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(CNN Student News) -- September 19, 2008
Quick Guide
Tainted Milk - Learn how contaminated milk has sickened thousands of Chinese children.
What's Next - Examine the U.S. government's response to recent economic struggles.
Grading Changes - Consider a Texas school system's controversial new grading policy.
Transcript
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, I'm Carl Azuz. Welcome to CNN Student News on this Friday, September 19th!
AZUZ: More than 1,300 Chinese children are in hospitals and thousands more are sick, all because of tainted milk. Investigators have discovered that a chemical is being added to the dairy product, one that experts say can lead to severe health problems. Officials say four infants have already been killed. Tons of the contaminated milk have been recalled, as inspectors check inventories across the country. John Vause has the latest details on this health crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN REPORTER: Outside the headquarters of Sanlu, China's biggest maker of infant formula, Fu Gangquing is one of many waiting for answers and compensation. But Mr. Fu says, like so many other children here, his three-year-old son has urinary problems, but his developed more than a year ago.
FU GANGQUING (TRANSLATED): Even when we first took him to hospital for kidney stones, we still fed him the powdered milk. It was only after the TV reports that we knew.
VAUSE: And the vice governor of Hebei Province, where Sanlu is based, has told state media that Sanlu knew as far back as 2005 there was a problem, that it knew the milk it was buying was contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine, normally used to make plastic. But when mixed with watered down milk, melamine artificially boosts protein readings so it can pass inspection. It has also left thousands of children sick, and in some cases has been fatal. Sanlu says its own tests, just seven weeks ago, was the first it knew about the toxic chemical. The company is part-owned by New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, which says until now, there was never a need to check.
ANDREW FERRIER, CEO FRONTERRA: You know, you can't test for every poison out there. You know, you test for things that are known issues with respect to milk.
VAUSE: The president of Sanlu was detained by police Wednesday; her replacement has apologized to consumers. So far, 18 people have been arrested as government tests reveal the use of melamine is widespread in China's dairy industry. Police here in Hebei Province say they have now busted what they call an illegal network of melamine dealers. They allege one suspect has admitted that since February last year, he bought hundreds of kilograms of the chemical and then sold it to milk suppliers, making just over two U.S. dollars profit on each kilo. John Vause, CNN, Shijiazhuang, China.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Word to the Wise
GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: A Word to the Wise...
anxiety (noun) a state of unease or concern, especially about future uncertainties
source: www.dictionary.com
AZUZ: And that's what many people are feeling about the U.S. economy right now. The stock market ended on an up note yesterday, good news. But all week, we've been talking about federal bailouts and companies declaring bankruptcy. Some experts say the blame is on the housing market. It's not doing too well, and investors, including some major companies, have lost out big. What's worse: The trouble may not be over. Mary Snow examines the government's response to this current crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SNOW, CNN REPORTER: Uncle Sam may have come to the rescue of American International Group, but it did little to soothe market anxiety.
ART HOGAN, JEFFRIES & CO: The mood is as bad as it's ever been on Wall Street for several reasons, not the least of which it seems we have been bouncing from disaster to disaster.
SNOW: To avert three disasters, the government bailed out Bear Sterns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and now AIG, with an $85 billion loan, giving the government an 80 percent stake in the company.
JEFFREY SACHS, ECONOMIST, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: The government is now the main shareholder. This is a nationalization. It's extraordinary that this happens from one day to the next.
SNOW: Many are asking the question: What is the next shoe to drop?
SENATOR HARRY REID, (D) MAJORITY LEADER: We are in new territory here. We, this is a different game.
REP. JEB HENSARLING, (R) TEXAS: I am somewhat loathe to let the federal government run our financial system, our automakers and who knows what's next, perhaps our airlines.
SNOW: Congress has already promised a loan program for automakers of at least $25 billion. The question is: Where is the line drawn? One law professor who's been following bailout issues says there are no clear rules.
CHERYL BLOCK, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: All these things, it seems to me, we need to have some guidelines ahead of time so we're not just doing this on an ad hoc basis.
SNOW: The government so far has come to the aid of companies it said were too big to fail. It did not rescue Lehman Brothers, but felt it had to help AIG because of its vast reach. Some on Wall Street are skeptical the government would have to bail out an automaker.
HOGAN: Just because General Motors has difficulty competing with Toyota doesn't mean they're too important to the U.S. economy to continue to exist.
SNOW: With the government as rescuer, economists expect more companies to line up asking for help. And one thing that seems certain is that some tough choices may lie ahead for the government in deciding where to throw a lifeline. Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Train Collision Update
AZUZ: Quick update for you now on that deadly train crash out in California a week ago. Metrolink officials have confirmed that the engineer who was responsible for the collision had sent text messages while he was working. Now, it's unclear whether he was doing that at the time of the crash. But Metrolink policy says engineers cannot use cell phones while they're on the job.
Promo
AZUZ: Presidential debates! They are our Talking Democracy topic for September, and the first one takes place one week from tonight! Before you watch the candidates face off, tune in Monday for our presidential debates primer! And check out our Learning Activity and One-Sheet at CNNStudentNews.com.
Shoutout
RAMSAY: Today's Shoutout goes out to Ms. Shows' classes at Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana! What's the largest state in the continental U.S.? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) California, B) Michigan, C) New York or D) Texas? You've got three seconds -- GO! Alaska is the largest of all 50 states, but when it comes to the continental 48, there's none bigger than Texas! That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!
AZUZ: One of the biggest cities in Texas, Dallas, is trying something new in school this year. Officials are changing the grading system, giving students the chance to boost their scores after those scores have been given. It might sound like a good idea, but of course not everyone agrees with it. Ed Lavandera talks to supporters and critics about the Dallas district's controversial new policy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN REPORTER: Dallas school officials announced a new controversial policy this year outlining how teachers will award grades on tests and homework. Some of the changes, and two in particular, have left many parents and teachers baffled as to how the new policy will help students succeed. First, Dallas students who fail a test can now re-take it and get the higher grade. Secondly, homework scores can only be used to raise the grades of elementary and middle school students; bad scores are essentially thrown out. However, for high school students, the homework scores are left to the teacher's discretion. It all seems unreal to some parents.
BOBBIE WILHITE, PARENT: I think it's ridiculous. They need to have guidelines and a little bit of pressure. I mean, it's tough out there once you get out of high school. We're already mamsy-pamsy enough for our kids.
LAVANDERA: But those who helped write the new policy say the new grading system will make sure students don't fall behind.
JEROME GARZA, DISD TRUSTEE: What we're really interested in is, "Are the children learning?" And if they're not, we need intervention immediately. This system does that.
LAVANDERA: The new policy also limits the number of homework hours that can be assigned to students, and in many cases, also requires teachers to call parents before giving their children a zero on a test or assignment. The idea is to focus more on learning rather than consequences for behavior.
JOHN DAHLANDER, DISD SPOKESMAN: This is not about giving anybody any sort of free ride. What this is about is giving students a second chance to be successful.
LAVANDERA: But critics say getting work done right and on time and accurately should be the measure of success, and that this new policy doesn't push students to work harder.
DALE KAISER, TEACHER'S UNION: Instead of setting high expectations and the high standards and holding them to that, we seem to be wanting to lower the bar and give them an excuse not to succeed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Before We Go
AZUZ: You know we'll be blogging about this story on our Web site. Now, before we go today, today marks a little-known linguistic holiday, and we wanted to celebrate before we set sail for the weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Ask anyone what Friday, September 19th is...
PERSON ON THE STREET: I have no idea.
PERSON ON THE STREET: I have no idea.
AZUZ: And that's the kind of answer you'll get. Except for a viewer named William, who wrote us: "I want to bring your attention (if you didn't know) that this coming Friday is International Talk Like a Pirate Day."
PERSON ON THE STREET: Wow. That was my second guess.
PERSON ON THE STREET: That's very cultural.
AZUZ: If you're asking, "What arrrrr you talking about," you can check out the "Original Talk Like a Pirate Day Web site," or just follow us to the CNN Center food court. We're looking for victims.
PERSON ON THE STREET: My boyfriend is a very good pirate. He's just sort of, um, just a little bit dangerous.
AZUZ: A prerequisite for any pirate! So we talked to this boyfriend.
PERSON ON THE STREET: Arrr, matey! It's been a good day at sea.
AZUZ: And whether or not you think that sounds dangerous, there's no disputing what people think of pirates.
PERSON ON THE STREET: I think about buried treasure. I think about boats, I think about treasure maps.
PERSON ON THE STREET: They had a highly organized cultural society, albeit it was criminal.
AZUZ: Some folks got their definitions of pirates from Disney's movie "Pirates of the Caribbean."
PIRATE: What arrrr you doin?
PIRATE: What are you doing?
PIRATE: No, what arrr you doin?
PIRATE: What are you doing?
PIRATE: No, what arrr you doin?
AZUZ: Though most tend to sum up pirates in one word:
PERSON ON THE STREET: Arrr!
PERSON ON THE STREET: Arrr, mate!
PERSON ON THE STREET: Arrr!
AZUZ: Except for this guy, who would've said "arrrrf."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Goodbye
AZUZ: And that's where we pull up anchor. I'm Carrrl Azuz.
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