If the other dog also tries to be dominant, a fight may break out. A dog that directs dominant behavior towards people can pose a serious threat. Do not make eye contact and slowly try to leave. If your dog exhibits this behavior towards people, behavior modification is necessary.

Aggressive

An aggressive dog goes far beyond dominant. All feet are firmly planted on the ground in a territorial manner, and she may lunge forward. Her ears are pinned back, head is straight ahead, and eyes are narrowed but piercing. Her tail is straight, held up high, and may even be wagging. She bares her teeth, snaps her jaw and growls or barks threateningly. The hairs along her back stand on edge. If you are near a dog showing these signs it is very important to get away carefully. Do not run. Do not make eye contact with the dog. Do not show fear. Slowly back away to safety. If your own dog becomes aggressive, seek the assistance of a professional dog trainer to learn the proper way to correct the behavior. Dogs with aggressive behavior should never be used for breeding.

 LINK : http://dogs.about.com/od/dogtraining/tp/dogbodylanguage.http

Published by Micaela Bocci

feelings and emotions

We teachers have noticed that as yet no articles have emerged on this topic Aren t you full of emotions about emotions ?   We invite readers to tell  us

What  moves your feelings ? Are you a sensitive or a callous person ?  What is your favourite feeling ?
Tell us about a moment in your lives when you experienced contradictory feelings and why  How have you felt towards  a) your relatives ? your friends ? our politicians? Is ther anybody you admire ? If so, who and why ? What things make you particularly irritable or overanxious and why ? What things make you cross?
What brings you to a state of peace and calmnsess what things soothe you ?  What  or under what circumstances do you feel enraged or compelled to do sth ?  Of course you needn t answer all thse questions  if you don t feel like to. This is a feeling Prof Patricia

Budget Cuts on Public Education in the US

Warning: the following video has no subtitles

Plus, what are your thoughts on the matter? do you believe you should support public school education and give teachers a raise in their income? do you prefer private education? anyone with a 3rd stance?

Think critically,

Agustín Perez Villafañe

Understanding Hypochondria or Health Anxiety (Lifestyle Therapy)

News for health anxiety on Monday 9 May 2011

Source: www.hypochondria.org.uk

Susan Leigh is Counsellor and Hypnotherapist who works with clients suffering from stress and anxiety related issues. This article is the notes from a BBC Radio interview on January 26 2010.

Many people have times in their lives when their health becomes an area of concern. Some people do not want to know anything further and ignore it, sometimes to their detriment. Other people focus in on every twinge and symptom, fearful that some deadly disease is lurking to imminently take a hold. The truth is, if any of us read the first page of a book of medical symptoms we would probably relate to many of them. Good health is being able to find a sense of balance and proportion in these matters.

Many people have heard of someone who waited too long for treatment or was mis-diagnosed and became seriously ill. The fear of this happening to us can, in some people, become a major pre-occupation. This reaction tends to happen more often with people who have responsibilities, like a young family or older people who rely on them. The fear of leaving dependant people uncared for and vulnerable can weigh heavily on their minds and they may well become obsessed with their own health. The readiness of internet access for these people exacerbates the problem, as typing in symptoms and health issues is now the second most researched area on the internet, the first being pornography.

Hypochondria is now known as Health Anxiety. Its roots are often deep seated. Maybe insecurity as a child, or being surrounded by a lot of illness and feeling that that was an inevitable part of becoming an adult featured. Other people may have had a lot of attention as a child because of fears and concerns over their own health status. They may continue to seek that attention for reassurance.

These underlying issues can then be triggered into an anxiety state in adulthood by stressful situations. The need to be in control of a situation and the fear of not having full control can cause the fears to surface and so begins constant doubt and checking to ensure that everything is okay.

This situation is often compounded by the shame, self-disgust and reproaching that occurs when everything is constantly revealed to be fine physically. Many hypochondriacs are ashamed at being so self absorbed when others in the world are having far greater 'real' problems. The fact is, they cannot help having their fears and anxieties. It is not a choice, but an anxiety condition. Here are some effective treatment options:

• Counselling and Hypnotherapy are an effective combination in dealing with the original causes of the problem, healing them and then reinforcing confidence, control and a positive outlook for the future.
• Self hypnosis and visualisation techniques teach skills that can be used in stressful situations to support good health and coping strategies.
• Emotional Freedom Technique is a meridian therapy that works by tapping parts of the body to free blockages and break patterns and cycles of negative behaviour and conditioning.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps in understanding the triggers, behaviours and patterns and teaches more productive ways of managing anxiety, rather than repeating the unwanted behaviour.
• Anti-depressants can help elevate a persons' mood and raise them out of a depressive state into a healthier more balanced state of mind. From there they can use counselling to address the underlying issues behind the problem.
• Neuro-Linguistic Programming has many different techniques to help break patterns and chains of behaviour.

There is certainly help out there and finding the most effective way for each person is a personal choice. Suffice to say, this problem has its roots in trying to take good care of the sufferer, trying to look after them and keep them well. There is help that can achieve that result in a more constructive way and help the person achieve a better quality of life. 


POSTED BY MARTHA ORFEO, Ana Lobato´s class

Severn Suzuki: Speaking at UN Earth Summit 1992

Raised in Vancouver and Toronto, Severn Cullis-Suzuki has been camping and hiking all her life. When she was 9 she started the Environmental Children's Organization (ECO), a small group of children committed to learning and teaching other kids about environmental issues. They were successful in many projects before 1992, when they raised enough money to go to the UN's Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Their aim was to remind the decision-makers of who their actions or inactions would ultimately affect. The goal was reached when 12 yr old Severn closed a Plenary Session with a powerful speech that received a standing ovation

Ana Lovato's Class

Noelia Rotundo

Codex Gigas: The Devil’s Bible

In the early 13th century, a book came into existence that mystifies the literary and theological worlds to this day. Not much is known about this manuscript called the Codex Gigas (Giant Book).  Many legends and myths have grown around its origins.  That this book has created so much speculation is not shocking.  The very appearance and content of the Codex, also called The Devil’s Bible,  are as mysterious as the quandary of its creation.  It holds the distinction of having once been regarded as the 8th Wonder of the World.
The Codex Gigas is the largest Medieval Manuscript in the world.  Bound within a leather covered wooden folder, ornamented with metal, the giant book is 92 cm (36.2in.) tall, 50 cm (19.7in.) wide and 22 cm (8.6in.) thick.  It originally contained 320 pages, however 8 were removed by unknown hands for unknown reasons.  Weighing in at an incredible 165 pounds, the vellum (calf or donkey skin) pages were created out of approximately 160 animals.

So, who wrote this Giant Book?  It is believed to have originated from the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice in Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic.  Attributed to a Monk known as Herman the Recluse, the records in the codex end in the year 1229.  Legend has it that good old Herman was a monk who broke his monastic vows.  As punishment, he was sentenced to be sealed alive into the walls of the monastery.  In an effort to circumvent said sentence, Herman vowed to create a book to glorify the monastery for all time.  The book was to contain all vital human knowledge.  He promised to complete this book in one night.

He set about his task, but as the witching hour approached, Herman became convinced that his goal was unattainable.  Rather than praying to God for mercy as a good monk should, he made a plea to the fallen one himself….Satan.  Of course being the agreeable fellow that he is, Satan completed the book, and Herman showed his gratitude by adding the now infamous illustration of the Devil himself.  Of course, the Devil then possessed poor Herman, who was then forced to add a number of exorcism spells within the Codex in an attempt to exorcise himself.

Of course legends are funny things.  It seems that the legend about Herman making a pact with the devil is more likely a mistranslation of the word inclusus, which rather than meaning “walled up alive”, more literally means choosing to live a solitary life.  However, as experts have analyzed the book, it does appear to have been written entirely by the same hand, and is not beyond belief that perhaps Herman was commissioned to write the Codex as a form of punishment. But it certainly took him more than one night.  Scholars estimate that the book would have taken a minimum of 25-30 years to complete, including the time taken to rule the pages, write the text, and complete the illuminations and drawings.

Besides a desperate attempt at exorcising his own demon, what else did Herman put withing the wooden covers of this massive tome?  Well, it contains the entire Latin Vulgate version of the Bible, except for the books of Acts and Revelation. It also contains mystical medical formulas for anything from treating fevers and epilepsy to resolving practical issues such as finding a thief.

Noelia Rotundo

Assessments on students learning languages

Performance assessments versus traditional assessments

Traditional assessments are “tests” taken with paper and pencil that are usually true/false, matching, or multiple choice. These assessments are easy to grade, but only test isolated application, facts, or memorized data at lower-level thinking skills. Traditional assessment provides little evidence of what a language learner actually can dowith the language.

In order to evaluate what a language learner can do with the language, a student must be evaluated using various performance tasks and assessments.

Performance assessments include authentic assessments, alternative assessments, and integrated performance assessments.

Learners must use more complex, higher-order thinking skills. They must reason, problem-solve, or collaborate with others to produce individual responses. Rubrics, provided ahead of time so learners know their expectations, are used to evaluate students on multiple competency levels.

In Herman, Aschabacher, and Winters, 1992, alternative assessment, authentic assessment, and performance-based assessment “require students to generate rather than choose a response.”

Alternative assessments focus on the students’ strengths — what they can do — allowing the teacher to choose an appropriate assessment for students with different learning styles, maturity levels, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and other characteristics that could affect language performance. While one student may choose to write a response, another student may perform better in a role-play situation.

Although paper and pencil tests can be effective when assessing listening and reading comprehension skills, they are not appropriate assessment methods for performance skills such as speaking and writing. In a balanced assessment program, a variety of assessment techniques should be incorporated into daily instruction.

Authentic assessments combine the traditional academic content with the knowledge and skills needed to function appropriately in the real world. The context, purpose, audience, and focus should connect to real-world situations and problems.

Performance-based assessments require the learner to perform in realistic situations. Students participate in specific tasks, interviews, or performances that are appropriate to the audience and setting.

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/linguafolio/6305

LEARN NC is a program of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Education. It provides lesson plans, professional development, and innovative web resources to support teachers, build community, and improve K-12 education in North Carolina

GLOSARY

Authentic assessment: it seeks to evaluate students' abilities in "real-world" contexts, including the application and demonstration of skills and knowledge to tasks or projects likely to be encountered in adult life.

Alternative assessment: Assessment that measures student learning in forms other than traditional pencil-and-paper tests.

Performance tasks: concrete tasks or activities as opposed to standardized multiple-choice tests.

JOANNE MAÑÁ

Forbidden Books

The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie epitomizes contemporary book censorhip. The novel was published by Viking Pengüin in 1988,  causing a bitter controversy between the Western priciple of freedom of speeh and Muslim's outrage. Indeed, in 1989 the UK and the Iran broke diplomatic relations over the Rushdie incident.
After the first book was published, the author became the target of a FATWA ( a death sentences issued by the Muslim clergymen), whereby all pious muslims were urged to assassinate Salman on charges of heresy and apostasy.
In fact, all the controversy may have been caused by a mistranslation of the title into Arabic. "Verses" was translated as "ayat", which is the arabic for "the verses of the Coran" ( exclusively!).Thus, the novel was seemingly denoting that the entire Coran was satanic.
Most of the translators that worked on the novel were systematically murdered but Salman and his family became "intelectual and polititcal" refugees in the UK.
After the FATWA was issued, most Muslims countries prohibited the book. To the contrary, both in the UK and the USA the novel garnered critical acclaim immediately and, to date, the book has been an all-time best seller in the history of Viking Publisher.

Discussion topic: EXAMS

Exams Are Unfair Assessments Of Progress

Most educators believe that exams are the best way to judge a student's ability. They believe that students' ability can be judged depending on the marks or grades that students get in the exams. They also think that studying for exams can help students review and absorb the things they have learned. Actually, many people hate exams because they disagree that exams are realistic tools for rating progress. The three main reasons for me to believe that examsare unfair assessments of progress are: the effects of pressure, the reliability of the exam result and the purpose of study.

First of all, exams cause too much pressure for students. Some students commit suicide before they take an exam because they do not have self-confidenceto face to the exam. Some students commit suicide after their exams because they can’t get good marks in their exams and they can not stand the pressure of their parents. In addition, many students usually forget all of the things that they have already learned when they are taking their exams because they are too nervous, but they can remember all the things again after they finish their exams. Also, many students suffer insomnia because they are too worry about their exams. They do not have enough sleep, so they can not do well in their exams.

Secondly, the exam results of the students are not reliable. Some students cheat in the exams. For example, they just copy the answers from their cheating papers to their answer sheets. Although their answers are correct, they do not really know the answers. Also, some student guess what questions might appear in the exams and only study that part of the course material. They can get good results in their exams without studying hard if they are lucky. Furthermore, many students get poor results in the exams because they do not have enough time to finish the exam papers, but not because they don't know the answers. The marking standard of examiners is also very unsteady. Sometimes, the marking standard might depend on the emotion of the examiners. Last of all, the original purpose of studying is distorted. It is not the right way that people only study for exams. The worst thing is that people do not do anything else except studying for their exams. In conclusion, I agree that exams are unfair assessments of progress because the pressure caused by exams is too large, the result of exams is unreliable and the purpose of studying is misunderstood. I this that day-to-day work done by students is a fairer way for rating progress.

LINK: www.oppapers.com/.../why-some-students-cheat-in-exams-page1.html

CUPEI FCE - Yamila´s students
Posted by Micaela Bocci

BOOK'S FAIR

Here  we are , after the gorgeous conference Ms Walkely and Mr Collingridge  from UK gave at the Book Fair. From left to right Mariana,Yamila, Paola, Pat and Micaela adn Joanne 2-5-11