The Truth About Education

I think Douthat brings up a good point that education today is not a relection on learning but what an individual does to get good grades. I never really stopped to think of my purpose in getting a degree but now I realize my foremost goal really isnt learning. It is conforming to a role that society tells me will get a good job. Douthat shows that grades have risen over the decades not due to better students, but because society has changed. One can no longer get a good job without getting good grades. Teachers realize that a students future really is dependent on good grades in class and I have seen from personal experience that many have become lax in giving better grades. If the grading trend continues at the same rate, it seems that teachers will have to give out As to students just for showing up for class. I think this would be very likely. To try and correct the problem now would put the students of that institution at a disadvantage compared to all the other schools. If the outcome is an A for attendence, maybe learning would start to enter the picture again.

I would agree that our system of education is in dire straits. I think that we must revise our foundation and completely reconfigure the mehtods used to build upon the said foundation. As I said in class I was homeschooled for my Jr. High years. Traditionally Homeschoolers don’t believe in tests. They endorse the philosophy that knowledge should be learned for the purpose of integrating into your life rather than proven its retention once for a test. I felt that I truly learned my material while I was homeschool because I was free to learn it rather than memorize it for a designated time. When I returned to public school regular tests didn’t phase me but when it came time for standardize tests I was freaked out. It wasn’t because I didn’t understand the information or that I was unfamiliar with how to study for or take a test, it was the fact that it was so rigid. Whenever I got one of those scantron sheets I felt like was academically under attack. I seemed like all the knowledge that I had ever learned was being stripped of its worth and integrity by my #2 pencil and those stupid bubbles. Instead of ranting for eons about all the aspects of knowledge that standardizes tests don’t show, I’ll just simply say that they are the bane of my existence and to think that our system of education will be dependent on them is beyond discouraging.

“It is harder to reform education than it is to remove a cemetery.”
I took this metaphor seriously as center of the argument: controversial solutions, complex relationship among various factors, and unwillingness to execute yet high excitement to propose.

The matter should be judged from different perspectives. While it is true that education is affected by “gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, special education”, indicating a mixture of standards to be expected, it is also necessary to define some state or federal proficiency level “to determine what the students need to know and what they should be able to do […] to benefit from higher education or to work productively in the real world”. Inconsistency in education standard from the very basic start, as Carus has named, leads to consequent degradation in coming years, resulting in teachers’ reluctance to apply new materials or teaching methods and vice versa. Counter-effective law with its over optimistic anticipation, as Bracey substantiated, alludes to an even more cynical situation in which “no child left behind”, or in another way – all children left behind, for all school find it hard to satisfy the requirements. Is this the standard that education planners yearning for?

What Blouke Carus had to say.

I have to admit that when reading this text I got a little aggrivated. Althouhg, like Becky said our education system is not perfect, I dont believe half of what Carus had to say was fair. Is there an education system out there that is completely perfrect? I think not! Yes, there are certain things about our current education systems that should be changed. One of the few things I agree with in Carus' speech is the fact that our math departments are seriously lacking in highly qualified teachers. I do believe that there is something that can be done about that issue. My point is although the american education system is not perfect, it is substantial.

My main reason for getting aggrivated with Carus, was the fact that he basically called the majority of high school and college students incompetant. This statement would not have been so bad if he hadn't put so much of the blame on the teachers, professors and institutions themselves. It is not the instructors fault for the lack of quality education so much as it is the govenments. Besides, putting my personal experiance into the mix, I feel that the majority of my teachers did a superb job at teaching us what we needed to know to both succeed academically and in life in general.

NCLB

I totally agree with everything Bracey has to say about NCLB. This law sets schools up to fail. The only leeway is that the states have different definitions of the "proficient" level. However, this will probably change also. If the government wants to ultimately take control of the public school system, what makes us think that they will not set a national proficiency standard? The federal government is already attempting to control other things that should be left to be dealt with at the state level such as gay marriage and abortion. By taking control of education, the government moves one step closer to controling every aspect of our nation.

NCLB and other things...

After reading these two passages I came to the striking realization that the education system in this country (or any country for that matter) will never be perfect no matter how hard people try to make it be perfect and that if do try to make it better, there will be more people that criticize your efforts than who agree with you. In the first reading, all Carus did was criticize the education system and had little advice on how to improve it. The next reading was all about NCLB; an act that was passed to help reform the "failure" that it is the American Education system according to Carus. However, this article only criticized the act and did not uplift it. So first we read about how our education system is terrible,then we read about something that was actually done to correct it, but then find out that that is failing also. It seems like in today's day and age all we are taught to do is think critically. Now don't get me wrong, I think that critical thinking is very important; however it seems that we put these skills to use by criticizing everything and do not use them to fix what is "wrong" in our society. No wonder there are more pessimists than optimists in today's society.

It seems to me that NCLB is not the horrible act that everyone is making it out to be. Does it have its faults? Absolutely, but what piece of legislation doesn't? Carus says that we need to make our teachers more accountable for what they teach their students. Isn't that what NCLB is all about? That all children be taught properly? Yes, the main goal of it is that every child will be proficient by 2014. Is this probable? Of course not! But think about all the children are receiving a better education as a result of it. Schools that would have given students less-than-adequate schooling are now being held accountable for what they teach their kids. I don't think this is a "failure". But according to most critics, NCLB is failing. Well do they have a better idea? So far I don't see Congress coming up with one. Perhaps we should put our effort into teaching our students to be "proficient" rather than complaining about NCLB. I know that's the kind of teacher that I want to be...

reform

Well at least one thing is very clear to me: Blouke Carus was obviously educated in one of the American elementary schools he bashes. He surely couldnt have been proficient in English composition. It might just have been me but a three page overview of his life accomplishments at the beginning of his argument really just made me discredit him and the rest of his whole essay. It was kind of strange how he said American education sucks so bad but then said that 50 percent of graduate students are from overseas. Some things he says are interesting though. Many teachers are not qualified to teach the material they are teaching. It doesnt matter how much money you give to a group, money is not going to fix an underqualified teacher. I agree that most people that would be the best teachers are out doing work in other professions. I really dont agree that education reform is really as impossible as he makes it to be. It would be hard, but it is still possible. It just requires the people working from the bottom up and the people working from the top down to meet somewhere in the middle successfully.

Ba, ba, Bush sheep

Much to my giggling delight, Bracey’s “The Perfect Law” likens George W. Bush’s educational legislation to the Party of Orwell’s 1984. In Orwellian fashion, I contend that the best books are the ones that tell you what you already know. “The Perfect Law” did just that. Bracey’s argument cuts right to the fundamental, yet genius flaw of the No Child Left Behind act: it is the exact opposite of what it claims to be. I’m not sure if who the brain trust was on this one…probably Karl Rove. Still, to create these impossible standards making the top echelon of schools seem basic, at best, is a pretty amazing feat. Even the sudden failure of Asian students across the country boggled my mind. However, the really dumbfounding aspect of all this is that the American public rated its schools based on the No Child Left Behind results and standards. We’ve become sheep by our own choice. It’s frightening that citizens in a democracy can just surrender their power to the elite, with no qualms of the impending doom. Yeah, it seems a little melodramatic and cliché. However, this NCLB represents just one small aspect of the puzzling paradoxes and befuddling logic brought on by this administration.
I appreciated Bracey’s use of comparison throughout this piece. Not just the parallels to Orwell, but also the perfect storm bit in addition to the “common yardstick” on page 185. His ending uses the appropriate technique of short bursts of information and the bold, defiant clincher. Frankly, I enjoyed quite a bit.

Which Number Will You Be?

Sorry guys, don't get confused- this post is going up a class ahead because I'm not going to be around Fri.-Sun. and trying to get a bit ahead.
The first paragraph of Which Number Will You Be summarizes the 3 readings for the next class. Only 27% of adults over 25 have a bachelor's degree. With the increasing technology and growing need for education, this statistic surprised me. College seems like a necessity in today's society. In The College Dropout Boom, statistics report that 43% of nongraduates and 32% of high-school dropouts said that they believe college is important. However, studies showed that over 50% of college students will take 5 years or more to graduate, if they graduate at all. These statistics seemed flawed since, looking around you, it seems like everyone is getting through fine.

Education Reform: Teachers and Schools

Carus talks about the inadequacies of universities and how the problems start from elementary school. He suggests the reforms should start from the lower levels which should improve the upper levels already without even having to put a lot of effort into reforming them. I agree with his idea and how not being taught enough in elementary schools causes students to take lower level classes in secondary schools. Taking the lower level classes in secondary schools then causes the problems that universities are having with students needing reform classes. To fix this problem you must start from the bottom and work your way up reforming first elementary schools, then secondary schools, and then the universities. Each step of the way will help all levels of education hopefully fixing the education system that is failing today.

NCLB

The No Child Left Behind law does exactly what the book said. As an El. Ed. major I heard a lot about it in the school district I worked in last year. The standards are so ridiculous that most schools (even as the book said- some of the top schools in the world) cannot meet the expectations and, therefore, fail to gain the additional government support. The law contains 37 categories and requires 95% of students to be there on the national test day and pass. If the school fails any one category, they fail everything.
However, to explain everything in one sentence: The Bush administration set up this program. What else can you expect but for there to be a catch that just happens to make public schools fail and make government funding available to private, mostly Catholic, schools. Bush serves his interests again by hindering the American school systems more.
Also, the voucher system the Bush administration was voted down numerous times by the Senate. This same proposal just happened to be attached to a $328 billion omnibus bill that Bush knew was too important for the Senate to vote down just because of the vouchers. His manipulation of power has already created a strong resentment towards him throughout America. How much further can he go than harming the education system of the nations children?

NCLB

The No Child Left Behind Act is very controversial. I tend to agree more with Bracely and disagree with Carus. I feel that many people support the No Child Left Behind Act because who won’t support having all children proficient in math and reading. However, I do not think that the NCLB Act helps schools. Judging a school based on a standardize test is ridiculous in my opinion. I feel that one test does not determine the value of a school, especially when you have to account for students that are poor test takers or have disabilities. I realize that there are problems with our education system and that it does need improvement. I feel that the governments solution to this problem is not a solution at all. The government just says by 2014 everyone needs to be proficient. It does not give any help or advice to the school in how to accomplish this goal. It also does not make sense to “punish” the schools that are not proficient. The government should help these schools meet government standards. I also believe that more and more schools are going to start teaching to the test as opposed to a “normal” curriculum. This I disagree with because it you are preparing students for the real world and college it is not all based on a test. I believe that schools are more than a place to learn academics and that opportunities and activities offered at a particular school are just as important as the passing of a standardized test.

My understanding of the issue of affirmative action is a jumbled mess of thoughts, ideas, and arguments I've collected and have used to understand the definition and purpose of affirmative action. In my opinion affirmative action is apart of the bias cycle from which it tries to break free. Even though affirmative action's purpose is to level the playing field it fails. It doesn't cure/aide the cultural sore spot that certain socioeconomic classes or races have a disadvantage but merely shifts the tension from one class/race to another. This just creates another layer of inequality. I remember the last year of high school we were given several surveys usually relating to our future plans for furthering our education. It always bothered me when they asked for my ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Why must race and socioeconomic be such an issue in terms of education? Rather than trying to please one people group why can we eliminate the race factor and look that each person as a student in the pursuit of education. Why can't we all be seen as students who are all teeming together in the same effort to better our lives with education?

Discrimination?

To be honest, what I have grasped through the assigned text is a sense of skepticism. Is the issue of discrimination really that critically complicated?

Having considered terms like “racism”, “oppression” or “domination” a part of the past, I thus taste a little surprise realizing how much considerably the issue is still open to question. It seems that this controversial issue is not totally operated and settled down to its final judgment. That means black and “yellow” Asian are still subject to discrimination, either physically or mentally. That means an unsecured situation. That means threats.

Through the 3 texts, I happened to sympathize with the "black", the "unprivileged" persona dilemma in the two last ones. I happened to figure out a slight discrimination in the relations of those readings compared to the "Our School" overall implication. If ever the "Our School" is to emphasize on the illiteracy, the incompetence of academic abilities of black folks? Does it indicate that the "merit" factor should have more decisive power over the admission process, ensuring white males not to lose their opportunities in entering honorable universities to "inferior" black males, the ones who seem to receive "compensation"? Is it fair after all?

I have not found out the answer yet.

Reverse Racism

This passage was very enlightening in an "in-your-face" kind of way. At first I thought "this is the twenty-first century, racism doesn't happen that much anymore." As I read on I realized that it happens just as much as it did post-Civil War, except not as blatantly. We all have stereotypes for all the different races, even our own. Does that make us bad people, no; it makes us human. It does become bad if we act on them and discriminate on the basis of race alone.

With that in mind, is affirmative action a type of discrimination? I don't believe so. Minorities have been discriminated against for centuries, somewhere along the line they got screwed for being born into a certain race that whites have determined "inferior". It's because of this that most people living in poverty are minorities, and because they live in poverty they do not have access to quality schooling and jobs that most whites have. They do not score as well on standardized tests because they have an insufficient academic background as a result of their economic status. So if you think about it, minorities are discriminated against in an indirect way when it comes to getting into college and getting a job. So when whites complain that affirmative action is "reverse racism" we should blame our ancestors for treating other races so poorly. If they hadn't, maybe the playing field today would be truly "level".

RR or HtPGTCTKB

This subject has been tossed around as it's of the meater variety of the two being discussed. The arguements previously made focus on Fish's examples of people of different racial backgrounds make claims that don't come into the exact context they're trying to demonstrate it within. When someone pulls the discrimination card it must come into the context of what the situation it's being use to retort. My point is thus; When the Israelites are questioned for their treatment of the Palestinian refugees, they call us Anti-Semitic. Yet we haven't said anything of hatred or prejudice toward them, demanding some form of inferior treatment of them. Instead we only make a simple critique. This reverse racism used to defend oneself from any attack is a gutsy move on anyone's part, for it not only makes one looks ridiculous to the aware and changes the defnition of racism to the ignorant or uninformed.

Back to the Pot Calling the Kettle Black.

Out of the three readings for this past assignment I believe the most compelling was that of Stanely Fish. When i first started to read this passage I thouhgt to myself, "This guy is crazy why does he think its ok for Blacks to be chosen over Whites!" I come from an all white school with all white teachers, however, for about two years I went to a school in which white people were in the minority, at least thats how it appeared to me, I'm not sure if thats an accurate statement. My point is I was able to see the views of "whites vs. blacks", if u will from, two very different communities. In my all white school we never thought about racism, it was never a topic that we discussed, because obviously it wasn't a factor. In the other school however, i was introduced to the world of racism in which we now certainly do live. From the blacks we would hear complaints of discrimination when a student got a bad test grade, whether jokingly or not. From the white students we would hear complaints of black students getting special treatment.
And i realized after reading this text that arguments about discrimination and special treatment only help to further divide us as a nation. I think both white people and black people should as they say, "grow-up" and just get over it!

Are They Truly "High Risk?"

I agree with Kim that education is important to today’s society as well as the future. Rose brings up an interesting point when he talks about his observation of students in the English A section. These students are consider “high risk” or “at risk” students primarily because they did not perform well on scholastic achievement tests. Once inside the class, he notices that after awhile these student come out of their comfort zone and participate in the class discussion. I agree with him that some students are poor test takers, but are truly intelligent people given the opportunity to express their opinions and thoughts. I feel that most of the problem comes from fear of failure. However, I do not think that classifying people with the terms “high risk” is appropriate based solely on a test. I think that Rose summed it up best with his sarcastic line, “These are the truly illiterate among us.” Today’s society places so much attention on results of tests, graduating high school and going to college. This is completely clear in the No Child Left Behind Act which is based solely on test results. Schools today teach somewhat useless information instead of practical lesson. Therefore, leaving the impression that if your not going to pursue higher education then taking calculus and biology are a waste of your time. I also agree with the chapter when it talks about the struggles of freshman. I think that it is true for most people that they have the fear in the back of their mind, “will I make it.” College is a new and different experience and causes us to change some of our former habits. The article continues by asking: is the educational system on the decline? I do not feel that it is declining because many students are pursue college or higher level education, however, it is not helping to prepare students for the real world.

A Bad Future for Education

I think that Rose brings up an interesting conversation about the welfare of America's schooling system. He makes the point that education is not judged by a particular standard, but that assessments of literary and scholastic acheivement involve cultural fears. I fear he has not stepped back from the situation. I think that education is the most important aspect of any society because without it, the future of society and the next generation would fall apart. America has the problem that it cannot decide what direction is best for education. Every year millions of kids graduate from schools that have not prepared or taught them enough to continue education or survive on their own. I think the reason for this is that culture on one hand has emphasized higher education and on the other hand dismissed it completely. Oprah had to travel all the way to Africa before she found children that actually wanted to learn. I think if they really wanted kids to continue schooling they would add classes that have practical value in the real world. Chemistry class is not going to help you with a flat tire or keep you safe in inner-city New York. Going to a job instead of school to support yourself is really a much more practical thing to do with the state of most schools today. I think the high school dropout rate is more a reflection of the schooling than on the individual student. I think the question that needs to be asked is not what needs to be done to teach kids, but what kind of generation do you want to leave for the future.

Reverse Racism, or How the pot Got to Call the Kettle Black

Another aspect of racism we need to think about is the fact that all races that were treated unfairly did not react the same way years later. African Americans surely hold it against the Whites for slavery. There is nothing Whites can do to take away the pain of what the African Americans suffered years ago. So of course the only solution should be to remind the Whites of the horrible things they have done and make their lives more difficult. African Americans should spend their lives searching for restitution. Any time that calls for the " Whites unfairly treating Blacks card" it should be played. This should not be the way to act, however many African Americans do act this way and society is beginning to accept it. This is why they are getting into college easier, receiving scholarships more easily, and receiving financial aid more easily. Now please note that the only thing African Americans initially wanted was to be treated equally. Do they realize that complaining and asking for special privileges makes them unequal?
Now lets take a look at the Jewish people. They were a part of a complete genocide. Six million of their brothers and sisters were wiped out for no reason. So what do they do now in the present? Do they walk into a grocery store, get treated badly, and walk out saying " They treated me that way because I'm Jewish." It seems as if they do not. They made better lives for themselves. Surely they do not forget or even forgive what happened to them years ago, but they realize that there is nothing anyone can do to turn the clocks back and make it never happen. So they live their lives as equally as everyone else without asking for special privliges. I could be wrong with my generalizations about these two groups of people but it is what I have found to be true in my life up to this point.

-Paul

Revising Affirmative Action

I agree with Ali that the current approach to affirmative action is openly racist. Beyond that, it's inefficient. The goal of affirmative action (at least as I see and through my understanding) is to assist underprivileged students in securing educational opportunities equal to that of well-off students. With this goal in mind, it's vital to remember that poverty is not a racial issue. There is certainly a correlation, but being poor does not make one black, just as being middle class or wealthy does not make one white. What I would like to propose is an affirmative action system based on socioeconomic area. I've seen middle-class, minority students receive grants and scholarships that could've and probably should've gone to economically disadvantaged students (who could've been of any race). How is it fair to a white student in inner city Philadelphia or Harrisburg to have a black student at Parkland or Cumberland Valley receive special treatment because of the assumption that black students are inherently screwed in the system? Yes, I know, long question. Sorry if the geographic references lost some people.
Am I suggesting that discrimination is no longer an issue in this country? Absolutely not. I recognize that many minority students, even once they get into a school of their choice, face bigoted viewpoints that can hinder their education. It sucks. Big time. I also recognize that many white students don’t appreciate the opportunity they have. For me, college wasn’t optional. My middle class family merely assumed that I’d go onto higher education. Of course, I couldn’t go to Harvard or Yale. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want too, either. For other families, the decision of post-secondary schooling isn’t so clear. Heck, post-elementary education isn’t always a guarantee. These disparities of opportunity are not synonymous with racial disparities, though. We need to reevaluate our approach to leveling the playing field.

Reverse Racism, or How the Pot Got to Call the Kettle Black

First let me say that this is a general statement that considers our area, not the places that may still have conflicting opinions on this matter, and teachings...
I was reading through the PoA assignments due 9/25 and the first two readings really didn't state anything too controversial. This reading, however, I don't agree with so far (through the intro and "A Key Distinction"). We can, hopefully, all agree that slavery and the inequality that African Americans faced through history was wrong and that everyone deserves equal rights. But that's just it, everyone deserves equal rights. Just because they faced a bad history does not mean that they should benefit by having more opportunities than Whites now. Our generation had nothing to do with the inequality they faced in the past, so why are we (today's white youth) being punished for the mistakes of others?
African Americans argued for equal rights, now they have that and more. It's easier for a minority to get into a college, to receive financial aid, to find scholarships, and much more. Now, for the most part, you don't see them arguing that Whites should be treated equally though, do you?

KU's Identity

Kutztown has put copious amounts of effort into constructing its webpage in an attempt to define itself in a public atmosphere. The website as a whole is very inviting; with its display of vibrantly colored pictures to helpful information, it welcomes visitors all over cyberspace to explore its contents. The page I found most interesting was that Fast Facts page posted here: http://www.kutztown.edu/about/fastfacts.shtml. I believe that is KU’s best attempt to define itself because it’s where you get the most information in the smallest amount of time. The pictures at the top define the university well. The first one is a picture of some of the dorms where potential students will live. It shows that KU is dedicated to providing a “homey” atmosphere for all of its students. The second picture shows part of the more attractive places; the waterfall in the Alumni Plaza. It looks like there is a class taking place there. I think that KU is trying to portray two things here; (1) that the University is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, and (2) that students will learn in an informal atmosphere in an attempt to learn more efficiently. I think the third picture of the two students helping one another is the university’s way of showing that students support one another and can help one another to succeed. Along with the pictures, KU has displayed a gamut of information on the remainder of the page. Most of the information displays the advanced equipment and opportunities the University has to offer. It especially draws attention to the high diversity of the student population. This is important to the University because it shows that it is attractive for anyone and everyone and everyone will feel comfortable here. I think that it ultimately the message that the University is trying to portray; that Kutztown is a comfortable place that will appeal to everyone.

How KU Presents Itself

Kutztown is consciously trying to define its image to a broader audience. Kutztown is competing with many other universities for you. How you interpret what you read and observe is completely up to you.
One of the first impressions of a college or university is the homepage. To me, the pictures that changes daily on the KU homepage are important. It shows the variety of opportunities KU offers, ranging from academics to diversity to athletics and much more. In all of these pictures, the individuals show determination, happiness, and diversity. After digging deeper into the KU website, I clicked on the fast fact page. This page demonstrates that Kutztown is trying to define its image to broader audience. On the fast facts page, three pictures appear at the top, each showing a different aspect of college. The first picture, the apartments, appeals to a variety of students, especially transfers that may want to live on campus, but not in a dorm. The second picture is the fountain and landscape of the campus. In this picture it depicts Kutztown as a calm, peaceful place, which appeals to most people. The third picture demonstrates the rigorous academics and the diversity on campus. Therefore, after just looking at the top of the page, the university is appealing to almost everyone.

After analyzing the pictures, the facts themselves give a quick overview of the wide variety of opportunities Kutztown offers. The facts mention that there are many PA residents while pointing out diversity through the people from 26 states and 15 nations. It also talks about the planetarium and learning center along with the smart classrooms. This demonstrates that the campus is up to date with technology. The university appeals to students planning to live on campus by mentioning the residence halls being equipped with cable and internet. To me, I was interested in the new recreation center, which shows that the university cares about wellness and health. Another important factor to me was the 19:1 student teacher ratio which to me is a positive for academics. Finally the many organizations was a decision making factor. Overall, the fast fact page appeals to everyone, honors students, academically challenged students, athletes, transfers, and everyone in between. Therefore, making KU the perfect fit for anyone.