America VS. The Vegetable

NY Times article reporting on the number of vegetables that Americans eat daily. Despite more press and a recent push from First Lady Michelle Obama, Americans are eating fewer vegetables than a decade ago (and no, french fries do not count as a vegetable, despite your textbook stating that it is!). Why do you think people have a difficult time consuming an adequate number of vegetables? What would be the best way to increase vegetable consumption in the U.S.?

IVF Babies Score Well on Academic Tests

Chicago Tribune article entitled "In Vitro: Children Conceived by IVF Score Well, Often Better, than Peers." The researchers looked at academic scores by children conceived by IVF versus traditional methods, and found that those children often scored higher. They controlled for age, gender, SES and environmental factors. However, what other factors might influence the outcome of this study? How might the outcome of this study impact reproductive medicine and the attitudes of future parents who are considering IVF?

The New Addiction: Pills at Home

NY Times article entitled "A wave of addiction and crime, with the medicine cabinet to blame." Common prescription medications used for pain management, anxiety or other medical problems are being stolen and sold on the streets of the U.S. Police departments are trying to curb the problem by asking people to bring in old medication for disposal, and to lock up medication so that it cannot be stolen. What are other solutions to the problem? How can addition to prescription medications be curbed, while at the same time, providing these medications to people who truly need them?

State of Our Schools

This NY Times article is a review of the new documentary "Waiting for Superman." The public school system in the United States is falling behind other countries in all areas of academic success, and "No Child Left Behind" seems to not be an effective program for all children or schools. What are your ideas about what might be effective ways to get students to learn, or teachers to be more effective? How can the school system in the US get back on track?