2014年12月13日土曜日

Group B's panel discussion 3

Theme: We should prohibit students from working part time jobs

Moderator: Carol
Panelists: Finnian, Hanna, Kofy, Lucus, Allie

Opinions by agree side

Finnian: I think students have to concentrate on study and club activity. If students do part time jobs, they may use money to hung out with their friends. I worry about that point.
Hanna: I also think studying is very important for students. If they do part time jobs, they may not go to school not study. And also, they will oppose to their parents.
Kofy (me): I think it's important not only to study but also reading books, because it makes students' sensitivity rich and they can get a lot of knowledge from books. I worry their reading time will be lost because of part time jobs.

Opinions by disagree side

Lucus: I don't go to school now because I don't have enough money. Like me, some students can't go to school if we prohibit working part time jobs.
Allie: Students can learn a lot of things from part time jobs, such as making friends or helping their family's income. I think studying is important, but they should learn more things through part time jobs.

Discussion

Carol: What do you think about Lucus's opinion?
Finnian: The situation like Lucus is rare. If we permit doing part time jobs, many students use money to hung out with their friends, and they come not to give money to their parents. I worry about that.
Lucus: Parents should manage their money.

Kofy: I worry about their reading or studying time will be short.
Allie: Students can concentrate on studying in short time.
Kofy: If so, they can't understand the contents completely.
Allie: Then, they can study and ask some questions to their teacher at school.
Finnian: However, they must be tired because they do part time jobs, so they may fall asleep.
Lucus: It's as same as club activity. They may fall asleep too.

Haana: What's the purpose of doing part time jobs?
Lucus: I don't think they have to do part time jobs.
Allie: They can help their family's income.

Questions and suggestion by audience

Mac: there are some students who don't have enough money. Do they have to give up going to
school? Are there any supporting system?
Carol: There are no supporting system by the government.

Sophie: I think students who can't go to school can't study at all.
Hanna: The government can support them using scholarship.

Emily: I think some students want to get jobs after graduating, so they don't have to study so much.
Finnian: But they can't get jobs without studying.

Robert: Junior high school is public, but high school is elective, so you can't think of them together.
Kofy: You're right. We want to focus on only junior high school students.
Robert: And also, you need to decide the types of part time jobs.

2nd discussion

Carol: We want to talk about time and type of part time jobs, and students' age.
Allie: Before school is good.
Finnian: Doing by 10:00 p.m. is good, and we don't have to decide age.
Sophie: How about making a part time job club?
Finnian: I think making a part time job board is good too.

Conclusion

Students have to get permission from their parents and teachers. We want to make a part time job club and board.

My opinion

The moderator, Carol did a great job! I'm thankful to her for her work as a moderator. As Robert said, our voices were small. I feel sorry for the audience about not listening our discussion clearly. I think its because I didn't have confidence when I said, so next time, I want to speak my opinions with confidence.


2014年12月6日土曜日

Group C's panel discussion 3

Theme: Can we submit a bid to host the Olympics?

Moderator: Sara
Panelists: Emily, Isabera, Lucy, Sophie, Ashley

Opinions by agree side
Emily: I expect that many people will come to Apollon and we can get benefit. It is a big chance to advertise Apollon.
Isabera: I am a cheerleader, so I want to join the Olympics, and also I think young people are interested in the Olympics. It makes the students' motivation up.
Lucy: By holding the Olympics, we can increase to exchange with other countries. Our industry, tourism are going to get better. Moreover, the image of Apollon in the world may get rise.

Opinions by disagree side
Sophie: We do not have enough money and place to hold Olympics.
Ashley: We need huge money and places, and we have to gather players from all over the world. In addition, it costs money on stadiums or domitories.

About the benefits
Ashley: Some countries can succeed, but other cannot succeed by holding the Olympics.
Emily: The reason why they do not succeed is constructing the buildings. We do not have to build.
Sophie: However, we need a huge stadium.
Isabera: We should build a stadium. We can use that not only for the Olympics, but also for concerts or festivals.

About the cost
Rovert: According to the data, it cost a lot of money on the Olympics, such as 2.3 American billion dollars or 44 American billion dallars..
Isabera: I want to make a tax.
Rovert: The problem is the scale. The plan of the event is too huge for Apollon.
Isabera: We can cut the cost if we hold the World Cup.
Sophie: But a big stadium also costs much money..
Rachel: How about holding a Sunflower marathon? It does not cost much money, and the runners can enjoy the sceneryof Apollon.
Sophie: Her idea is good. Triathlon is also good, I think.

Conclusion
We do not hold the Olympics, but we want to hold a Sunflower marathon instead. It is included in the Sunflower festival as one of the contents.

My comment
The discussion was concluded well, so I think it was good. If there were more information that when they wanted to hold the Olympics, the discussion would get lively, though.

2014年11月29日土曜日

Group D's panel discussion 2

Theme: Should we introduce sales tax system?

Moderator: Kate
Panalists: Alex, Anna, Amy, Rachel, Rie

Opinions by disagree side
Rie: I have three reasons. First is the gap between low income people and high income people. It is not fair and low income people do not want to pay for everything, so the government's income will decrease. Second, I think that corporation tax is better than sales tax because companies do not give money to co-workers even if they earn much money. Third, income tax is also better than sales tax. It is almost fair.
Rachel: I also disagree because low income people do not earn much money and their life will be difficult.
Amy: If we introduce this system, people will not come to buy anything, so Apollon's economy wil decrease.

Opinions by agree side
Anna: The government needs a lot of money because they have to use them for Sunflower festival or something. And they can gather money easily using this system.
Alex: I have a son who is going to enter a school next year. I need much money for text books or something. Introducing this system,  we expect education fee.

Alex: What will you do if you get a car accident? You have to pay a lot of money as compensation.
Rie: Not all people get into the accident, so the government do not have to pay for that.

Kate: Some people worry about the low income people, so what do you think of it?
Anna: I think reduced tax rate is good.
Rie: What is the persantage of the tax?
Kate: After we decide if we need sales tax, we should deside the rate.

Rachel: I think it is difficult to judge who is low income.
Anna: The government will judge through researching the people's income.

Rie: Income tax is better than sales tax. High income people have to more money than low income people in the system, so it is almost fair.
Anna: I think sales tax is better, because the government can gather the money easier.

Amy: Our income will not increase, so if sales tax is approved, we have to pay more money.
Kate: Why do you think income will not increase?
Amy: Because income does not change now.
Anna: Our government has a lot of national debts. They are going to use them for the Sunflower festival, so we have to pay money in spite of we want to pay or not.

Rachel: Our main industry is tourism. If we adopt this system, tourists have to pay much money than now. I worry that tourists will not come to Apollon.
Anna: We can have duty-free shops for tourists.

Questions & opinions by audience
Isabera: What kind of tax are inforced in Apollon now?
Kate: At least sales tax and income tax are not inforced.
Rachel: For example, there are residence tax or something in Apollon.

Lucus: What is the rate of tax you want to set, agree members?
Anna: Three percent.

Rachel: I worry that people do not want to pay tax and they may go to another country.
Anna: The government can stop them. I think people must pay money for Apollon.
Kate: Apollon citizens have love heart for Apollon, so I do not think so many people will leave.

Conclusion
We cannot deside which tax is better, income tax or sales tax. If we introduce sales tax system, we want to set the rate as three percent.

My comment
The theme was high level of discussion, but they suggested many good opinions. If they conclude their opinions in short time, their discussion will get better, though.

2014年11月23日日曜日

Group A's panel discussion 2

Theme: Let's make a point-system in Apollon

Moderator: Belle
Panelists: Laura, Mac, Tama, Jack, Angelina

Information:
If people do something good for Apollon, they can get points in their card and they can use points with the card.
Money for the system is given by government.
If they get all OKs, they will discuss
    1. How we can collect points
    2. Where we can use them
They are permitted to make the system by the government already.
They will make a website about the system and they will call for volunteers.

1. How we can collect points
Jack: Tour guide volunteer is good for collecting points. They have to attend a program to learn knowledge about guide, and tour companies have to hold the program.
Tama: Working as staffs for Sunflower festival.

Mac: Tama, Sunflower day is once in a year, so there is not enough chance for people.
Tama: Sunflower day is an important and big event, so it doesn't matter.

Mac: I want to give points to people who buy foods made in Apollon.
Jack: I will give points to people who particapate in photo contest in Apollon.
Tama: Will we give big points to the first person or give same point to everyone?
Jack: Everyone.

Angelina: I want to make a recycle system. People can get points when they classify the garbage.

Audience questions and opinions
Alley: Can we use points as money?
M: Yes.
Carol: Recycling and participating in the events are duty of us, so I think they are needless for the point system.
Sophie: Why do you think photo contest is worth for the points?
Jack: Sunflower festival is new and people worry that little people participate in the event.

2. Where we can use points
Mac: We tend to use much money in the shopping center, so we might want to use points as money.
Jack: This system is controlled by the government, so it is dufficult to install the system to every shops.
Mac: Shops can install the system if they want to do so.
Angelina: It is not good to use points for amusement or hobby, because we do good behavior to get points.
Laura: However, if people use points for amusement or hobby, they will come to participate in volunteers more.
Tama: I think if many shops use points, it is not good because it costs much monry. And also, we shouldn't use points for cloth shops. We need to limit for sunflower foods, for instance.

Opinions by audience
Rovert: Money comes from our tax, so It is a problem.
Jack: By these activety, we can cut the cost of public works, so there is not money's problem.
Hanna: I think tax can't be helped.

Conclusion: They want to make a point system.

My comments:
This time, they had prepared a lot of information, so it helped my understanding. However, I did not know the perpose of the point system. Did they want people to do good behavior? Did they want them to use points? Therefore, I want them to set a clearly purpose if they want to make something new system next time.


2014年11月16日日曜日

Group B's panel discussion 2

Theme: We should make a national holiday, Sunflower Day.

Moderator: Lucus
Panelists: Finnian, Kofy, Allie, Carol, Hanna

Opinions of agree side
F: In last year's meeting, we decided our narional flower to make Apollon famous. We can develop our country by establishing a holiday.
K: Apollon citizens should be aware of the symbol of Apollon more and more, because se tend to forget our flower without any special activity related to the symbol.
A: If we make a national holiday, Apollon's people become more friendly. And also, I want to make a festival on the day.

Opinions of disagree side
Carol: We need money, place and prepare for the events. Besides, students do not go to schools, so their time of studying will get shorter.
Hanna: Young people are not get interested in sunflower, so we do not have to make such a holiday. We should make another plants like vegitables for our life rather than making sunflowers.

M: What do you do in the school festival?
F: I think we can make some products related to sunflowers. For example, we can make sunflower cosmetic, sunflower oil, and hold a photo contest.
C: However, I worry about the money.
K: I expect we can earn more income than the cost. Through the project, we can develop our country.
F: I do not think that it costs much money. The government will shoulder the money.

L: Where are you going to plant sunflowers?
F: We want to plant them in South-East. If we plant there, visitors can see not only the sunflowers but also the rare plants in Apolon.

K: Why do you want to plant vegetables instead of sunflowers, Hanna?
H: We should plant vegetables for our living. I do not know how many people come in the festival, so I think we should preserve other plants.
F: Surely, not many people come to the festival on the first time, but we can expect more visitors after next time.

Opinions by audience
Belle: What is the definition of Sunflower Day?
A: Students do not need to go to schools, and workers depend on their companies. And also we will hold a festival.

Rachel: Now we have holidays, so why we need a national holiday?
A: As I said, we can become friendly through the holiday.

C: On the national day, children cannot go to the schools, what do you think about it?
F: A national holiday is very special, so it is not permitted.
K: But we set the day on Saturday and Sunday, we do not have to worry about students.

M: What do you want to do in the festival? Please explain again.
F: We can sell sunflower oils, sunflower cosmetics, and we can hold a photo contest.
K: Moreover, We can introduce the day on the Internet. If people share the atmosphere of the events, they will visit Apollon next time. We can expect more income.
F: I think we can make a jinx related to sunflower. For example, if a couple walk through the sunflowers, they will be bound forever. Young people like jinx,right?
K: Besides, although Hanna said young people are not interested in sunflowers, they may get interested in sunflowers through the jinx.
H: Young people are not interested in sunflowers, so the jinx do not have effectiveness.

Rovert: I think Monday is good for the Sunflower Day. Many people go sholling, so it will be a big profit for shops.
C: However, students have to study.
Rovert: It is a trivial problem, bacause the day is limitted one day!

Conclusion
We should make Sunflower Day on July 28th, and we want to hold a festival on the day.

My comments
We could not make fundamental information than I thought, so we made some people confused, sorry. Moreover, I should have contradicted more. Actually, agree members had an idea like Rovert's, but we chose that we proceeded a discussion without refutation. It was my fault, so I want not to do such a thing next time. 

2014年11月8日土曜日

Group C's panel discussion 2

Theme: Do we associate with other countries?

Moderator: Emily
Panelists: Lucy, Ashley, Sara, Sophie, Isabera

Opinions of agree members
Lucy: associating with other countries is good for our development. By associating, we can have an opportunity to learn cultures of other countries.
Ashley: We can introduce good points of other country like technology. Moreover, we can help each other when we face a big disaster.
Sara: I want everyone to enjoy my pictures. And also, I can buy other country's item through trading, for example, I want to buy photo books.

Opinions of disagree members
Sophie: We can live by ourselves now without having association with other countries,
we do not need it.
Isabera: I am worrying about war. If other country is having a war, we have to help them. And also, I wonder our own culture can be disappeared by opeople of other countries.

M: Isabela worries about culture, so what do you think about that, Lucy?
Lucy: I do not think that culture will disappear completely, and I think learning culture of other countries is good for us.
Sara: Isabela worries about war, but we do not have to have completely connection except for trading or some things.

Sophie: Sara said she could not buy foreign photos, but we have Internet system, so you can search Internet, right?
Sara: People do not often search the Internet, and I want to make a photo collection.
Sophie: If you associate with publish company, you can publish books, so you do not have to have a connection with whole country, just company.
Sara: Yeah, I will ask a company if I can sell my photo book.

Audience question
Lucus: What do you think other countries' merits?
Sara: Apollon has a good technology such as making clone, so other countries can use the technics.
Ashley: In short, we can provide our high technology to other countries.

M: We want to focus on business association. What do you think the merits in business scene?
Lucy: If we have connections with companies of other countries, many people will come to our nation, so our work will be easy.

M: How do we develop our countries without associating?
Isabela: Our main industry is tourism, so we can develop the industry more. Moreover, We can focus on other business.
Sophie: And also, we can hold some events. It will fun for the visitors.
Ashley: Associating with other countries is also good for tourism. If we make a good advertisement, many people may get interest in Apollon.
Isabela: I think it is a good opinion.

Audience questions
Rovert: Why do you think tourism will be unstable?
Sara: we do not think tourism will die out, but there are no reason tourists will come to Apollon in next 100 years.
Rovert: Rovert: Are you wanting to stimulate tourism or wanting to develop other business?
Isabela: We want to stimulate tourism, but we may stimulate other business through trading. So, we are thinking now...

Conclusion
M: We should try to have an association for developing tourism. And also, we can advertise our country through association.

My comment
 I thought concreteness was not enough in their discussion. For example, I did not know the "other countries" exactly. If they explain examples well, their discussion can be understood easily.

2014年11月1日土曜日

Group D's panel discussion

Theme: Should the elementary school students have their own cellphones?

Moderator: Anna Jones
Agree side: Amy Green, Alex Bell
Disagree side: Rie Chein, Kate Hail, Rachel Williams

M: In Apollon, the half number of elementary school students have cellphones. We are going to discuss it.

Opinions of agree side
Amy: Crime is easily to happen when children go to school, so cellpnones can work as a crime prevention buzzer. And also, we should teach children the correct ways to use them.
Alex: I have a son who has a cellphone. Both I and my husband are working, so it is useful for us to communicate with our son with a cellphone. The cellphone has the function of GPS, so I think it is safe.

Opinions of disagree side
Rie: I think using cellphones is not good for children's eyes, and also they will lose their precious time because of them. Then, they tend not to go outside. It is not healthy for them.
Kate: Children have a lot of things to do, so using cellphone will disturb their studying. They should learn how to get along with people than using cellphones.
Rachel: People use not only mail or call but also internet. There are many dangerous sites on the internet and it implicated them in crime. Especially, the online dating website have bad influences on girls.

M: I have a question to Alex. Don't you think the risk of your son's having cellphone?
Alex: I am blocking the website, so he can not go into thedangerous websites.

Rachel: Internet shopping is also a dangerous website like swinder. I think having a cellphone has risks for elementary school students.
Alex: All parents should teach their children how to use a cellphone.

Alex: My family is double-income, so I worry about the nature disaster or kidnapping happen when my son is alone. If children do not have their cellphones, what should they do in such cases?
Rie: Children' cellphone do not have to work in disaster. It is not only the way to communicate with each other.
Kate: They can live with their relative suce as grandparents. If children face such an accident, they will help them.

Rachel: If we want a cellphone, they need a lot of money to buy. Students do not have much money, so their parents have to pay instead of them. They should their money for what they really want rather than a cellphone.
Amy: Parents should work harder to pay the money for cellphones.
Rachel: I think it is good to cost on studying or sports activity than them.

Audience opinions
Sara: Every family has different situations, so having cellphone depends on their situations.
Rie: I agree with your idea.

Kate: If children have their own cellphone, they play games and they cannot use their time effectively.
Alex: When they stay at home, we do not allow them to usu it.
Rachel: But cellphone is attractive item, so it will disturb children's study.
Alex: Cellphones for children are safe because they have the function of mail, call and crim prevention buzzer.

Audience opinions
Sophie: Do you want to make a law?
M: Agree members want to make a rule of having  cellphones and disagree members want to make rules of not having a cellphone, but it is not a law.

Rovert: What is the rule you want to make if you making a rule?
Alex: We want to make a rule, "When children should use their cellphones?"

Rie: Children should use their cellphones after school.
Kate: I want to make a rule that children should use cellphones after learnig Net literacy.
Rachel: I agree with Alex's idea that children should use cellphones which have only limited function.
Amy: I want to make a rule that family should make a rule depends on their situations.
Alex: Parents take their children's cellphones while they stay together.

Conclusion
M: We should make family rules depends on their situations.

My comment
 All panelists discussed the topic actively, and I thought it was a good point. I could not understand well in the middle of the discussion, which do they want to make, a rule or a law? If they had clarified the point first, their discussion might have been understood easily.