chapter_25_section_3_–_1980s_social_issues.pptx | |
File Size: | 10287 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
The History of HIV & AIDS in the U.S. (1981 - 2011)
Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused through infection. During the initial infection, a person may experience a brief period of flu-like symptoms. This is typically followed by a long period without symptoms. As the illness progresses, it interferes more and more with the immune system, making the person much more likely to get infections and tumors that do not usually affect people who have working immune systems. These infections or tumors are what kills people that have AIDS.
HIV is transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person mainly through unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated blood transfusions, contaminated needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV. Prevention of HIV infection, primarily through safe sex and using sterilized needles, is a key strategy to control the spread of the disease.
There is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Drugs have been developed that can slow the course of the disease significantly if taken regularly and may lead a person to have a near-normal life expectancy if HIV is treated early enough. While this treatment is effective and has allowed many people to lead near normal lives with the disease (Magic Johnson), these medications are expensive (lower income people and many poor areas of the world can't afford them) and may be associated with side effects.
Genetic research indicates that HIV originated in west-central Africa during the early twentieth century. AIDS was first recognized in the U.S. by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1981 and its cause—HIV infection—was identified shortly afterwards. Since its discovery, AIDS has caused over 30 million deaths. As of 2012, approximately 35 million people are living with HIV globally. AIDS is considered a pandemic —a disease outbreak which is present over a large area and is actively spreading.
HIV is transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person mainly through unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated blood transfusions, contaminated needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV. Prevention of HIV infection, primarily through safe sex and using sterilized needles, is a key strategy to control the spread of the disease.
There is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Drugs have been developed that can slow the course of the disease significantly if taken regularly and may lead a person to have a near-normal life expectancy if HIV is treated early enough. While this treatment is effective and has allowed many people to lead near normal lives with the disease (Magic Johnson), these medications are expensive (lower income people and many poor areas of the world can't afford them) and may be associated with side effects.
Genetic research indicates that HIV originated in west-central Africa during the early twentieth century. AIDS was first recognized in the U.S. by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1981 and its cause—HIV infection—was identified shortly afterwards. Since its discovery, AIDS has caused over 30 million deaths. As of 2012, approximately 35 million people are living with HIV globally. AIDS is considered a pandemic —a disease outbreak which is present over a large area and is actively spreading.
This four minute video highlights landmarks in the history of AIDS from the discovery of the AIDS virus and the banning of Ryan White from attending school to the early twenty-first century when the Center for Disease Control recommends HIV testing for virtually every American.
A Nation at Risk
1st Major National Govt. Report on Education since the 1950s
A 1983 report by a committee of 18 people appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education is considered a landmark event in modern American educational history. Among other things, the report contributed to the ever-growing (and still present) sense that American schools are failing (compared to other countries), and it touched off a wave of local, state, and federal reform efforts that have been going on for 30 years.
The committee made several recommendations in 5 main categories:
1. Content: "4 years of English, 3 years of math, 3 years of science, 3 years of social studies, and one-half year of computer science should be mandatory for high school students." In addition, the committee recommended that students work toward proficiency in a foreign language starting in the elementary grades. Out of all the recommendations made by the committee, this is probably the one that has been most followed in many states... including Michigan.
2. Standards and Expectations: the committee cautioned against grade inflation (getting good grades for doing hardly any work) and recommends that four-year colleges raise admissions standards (make it harder to get into college) and have standardized tests of achievement at major transition points from one level of schooling to another, particularly to exit high school (meaning you can't get a diploma unless you pass a test proving you're competent enough to graduate). My opinion.... none of these recommendations have been followed.
3. Time: the committee recommended that school districts and state legislatures should strongly consider 7-hour school days, as well as a 200- to 220-day school year. Our school district currently goes for around 7 hours a day, but for less than 180 days of instruction. Most districts in Michigan do the same.
4. Teaching: the committee recommended that salaries for teachers be "professionally competitive, market-sensitive, and performance-based," and that teachers demonstrate "competence in an academic discipline." It would be wise for me not to comment on this point as it could easily be seen as a biased opinion or I might even offend someone. I will say that some areas of the country (especially in the South and West) pay teachers extremely low wages relative to other professions requiring a similar amount of education.
5. Leadership and Fiscal Support: the committee noted that the Federal government should play an essential role in helping "meet the needs of key groups of students such as the gifted and talented (I don't see this happening), the socioeconomically disadvantaged (yep... free and reduced lunch is an example), language minority students (yep.. bilingual education), and the handicapped (yep... all kinds of special education programs)".
A 1983 report by a committee of 18 people appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education is considered a landmark event in modern American educational history. Among other things, the report contributed to the ever-growing (and still present) sense that American schools are failing (compared to other countries), and it touched off a wave of local, state, and federal reform efforts that have been going on for 30 years.
The committee made several recommendations in 5 main categories:
1. Content: "4 years of English, 3 years of math, 3 years of science, 3 years of social studies, and one-half year of computer science should be mandatory for high school students." In addition, the committee recommended that students work toward proficiency in a foreign language starting in the elementary grades. Out of all the recommendations made by the committee, this is probably the one that has been most followed in many states... including Michigan.
2. Standards and Expectations: the committee cautioned against grade inflation (getting good grades for doing hardly any work) and recommends that four-year colleges raise admissions standards (make it harder to get into college) and have standardized tests of achievement at major transition points from one level of schooling to another, particularly to exit high school (meaning you can't get a diploma unless you pass a test proving you're competent enough to graduate). My opinion.... none of these recommendations have been followed.
3. Time: the committee recommended that school districts and state legislatures should strongly consider 7-hour school days, as well as a 200- to 220-day school year. Our school district currently goes for around 7 hours a day, but for less than 180 days of instruction. Most districts in Michigan do the same.
4. Teaching: the committee recommended that salaries for teachers be "professionally competitive, market-sensitive, and performance-based," and that teachers demonstrate "competence in an academic discipline." It would be wise for me not to comment on this point as it could easily be seen as a biased opinion or I might even offend someone. I will say that some areas of the country (especially in the South and West) pay teachers extremely low wages relative to other professions requiring a similar amount of education.
5. Leadership and Fiscal Support: the committee noted that the Federal government should play an essential role in helping "meet the needs of key groups of students such as the gifted and talented (I don't see this happening), the socioeconomically disadvantaged (yep... free and reduced lunch is an example), language minority students (yep.. bilingual education), and the handicapped (yep... all kinds of special education programs)".
Say No To Drugs Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
The 2 commercials above are examples of the "Just Say No" campaign that the National Government sponsored from the early 1980s to early 1990s. It discouraged children from engaging in illegal recreational drug use by offering various ways of saying no. Eventually, this also expanded the realm of "Just Say No" to smoking tobacco, violence, and premarital sex. The slogan was created by First Lady Nancy Reagan during her husband's presidency. She appeared on many TV shows geared towards younger people (Different Strokes and Punky Brewster are a few examples) to spread the message. The campaign definitely increased public awareness of drug use, and statistics show that the use and abuse of illegal recreational drugs significantly declined during the Reagan presidency.
The History of Cable TV
A great illustration of how Cable TV came to be is found here
A Changing Pop Culture in the 1980s - The Origins of MTV
The 6 minute 45 second clip above discusses the history of one of the most recognizable and viewed cable channels for teen audiences.... MTV. The evolution of this network over the past 30+ years is mindblowing.
Rodney King - the story, the verdict, and the LA Riots (1992)
This is a 7 minute video summarizing the outbreak of the L.A. Riots following the verdict in the Rodney King trial.