Thursday's Exam Results

Year 3 Student

What is the Union Jack, and how did it come about?

It was two flags put together and it came about because Scotland and England had two parliaments and they had a union. They were already allies but they tried to be one nation, but they couldn't do that til they only had one parliament. The two flags they combined were St. George's and St. Andrew's. St. George's was a red cross on a white background and the St. Andrew's was a white "x" with a blue background. One general, the general of the army, signed his name as something like "Jack." His two flags were called "the Jacks" and when they were combined they were called "the Union Jack."

Tell about how otters live.

They make their homes in dens and all they really eat is fish. They go fishing like bears, they actually go under water and go fish hunting. When they have their babies, they make a different nest above the surface of the water and the otter cubs don't drown because they can't swim when they're first born. Every now and then the mother otter takes the cubs out so they can learn how to swim. She'll carry them on her back into the water and then she'll slide out from underneath them.

Year 5 Student

Why was the Civil War fought?

The south had slaves and the north didn't think it was right. As new states came in there would be almost fights about whether it would be a slave state or a free state. Eventually the south said that they wanted to create their own country. So they declared themselves free from the union. President Lincoln asked them not to and then declared war.

What attributes made Teddy Roosevelt heroic?

He always made time for his family even when there were a lot of important things to do. He did his best to do everything right; I don't think he ever made the same mistake twice. He thought of the people first. And he stood up for what was right.

Year 9 Student

What was important to the founding fathers in setting up their own government?

It depends a lot on who you asked. Hamilton would have answered differently than Jefferson. But in general:

It was important to them to establish a government that would accurately represent the people’s needs and desires and not ignore them as Britain had done. It was important that the government would preserve the people’s rights and not intrude on their personal business; but at the same time it was important that the government should promote and uphold both the moral and civil law. They wanted a government that would promote peace and security, both in itself and towards other nations.

A government is established to protect the rights and happiness, and therefore the safety, of the people. The difficulty is finding a balance between too much and too little government. Jefferson feared too much: he believed in the good of man and was afraid that a powerful government would encroach on the people’s rights and freedom. John Adams feared too little: he believed in the intrinsic evil of man and therefore felt that a strong government was necessary to preserve the nation’s law and safety. The struggle between those two viewpoints, the struggle to find a balance between too much and too little government, was what brought about our Constitution; and the result is a happy compromise that may well be called “a miracle”.

Briefly trace the events of Ben Franklin’s or Napoleon’s life.

Benjamin Franklin was born the youngest son of a candlemaker. He was apprenticed to his older brother James as a printer’s assistant in Boston, and published several articles under the false name of Mrs. Silence Dogood. He and his brother did not get along well, so he ran away to New York and thence to Philadelphia, where he worked for another printer. He made a business trip to England but found himself stranded there, having to work for several years before he could return. When he returned he was married, and set up his own printer’s shop, which became the most popular in town. He started a library and post office as well as continuing his scientific experiments. He was a member of the legislature for a time and led an expedition against the Indians in the French and Indian War.

He was several times sent to England to represent the American Colonies, and worked hard to make a peace between them, but finally decided it was impossible and was tried (in England) for treason. He was an important, if silent, member of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention.