CLASS MEETINGS 2013
This year in 2013, 5M meet each week to discuss local and global issues. If there is something that we are interested in and would like to discuss as a class, we record it on our agenda list in the classroom. Every week, we then sit and chat about these issues. It helps us develop our understandings of these issues and we really enjoy sharing and listening to each others' viewpoints.
Below are the minutes from our class meetings, which you can read to check out what we've been discussing in our meetings!
Below are the minutes from our class meetings, which you can read to check out what we've been discussing in our meetings!
CLASS MEETINGS 2012
In 2012, each week in 5/6P, we held a class meeting where we discussed local and global events and current affairs. As we read the newspaper, listened to the radio or watched the news on the TV, if there was a news item that struck our interest, we added it to the agenda list on our Communication Board in our clasroom.
When we held our class meeting, one student chaired the meeting, another student took the minutes, and everybody else sat in a circle and participated in the meeting itself. We took a vote on the top two or three agenda items, and then the chairperson got the ball rolling.
Everyone was invited and encouraged to share their knowledge about each agenda item, ask questions, make connections, consider different viewpoints of all the people involved in the current affairs, share opinions, agree or disagree with opinions and justify their reasons. Once we got started, sometimes it was hard to stop us talking! It was a great opportunity for us to discuss the events ocurring in our world, and to learn from each other while we were at it.
Below are the links to the meeting minutes. Feel free to click and read to find out what we were discussing!
20th June, 2012: Banning Physical Contact at School; The Azaria Chamberlain Court Case; The June Equinox.
19th July, 2012: Chris Judd's 4 week suspension; Neighbourhood hoons; Should pregnant women drink alcohol?
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S MEETING:
1. Chris Judd’s 4 week suspension
As a class we all believed he should not have reacted that way and the punishment he received was fair. Some people believed it should’ve been a longer suspension, especially Damian.
2. Neighbourhood hoons
As a class we defined neighbourhood hoons as people who drive recklessly, dangerously, carelessly and illegally. Most people in our class have experienced the annoyance of neighbourhood hoons. It mostly takes place at midnight.
3. Should pregnant women drink alcohol
Most people thought is their choice if the drink alcohol. We considered if kids had the right to discourage pregnant women drinking. Finally, children shared their personal experiences and stories about standing up to people when they felt uncomfortable of their choices.
26th July, 2012: Saying 'No' to addictions; Crazy Fans; Violence in AFL.
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S MEETING:
1. Saying "No" to addictions.
Some people said that they would feel comfortable telling an adult to stop drinking or smoking, but some people felt it was the adult's decision and so they didn't have the right to tell them what to do.
2. Are crazy fans going too far?
Crazy fans shouldn't act so crazy because their behaviour not only invades the privacy of the celebrities, but it can cause injury or harm to others.
3. Violence in AFL.
We think that the Hawthorn coach went a little bit too far punching a hole in the wall. He shouldn't have abused the umpire at his son's football match either, because he was setting a bad example to all the other children by doing that.
When we held our class meeting, one student chaired the meeting, another student took the minutes, and everybody else sat in a circle and participated in the meeting itself. We took a vote on the top two or three agenda items, and then the chairperson got the ball rolling.
Everyone was invited and encouraged to share their knowledge about each agenda item, ask questions, make connections, consider different viewpoints of all the people involved in the current affairs, share opinions, agree or disagree with opinions and justify their reasons. Once we got started, sometimes it was hard to stop us talking! It was a great opportunity for us to discuss the events ocurring in our world, and to learn from each other while we were at it.
Below are the links to the meeting minutes. Feel free to click and read to find out what we were discussing!
20th June, 2012: Banning Physical Contact at School; The Azaria Chamberlain Court Case; The June Equinox.
19th July, 2012: Chris Judd's 4 week suspension; Neighbourhood hoons; Should pregnant women drink alcohol?
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S MEETING:
1. Chris Judd’s 4 week suspension
As a class we all believed he should not have reacted that way and the punishment he received was fair. Some people believed it should’ve been a longer suspension, especially Damian.
2. Neighbourhood hoons
As a class we defined neighbourhood hoons as people who drive recklessly, dangerously, carelessly and illegally. Most people in our class have experienced the annoyance of neighbourhood hoons. It mostly takes place at midnight.
3. Should pregnant women drink alcohol
Most people thought is their choice if the drink alcohol. We considered if kids had the right to discourage pregnant women drinking. Finally, children shared their personal experiences and stories about standing up to people when they felt uncomfortable of their choices.
26th July, 2012: Saying 'No' to addictions; Crazy Fans; Violence in AFL.
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S MEETING:
1. Saying "No" to addictions.
Some people said that they would feel comfortable telling an adult to stop drinking or smoking, but some people felt it was the adult's decision and so they didn't have the right to tell them what to do.
2. Are crazy fans going too far?
Crazy fans shouldn't act so crazy because their behaviour not only invades the privacy of the celebrities, but it can cause injury or harm to others.
3. Violence in AFL.
We think that the Hawthorn coach went a little bit too far punching a hole in the wall. He shouldn't have abused the umpire at his son's football match either, because he was setting a bad example to all the other children by doing that.
6th September, 2012: Neil Armstrong dies; 12 year olds learning to drive; the GROCON Protests; Brett Ratten's sacking from Carlton; Persistence in the Paralymics
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S MEETING: (Written by Jessica, Emma, Daniel, Phoebe and Matthew D)
1. Neil Armstrong dies:
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. He recently died after complications during heart surgery. Although walking on the moon was an amazing achievement, Neil had said that his faith in God was more important to him.
2. Should 12 year olds be taught to drive?
Some people are testing out the idea that children should learn to drive when they're 12 years old. We think that 12 year olds might not be mature enough, BUT if they start driving NOW, they will gain invaluable experience which will help them when they're older.
3. The GROCON protests:
We talked about GROCON hiring their own security, so the Union workers formed a human barricade. We then discussed the use of capsicum spray and had lots of questions about its effects.
4. Brett Ratten's sacking from Carlton F.C:
We discussed whose fault it was that Carlton played poorly this season - the coach or the teammates.Some of the team players suffered injuries which could have contributed to their poor performance. We then considered the analogy of teachers and students as the coaches and players... In this case, whose fault would it be if the students' academic achievements were poor?
5. Examples of persistence in the paralympics:
The whole paralympics showed persistence. Each paralympian had an inspirational story of persistence.
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S MEETING: (Written by Jessica, Emma, Daniel, Phoebe and Matthew D)
1. Neil Armstrong dies:
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. He recently died after complications during heart surgery. Although walking on the moon was an amazing achievement, Neil had said that his faith in God was more important to him.
2. Should 12 year olds be taught to drive?
Some people are testing out the idea that children should learn to drive when they're 12 years old. We think that 12 year olds might not be mature enough, BUT if they start driving NOW, they will gain invaluable experience which will help them when they're older.
3. The GROCON protests:
We talked about GROCON hiring their own security, so the Union workers formed a human barricade. We then discussed the use of capsicum spray and had lots of questions about its effects.
4. Brett Ratten's sacking from Carlton F.C:
We discussed whose fault it was that Carlton played poorly this season - the coach or the teammates.Some of the team players suffered injuries which could have contributed to their poor performance. We then considered the analogy of teachers and students as the coaches and players... In this case, whose fault would it be if the students' academic achievements were poor?
5. Examples of persistence in the paralympics:
The whole paralympics showed persistence. Each paralympian had an inspirational story of persistence.
25th October, 2012: Skydiving from the edge of space; Acacia College closes down; Behaviour in Parliament
Due to time restrictions in class today, there is no summary of our class meeting agenda discussion. But please feel free to read our minutes by Amal, by clicking on the link.
Due to time restrictions in class today, there is no summary of our class meeting agenda discussion. But please feel free to read our minutes by Amal, by clicking on the link.