Catch up Day

Today in school we were able to dress down and it was really cool. I had to pay three dollars in order to dress down which i didn't really understand. Anyway it was still cool, I was able to see what people i go to school with would wear if they were outside of school. However, i also know some people wouldn't dress like that outside of school, like me. Normally i wear jeans, cowboy boots, and a tee shirt. But it was still cool to not have to be in uniform. In class Mr. Schick read each of our blogs and had us come up in order to talk about them. I was to a degree nervous at what he would say about mine, but what was said was all positive. So that was good. In class we were able to do our blogs which was helpful, but I really didn't know what to talk about. So i waited to do it today so i knew what to talk about. We were told to talk about maps and what we knew but for the most part with maps i just know the basics. Follow the key to figure out what your doing. So that was what class pretty much was Friday and it wasn't just a good class but a good day.

Lateness and Maps

Today in class we learned a couple of things. In class for the first around fifteen to twenty minutes our teacher didn't show up to class, when this happened we just played on our computers. I had a heck of a game of Pacman going for the first couple of minutes. When He did arrive we gave us all three kinds of Maps, a Peters Projection Map, a Robinson Projection Map, and a Mercator Projection Map. On these maps we had to locate many of different things. the things we had to locate were The Equator, Prime Meridian, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, all seven continents, all five oceans, International Date Line, our country of Origin, and the John Carroll School. These papers as we were told are not going to be collected, but he said to do it anyway because of the studying reasons.

Maps and Time

Today in class we furthered our discussion on Maps and started to question time. In class we started our talk about how maps have became different and have become used for different things. We talked about how maps took a shift to provide location reference to a tool used bu geographers to communicate complex geographic phenomenons. For example on the latitude lines, a state who is on the same line as another state on the latitude lines will have similar weather, therefore a geographic phenomenon. Later in class we talked about the Meridians which are arcs drawn between North and South poles. Then Parallels which are arcs drawn parallel to the equator, and these can be used to lead you to any point on Earth. We than talked about time, we learned that time zones vary between longitude and latitude. However we asked the question why was the clock made in 12 parts. When we count no one counts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,...1. So why was the clock made like that?

Cartographers and the video

 The points made by the cartographers are very valid points in the video and when examined i agree with fully. When they make points such as how invalid the size represented in the maps are one must take note of the importance of size. Like they say in the video most people associate size with power, and in the normal map it makes third world countries smaller. Such as how Greenland is represented as roughly the same size as Africa, when in fact Africa is fourteen times the size of Greenland. This then makes Africa none proportionate. Again as said in the video this map was good for one who was sailing but not for teaching. It does the same thing with South America and Europe, it makes Europe look larger when in fact South America is much larger. Just this point alone I would argue would be enough to realize how someone should switch maps. I believe it is very important to have real size in a schools classroom. Therefore so people learn the real size of things and realize how big certain countries are compared to others. Another point made by the video is how people see things such as top and bottom. If you put the Southern hemisphere on the top of the map by simply flipping the map, and when you do this the hemispheres don't matter. Personally this isn't a bad idea because who knows what way someone might enter the Earth. They might enter and see the Southern Hemisphere on top or the Northern, who knows. All in All, I believe points made in the video were valid and true all the way on why the Peters Projection Map is the best map to use.

Map information

Today in Human Geography we learned more about maps. With maps we first learned about how the maps scale can tell us a lot. The map scale can be show in three different ways but the most common of them is the fraction and ratio (Example 1:24000 or 1/24000). With these the number on the left represents one unit of distance, while the number on the left represents the same unit of distance but on Earths surface. The scale can also be written as a written scale (Example 1 inch=1 mile). The number on the left is one unit of distance while the number on the right represents a different unit of measurement but on Earths surface. Lastly it can be written as a Graphic scale which usually consists of a bar line marked to show the distance on Earths surface. We then learned how every map that we have come in counter with have been distorted and wrong. We learned that the maps are distorted by the shape of an area, distance between points can be increased/decreased, size of areas can be increased/decreased, and direction between points can be distorted. Because of all of these imperfections we were able to see the map of the world that closets represents the world, Peters World Map. This map shows everything as in real size and representation to everything else. For example this shows how big Africa is compered to South America, this also shows how the map we have learned in schools is wrong for example it shows Greenland about the same size of Africa were as Africa is actually fourteen times the size of Greenland.

First Day About Maps

In class today we began by being told the questions we must answer further in the future. The questions were "How do geographers describe where things are? Why is each point on Earth unique? Why are different places similar? and Why are some human actions not sustainable"? I must say that by this point I had no idea how to answer any of these questions, there questions that I must acquire more knowledge first to answer. We then learned more questions we will be able to answer after this unit, such as "Explain differences between early maps and contemporary maps. Describe the role of map scale and projections and making maps. And finally, Explain how latitude and longitude are used to locate points on Earths surface." After this we then finally got into the lesson and started off by learning what Human geography actually is. Human Geo is actually the study of where things are found on Earths surface and the reasons for the locations. We then discussed that a Cartographer is the science of map making. After this we were able to see the first map of the world. We were able to see that the first maps were for being able to get from point A to point B and the first world map was made by Eratosthenes(279-194 B.C), Then it was improved by Ptolemy. Map making then revived during the age of exploration and discovery, and the first maps were made based on the Mediterranean being the middle. They named it the Mediterranean because the name means "Middle of the Earth".

After the test

In class today, we took our first test on the series of things we have learned. Honestly, I was very worried and nervous coming up to the test today, I was told it was very hard and I was worried I would fail. However, when it became time for the test I felt as though I remembered everything, and it wasn't to me very hard. The questions I felt I did good on and the essay I felt like I did very good on.  The hole test took me a little longer than everyone else but, in the end, I feel like I used my time wisely and came up with the appropriate answer from my notes. The only thing is I would have studied the backstory to democracy a little better. When asked, "What is the importance to 508 BC". I feel like my answer was very dull and lacking information and I wish I would have remembered it better. I also wish I would have studied the meaning behind the word Polis. When asked the two root words I responded with "Political" and "Poll”, but I don't believe those were the right answer. All in all, I do feel like I did good on the test, but I also know I didn't get it all right and I wish I would have studied some of the pieces of information a little better.

First test

In Human Geography today we started class off by reviewing over Socrates's charges in Athens. By this I mean reviewing over his charges of corruption of youth and impiety which means not believing in the gods. In class Mr. Schick also discussed the important question we must answer on the test. The question we must answer is "The examined life is not worth living". What this question is asking is if you don't think about your purpose in life and don't bother trying to improve anything that you have the power to control is life really worth living. In this we must discuss the connection between everything in the unit we learned such as the message to Garcia, The beginning of democracy, and Socrates. We have this test Monday and in all honesty I don't know how to answer it, in my opinion the examined life isn't worth living. But compared to everything we have learned in class I don't know how to answer it, I could say that of course I agree because Socrates stuck in by saying that in his trial when he pretty much said, yes I did the crime and i'm not sorry because its my job. So how to make this relate to the examined life i'm not sure of and how to make it relate to the message to Garcia i'm not sure how to accomplish. I think I might try to make it relate by saying how Rowan lived his life trying to accomplish things by listening to the president and delivered the message to Garcia, and Socrates by encouraging young people to think independently and and not just follow what everyone says you should follow. 

Today in Human Geography we learned about Athens, Socrates, and what "Idiot" meant in Athens. In class we started off learning about Athens, in this we discussed how Athens was known to be a great city that would attract great thinkers. This caused many people to go there in order to continue studies or start studies of astronomy, medicine, meteorology, literacy, philosophy, and things scientific. These studies however were very often at odds with traditional teachings such as Greek gods. Then we went back to the discussion of Socrates, Socrates was charged on accounts of two things, Impiety( Not believing in Gods) and the corruption of Athens children. This was mainly due to him teaching kids to think independently and ask questions on what everything was instead of just following it because that's what they were taught. When he was charged with these things his only defense was, "Its my job to be the gadfly to the lazy, sluggish horse that is Athens" he also said, "I should actually be rewarded with free dinners". By this he never said sorry or apologized he simply said its my job to do this and you should actually reward me. The aftermath of all this was that the jury of 500 male citizens found him guilty(279-219). This means that with him saying he did the crime and saying he did it very well that 219 people voted for him innocent. He was then sentenced to death by drinking poison Hemlock. Before he died he had the opportunity to escape but chose to stay proving his loyalty to Athens democracy. After we went over this in class we then proceeded to talk about an "Idiot" which in Athens meant someone who didn't take part in pubic affairs and someone who didn't vote on things in the Agora. That's what we learned today in Human Geography. 

In class today we learned more about excellence. We started off with learning about Democracy and how excellence is such a big part in democracy. Because if you have excellent people participating and taking part in Democracy then there will be smart decisions and there will be a good Democracy. After this we talked about some key terms like Agora. Agora means a gathering place, assembly; Center of athletics, spiritual and political life. We also talked about the word Polis, which means Political entities ruled by their bodies of citizens; origin of the words politics, metropolitan, and poll. When we talked about this Mr. Schick spoke about how people would come up to a stand and state their opinion in a Agora, everyone had a turn and then they voted on what they thought was better. After this we talked about the birth of democracy in 508 BC.  When this happened it was the first time in history that a group of people had revolted against their rulers, then they choose to be a democracy and Rome based their government on that aspect. However, after they revolted in 508 BC their were a lot of revolts, such as United states in 1776, France in 1789, china in 1851&1949, Russia in 1917, Iran in 1979, and Egypt in 2011. After we talked about the revolts we talked about Socrates. Socrates started a work as a stonemason and then went on to fight in the Polopennesian war and was known as a hero in it. After the war he came back to meet with young people in workshops outside the Agora and he would ask young people a series of questions to determine their underlying beliefs

Today in class we learned more about "The message to Garcia" and how popular it actually become when it was written. we learned to day in class that it was originally made to inspire young people, and it was so good it was made into a pamphlet and a book. This was then sold over forty million copies and made into 37 languages. This was then made into a movie, twice once in 1916 and then in 1936. This was also written during the Spanish American war. The characters were simple in  the writing as well, rowan was an army officer, McKinley was the American president. In class today we also talked about vocab that we should know. We talked about Perihelion which is The point when a planet is closest to the sun, and its at its brightest. We also talked about Imbecility which means stupidity, and we also talked about Missive which is a letter. The last vocab we talked about was the word Aret`e which means Excellence of any kind and means that you should fulfill your life to your highest potential.

   My first interpretation of the "Message to Garcia" is one of many different aspects. I believe this essay is one of truth, one of too high expectations, and one that lacks reality. I believe this essay is one of truth for many reasons. Those reasons are simple, anyone who does anything that is asked without questions is a highly in need worker. This is a man/women who knows what they're doing and trusts in the boss to do anything without question. This worker will never have trouble finding a job or an employer because any boss would be pleased to have a worker who asks no questions when told a job because he knows they will do it to their very best and not question the action. However, this essay is also one of too high expectations. I say this because most workers must gain the trust of the boss and will question the action when asked to do something because they want to know how and why to do it, so there not doing something for no reason. Based on this I can explain why this essay is one that lacks reality. As people we are brought up to question the world around us and to question what it is we do daily. That is why this essay lacks reality, because as any employer can say a worker will always question to figure out why he/she is doing an action, or how to do the action accordingly in order to please the boss. With all of this said as a high school student this essay speaks one major thing to me. This essay says that you should not question as much when someone asks you to do something. It shows that you should give trust to your boss/teacher that they will ask you to do things and they are all for a reason.

So far in attending the John Carroll school I have only had true classes for a single day. However that day was today's classes and it was a good experience for a first day of high school and the first day at John Carroll. With counting orientation (if you want to count that) I have gotten to meet a substantial amount of people, people that I am happy to be in the class of 2022 with. I was able to meet a lot of upper class-men as well. Most upper class-men i met at orientation and then from that I was able to see some of them during school and they introduced me to some of their friends which I now see in the halls as well. They are always fun to talk, and if I ever have any questions I can always ask them and they don't mind answering me, or so I think they don't mind. The classes I have seem to be going good to, yet again it is only the first day but so far it seems like I have some good teachers. All in all my first experience of classes at John Carroll have been good and I am looking forward to the rest of the school year as a incoming freshman.