Penguin, James Penguin

The third and fourth graders are having a lot of fun learning this untraditional Christmas song! I'm putting it up on the blog so they can listen to it from home.

Penguin, James Penguin

Brad Paisley

Well the reindeer pull the sleigh

And the elves make the toys

Those are stories that are well known to all

Little girls and boys

But I've got another story

That I bet you haven't heard

Did you know that Santa

Has a secret agent bird

He's Penguin, James Penguin

That dapper little guy

Like a well dressed duck in a three piece tux

He's Santa's secret spy

Have you ever wondered

How Santa keeps tabs

How he knows when you've been good

How he knows when you've been bad

He's Penguin, James Penguin

That dapper little guy

Like a well dressed duck in a three piece tux

He's Santa's secret spy

From an undisclosed location

He's watching me and you

He's got satellite uplinks in his cufflinks

Yeah he sees everything you do

He's Penguin, James Penguin

That dapper little guy

Like a well dressed duck in a three piece tux

He's Santa's secret spy

Not so very long ago

Santa didn't need much help

But with more and more kids every year

He soon got overwhelmed

He told the elves one Christmas

We can't do this anymore

Then a knight in shining polyester

Waddled through his door

And it was Penguin, James Penguin

He was there to save the day

He had wireless

And GPS outfitted on the sleigh

And Santa said Penguin

Won't you be my ears and eyes

How'd you like to help me run

My SCFBI

He's Penguin, James Penguin

And now I guess you've heard

How Santa got his little Christmas

Secret Agent Bird

Y.M.C.A.

The ninth grade is currently studying the phenomenon of inner cities in America. 

We started off examining how post-World War II demographics changed, resulting in the growth of suburban areas. We looked at how easy access to cars also influenced the departure from cities; men were easily able to live further away from their jobs and commute on their own. Over time, inner cities became primarily populated by the poor, plagued by crime and violence.

This is an interesting topic to study within the context of a Russian school; here the situation is very different! The inner city areas of Moscow and St. Petersburg are the most desirable real estate! We've been discussing how cities differ in our two countries and offering possible explanations why: contrasting types of government; different cultural values; general demographics throughout the nation. 

Today we are going to learn a song many have undoubtedly heard in discos--but might not have understood until now. The song "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People describes the centers set up in American cities by the "Young Men's Christian Association," an organization that seeks to offer struggling city men (and women, and children) assistance of all kinds: temporary housing, physical and intellectual activity, job training, meals and spiritual support. 

Today Y.M.C.A. centers play an important role in inner-city revitalization; through their programs, many young men and women receive the help they need to improve their lives and rise above their circumstances.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Y.M.C.A.

The Village People

Young man, there's no need to feel down. 

I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground. 

I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town 

There's no need to be unhappy. 

Young man, there's a place you can go. 

I said, young man, when you're short on your dough. 

You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find 

Many ways to have a good time. 

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A. 

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A. 

They have everything for young men to enjoy, 

You can hang out with all the boys ... 

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.

You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal, 

You can do whatever you feel ... 

Young man, are you listening to me? 

I said, young man, what do you want to be? 

I said, young man, you can make real your dreams. 

But you've got to know this one thing! 

No man does it all by himself. 

I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf, 

And just go there, to the Y-M-C-A. 

I'm sure they can help you today. 

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.

They have everything for young men to enjoy, 

You can hang out with all the boys ... 

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A. 

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A. 

You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal, 

You can do whatever you feel ... 

Young man, I was once in your shoes. 

I said, I was down and out with the blues. 

I felt no man cared if I were alive. 

I felt the whole world was so tired ... 

That's when someone came up to me, 

And said, young man, take a walk up the street. 

There's a place there called the Y-M-C-A.

They can start you back on your way. 

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A. 

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.

They have everything for young men to enjoy, 

You can hang out with all the boys... 

Y-M-C-A.... It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.

Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down. 

Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground. 

Y-M-C-A.... You'll find it at the Y-M-C-A. 

No man, no man, does it all by himself...

Young man, young man, put your pride on the shelf!

Y-M-C-A.... 

Russian Students' New Required Reading

Today we listened to a story from National Public Radio in the United States about changes in required reading for Russian high school students. Here is the link to listen to the broadcast. 

Students: Your assignment is to take notes on the story, paying attention to the main points made and examples given. Create your outline based on what you hear, only looking at the transcript afterwards.

Russia's Required Reading Recognizes Reality Under Stalin

This past week, Russia's education ministry announced that the country's high schools will now require students to read excerpts from Alexander Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago. Perhaps more than any other work, this formerly-banned book exposed the extent and horrors of Soviet oppression. NPR's correspondent in Moscow Anne Garrels says the education ministry's announcement should not be taken as a sign that Russian leaders are now prepared to fully and honestly confront the Stalinist past. The announcement comes amid a stream of pronouncements from the Kremlin about Russia's historic role and rightful place on the world stage.

LYNN NEARY, host:

This news item out of Russia caught our eye last week. The Ministry of Education announced it will require high school students to read excerpts of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's masterwork "The Gulag Archipelago."

This was the book that more than any other exposed the horrors of the forced labor camp system under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. The work was hugely influential and contributed to the eventual demise of the Soviet state.

NPR's Anne Garrels is in our Moscow bureau and joins me now to talk about how Russians are re-examining their history now.

Good to talk with, Annie.

ANNE GARRELS: Nice to be here.

NEARY: Now, first, how much do Russians kids actually know about the Soviet's system of forced labor?

GARRELS: Not really that much, curiously. It's not that the information isn't there. But after the early years of perestroika and the fall of communism, when there was a huge amount of attention given to the brutality of Soviet rule. Many people just got tired of rehashing the past. And, remember, these children - now in school - were born after the fall of communism.

If, during the Yeltsin years, Stalin was thoroughly excoriated, the picture under his successors, Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, has been much less clear cut. Putin initially called for Solzhenitsyn book to be read only at schools that focused on literature. But Solzhenitsyn's widow, Natalia, urged him to have all students read the book, and he promised her that would happen.

NEARY: Now, does the government's decision to have kids read from "The Gulag Archipelago" mean that Russia is once again ready to reexamine its ugly past?

GARRELS: Well, it's a good sign for those who believe the lessons of the past are key to building a truly democratic Russia, but there are really mixed signals here. At the same time, excerpts from "The Gulag" will be studied, the authorized Russian textbook praises Stalin as an effective manager who industrialize the Soviet Union and led it to victory against Hitler.

A Russian court, amazingly, recently agreed to hear a case brought by Stalin's grandson. He basically says an article that Stalin killed millions of innocent Soviet citizens as well as Polish prisoners of war - well documented facts -defame the dictator. A decision by Moscow authorities to restore Stalin's name and words of praise for him. And the vestibule of a major Moscow metro station has also sparked a storm of debate.

NEARY: Now, the students are being asked to read just excerpts. Does that say more about the length of the book or is there some censorship involved here?

GARRELS: I think it really has more to do with the length of the book.

NEARY: I don't think it's so much censorship - and you can get the book anywhere here.

NEARY: Yeah. So, nearly two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, how do the Russian government and Russian people really view their modern history?

GARRELS: It's really confusing. Russian officials seem to be looking for a way to inspire pride and nationalism. And one way to honor Russians is to praise the victory in World War II. I mean, this is key. But Russians want to ignore any discussion of uncomfortable facts, like the beginning of the war, Stalin's pact with Hitler.

And recently there have been some extraordinary events here. Russian foreign intelligence services recently unveiled archival documents that they say show it was, in fact, Poland which conspired with the Nazis before World War II, completely ignoring Moscow's pact with Hitler. I mean, this really upset the Pols.

NEARY: Sounds like the Russians are preoccupied these days with their role in history. Why is that?

GARRELS: Some really just want to rewrite or reemphasize events in history so that Russians come out better. Some believe Prime Minister Putin wants to use Stalin's so-called successes to justify the return of a strong government in which opposition is discouraged. And President Medvedev, his hand-picked successor, seems to be going along with it to a great degree.

He's created a commission to fight what he says are growing efforts to hurt Russians' interests by falsifying history. Historical archives are being closed. Things that were once opened up are now being reclassified as secret.

But just when you think you have a picture of what's going on here, and when you think there's no difference between Putin and Medvedev, Medvedev will suddenly break ranks. For instance, this week he gave a grim picture of the situation here, indirectly criticizing Putin. He called for more political competition. Under Putin, the opposition parties were dramatically limited, so I would say the situation's still in flux.

NEARY: NPR's Anne Garrels in Moscow. Thanks so much, Anne.

GARRELS: Thank you.

Copyright ©2009 National Public Radio®. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio.

Principal's Office

We're learning the first two verses of this poem/rap by Young MC in the middle school this week. Have fun watching the video, everyone! 

Here are the words:

Principal's Office

by Young MC

Now as I get to school

I hear the late bell ringing

Running through the hall

I hear the glee club singing

Get to the office

I can hardly speak

'Cause it's the third late pass that I got this week

So to my first class I run and don't walk

All I hear is my sneakers and the scratching of chalk

And when I get to my room

I hear the teacher say,

"Mr. Young, I'm happy that you could join us today."

I try to sit down so I can take some notes

But I can't read what the kid next to me wrote

And if that wasn't enough to make my morning complete 

As I try to get up I find this gum on my seat

And with the seat stuck to me,

I raise my hand and say,

"Excuse me, but can I go to the bathroom, ma'am?"

The teacher got upset and she screamed out, "No,

It's off to the principal's office you go!"

Twelve o'clock

comes with mass hysteria

Everybody rushes down to the cafeteria

Picked up my tray to have Thursday's lunch

And when I tried the applesauce

I heard it crunch

I'm running up the stairs with a front tooth broken

The nurse just laughs and says,

"You must be joking."

I look up at her with a smile on my face

No joke 'cause my front tooth is out of place

So I walk to school with ice on my lip

A nurse's late pass like a gun on my hip

My books are real heavy

I walk and I'm dragging it

Ain't no school lunch next week,

I'm brown-bagging it

Forget class

I'ma shoot some ball

With a late pass I've got 

no trouble at all

But the nurse walks up

and says,

"What do you know?

It's off to the

principal's office

you go"