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The U.S. makes up 5% of the world’s population but 25% of its prisoners. As of 2016, there were 2.2 million adults locked up in the United States. And although African-Americans and Hispanics make up only 32% of the U.S. population, they account for 56% of the prison population. This topic also includes how people of color are treated by police. In recent years, the Black Lives Matter activist movement began in response to a series of shootings of unarmed Black males by police officers. The movement campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards Black people. Why is this movement so important? What can be done to make our police and criminal justice systems more just?
DATABASE TOPIC: Police Powers (Exploring Issues Database)
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On average, school funding comes from 45% local money, 45% state money, and 10% federal money. That 45% local funding is based on property taxes, and low-income communities have lower property values and fewer businesses. Therefore, they have less money for education. In Illinois, one district spends $9,794 per student while another spends $28,639 per student. Often times, these low-income communities are majority students of color. Eighteen percent of schools in the U.S. are ‘hyper-segregated’, meaning 90% or more of the students are minorities—and the number of hyper-segregated schools is growing instead of decreasing. What policies are in place that lead to this segregation? What can we do about it? How can we address the inequalities in education funding?
WEBSITE: ACLU (American Civil Liberties Association)
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Guns kill an average of 96 Americans every day. There are 89 guns for every 100 people in the United States. The school shooting in Parkland, Florida was the 90th mass shooting in the U.S. since 1982. 64% of homicides in this country involved a firearm, compared to 4.5% of homicides in England. Americans are divided between protecting the 2nd Amendment right to own guns versus protecting the public. For this topic, you can focus on gun violence in urban neighborhoods, gun control, or school shootings.
DATABASE TOPIC: Gun Control (Exploring Issues Database)
DATABASE TOPIC: Mass Shootings (Exploring Issues Database)
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There is a lot in the news lately about immigration, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), and ‘Dreamers.’ What is the best solution for children who came here with their parents without legal paperwork? What restrictions should we have for who comes into our country?
DATABASE TOPIC: Illegal Immigration (Exploring Issues Database)
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The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community has made great strides in gaining equal rights in the 21st century. In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that all states must recognize marriages between same-sex couples and allow same-sex couples to adopt. However, there is still no federal statute addressing employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. What are the next steps in the LGBT Rights Movement?
DATABASE TOPIC: Gay and Lesbian Rights (ABC-CLIO)
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The #metoo movement started to shed light on the rampant sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. In the U.S., 54% of women surveyed reported being the victim of sexual assault and/or harassment. 95% of those victims also reported that there was no punishment for the male perpetrator. Recently, celebrities have brought attention to this issue and how widespread it is in their own workplaces. Do you have any ideas on how to address this issue?
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Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram… The average adult spends 135 minutes/day on social media. The average teen spends nine hours/day on media (including TV, internet, online music videos, and social media). How does this impact our lives? Our society? Our ability to interact with others face-to-face? Is social media having more of a positive or negative impact on our world?
DATABASE TOPIC: Social Networking (Exploring Issues Database)
DATABASE TOPIC: Cell Phones (Exploring Issues Database)
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