Plaza Theatre Company

Mr. Aaron Siler and the Plaza Theatre Company present Cash on Delivery.  According to Mr. Siler:

We are as excited as punch for Cash on Delivery opening May 1st.  It is a british comedy about a man who has been bilking the government by claiming benefits for multiple fictitious persons – all who supposedly live in his home. When he decides to go straight and kill off the made-up persons, only then does the government investigate. Witness the amazing amount of tight spots the con artist escapes from with the help of his upstairs neighbor and his mysterious Uncle George. A comic farce sure to split sides with laughter.

But a recent study by U.S. researchers has shown that students who chew gum in class – especially those in math classes – perform better than those who don’t chew gum.

The 14-week study was funded by Wrigley, a gum maker, and led by Craig Johnston and a team from Baylor College of Medicine located in Houston.

108 college students ranging from 13- to16-years-old were studied at a Houston charter school that serves mainly low-income Hispanic students.

About half of the students chewed a stick of gum during class, tests and homework. Eighty-six percent of the time while in math class, and 36 percent of the time while doing homework. The other half of students didn’t chew gum.

The results showed that after 14 weeks, the students who chewed gum showed a three percent increase in their math scores, according to the Texas Knowledge of Assessment and Skills, or TAKS test.

Johnson and his associates said the results were a small but statistical change.

Now where was this study when I was still in the lower education system? Remember the kid that was always getting in trouble for chewing gum in class? That was me.

At least it all makes sense why my math skills are so bad now, every time I got in trouble in math for chewing gum; I lost a bit of mathematical knowledge.

Where exactly was this when I was in high school?

State representative Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, filed a bill to the Texas Legislators that would pay high school students at lower performing schools for their good grades.

I knew I should have failed those last few years of high school!

The money would come from the estimated $6 billion Texas is expected to receive in stimulus funds for education. A pilot program will be enacted for a few years, and if proven effective, the state may create a permanent program in the future.

Such programs have already been enacted in New York, Arizona and Washington D.C.

Freshman at schools rated academically unacceptable could earn $50 for each A, $35 for a B and $20 for a C in their core classes, which includes science, math, social studies and English classes.

“It would definitely give me incentive to do better in school,” said Ethan Keyser, a freshman at Willis High School in Conroe, TX. “[It would be] even better for the kids making really bad grades.”

There are a lot of critics to the bill, though.

Take Barry Schwartz, a professor of psychology at Swarthmore College.

“The downside to this is being ignored by those who support it, which is that once kids become accustomed to this, they become dependent,” he said in an article in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram. “They’ll want someone walking behind them the rest of their lives with an M&M to make sure they are rewarded for everything they do.”

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm

Plans for this week’s Cleburne Spring Fest are tentative at this writing.

Grandview Antique Tractor & Machinery Club

Grandview Antique Tractor & Machinery Club was formed in January 2009 to promote the collection, restoration, preservation, and exhibition of antique tractors and machinery and to promote the fellowship of those with common interests.

We meet once a month on the last Thursday of the month, with the exception of December. Prior to the meeting we have a pot luck.

Annual membership dues are $20 for an Individual Membership and $30 for a Family Member.

We have an annual show and enjoy participating in plow days, trail rides, parades, etc.

If you would like to get in touch with the Grandview Antique Tractor and Machinery Club you can call them at 817-866-2369 or email at GATMC@windstream.net