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Show Local ninth graders debate Star Wars defense plan in class y; '' Whitaker thanked the students for their participation in the debate and said he was glad they had a willingness to learn about this topic. By LUKE LEONARD ' Evan Whitaker, a ninth grade science teacher at Pleasant Grove Junior High, recently held a debate on the Star Wars defense plan. ' The debate was held on Tuesday, March 18, at the junior high. After studying the topic, the students took an interest and decided to debate it - It consisted of constructive : arguments and rebuttals by the class. The class estimated the cost of a star wars project at a trillion dollars. One student commented, , with a fraction of this we could reduce hunger, illiteracy and create new jobs. Another student said, instead of Star Wars we should make a permanent settlement on . Mars. Those in favor of the plan said if we did decide to make Star Wars it would save lives and maybe prevent a war. Ninth grader Vanasa Oliver feels the idea of Star Wars is both good and bad. She says it would protect us from the Soviets and we could sleep at night and not have to worry, but, the amount of money needed, the manpower and . technology required to make it work are all problems that have to be solved. Chad Fraughton, also a ninth grader, said he is strongly against Star Wars because it would break all the treaties we had ever signed with the Russians. He also cited money problems as a big concern. With the " money we . could drastically reduce hunger and illiteracy. In nuclear war, he said, there would be no winners, just losers. Jessica Bullock said the idea of Star Wars is a very good idea, even though it would take 30,000 man years and a lot of money. She commented that she would rather be poor than at war with Russia. |