Five days a week parents send their children to school with the hope that during the course of the day their children will encounter a positive learning experience, an experience that will lead them to more fulfilling lives. That is what I would like as well. However, that hope is currently only a hope. The system known as public education is one that does not provide futures for all children. The educational establishment seems to be content with implementing a system that contradicts itself while claiming to prepare our future leaders. When the system sees a drop in scores, it responds by lowering standards. Uniform tests like the SAT and Regents have seen lower requirements and less rigorous sections in order to maintain an average that looks good on paper. This has occurred all over the country as well as in my high school.
In the beginning of this school year, I was approached by the assistant principal of Science in my school and was asked to sign a waiver regarding a change in the way the Chemistry Regents would be graded. A student's signature was needed to initiate the waiver. The waiver allows the school to count a portfolio as 20 percent of the Regents grade. The portfolio is made up of a project and lab exercises required by NY state. The problem that I see with the waiver is that it allows students to obtain 20 points before they even take the test. In addition, teachers do not have to be as concerned with covering every topic because students have received a crutch to help them pass. Despite my protest, the waiver was passed. Students taking chemistry and other courses where this practice has been implemented are now being cheated out of all they could learn. Instead of deciding on a plan to guarantee that students learn every required topic of that course, the state has decided to concern themselves with passing students, not with educating them.
Which brings to mind the question how can we educate our nation more efficiently? Students, parents, administrators, and business leaders need to come together to decide on the most efficient method to prepare the youth of America for competition with young people of other nations.
primary and secondary education in America. They were to present a detailed, unbiased report on the quality of education in America to the American people by April of 1983. The report that was produced was titled A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform. A Nation at Risk’s findings were extremely disheartening to the American people. America’s school system was failing. The statistics indicated that American children were not meeting global standards, the curriculum was outdated and
students in America to an accomplished few. As such, Henry contends that the educational standards will ultimately rise, which will make college more prestigious. Upon inspection though, Henry's views and beliefs are rendered false because his evidence is exaggerated, distorted and inappropriately compared and contrasted to support his claims. In reality, Henry's beliefs clash with America's true intentions for a democratic society, which are depicted in Benjamin R. Barber's essay, "America Skips School
novels? If centuries of humanity believe this to be a crime, a sin, an abomination, why is it allowed? We are responsible for slowly allowing adultery, a moral, ethical, and legal breech of contract to undermine family structures and lower the standards for acceptable behavior in society. Morality in a marriage is more than a religious concept; there is a basic understanding that to be married is a choice and thus an exclusive commitment to ones spouse. Billy Graham who is world renown for his
farther behind" ("Why It Is Time to Get Rid of Standardized Testing"). On the contrary, a Seattle publication states that standardized testing is the "only legitimate indicator of how well schools are doing and offer an in-depth snapshot of students' academic progress" ("What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Achievement Tests?"). The argument about whether or not standardized testing accurately measures a student's performance continues to be debated. In this paper, I would like to argue that standardized
Few would argue with the statement that writing skills are in state of decline. It is readily apparent that something needs to be done to resolve the issues that are preventing students from grasping the fundamentals of composition. However, there is a divergence of opinion when it comes to determining the cause of the nation’s writing ails. Many blame technology, giving cell phones and television particular attention. Others give technology a more indirect blame, claiming that email, instant messaging
behind; countries that were once behind now meet or exceed U.S. education standards. The failure in our education system is characterized by low test scores, minimal parental involvement, and high dropout rates. Firstly, the number of students who pass state reading and math exams is dropping drastically every year. In the article entitled "Test Scores Sink as New York Adopts Tougher Benchmarks,” the author reports on the decline of test scores and points out that in the year 2013, “only 26 percent
Students and their parents, not teachers are responsible for the falling standard of education in Nigeria. The acquisition of educational degrees and certificates used to be the aim of every student and this usually was backed up with the support of parents. As a result of this, the standard of education in Nigeria was kept high and this was beneficial to both parents and students. The quest for quick wealth coupled with laziness has disrupted our educational system in the sense that students find
city-states started to turn upon each other and greek culture started to fall. It’s truly amazing how they were able to invent and innovate up until their decline. Even with all that stood in their way. They didn’t have fertile soil for farming due to the rocky terrain and somehow, they still were able to invent and innovate up until their decline. There is one explanation, the Ancient Greeks were geniuses. Their innovations have left legacies that spill into the culture of today. We are all Greeks
Christian, B. J. (2013). The Essence of Pediatric Nursing—Translating Evidence to Improve Pediatric Nursing Care for Children, Their Parents and Families. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 28(2), 193-195. In this trade journal, Christian and other members of Alabama’s Nursing school discuss certain tasks and responsibilities that pediatric nurses deal with on a daily basis. Christian goes about sharing these responsibilities, by touching on the different care and treatment aspects that nurses teach
not a moral decline going on. I have heard things such as, “the ratio of moral people and unmoral people is the same as fifty years ago; as the population grows the amount of moral and unmoral people grow too.” And what about “life around us is changing, we just have different priorties and values which determine our morals.” Everyone has their own idea of morality, what’s right and wrong and what is causing this moral decline, if there even is one. I believe there is a moral decline in our country
idea of the Common Core State Standard which is currently being adopted by forty-four out of fifty states in the United States. This new rework is designed to help better prepare students for college, universities, and the work place. However, not everyone believes this is the right move education should be taking at this moment. Those in support state this is the best decision possible to teach the children of the 21st century. Others say the cause for the decline in the quality of education in
doubled the rise of the 1930's. However, in 1957, America experienced a "baby boom", and by 1957 the population increased by 29 million. "The rising birthrate was the dominant factor affecting population growth" (text, 847). Along with the escalated birth rate was an upsurge of divorces due to problems with separation and infidelity. "In 1945, more than half a million marriages were dissolved" (Bailey, 147). The death rate was on the decline and life expectancy rose during this period. New medical
century America? Or are the racial boundaries of this country’s ancestors still in effect? America’s Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” yet quotas, check marks, and plus factors give minority students advantages in the admission processes of the country’s universities and colleges (NARA). The obvious differences in what America says
disadvantage, and family conflict (Amato, P. R., & Keith, B., 1991). Aside from this, it is also important to mention at what stage did the parental divorce happen, this can greatly effect a child’s cognitive development. Parental absence can lead to a decline in support from the custodial and noncustodial, which later has an effect on the child’s self and external perception (Amato, 1991). Economic disadvantage is due to a lack of income from two individuals within one house, developmental problems can
Career Project Growing up, I was told many, many times that a great career choice for me would be to become a lawyer. Whether it was my public speaking skills, opinionated attitude, or self confidence, it seemed obvious that I would have much success as a lawyer. It always seemed to be an attractive idea, seeing as there are multiple lawyers in my family and quite honestly the money earned as a lawyer caught my eye. Lawyers are now and have been for a long time a basic necessity of society. This