Sarah Miller went from her home in Westlake Village to Nepal, where she made a video comparing her life with that of people she met there, finding different definitions of necessity, wealth and happiness.
Her work won her a Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education. The award is given to high school students who demonstrate an in-depth understanding of key issues in international affairs and the global economy.
Miller’s video included footage she shot while with a media team documenting human rights issues and the recent elections. She filmed an interview with the rebel leader at the time, Prachanda, who has since become the prime minister. Watch her video.
A recent graduate of Westlake High School, she has also made a video of her local orchestra.
-- Mary MacVean
Photo courtesy of Asia Society
Santee Education Complex is taking part in the People Speak Global Debates, a program to challenge high school students from around the world to think critically.
This year, students are debating climate change action plans in the fall, and in the spring, they will argue whether developed nations have a higher obligation to combat climate change.
Santee hosted a debate earlier this month, with an audience of more than 900 students and other guests. Brothers Eduardo and Richard Avina argued for the resolution: "The world should adopt our plan to significantly reduce climate change." Their plan relies on renewable portfolio standards and a carbon tax. John Reed-Torres and Christopher Angel argued against the plan, saying it is useful but people also have to change their lifestyles and the world has to mandate a reduction in greenhouse gasses, like California has done.
All debates will be videotaped and submitted to the United Nations Foundation.
 (The Santee debaters at the U.N. last summer.)
Santee will be eligible to compete for its second trip to the U.N. Foundation Youth Leadership Summit. The second annual summit will be held at the United Nations in New York in July 2009. It will bring together student activists to learn more about the issues, tour the United Nations and meet with U.N. officials.
-- Mary MacVean
Photos courtesy of Nicholas Richert, Santee
Hard to resist kids on Halloween, isn't it? These costumed cuties are students at Van Wig Elementary School in La Puente, who paraded in the costume of their favorite storybook character. Hundreds of students participated in the annual event Thursday.
 
Read more Dressed up as their favorite book characters »
Children of all ages have for decades learned life lessons from the likes of Snoopy, Lucy and Charlie Brown. So why not lessons in democracy?
Fifth-graders at Amestoy Elementary School in Gardena are using a curriculum called "You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown" -- also a television program being broadcast on Tuesday -- to look at the 2008 presidential campaign. It includes a mock election (polls close Tuesday) online (Snoopy is winning in California).
Their teacher, Jean Maree Lillard, said today that when her students first arrived in her classroom, they were already talking about the historic nature of the election -- an African American presidential candidate, a female vice presidential candidate.
"So I took that as a teachable moment, and I created my own lesson plan," which included the "Peanuts" characters. She has used the program to teach vocabulary and the basics of elections, such as campaigns and political parties, she said.
Three of her students are also running for student council office this fall. One of the big lessons they've learned: "They don't want to make promises they can't keep," Lillard said.
-- Mary MacVean
Photo courtesy PEANUTS: © United Feature Syndicate Inc.
The folks at the USC School of Dentistry may not have quite the spirit of gorging and greed that fuels Halloween. But you have to give them some credit for trying: Experts there are offering advice for countering the damage a big pillowcase full of candy might do.
(This meercat at the San Francisco Zoo doesn't seem to be looking for candy, but we could be wrong.)
Julie Jenks, a pediatric dentist and assistant professor at the school, recommends that parents control access to the candy stash so that kids are not constantly munching and thus constantly exposing their teeth to acid.
“When sugar sticks to teeth, the caries bacteria eat it and produce acid, which can wear away the teeth,” she said. “It’s important to limit the amount of time that the acid spends on teeth.”
The best time for treats -- sweets as well as crackers or chips -- is at mealtime, and kids should brush right afterward as well as floss at least once a day. (No easy feat in many homes.)
And if parents have any influence over the kinds of candy, the experts say try to avoid sticky candy such as fruit rolls, gummies or taffy, and things such as lollipops, jawbreakers and anything that stays in your mouth for long periods.
"For those who are worried, a safer treat would be something like plain chocolate, which isn’t too gooey or sticky, isn’t too hard and can be easily cleaned away with brushing and flossing,” Jenks said.
She also recommends treats sweetened with xylitol or stickers, temporary tattoos or art supplies.
-- Mary MacVean
Photo credit: Associated Press
A campaign to try to improve teen driving habits has been launched. "Mindless Driving. Keep It Out Of Cars" includes information for teenagers and parents.
Car accidents are the main cause of teenage fatalities, according to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. According to the most recent institute tally, more than 5,000 teenagers died in car-related accidents in 2006.
“Mindless Driving. Keep It out of Cars" is a meaningful way that our organization can help tackle an important community issue head-on,” said Susan Scarola, president of DCH Auto Group, a group of dealerships in the New York Tri-State area and in Southern California, which is sponsoring the campaign with the organization Students Against Destructive Decisions, formerly Students Against Drunk Driving.
-- Mary MacVean
The folks over at Teacher Magazine have come up with a list (registration required) of the all-time Top 10 movies about teachers:
1. "Mr. Holland's Opus" (1995)
2. "Stand and Deliver" (1988)
3. "October Sky" (1999)
4. "Dangerous Minds" (1995)
5. "Freedom Writers" (2007)
6. "Chalk" (2006)
7. "To Sir With Love" (1967)
8. "Dead Poet's Society" (1989)
9. "Remember the Titans" (2000)
10. "Teachers" (1984)
You can read descriptions of them all, join in a discussion and see a list of also-rans at the magazine's site. Among the runners-up: "The Empire Strikes Back." Huh? It's because of Yoda -- that's Mr. Yoda to you. Teacher he was, but English taught he not.
-- Mitchell Landsberg
What is a fashion-loving animal lover to do? Call on her creativity.
Sarah Hunter did just that with her gown, and she will represent the Art Institute of California–Hollywood in the Humane Society of the United States’ fourth annual Cool vs. Cruel fashion competition.
The competition is meant to inspire design students in Art Institute fashion programs across North America to produce animal-friendly fashions.
“My piece was a true learning experience of ethics, technique and perhaps, most of all, patience: a piece of who I am, a little of what I learned and a little of who I want to be,” Hunter said. “My gown has a single shoulder; form-fitting bodice with an exaggerated dropped waist made of an almost iridescent stretch taffeta; a two-tiered flared skirt with a single layer of organza overlaying the top of the two tiers and trimmed with a black-and-gray marbled, high-quality, mod-acrylic faux fur.”
 
“Sarah’s gown is of course animal-friendly, but it is also grand and romantic reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour and evokes movies such as 'Doctor Zhivago,'” said Aleta Campbell, academic director of fashion design and fashion marketing and management for the school.
Hunter, who is from La Canada Flintridge, is among the 15 local finalists, chosen out of more than 150 entries to compete nationally. The grand-prize winner receives a trip to New York City for the Nov. 13 award presentation and a weeklong internship during New York Fashion Week with a celebrated fur-free designer.
“This contest gives young designers the opportunity to showcase their compassion and talent through cruelty-free, fashion-forward design,” said Kristin Leppert, director of the Fur-Free Campaign for the Humane Society of the United States.
-- Mary MacVean
Photos courtesy of the Art Institute
Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena is showing the Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary, "Where Do the Children Play?" A discussion of the film follows with author Elizabeth Goodenough and Academy Award-winning filmmaker and USC faculty member Mark Harris.
The event, which is free and open to the public, is at 5 p.m. Oct. 30 at Pacific Oaks College’s Eureka Campus, 45 Eureka St., Pasadena, CA 91103. Email for reservations.
The one-hour PBS documentary examines how restrictive patterns of sprawl, congestion and suburban development deprive children of outdoor play spaces vital for imagination, health and well-being.
The film was inspired by Goodenough’s book, "Secret Spaces of Childhood." She also edited a companion guide to the film, "A Place for Play," with photos, articles and children’s poetry.
Pacific Oaks offers upper division undergraduate and graduate-level college programs in human development, counseling and teacher education.
It's Banned Book Week, and the American Library Assn. has all sorts of historical information about efforts to keep books from readers. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "1984," "Gone with the Wind," "Hamlet" all were once banned by libraries or governments in the United States.
Schools, libraries and bookstores across the country are marking the week with events such as one in Encino at the Valley Beth Shalom Day School Sheila Sporn Library. There, students will sign their names to a "Freedom to Read" poster, adding the name the banned book they read. Challenged books will be on display and available for borrowing.
Read about other events in The Guide, and a column on the topic in Calendar.
No surprise to this: Children's books have been banned more than other genres, and one of the most frequently banned authors is the enormously popular children's author Judy Blume.
More than 400 books were challenged in 2007, according to the American Library Assn.
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