Roles
Your group will assume one of the roles listed below. Your input at the
public hearing should incorporate a point of view consistent with your role.
- Entomologist -- As the authority on ants, you will bring a great deal of basic
information about the RIFA to the public hearing. Items that may be of concern to
the government and the public include the likelihood of the ants spreading, the conditions
under which they might spread, what methods of eradication appear to work, the economic
impact the ants may have on the community, and what methods may work to contain the spread
in the short-term.
- School Board Member -- As an elected official, you are represent the parents of
the community and must act to provide a safe learning environment for the children.
You wish to eliminate the threat of the RIFA to the administrators, staff, and students of
the school. You must also be wary that the efforts to eradicate the RIFA will not
cause further long-term or short-term health problems to the people you are trying to
protect.
- County Supervisor -- The State Department of Food and Agriculture has empowered
your offices to use the necessary means to fight the spread of the RIFA. However,
you are an elected official and must weigh a variety of issues including the health and
safety of the citizens, the economic impact of the infestation to local business, and
public opinion.
- Nursery Owner -- The infestation of RIFA occurred on your property, possibly as a
result of importing plants from an area already infested with RIFA. The ants pose a
safety issue to your employees and customers and a threat to the well being of your
nursery stock. You would like to see the ants eradicated very quickly.
- Toxicologist -- Chemicals are often used to fight infestation by pests.
Often, these chemicals are harmful to humans and animals, occasionally, when used in the
prescribed manner of application. You must review the various treatment methods for
their possible effects on human and animals to ensure the safety of the citizens of the
community.
Process
- Form groups of 2 to 4 students and select a role that your group will fulfill.
- Read the fictional newspaper account of a child being stung by red imported fire
ants while playing at school. It appears on the opening page of the Web site.
- Read the letter from the school board to the county board of supervisors for the
county in which the school is located. This will be given to you by your teacher.
- Read the notice of the public hearing. This will be given to you by your
teacher.
- Visit the Team Page to see a few suggestions on how to
proceed as a functional, efficient group.
- Visit the Show Your Stuff! page to review both the
group and individual requirements for this project.
- Use the Resources page to begin your research into the
Red Imported Fire Ant.
- Complete your group research and work products prior to the public hearing.
- Complete your individual requirements.