Public Teachers Able to Augment Salaries

College Instructors Lack Salary Options

by Dwana King

Public school teachers have the option to augment their salaries by becoming certified with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Ms. Karla Smith, Department Chairperson for Social Studies at JD, provided the details. This is a voluntary option that is open only to K-12 teachers. After applying and submitting a certification fee, the teachers are tested on endurance, teaching style, strategies, etc. The test is essay style which includes reflective writing on the teacher’s style.

An applicant has three years to complete the process. If they fail the first time, then they have two more chances to pass since the testing is accepted only once a year. Upon becoming certified, they automatically receive a subsidy of $6000 per year, $3000 from Federal funds and $3000 from state funds, for the life of the certificate.

Public school teachers also are afforded a $250 classroom expense deduction on their federal income tax returns. College instructors are not.

Ms. Smith commented, “We do not have an option like the public teachers do to raise our pay.” This emphasizes that community college instructors have to rely on annual budget proposals and whether the state legislature will approve enough funds to include pay raises.

Horoscopes!

We have added some horoscopes! They can be found under the "Time Out" category.

The Passion of the Christ

Due to the widespread attention surrounding The Passion of the Christ, The Mississippi Sound has decided to include two different perspectives on the movie.

Reviewed by Joan Sewell

This prophetic verse , written 800 years before Christ , in the book of Isaiah, is the opening for “The Passion” and is the basis for the artistic theme in which actor Mel Gibson based his movie The Passion of Christ. To some, Gibson’s gruesome depiction of the last twelve hours of Christ’s life is a tool to fuel anti-Semitism. To others, “The Passion of Christ” is a blessing, an instrument to show the world what Jesus suffered through so that those who believe in Him will have everlasting life. According to the Fox News channel, due to the impact of the movie, not only has a thief turned himself in for several robberies, another man has confessed to the murder of a pregnant woman as well. So far, no acts of anti-Semitism have been reported.

Although this film has been subjected to much controversy, it has done exceedingly well in the box-office. Using millions from his own wallet, Gibson’s “career killer” has brought him seven fold and counting, bringing the total earnings of the movie to over 360 million.

In spite of the low budget Gibson possessed for filming, “The Passion” is nothing short of a blockbuster. As violent as it is, the cinematography as well as the dramatic aura of this movie is delivered with superb talent. The languages (Aramaic and Hebrew) in which the entire movie is spoken only adds to the emotional effect leaving the subtitles to become unnoticeable. Jim Caviezel, who plays as Jesus, performed with excellence along with the entire combination of actors and actresses. “The Passion of Christ” is a must-see, don’t miss out on this one!

The Passion of the Christ" Brings Personal Insight

Reviewed by Sarah Powell

Before deciding on whether or not I would watch the movie, I had listened to the media debate on the violent scenes and the accuracy of the movie that portrayed Christ's last hours. The more that I had listened to these debates, the more I became curious to watch the movie. When the movie premiered on Ash Wednesday, I immediately bought three tickets in advance for the following Friday. That whole day I was nervous. I wondered if I was strong enough to watch the violent and moving scenes in the movie. I would later find out that no one in the theatre was strong enough or prepared enough to watch the agonizing and heart-wrenching torture that Jesus endured.

The movie begins in the Garden of Gethsemane. In this tranquil place, Jesus is physically and emotionally distraught over what He is about to go through. During this scene and for the rest of the movie, I could not hear anybody in the theater munching on popcorn or drinking their sodas. The whole theater remained still because we all knew what He was about to go through. After His arrest, I was unwillingly taken alongside Jesus as He went through his trial, His brutal scourging, and as He walked down the long tumultuous road to the place of His crucifixion. The most heart-wrenching scene was when He was being crucified. It is the one scene that I still most vividly remember. As they were driving the nails into His hands and feet, over and over again He asked God to forgive them, "for they know not what they do." The sheer thought that this one man who endured such brutal and unimaginable torture could still find it in His heart to forgive brought tears to my eyes.

When the movie had finished, I was amazed to see that there was not a single person left untouched by the movie. Everyone was wiping away their tears and solemnly looking down as they left the theater. Some of them remained in their seats, too emotional to leave right away. I was one of the few who could not find the energy to leave my seat.

Many people have mixed feelings about the movie, whether it is overly dramatic or accurate according to the Bible. One fact cannot be ignored. No matter what your beliefs in God may be, you will walk away from this movie with a newfound respect for what this man went through and all in the name of Love.

The Mississippi Sound Caught Having "Fun on the Beach!"

2004 Mississippi Community/Junior College Press Association Spring Conference

The Junior College Press Association Spring Conference commenced at the Biloxi Beach Resort on Friday, April 2nd and ended with an awards banquet on Saturday, April 3rd. The conference offered a variety of workshops geared towards journalism and photography, as well as layout and design. Some of the featured speakers included Tim Isbell, photographer for The Sun Herald; Jeff Jowers of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; Donna Harris, local reporter; and Paul South, managing editor of The Mississippi Press.

In the yearbook competition, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's The Trident won Honorable Mention for the cover and photography categories.

In the newspaper competition, Jeff Davis's The Mississippi Sound won second place in the cartoons category. The cartoon, Beware of Squirrels was submitted by Amanda Francis.

Students In The Spotlight

MGCCC is proud to announce that 14 students from the JD campus have been honored by being included in the 2003-2004 Hall of Fame. They are:

Ms. Karen S. Aderer
Ms. Dixie L. Butler
Ms. Syretta J. Campbell
Ms. Ashley R. Comstock
Mr. Quincy A. DeJarnett
Ms. Amanda M. Dukes
Mr. Carl D. Evans
Ms. Amanda Francis
Ms. Bridgett L. King
Ms. Anna L. Martin
Ms. Jennifer M. Mayo
Ms. Katherine Mobbs
Ms. Shayana T. Robinson
Ms. Marha E. Wortwick

Also, nineteen students have been recognized as 2003-2004 Who's Who Among American Junior Colleges. They are the following:

Ms. Karen S. Arderer
Ms. Dixie L. Butler
Ms. Syretta J. Campbell
Ms. Ashley R. Comstock
Mr. Quincy A. DeJarnett
Ms. Amanda M. Dukes
Mr. Carl D. Evans
Ms. Amanda Francis
Ms. Cati J. Keith
Ms. Bridgett L. King
Ms. Amy E. Lamb
Ms. Vera M. Lewis
Ms. Anna L. Martin
Ms. Jennifer M. Mayo
Ms. Katherine Mobbs
Ms. Sarah C. Powell
Ms. Shayana T. Robinson
Ms. Martha E. Wortwick
Mr. Christopher J. White