1. National domestic Violence against women
Between 1/3 and 1/2 of all adult women are beaten by their husbands or lovers at some time in their lives. 14% of American women acknowledge having been violently abused by a husband or boyfriend.
http://www.dso.uncc.edu/women/TBN_Web/stats.html
Each year, medical expenses from domestic violence total at least $3 to $5 billion. Businesses forfeit another $100 million in lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and non-productivity.
http://www.silentwitness.net/sub/violences.htm
These are national numbers gathered close to the time of the final incident with Phil. Women are not exclusively the victims of domestic violence, however, they are far more likely to be the victims than men.
2. National stats and info on domestic violence towards children
According to one study, children who witness domestic violence are more likely to exhibit behavior and physical health problems including depression, anxiety, and violence towards peers. (Jaffe, P. & Sudermann, M., 1995)
According to another study, children who witness domestic violence are also more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, engage in teenage prosecution, and commit sexual assault crimes. (Wolfe, D.A., Wekerle, C., Reitzel, D. & Gough, R., 1995)
According to a 1990 study, fifty percent of men who frequently assault their wives frequently assault their children. (Strauss, M., Gelles, R. & Smith, C., 1990)
http://www.janedoe.org/know/stats_healthcare.htm
Each year, an estimated 3.3 million children witness their mothers or female caretakers being abused (American Psychological Association, 1996)
http://www.janedoe.org/know/stats_dv_n.htm
"Children immersed in a culture of violence become insecure and lack an inner conscience that holds respect for others. They are easily discouraged and have low self-esteem. They live without hope. From such a life comes confusion, hostility and violence." Roger Toogood, ASW/ACSW Executive Director, Children's Home Society of Minnesota
http://www.silentwitness.net/sub/violences.htm
Children as the victims of domestic violence is quite prevalent (especially if mom is being abused) and very harmful to their development. Could this be why Kenny underachieves?
3. Violent Crimes in the US
http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/visualizations/us-overall-violent-crime-rate-per-10-2
Here is a great chart that shows pretty much any year you would like with a nice colored visual to show the rate in whichever US state you would like. In the late 90s (during the play's background) the violent crime rate was very high.
4.MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technician training/ licensing
Best Online MRI Technician School Rankings
Becoming an MRI technician requires an associates degree in either Medical Assisting, Allied Health or Human Services. Below are rankings and reviews of the best online MRI tech programs and links to the schools that offer them. Request free enrollment and financial aid information packets from the schools below by using the "More Info" buttons:
http://www.mritechnicianschools.org/
What? That's it? You mean you can get this online? You can get your buddy to do the work for you? So that's how an ex druggie/armed robber/ assault & battery mugger can become an MRI technician.
5. DOC (Department of Corrections) officers
Corrections Officer
County Corrections Department is always seeking the most qualified and finest candidates for Corrections Officers.Our hiring process is competitive and only the best will be selected for employment. The primary role is to ensure order and security and enforce the policies and rules of the institution where they work. Officers observe actions and oversee task assigned to inmates in order to make certain inmates are obeying the rules.
* $18.25 - 31.92 /hour
* $3,000 sign on monies with 2 year commitment
A high school diploma or graduation equivalency degree is required.
So wait... anyone who passed high school or got their GRE can do this? I'll even give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they do a background check. I'm not knocking the difficulty of these people in these positions. But I would like to point out that Heidi is only a kitchen worker. What does that require? An IQ?
6. Arson on a national level
Year Fires Deaths Direct Dollar Loss In Millions
1998 76,000 470 $1,249
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/statistics/arson/
Nationally Arson was much more popular at the time than in Massachusetts.
7. Rodney King
Rodney Glen King (born April 2, 1965 in Sacramento, California) is a Black American who, on March 3, 1991, was the victim of police brutality, committed by Los Angeles police officers. A bystander, George Holliday, videotaped much of the incident from a distance.
The footage showed LAPD officers repeatedly striking King with their batons. A portion of this footage was aired by news agencies around the world, causing public outrage that raised tensions between the black community and the LAPD and increased anger over police brutality and social inequalities in the black/African-American community.
Four LAPD officers were later tried in a state court for the beating but were acquitted. The announcement of the acquittals sparked the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. A later federal trial for civil rights violations ended with two of the officers found guilty and sent to prison and the other two officers acquitted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_King
Rodney King made national news and the incident caused an entire generation to be afraid of the police. Despite the fears, the name Rodney King has become a piece of pop culture humor.
8. Bush election pending
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush (1989-1993), and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President. Bill Clinton, the incumbent President, was vacating the position after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Bush narrowly won the November 7 election, with 271 electoral votes to Gore's 266 (with one elector abstaining in the official tally). The election was noteworthy for a controversy over the awarding of Florida's 25 electoral votes, the subsequent recount process in that state, and the unusual event of the winning candidate having received fewer popular votes than the runner-up.[1] It was the closest election since 1876, and the first since that election that the electoral vote did not reflect the popular vote.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2000
The action of this play takes place in the spring. That means if its set in 2000 then the controversies surrounding the election of Pres. George W. Bush have not happened. Such as the...
9. Recount
Most of the post-electoral controversy revolved around Gore's request for hand recounts in four counties (Broward, Miami Dade, Palm Beach, and Volusia), as provided under Florida state law. Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris announced she would reject any revised totals from those counties if they were not turned in by November 14, the statutory deadline for amended returns. The Florida Supreme Court extended the deadline to November 26, a decision later vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court. Miami-Dade eventually halted its recount and resubmitted its original total to the state canvassing board, while Palm Beach County failed to meet the extended deadline. On November 26, the state canvassing board certified Bush the victor of Florida's electors by 537 votes. Gore formally contested the certified results, but a state court decision overruling Gore was reversed by the Florida Supreme Court, which ordered a recount of over 70,000 ballots previously rejected by machine counters. The U.S. Supreme Court quickly halted the order.
On December 12, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5–4 vote that the Florida Supreme Court's ruling requiring a statewide recount of ballots was unconstitutional, and that the Florida recounts could not be completed before a December 12 "safe harbor" deadline, and should therefore cease and the previously certified total should hold.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2000#Florida_Recount
While the recount was going on in made news around the world nightly. But since our action takes place before the Recount it is not mentioned, thus helping to date the piece for us.
But what else did Pres. Bush do that might help us to understand the play?
10.NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Incentives against low-performing students
Because the law's response if the school fails to make adequate progress is not only to provide additional help for students, but also to impose punitive measures on the school, the incentives are to set expectations lower rather than higher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCLB#Incentives_against_low-performing_students
The practice of giving all students the same test, under the same conditions, has been accused of inherent cultural bias because different cultures may value different skills. It also may conflict with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which states that schools must accommodate disabled students. For example, it is normally acceptable for visually impaired students to be read test material aloud. However, on a NCLB-mandated test, a group of blind students had their scores invalidated (reported as zeros) because the testing protocol did not specifically allow for test readers to speak.
The practice of determining educational quality by testing students has been called into question.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCLB#Problems_with_standardized_tests
So if Fuddy Meers had taken place 2002 or later Kenny most likely would not have been held back so far because most likely his standardized testing scores would have thrown the curve and helped to bring down expectations.
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