Taylor Tomasco — Science Leadership Academy @ Center City

Practical Government Benchmark - Taylor Tomasco

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in American Government - Laufenberg on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 9:31 am

Ms. Laufenberg always says, "If you remember one thing from this class, PLEASE remember the difference in the three branches of the government!" This benchmark has enabled me to do so. I am now able to identify which laws/cases/offices are represented by each of the three branches and understand WHY they are represented by those as well.

This process was not difficult but it was a little confusing at first. I kept forgetting that some things could be represented by more than one branch. For example, when you get your licsence you are interacting with the executive branch, but there is a law (legislative branch) that states what age you are allowed to get your licsence. The law was most likely made after a course case (judicial branch) was held. The most time consuming part was the judicial branch. I am very familiar with different laws and different parts of the executive branch, but I did not know names of specific court cases that allowed these laws or functions to happen.

As I get older I imagine to become even more familiar with the branches. I will have to do more paper work, and have to understand some elaborate processes. With my current understanding of the branches I will definitely be able to distinguish which branch of the government I am interacting with. I am leaving this class with Ms. Laufenberg more than happy. I don't only remember the branches of the government, but I understand them as well.

Bureaucracy Project: American Government- FAFSA

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in American Government - Laufenberg on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 12:16 pm

My partner Cody Nichols were assigned to investigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. We checked out the paperwork and steps that are involved in completing a FAFSA. We designed a flow chart to simplify this somewhat long process.

We went to the main website for the FAFSA and referred to the Frequently Asked Questions to determine which points we needed to make clear on the flow chart.

We had to fill out the FAFSA, 1040 tax return form, and the pre-FAFSA worksheet. Most of it was straight forward we just cleared up any confusion with Ms. Laufenberg.

Overall, it wasn't too hard and actually helped me since I will be filling out the FAFSA in January. If I were to change anything about the flow chart I could've made the paths a little clearer.

However, the FAFSA process scares some students and I am confident that this flow chart will definitely help outline what is most important. So although it is slightly confusing, it gets the job done.

Contacting the Representatives - Lobbying for Smaller Schools: Educating all of Philadelphia

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in American Government - Laufenberg on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 2:04 pm

Our goal: have at least one SRC rep to report back to. This person will guide us through this process, answer all questions, show support, lead us in the right direction, and help us get the job done so we can reach across to all schools.
Our plan: Spread the word.
We are recruiting other SLA students to be part of our team. (Sinnea Douglas, & Amirah Burkett thus far) The more minds, the richer the ideas and arguments.
We are going to be interviewing important individuals who have experience and knowledge in various aspects of education. Their experiences can give us input on the different sections of our broad issue. They will lead us on a path toward finding the right answers for this local, but national issue. They will be able to shine a light on our road to success.
Questions for Bach Tong:

1. From your experiences as a former pupil of a comprehensive high school, how do you feel the transition was to an smaller academy?

2. Do you feel that your career interests are being met by the various programs that are offered at Science Leadership Academy? Did you have that at your old school?

3. Was your individual needs as a student met by the teacher and or programs at your old school? Are they met now? (Mention Class Size...)

4. What are the biggest differences in the education you received at the comprehensives and that of SLA?

5. How do you think the comprehensives schools can change their mission statement to make their education richer?
Along with the various interviews that we will conduct, we will go into an alternative school to conduct a short survey.
Survey Questions

Please circle yes (Y) or no (N)
Are your career goals being met by your school now? Y N
Do you like going to school everyday? Y N
Do you receive individual attention from your teachers? Y N
Have you been in any other type of learning environment? Y N
Do you feel your education needs are being met? Y N

Please answer to your best ability
What would you like to see change about your school/education?

What do you like about your school/education?

What made you come to this school?

We are sending emails to the SRC reps to let them know what we are looking for. We are asking questions like “What can we do? How can you help? What is the process of this like? Who can we talk to next? Is this realistic? How do you feel about this issue?”
To whom it may concern,

My name is Cody Nichols, a senior at the Science Leadership Academy located on the corner of 22nd and Arch. We are a project-based and inquiry driven academy, that accepts students from all different types of backgrounds varying in the different counties in Pennsylvania. We abide by 5-Core Values that are the foundation of our school; Inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection. These 5-Core values are embedded into every single project we complete in this school. We are an Academy that believes "as 21st Century Student we need and deserve a 21st Century Education." Which brings me to the reason for composing this e-mail.

We were assigned a project for our senior American Government Class which required us to lobby for an issue either Nationally, Statewide, or Locally. Taylor Tomasco, my partner on this project, and I felt strongly about our views on education. So we deemed it necessary to find an issue relevant to the topic of education. We decided on the belief that we need smaller neighborhood schools, and we need to not segregate misbehaved pupils into alternative schools. With this belief we would hope to break down the barriers between pupils who behave vs. pupils that misbehave, so that all may have the opportunity to receive a good education in the 21st Century.

Would you be willing to help us accomplish our goal by guiding us through this process and/or providing contact information of individuals who would be interested.

We believe the breakdown of academies would be beneficial to all students because it would focus solely on them and only on them for their specific area.

If possible with the greatest interests, could you respond with answers to the following questions:
1. What is your take on separating pupils who misbehave into large institutions to receive the proper education with more of the same "bad students"?

2. Do you feel that the breakdown of larger schools into academies would be beneficial to the greater good of students, given the success rate of others?

3. If deemed necessary do you feel this issue needs to be taken to a higher power? And if so, could you please provide the contact information to do so?

We really would like to thank you for your time in reading this e-mail, hoping that one day, a good education can be provided to all students.

With Thanks,
Cody Nichols (11') & Taylor Tomasco (11')
We are making phone calls to schedule face time with the big boys and spread the word.
We are trying to become larger.

So far we have not received any responses. Until we do, we will keep sending emails. We are starting small and hopefully we will soon enough be able to contact Arne Duncan, Bob Brady, Mayor Nutter, & Arlene Ackerman directly.

Contacting the Representatives - Lobbying for Smaller Schools: Educating all of Philadelphia

Posted by Taylor Tomasco on Friday, December 10, 2010 at 12:01 pm

Researching the Issue - Lobbying for Smaller Schools: Educating all of Philadelphia

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in American Government - Laufenberg on Monday, November 29, 2010 at 1:42 pm

Research the Issue

1. What is the status of your issue at the legislature? Is this a "good" year?*4 elected officials, and one committee have indicated support for our issue, that has a strong background with media attention. These officials have lots of power and can influence the decisions of many people and take this lobbying assignment to the furthest extent that it can go. Our opponents would be the larger schools who have a good reputation for being a larger school, without the separation of academies, or having pupils from alternative schools attending their successful institution. So far there have been no policies 2. Who is essential to the outcome?*These are the allies that we need on board in order to allow our points to reach a higher power in the world. These are the people who can make that happen:* Robert A. Brady* Michael Nutter* Johnny Irizarry* Denise McGregor Armbrister* The Lifeworks Alternative School.We also need the School Reform Commission’s meetings to allow the public to understand our views as we will attend these meetings and express this issue to all who attend. The officials who conduct these meetings can allow the issues to reach the higher powers above.3. Who else is working on this? Can you coordinate?*Amirah Burkett and Sinnea Douglas, other seniors at SLA are also lobbying on adequate education. We don’t all have the same exact focus areas but we can use each other’s findings to make a stronger debate, on why education has become such a prevalent issue in this futuristic society we live in today. We have already planned a meeting with the two of them to make an action plan.* Small academies and schools with a good basis or primary focus are ones who play a key role in helping us lobby for smaller schools. When the focus comes to these alternative schools, after we have influenced the public, we will use the influence these small schools/academies have on the public eye, and reach out to the alternative schools. This process will enable the students being taught there to branch out to receive a better education from a more focused curriculum. These students will be given a second chance to not only turn their lives around, but make a future for themselves in the process.4. Who can you influence?* With the help of some very influential figures in the realm of education, we will be able to convey our message across a broad range of schools. Varying from the alternative, public, private, catholic, and parochial, a good education needs to be provided to all students. No matter what the reason, all students need to have access to the same tools and resources to receive an equal education. *We also believe that there needs to be a higher authority addressing these concerns as well. If this concern reaches a level to which it receives national attention, we believe it should be worthy enough to be put in-front of the President Barack Obama, and The Department of Education Head Arne Duncan.5. What is the time frame?*Although our class, American Government, will only run until the end of our second quarter (Mid January) there isn’t really a time limit to this project. Yes, we will not be required to lobby, research and influence, but lobbying isn’t really effective unless you have desire to do it. Hopefully we will have enough success so that we can continue to lobby for it in the future, on our own time. If not, we could always pass it down for another group of seniors to tackle in the 2011-2012 school year.

6. When are key dates - meetings, committee hearings, deadlines, etc.,

Thursday December 2, 20102010 Meeting with Amirah and Sinnea about collaborating

Thursday December 2, 2010 Meeting with Bach Tong about his experiences

Wednesday December 8, 2010 @ 2:00 PM an SCR planning meetingWednesday December 15, 2010 @ 2:00 PM an SCR action meeting

Researching The Offical- Lobbying For Smaller Schools: Educating All of Philadelphia

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in American Government - Laufenberg on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:26 am

SRC (School Reform Commission) Members:
Denise McGregor Armbrister sits on the board for the School Reform Commission for the School District of Philadelphia. She is relevant to lobbying for smaller schools because her foundations, the Wachovia Corporation,Wachovia Regional Foundation, and the Wachovia Regional Community Development Corporation all help support the lives of families in low income neighborhoods. She likes to give back, which is why she would be a great candidate to express our views to. She cares about the community, its growth, and how it will impact the lives of others.
To learn more about Denise McGregor Armbrister visit: http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/s/src/about-us/denise-mcgregor-armbrister

Johnny Irizarry is another member of the SRC in the Philadelphia School District. Having taught at some high schools in Philadelphia, and shown great persistence in the development of students education, he will be a good guy to talk to. Although he has a specific focus, on the Center for Hispanic Excellence, he will still be helpful and be able to share his past experiences.

To learn more about Johnny Irizarry visit:
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/s/src/about-us/johnny-irizarry
State Representatives:
If this concern were to have reached the state level, it would first have to reach the City of Philadelphia’s, to where Mayor Michael Nutter could contact our honorable congressman Robert A. Brady. He serves as Philadelphia’s First District Congressman, that contains parts of South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, Center City, and Delaware County. Robert Brady feels strongly about students receiving education to the highest degree. He puts it at the forefront as he believes it is the foundation of our nations future. He believes that quality education should not be a shut off for those who cannot afford it, henceforth why his candidacy will bring this issue to the forefront of most peoples minds.
To follow more information on Congressman Robert A. Brady’s views on education visit:
http://www.brady.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=29&sectiontree=4,29
Just because these children misbehave in these schools, does not mean that they do not deserve a proper education, one in which would still prepare them for the future, despite their actions in school. There needs to be more schools like this one: The Lifeworks Alternative School. In this Alternative School, students receive individualized attention based off of their mental or behavioral problems. They still receive a top notch education, despite their “disadvantage”. These students are still students at the end of the day and deserve as much of an education as the next student in the leading magnet school. All students deserve the right to a prosperous education. They understand the downfalls to gathering all of the “bad” students into one school. Those types of schools have no inspiration, and everyone is still taught equally.

We have received the opportunity to attend a town hall meeting on Monday, October 25th, to discuss education in America and the importance of great teachers. Presented by A&E Network, Comcast, Temple University and the U.S. Department of Education. Featuring Governer Ed Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter, Arlene Ackerman, and Tony Danza. We will be able to participate in a professional conversation and get many of our questions answered. After this experience I believe we will both feel more comfortable to attend other SRC and town hall planning and action meetings. These meetings are generally open to the public for our advantage. We hope to attend a planning meeting on Wednesday November 10, 2010 and an action meeting on Wednesday November 17, 2010. At these two meetings we will have a chance to get a sort of behind the scenes look into the department of education. We hope to get insight on how ideas are proposed and decisions are made professionally

Study the Issues- Lobbying For Smaller Schools: Educating All of Philadelphia

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in American Government - Laufenberg on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:21 am

What are you lobbying for, against or to change? Explain the issue

-We are lobbying for 1. smaller neighborhood schools(this may involve breaking schools into academies). 2. To not segregate bad kids into alternative schools. In reality, how is an alternative school going to help bad children learn when they are all "distractions" to each other? One hope of this is to break down the barriers between "bad children" and good students so that all students may have the opportunity to receive a good education. We want all students to have the attention they need from their teachers, so they all can progress on the same learning path, instead of one group moving forward without the other. - Cody’s Take on the SituationSome people think of this idea as a roadblock in the more intelligent students, but in reality, each type of student can benefit each other by sharing their experiences. Tending to other’s needs can show self-growth and progression in students who attend these Alternative Schools. These students need to be nurtured in an environment that has a purpose, and not one that is detrimental to their learning experience. - Taylor’s MessageEvery student deserves a great education, and needs to speak up for it.- Cody’s Message“Never let others co-opt your language for purposes that are counter to your own believes.” - Chris Lehmann of The Science Leadership Academy.

Elaborate on your motivation for investigating and influencing public policy?

From personal experience, I both have realized it helps me to help others. Explaining processes to other people helps clarify information to myself. Also, knowing I am learning in an environment where others are willing to help me out makes me feel better about my learning. I want students to be confident in their learning environment. We are focusing on the engagement of how students learn in their environments. Students should have access to all of the resources they could imagine including peers to answer questions and give advice. -Taylor’s Thoughts

Who are the main supporters of your lobbying idea?

The main supporters of this lobbying idea are:* Edgatopia: is an organization that reports what works in education and how.Their main focus points:

“Teachers must lay the groundwork for successful social and emotional learning by establishing an environment of trust and respect in the classroom. Empathy is key. Before children can be expected to unite to achieve academic goals, they must be taught how to work together, and so it provides them with strategies and tools for cooperative learning.” - Taylor’s Great Reference Quote.Cody’s Main Resources: * Julie Evans, the CEO of Project Tomorrow, whose mission is to provide students with the necessary tools to make them the leaders of tomorrow.* Educators like Deborah Meier, who has had 3 decades of working hand in hand with students.* Chris Lehmann a practical idealist for the pursuit of a greater education.People like these are ones who dream of the practical education. One that they believe should comes standard with all students, regardless of any background, or status.

Who are the main opponents of your lobbying idea?

-The main opponents of this lobbying topic is the school district policy. There are many laws involving the expulsion of exceptional students (students who move at a faster/slower pace than others; ones with disabilities). The laws shown from the link below, state what a teacher can and cannot do. There are also the laws in which students have to follow shown in the “Student Code of Conduct, solely for students of the Philadelphia School District. There are even stricter rules when it comes to these Alternative schools, ones to where if they got in trouble there, there wouldn’t be a place where they could come to every day. These obstacles are preventing most students from progressing in their education.Link

Is there any pending legislation dealing with your lobbying idea? Explain. If there is not, what would you like to see proposed. Elaborate.

There is currently no pending legislation dealing with our lobbying idea. We would like to see a few things proposed: 1. laws removed about the expulsion of exceptional students 2. laws applied to stop segregating students who have been in trouble from the rest of the student body 3. laws applied to offer education to every child, every if they have a bad past or background. 4. laws applied to monitor the size of schools, specifically alternative and neighborhood schools. Our Consensus: What does a "great school" mean? A great school offers a safe environment and an education for all types of learners. How does a "great teacher" teach? A great teacher is understanding and is always willing to explain, assist, and explain again. A great teacher does not talk at the front of the classroom, they engage the students minds and help students make connections not only to the academic side of life but towards life itself, the real world. They teach about the process and not about the facts. What do we value in that kind of education that can be measured? We value a students ability to apply the process of what they learn, not the facts and dates. We can measure this by there success in making differences in society, their ability to relate information.

Any other information regarding the background for your topic.

-Regarding the incidents at South Philadelphia High School, with racial crimes/acts being directed to Chinese students, we sought the need to interview a transfer student who went through the torment and woes expressed onto them. This interview/documentary on the incidents that occurred during that time, will show what could possibly happen when large schools are not divided into academies, and when students of a certain class are subject to mistreatment. - Cody’s Take We want to get opinions from students whom have been exposed to these somewhat dangerous learning environments. We know what we think should and should not work, but we need to know what actually works and does not work. - Taylor’s Take

The Life of The Protecting Our Children Comes First Act of 2007

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in American Government - Laufenberg on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 3:23 am

A slideshow about the life of POCCAF, The Life of The Protecting Our Children Comes First Act of 2007. He goes into some detail about what his job is, how he came to the rescue, and when the president made it possible for him.

Works Cited:

Text of H.R. 2517 [110th]: Protecting Our Children Comes First Act of 2007. Civic Impulse, LLC, 2007. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-2517>

What Effect Has Evolution Had on The Human Brain Thus Far?

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 10:08 am

The most complicated object in the known universe is the human brain. On average, our brain contains about eleven billion neurons. Each one working to send, receive and process electrochemical signals. Our thoughts, emotions, movements and very existence are dependent on processes within the brain that are still largely a mystery to us. One may wonder how such a wondrous and complex organ came to be. It is here that we begin to decipher the effect of evolution on the human brain.

Assuming the theory of evolution, that organisms more suited to their environment can survive better and mate, it makes sense that, somehow, having a larger and more complex brain makes survival on Earth easier. Indeed, if one were to look at the brain size of our hominid ancestors from four million years ago, it would be discovered that their brains were a mere 400 grams. Compare that to the present size- over 1400 grams (1.4kg).

But it was more than sheer size that changed, but the actual structure of the brain. What happened earliest was the centralization of the brain’s nerve cells. What started as a loose and messy grouping of cells that would be seen in a jellyfish, turned into a spinal column and enlarged fore- and hindbrain. These parts of the brain that are relatively new are known as neocortical, literally “new brain”. Actually, things such as our abilities to speak, plan, and be conscious of our own existence depend on neocortical structures. This means that when the brain became more complex, we gained a completely different way to interact with our world. Language allowed humans to organize themselves and hunt more effectively- and having a larger and more complex brain allowed a higher capacity for intelligence, thought, and planning. These are all things that gave humanity an advantage against predators, prey, and the world’s wide variety of dangerous natural elements.

The brain also experienced a phenomenon known as encephalization, which is the concentration of sense organs and neurons in one part of the body. This is why the brain, olfactory sense, hearing, and sight are all housed in the head. This made it easier for the brain to work because the signals that neurons use wouldn’t have to travel as far if the brain is all in one place.

Evolution caused the brain to become larger, more complex, and more efficient. Much how we make our computers with more space, more speed and efficiency with every new generation (this excludes Apple, of course). There is certainly is proof of our brain’s effect on the world. Humans are definitely a thriving species. One may also consider the worldwide subjugation and abuse of animals to be proof of our dominance as a species.

But it is important to remember that neurology has only scratched the surface when it comes to the human brain. There are still plenty of things we don’t know, actually we don’t know most things. There could be all kinds of secrets within the brain waiting to be unlocked, like other senses, the power of thought, or ways to become more intelligent faster. All this would also make one wonder what evolutionary stage the brain will achieve in another thousand years.

Works Cited:

Brain evolution. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.youramazingbrain.org.uk/insidebrain/brainevolution.htm

Evolution and the brain. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v447/n7146/full/447753a.html

Without miracles 5 brain evolution and development. (2010). Retrieved from http://faculty.ed.uiuc.edu/g-cziko/wm/05.html

November 2, 2010. Election Day!

Posted by Taylor Tomasco in American Government - Laufenberg on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at 3:30 pm

Today I was able to interview Rosetta Conigliaro in South Philadelphia at GAMP high-school, at the voting polls.

Do you vote in every election?
Yes, every election since I turned 18.

Did you learn about voting in school? If yes, did that impact your willingness to vote today?
Yes, my senior and junior year history teachers reminded us to vote and taught us abou the processes. I've been voting ever since.

Do you know why we vote on Tuesday?
Actually, no. Because everyone is cranky on Monday? ... I guess my teachers forgot to tell me about that.

Are you always sure of who you are going to vote for when you walk into the booth or are you still deliberating?
I always know. Republican!

What impact do you feel that your vote will have on the election?
A very high impact. Every vote counts!

Where have you encountered the highest amount of ad campaigning?
On TV! I have memorized the words to most of them already!