Wednesday, July 21

Using some of the resources below, respond to the following prompt: In a perfect world, what and how would you change the educational system in our country? You may want to research some of these questins to help you in your response. What is the purpose of your education? Do schools need more money per pupil? Should standardized testing be the only way to measure a school? a district? or a student? Should No Child Left Behind be renewed by the federal government?

-First off, perfection, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone pretty much has a different definition or idea of what perfection is. Perfection is like an idea or characteristic developed through experiences, thoughts, likes and dislikes, and the what-not. A "perfect" world is pretty much the same as a dream-world because everyone may have one, but almost none of them are exactly the same. It's pretty much impossible to have everyone share an idea of what a "perfect" world may be. It may be close to perfection, but a world made of perfection agreed upon by all people may never really exist. So, in my "perfect" world, things may be perfect to me but they may be absolutely ridiculous to other people.
-In my "perfect" world, education, as most people believe, should be the top and main priority. Education is basically the acquirement of knowledge, and if a nation or state or household does not care about education, then they obviously don't care about knowledge. Without knowledge in the world, where would the progress we've worked so hard for from the past go? Without knowledge, there would be a stop and/or decrease in progress in topics like science, health, communication, justice, and even success and tranquility in a nation or place. Education is knowledge and knowledge is progress in a society or place, which is why education should be the primary focus in a group or society. Education is pretty much progress for a brighter and more successful future not only for individuals, but for places and nations alike.
-If it takes a lot of money to achieve a generally well-educated population, then so be it, just as long as it isn't for nothing.I understand the concept of spending for the purpose of having the majority of the population as equally educated. I also understand that by raising the standards, it's expected that the education level of the population will also increase. However, if the population can't reach the expectations, then something has to change to get the desired improvements. If students can't keep up with the expectations, then their expectations should be lowered- but only for the students who can't handle it. If some students are doing fine- even if there's a tiny percentage of them- then those students should stay in the higher expectation classes. After all, what's the point of raising the expectations for students who can't even meet the lower expectations given to them? What's the point of lowering the expectations for students who have the potential to reach the higher expectations?
-So how should one know if they meet the expectations or not? Well, there should be monthly tests given in the four basic subject classes (math, science, language, history) on the lessons they should have been taught in that month, that way they won't forget all of the information they learn by the end of the year and they won't take tests so often as weekly so there won't be so much time taken away from actual learning. Students would be put into classes depending on how they met the expectations- which is basically how well they did on the tests. The classes should be small, about 10-15 students per class, so the teacher can have more time and focus on the smaller amount of kids and work they would have. Students would go with the class that went with how they tested on the previous year's monthly tests and they would go with how the teacher taught (oral, auditory, hands-on) to make sure they had the best possible chance at understanding and learning the lessons. If ever they feel they're struggling or having trouble, they'd go to a two-hour long tutoring session after school- or just ask for help. Also in my "perfect world", cameras would be put in the class-room, every single one, to make sure the teachers are doing their job correctly and to see and observe the problems that may need to be fixed. If something's wrong with the teacher, there will be a meeting to try to fix whatever problems they have until they improve in whatever way they had problems with before. If it's the student who's causing problems, then the footage will show it.
- If the decreased amount of improvement has something to do with money, then there should be constant adjustments in amounts spent and how it's spent in attempts until improvement is noticed. If it's the way things are done, then there will be constant adjustments and attempts to improve until progress is being made and expectations are met. Once expectations are met and exceeded by every student, then the expectations can raise and then we can work on gradually adapting the students to the higher expectations. Obviously, some of the ideas for change in education may not make very much sense or involve a realistic approach. However, they may happen eventually just as they may never happen. My ideas for education in a "perfect" world may be ludicrous, exaggerated, and unattainable, but that's how perfection is perfectly characterized to me.

July 13, 2010

-Senate Bill 1070 has caused controversy, disagreement,and protest among not only people in Arizona, but also people in the entire nation. However, some of the criticism may be caused by exaggerated skepticism, ignorance, and misinterpreted understanding. One major misunderstanding based on the senate bill is that the bill is allowing racial profiling and random accusation of innocent citizens of illegal immigration. According to section B of Article 8 of senate bill 1070, law enforcers can only request proof of legal right to be in this country after a "probable cause" or "lawful contact", meaning they can only do it after a person has committed a misdemeanor or crime really. Some people are also under the idea that law enforcers are given the opportunity to get away with racial profiling when suspecting only certain people of being illegal immigrants. First of all, racial profiling is illegal as demonstrated and explained in the fourth amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says people should be protected from unreasonable search and being taken without probable cause, as well as the fourteenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution which says all U.S. citizens should be treated equally. Secondly, when speaking of reasonable suspicion of someone being an illegal immigrant, the state isn't referring to taking race, age, and other things like that into consideration but rather to consider things like not having a driver's license or something.
-If senate bill 1070 is taken into effect, there will be benefits to Arizona socially and economically if not now, then later. I agree with an article from www.azcentral.com that businesses dependent on illegal immigrants as laborers and customers may suffer, but I also agree that the bill can provide higher wages to citizens and allow more legal residents to get jobs (Will SB 1070 Help or Hurt Economy?, Ronald J. Hansen). If more U.S. citizens are able to get jobs then the unemployment rate can improve. Another thing that could be helped in Arizona is the drug cartel problem that's apparently spreading from Mexico into the U.S. According to an article from huffingtonpost.com, Mexican drug cartels are trying to be pushed into the U.S. and has increased kidnapping rates as well as shooting rates and what-not (Mexican Drug Cartels' Turf War May Be Spreading to Arizona, Randal C. Archibold). If the SB 1070 was taken into effect, Arizona can have a better shot at helping the economy as well as decreasing increased crime activities. I support the bill for the most part because although it comes with social consequences like protesting as well as economic consequences like business problems, it still has potential to stop rising crime rates in Arizona and help with illegal immigration problems.

-Randal C. Archibold. "Mexican Drug Cartels' Turf War May Be Spreading to Arizona." huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post, 24 February 2009. Web. 13 July 2010.
-Ronald J. Hansen. "Will SB 1070 Help Or Hurt Economy?". azcentral.com. azcentral.com, 11 July 2010. Web. 13 July 2010.
-U.S. Constitution
-SB 1070

July 12, 2010

-When discussing the Afghanistan war with my friend's older sister, I was quite surprised with how bluntly she expressed her views and feelings towards the war. From the beginning of our discussion, it was pretty apparent that she was against the war in Afghanistan and there was not much of a chance of altering her position, but fortunately, I wasn't aiming to change her position. She started by admitting that she hadn't researched a lot about the Afghanistan war but went on anyway by saying that the U.S. should not continue the war in Afghanistan because she felt it was wrong of the nation to intrude on another country and pretty much try to control it- even going so far as to accusing the U.S. of being "arrogant", as said later on in the discussion. As we kept talking, she continued mentioning the, what she thought to be, control-based motives of the U.S. and how we shouldn't have even gotten involved in this war, similar to the Vietnam war. At one point, I mentioned that controlling how Afghanistan rules and behaves probably hasn't been the main and only goal for the U.S. to achieve from this war by bringing up the 2001 start and like the main guy involved, bin Laden. I brought up the idea that the motives of the U.S. regarding the war may have changed as time passed, and she agreed, but I forgot to ask why "we" thought the motives have changed. However, adding to the changed motives, she brought up that like the Vietnam war, we're trying to aggressively push our democratic ideas onto Afghanistan (South Vietnam being similar to Afghanistan) and practically take away their choice in how they live by telling them that the way they have/ had the country isn't an option anymore. I then brought up that many of the Afghanistan citizens don't have a choice in how they live anyways and if they wanted to go back to their old ways, they could go to a different area and live with people who agree with their choice of lifestyle rather than practically force a whole nation to live that way, to which she gave a fairly good response but was sadly forgotten as my attention unintentionally shifted more towards my ever-growing hunger.
-Throughout the discussion, we not only talked about the controversial motives for the involvement in the Afghanistan war but we also discussed the national consequences regarding the U.S. socially, economically, and politically. When discussing the theory that we could succeed in the war if we continue for a while (even though the war's been going on for nine years and not a lot of progress is being noticed), she thought that we maybe could have a shot at victory, but she questioned if that would be enough to make up for the money and lives lost for this war. I then asked her if we pulled out, would that mean all of our efforts and sacrifices were for nothing? She thought by saying that all we've done so far was for nothing was a little harsh, but after mentioning all that we've put in and the little made progress made in nine years, she boldly stated "At this point, I really don't think we can win." We reflected on the decreasing morale and weakened hope among our nation's population along with the increasing debt and struggling economy. She believes our nation's image has already been hurt enough from being in the war and being in there this long that pulling out would be a better option because our image isn't perfect as it is, and cautiously pulling out would ultimately benefit our nation more. Besides, there are always other ways to rebuild our reputation if this war does the job of ruining it.

Tuesday, July 6

"In your opinion, what is the most important economical issue facing the United States right now?"

Of the many strong and significant economical issues facing the United States currently, I'd say the high unemplyment rate in the United States is the most important. As of June 2010, according to tradingeconomics.com, the United States unemployment rate was 9.5. Although the unemplyment rate has lowered from previous months, it is still alarmingly high. With the unemployment rate high, there are more and more people dealing with financial difficulties. Financial difficulties usually make it more difficult for people to purchase things and shop, which doesn't help the economy at all when people don't buy things. Besides, if nobody is buying anything, how will businesses and shops support themselves and keep/ get business going?
Businesses have to face many problems due to the high unemplyment rates like the supplying of products, resources, and materials when they don't even have the demand for them. Businesses usually have to lower their prices to get some of their items purchased. By buying but selling items for less than they paid for, businesses are losing money. With unemployment rates high, lower prices, and less people buying things, it's not much of a wonder why/ how shops and places are going out of business. Both GDP and a majority of businesses are sturggling to deal with the high unemployment rate but as an article from the associatedcontent.com says,"Companies that are able to perform well in the recession will be the victors at the end of the day." Supply-and-demand isn't working so well as businesses are stuggling to keep their own business going and capitalism looks to be having some hard times.

Bibliography:
"US PAYROLLS FALL, PRIVATE HIRING BELOW FORECASTS." tradingeconomics. Trading Economics, 2 July 2010. Web. 6 July 2010.

"The Effects and Reasons for Unemployment in the United States." associatedcontent. PB, 27 February 2009. Web. 6 July 2010.