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Education is quite possibly the most important aspect of an American's life. Getting a good public education and a higher education following that is the epitome of the "American dream." Stella Goodman was lucky enough to attend American University and study political science and law in Washington DC.
What needs to be changed?
In regards to high school education, the bombardment of standardized testing is weighing on students. If we are going to continue to throw standardized tests at teenagers, we must prepare them for only standard test-taking skills, and if we must do that, it will take away from the important part; learning. We need to diminish the amount of standardized tests and increase the amount of general studies taught, which are essential to life. These courses may include financial algebra, global issues & current events, creative arts courses, physical education and basic sciences like biology and chemistry. The courses we can provide for our future leaders of our country needs to be practical, informative and fun. We should try harder to keep the interests of the students relevant.
Next, we must address how tired these young intellectuals are. Teenagers require at least eight hours of rest, but more often than not they do not receive that time. We must remember than many students participate in extra-curricular activities and provide improvement of our economy by working part-time as well. We must have shorter school days and start the school day for high school students at 9am, so they have the opportunity to get the rest that they need to stay interested, energized and working sufficiently.
Lastly, we need to find a way to regulate the tuition of public universities based on population size. Largely populated colleges must decrease the price of their classes and tuition. If needed, the government should take spending money from defense spending, especially since we are not fighting a war that many people support. However, we should not add taxes to the American people for colleges.
Why is Stella against Free College?
Offering a higher education for free would add taxes to the American people, make classes less unique and effective for a concentration/major, and force the 1% to pay for college to people who did not work hard to get money to go to college. Although a higher education is basically essential to success in this country, everyone does have the opportunity to attend, regardless if you are rich or poor. For example, if you know you cannot afford to send your child to college, tell them that they must work as hard as possible to get an academic scholarship. Additionally, low-income families are highly capable of receiving loans and grants to attend college.
Education Facts
1. Calling something free doesn't make it free. The illusion that economic liberals create of free education is simply that, an allusion. Why should wealthier families have to pay additional taxes for other families' children to attend? Most families send atleast one child to college, which is an extremely large expense, even for wealthy families. Although not all poor families are in their situation due to laziness, addiction or other struggles, there is no way to prove how they are or aren't making money. It should not be the wealthy's responsibility to pay for another families debts.
2. The obsession with standardized testing in high schools decreases the amount of creativity and athleticism in schools. Standardized testing is used mainly for state and national statistics along with admittance to universities. The overwhelming amount of testing a student has to do is extremely stressful and it diminishes the motivation to continue creative and athletic goals. A test cannot and does not value creativity or the ability to beat a state record at a track and field meet. The only thing standardized testing measures is your ability to memorize an equation or your ability to correct grammar. While core academics are highly important, the arts and athletics are just as important to the development of a decent human being. A test cannot measure that.
3. Overwhelming evaluation of teachers following a standardized test increases fear that their jobs will be taken away specifically by a student's ability to take a test; forcing the teacher to "teach the test." Critical thinking and socratic discussions are short-lived in most classrooms. Most classes are consumed by notes and pure memorization of facts so that each student can get an A on their next unit test or on the SAT. Teachers are forced to encourage this memorization and test preparation because their jobs can be cut depending on the results of a particular standardized test, whether administered nationally or in the very school district that employed them. Not only does this affect a teacher's love for teaching, but it robs students of the education and development that they deserve.
What needs to be changed?
In regards to high school education, the bombardment of standardized testing is weighing on students. If we are going to continue to throw standardized tests at teenagers, we must prepare them for only standard test-taking skills, and if we must do that, it will take away from the important part; learning. We need to diminish the amount of standardized tests and increase the amount of general studies taught, which are essential to life. These courses may include financial algebra, global issues & current events, creative arts courses, physical education and basic sciences like biology and chemistry. The courses we can provide for our future leaders of our country needs to be practical, informative and fun. We should try harder to keep the interests of the students relevant.
Next, we must address how tired these young intellectuals are. Teenagers require at least eight hours of rest, but more often than not they do not receive that time. We must remember than many students participate in extra-curricular activities and provide improvement of our economy by working part-time as well. We must have shorter school days and start the school day for high school students at 9am, so they have the opportunity to get the rest that they need to stay interested, energized and working sufficiently.
Lastly, we need to find a way to regulate the tuition of public universities based on population size. Largely populated colleges must decrease the price of their classes and tuition. If needed, the government should take spending money from defense spending, especially since we are not fighting a war that many people support. However, we should not add taxes to the American people for colleges.
Why is Stella against Free College?
Offering a higher education for free would add taxes to the American people, make classes less unique and effective for a concentration/major, and force the 1% to pay for college to people who did not work hard to get money to go to college. Although a higher education is basically essential to success in this country, everyone does have the opportunity to attend, regardless if you are rich or poor. For example, if you know you cannot afford to send your child to college, tell them that they must work as hard as possible to get an academic scholarship. Additionally, low-income families are highly capable of receiving loans and grants to attend college.
Education Facts
1. Calling something free doesn't make it free. The illusion that economic liberals create of free education is simply that, an allusion. Why should wealthier families have to pay additional taxes for other families' children to attend? Most families send atleast one child to college, which is an extremely large expense, even for wealthy families. Although not all poor families are in their situation due to laziness, addiction or other struggles, there is no way to prove how they are or aren't making money. It should not be the wealthy's responsibility to pay for another families debts.
2. The obsession with standardized testing in high schools decreases the amount of creativity and athleticism in schools. Standardized testing is used mainly for state and national statistics along with admittance to universities. The overwhelming amount of testing a student has to do is extremely stressful and it diminishes the motivation to continue creative and athletic goals. A test cannot and does not value creativity or the ability to beat a state record at a track and field meet. The only thing standardized testing measures is your ability to memorize an equation or your ability to correct grammar. While core academics are highly important, the arts and athletics are just as important to the development of a decent human being. A test cannot measure that.
3. Overwhelming evaluation of teachers following a standardized test increases fear that their jobs will be taken away specifically by a student's ability to take a test; forcing the teacher to "teach the test." Critical thinking and socratic discussions are short-lived in most classrooms. Most classes are consumed by notes and pure memorization of facts so that each student can get an A on their next unit test or on the SAT. Teachers are forced to encourage this memorization and test preparation because their jobs can be cut depending on the results of a particular standardized test, whether administered nationally or in the very school district that employed them. Not only does this affect a teacher's love for teaching, but it robs students of the education and development that they deserve.