Schools, Teaching, and Learning; Not Good for Everyone Never let going to school and taking classes get in the way of learning. There is more than enough blame to go around regarding the education and preparation for the recent generations of students entering adulthood. Some people, like Michael Moore blame politics on the poor state of education, others like Davis Guggenheim, blame the powerful teachers union putting their own needs before the students. I place the blame squarely at the feet of the parents, students and over all society for the current state of education.
If a parent really wants a child to know something they will find a way to teach it to the child. Literally hundreds of things are taught to children before they ever get
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In the essay Idiot nation, Mr. Moore uses humor anecdotes and some solid numbers as to how governments spending is not adequate for schools in these modern times, he contrasts that amount to the billions spent on the military, jails, and other programs that would better be spent as the schools. And how schools are being incentivized by corporations such as soft drink manufacturers putting the donations and sponsorship above the health of the students. Mr. Guggenheim has us follow several students in their quest to leave the tainted teacher’s union schools for the private or charter schools that are unencumbered by teachers with tenure, and with the ability to pay more to the better teaches for the above par performance, and that have a vested interest in the students succeeding and going on to …show more content…
As a student growing up in a time before the internet I would spend hours at the local library reading and learning things that were not only outside of the curriculum for my school but subjects that would not be offered for my grade or until the later years in college, these would include Greek, Latin, Electronics, Physics, Body Language, and many other subjects. As a parent when my son was in kindergarten I learned that they punish the fidgety students by not letting them play at recess, and then they wondered why they were all fidgety during class. I was pretty sure I could provide a better environment than that. That environment would be customized and changed as needed to fit the student and not that other way around. As he grew and learned he studied an array subjects, and almost automatically figured out the basics, socialized with many other children doing the same type of thing. He is now enrolled in college going through and getting general education subjects done and then go to a local university. As a mentor and someone that has worked in different schools I have taught classes and became involved with many after school programs and community interests groups to help the schools and the students get the most out of the resources that were available to
In “End Them, Don’t Mend Them,” P.J. O’Rourke vehemently argues that the public school system needs to be shut down and ended for good due to a monumental increase in spending per pupil with no significant standardized test score improvements made in the past forty years. O’Rourke describes his view of a typical public school family that the public school system has marred with quirks and educational flaws to open up his essay. He then contends that putting a child through public school costs a fortune by pointing out that the average cost per pupil from pre-K through 12th grade is $11,749. O’Rourke cites an annual Gallop Poll conducted from 2004-2007 to explain that Americans find insufficient spending to be the top problem with public schools.
In “Idiot Nation,” Michael Moore discourses on the collapse of American education system and the three main reasons behind it: politicians’ ignorance, shortage of teachers, and the rise of Corporate America. Moore first points out how ignorant the President and politicians are by stating that the President cannot simply identify whether Africa is a nation or a continent. Next, Moore attributes the lack of funding in education to the fact that politicians prefer to build bomber than to improve our education system; this leads to shortage of resources, overpopulated classrooms, and decrease of books available for students. He then notes that the low salaries of teachers, which are caused by the insufficient funding of education, result in shortage of qualified teachers, leading to the failure of the education system. In addition, Moore discusses about the rise of Corporate America, which is another factor corrupting the education system. To get funding from Corporate America, schools diminish the time students have in class, by making students watch advertisements from businesses and help businesses conduct research during class time. Throughout his excerpt, Moore uses exemplification, surprising statistics, rhetorical questions, and simple but clear reasoning to effectively express his ideas and convince readers of his arguments.
Somewhere in America a parent is asking their child what they learned at school today, the child will most likely say that they didn’t learn much. It is sad to say that with today’s education system, this is true. The K-12 school system has oppressed students far more than it has liberated them, and this must change if America wants to produce members of society that actually have something to contribute. Students graduate high school having learned how to play the “game” of school leaving them grossly unprepared for college. Students should leave high school with a base of knowledge and strategies they can employ to succeed in college if that is where they wish to go, but instead they come to college knowing how to line up quietly and copy
...l system. Corporate advertisements are manipulating and ruining students’ education in school. Some schools funds solely rely off of corporation’s revenue; when a corporation falls apart, so will the school. The final factor is that politicians refuse to fund education, but are angry about how America is behind other countries in education. Moore states that politicians “would rather hold hearings about the depravity of a television show called Jackass than about their own depravity in neglecting our schools and children.”(Moore 131) This shows that they are not focused enough on improving our country’s education. To help improve our educational system, changes need to be made to the factors that made our system corrupt in the first place. Altering these key factors will improve our nation’s school systems and give our students the proper education to be successful.
Personal Thoughts- Education is a life-long endeavor. Education isn’t restricted to a classroom or confided by the time restraints of the bell. Education can, and does happen anytime and anywhere. Students who attend public schools are certainly becoming well-schooled, but are they becoming well-educated? For example, take politics. There have been numerous presidential administrations packed with people that have college degrees make foolish mistakes. Were they well-schooled or
Are we the dumbest country on earth? Well, apparently we hold that tittle according to Michael Moore an Oscar winner who mentioned it in his Idiot Nation essay (124). Moore makes a clear and well defined points, which includes the reality of the United States citizen's and where they are heading, not just as individuals, but as a nation. To thrive, a nation needs a great foundation that holds and builds up each brick. However, if the foundation is damaged in losing its sight of the goal then, it will not be able to hold and build the greatest nation of this world. In addition, the bricks, which are the citizens will be defective and therefore easily crumble down. This is the scenario that the United
In Rereading America Michael Moore entitled “Idiot Nation” focuses on the failing educational system in the United States of America. The American nation has decreased in their studies and have lowered their standards, yet America still claims they have their priorities in order, which is education. Moore attempts to persuade his readers that the people who are to blame are lack of education in politics and the budget cuts they are making, however, politics blame teachers for making America decrease in their schooling test scores. Americas have many opportunities and useful tools to be successful; however,
Education supports everyone getting opportunities in life and being able to choose better for themselves. As Horace Mann wrote, education is the “great equalizer for all.“ However, the United States Public School system will likely never be able to equally educate its masses of students. Public school educating all fairly is a myth.There is no one entity to blame for this failure. The failure lies with each student who has been conditioned to sit passively in an un-engaging classroom. Its failure lies in some students disrespectfully distracting their classmates and frustrating their once inspired teacher or administrator. The failure lies with administration being distracted with causes of the moment and burns out from knowing that all
The oversite committee then evaluates the success of their money allocation and incentivize the success of the public school’s education. “Americans do not appear ready to pay the price.” (Barber, p. 215) Money is the most powerful motivator, and if the success of school districts reaps the benefits of more financial resource, educators will fight to be the best. This new desire to be the best, is possible with the equalization of opportunity from the allocation of funds to the poorer schools. The race to the top would already be won by the larger, richer, and more powerful school districts without those foundational funds. “Because we believe in profits, we are consummate salespersons and efficacious entrepreneurs.” (217) Barber’s essay supports the idea of incentivized results. Not only would districts compete with other schools, but their standards would be raised year after year in consequence to the oversite of the
It’s no surprise that there are faults within our schools in today’s society. As both authors’ point out if our educational system is
If it was not apparent enough that America’s education system is failing, Michael Moore’s “Idiot Nation” openly explains to us about the truth. America, for being the richest country, is behind in the educational standpoint. America needs to rethink their standards when it comes to education. America is more focused on corporate earning than educating our youth. The author of “Idiot Nation” makes the reader think about how America is viewed in the world. The purpose of Michael Moore’s essay is to point out what is wrong with this nation and also give the reader the motivation to actually do something about the situation at hand. Moore is trying to make readers aware of where we send our children. The author is trying to shock readers with the facts to do something to improve the American education system.
When thinking of America many people would assume a variety of things such as happy people, greener grass, fresher air, a bluer sky, diversity at every corner, freedoms, and of course an endless amount of opportunities. However, an uncommon thing that people would think of when thinking about America is a land of the dumb people. In “Idiot Nation,” Michael Moore offers a convincing argument on America’s stupidity by combining logical and emotional appeals as well as harsh diction to drive his point across that we are an “Idiot Nation”.
Many Americans believe that children are the future and deserve a high quality education. According to Michael Moore’s “Idiot Nation", they are oblivious to the lack of education that actually takes place in schools. Moore begins to build his credibility by using personal anecdotes and humor, citing statistics and facts, and using emotional appeals.
A time approaches in every person’s life when they must come to learn new things. Speaking on behalf of all those who have attended school at some point in their life, I must say that most do not like it for its educational significance. Today’s youth undervalue the worth of America’s public school system to the point of shame. Hard-working, underpaid teachers and professors prepare to educate these ingrates as their living, and it’s exasperating for the students to not even care. I must be fair though and call attention to the fact that not everyone shares this loathe for education and schooling.
I personally feel that it is not completely the student’s fault to why they drop or flunk out. Parents and teachers are to blame for the drop out rate. They don’t hold teens to high standards, and sometimes give up on teens too early. I say parents are to blame because parents are the biggest influence on a kids life and if parents were troubled kids when they were young then they are most likely to have troubled kids, Especially in our economy, kids are into drugs and other criminal activities. Parents don 't convince their children enough to let them know that drugs are um acceptable. Parents don 't punish their kids enough for grades, so kids are school are reluctant to homework and to go to school. There are also parents who just let their kids have freedom and do not show care for their kids ' education or life. But there is