Cobblestone articles from May 2008

Cobblestone archives from May 2008

Editor's note.(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Rights and responsibilities. If I had to summarize what it means to be an American citizen, that's how I would do it. U.S. citizens are privileged to live under the protection of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We enjoy many...

Meet the citizens!
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John and Jane Q. Citizen are Americans. They have three kids, two cars, and a nice house in a medium-size town. They enjoy many of the benefits of being citizens of the United States, such as free education for their...

Prejudice at the polls: gaining the right to vote.
May 1, 2008... Stepping inside a voting booth on Election Day is perhaps the most important part of being an American citizen. But the Constitution does not even address who has--or does not have--the right to vote. The Founding Fathers initially left those...

Loyal opposition.(Civil disobedience)
May 1, 2008... "It is in the American tradition to stand up for one's right, even if the new way is to sit down." --John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) John F. Kennedy spoke the words above during his 1960 presidential campaign. He was referring to four...

The price of citizenship: calculating and paying taxes often generates a minor headache for most Americans.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every April 15, millions of Americans file federal income tax returns. President John F. Kennedy called this the "annual price of citizenship." Following a formula established by the tax code, Americans calculate...

Calling all citizens!
May 1, 2008... We've scrambled up some clues about citizenship and created this puzzle. How quickly can you solve it? Answers are on page 42. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Taking stock.(Going Global)(Tibet, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not all countries view citizenship as we do in the United States. Some things that we consider basic freedoms, such as voting for our leaders and expressing our opinions, are not protected in other countries. After...

The juror's job.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A jury is made up of people who take time out from their regular routines to perform one of the highest duties of U.S. citizen ship. I consider trial by jury," Thomas Jefferson said, "as the only anchor ever yet...

Did you know?(Constitution amendments)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Six amendments to the Constitution have extended voting rights in various ways: * Fifteenth (1870) includes African Americans and was later used to grant suffrage to Native Americans * Seventeenth (1913)...

From alien to citizen X: the quest to become an American.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2006, more than four million babies were born in the United States. Just this act alone--being born in this country--gave these babies automatic U.S. citizenship, even if their parents were not U.S. citizens. But...

Use it, don't lose it!(United States citizenship)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Losing U.S. citizenship is a serious matter. It doesn't happen often, but Americans may lose their citizenship, or the government may take it away, even if they were born here. The laws are complicated, but...

Kool kids.(Charles Shirley, Grace Needlman, Alex Camerino, and Kate Tepper)
May 1, 2008... Whether it's a police officer or a fireman, a teacher or a doctor, there are countless professional people in our neighborhoods who care for, protect, and educate kids. You don't need to be an adult or get a paycheck, however, to make a...

So, you want to be a citizen?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] People who are not born in the United States but who want to become American citizens may apply for citizenship. They must follow quite a few steps, including passing the U.S. Citizenship Test. Each candidate must...

Just do it!(4-H Clubs, Youth Service America, the Boy Scouts, and the Girl Scouts)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many schools now require students to put their time and talents to work in service to others before they can graduate. There are hundreds of civic organizations out there, many of them just for kids. Here's a look at...

Looking for a civic career? Start as a volunteer.(Cover story)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Volunteering is a part of civic life for many Americans. Hundreds of organizations rely on this ethic of service in the United States to accomplish their missions. In many cases, these organizations provide direct...

Our country.(Your Letters)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ellie Vance Birmingham, Alabama

Place of Memories.(Poem)
May 1, 2008... Place of Memories Walking into carved stone ground. Mourning lost loves. Creating boundaries from past to present. Finding a way to move on. Talking as if they were right next to you. ...

Over Germany, 1945.(Your Letters)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dominion Carr Springfield, Missouri

Fire.(Poem)
May 1, 2008... Fire I am a dark shade of red. My unpredictability will frighten you to the point that you have to watch me from a distance. I am repulsive. Destructive. Erratic. When disrupted, I can be dangerous and...

America.(Your Letters)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kathie Rothell Birmingham, Alabama

Immigration and the Law.(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... Immigration and the Law by Iris Teichmann (North Mankato, Minnesota: Smart Apple Media, 2007, www.smartapplemedia.com) takes a broad look at immigration, not just to the United States but all over the world. The text explores the steps needed...

Take Action! A Guide to Active Citizenship.(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... Take Action! A Guide to Active Citizenship by Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger (Jossey-Bass, 2002, www.josseybass.com) offers practical tips and strategies to inspire children to get involved and to help enact social change in big and small...

The Vote: Making Your Voice Heard.(Books to Read)('Taxation: Paying for Government,' 'Becoming a Citizen: Adopting a New Home,' and 'Rights and Responsibilities: Using Your Freedom')(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... The Vote: Making Your Voice Heard by Linda Scher (Austin, Texas: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993, www.steckvaughn.harcourtachieve.com) is one volume in the Good Citizenship series, which covers the branches of the federal government and the role of...

Government: How Local, State, and Federal Government Works (Our Government and Citizenship).(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... Government: How Local, State, and Federal Government Works (Our Government and Citizenship) by Mark D. Friedman (Child's World, 2004, www.childsworld.com/) describes the roots of our freedoms in the earliest examples of democratic governments...

Serving on a Jury.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... Serving on a Jury by Sarah De Capua (Scholastic Library Publishing: Children's Press, 2002, www.librarypublishing.scholastic .com), one of several titles in the True Books: Civics series, uses straightforward writing and contemporary images to...

Drita, My Homegirl.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard (New York: Putnam, 2006, www.us.penguingroup .com/). The stories of immigrants who came to the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries are familiar, but what about their modern-day counter-parts?...

Ethan rates it ...(The Ellis Island Web site)(Website overview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... ***** [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ellis Island, the gateway to America, is rich in history and personal stories. Many people felt the joy of coming to the land of opportunity, but still others felt sorrow when they were rejected. It was...

On the Web.(Digging Deeper)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/index.html will take you to Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids, which explains the basic principles behind the rights and responsibilities of citizens, as well as the election process and how laws are made. This site...

Places to visit.(Digging Deeper)(National Constitution Center and National Archives)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; www.constitutioncenter.org. This museum, located on Independence Mall, is the first one devoted to the U.S. Constitution--the document that defines and states many of our rights as...

From the archiver.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... For anyone interested in reading more about the U.S. government and the principles on which our nation was founded, we suggest you pick up any of these COBBLESTONE back issues: Congress: Government of the People (COB0601), The Branches of...

For the public good.(Flashback to ...)(Benjamin Franklin)
May 1, 2008... Benjamin Franklin believed that "a person's highest duty in life is to serve others," and he best fulfilled this creed by elevating the standard of living in Philadelphia to the highest among Colonial cities. By upgrading life in his adopted...

Brain ticklers.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Give your brain a little tickle to see how well you read and understood this issue on American citizenship. If you believe the answer is false, give yourself the ultimate test and see whether you can explain why it is false. Answers below. ...

A final word.(on voting)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Voting is both a right and a responsibility of U.S. citizens. Our Founding Fathers believed that having a voice in how one is governed was perhaps the most essential aspect of citizenship. Yet many Americans don't bother to vote in presidential...

Cartoon connection with Ebenezer & The Colonel.(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... Are you here today to become an American citizen? I'm here to help celebrate! These ceremonies help me remember not to take my U.S. CITIZENSHIP for granted. People from all over the World Work hard and wait a long time to share your...

Regal eagle.(Creature Feature)(the bald eagle)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you've read our December 2007 issue, you already know that the bald eagle was chosen over the wild American turkey as the national symbol of the United States. But did you know that this majestic bird was once on...