2008 Woodie Awards
In terms of importance, improving education should top candidates' 'To Do' lists
Andrew Zaleski
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Opinion
Normally, I loathe this time of the semester, and understandably so -- I don't believe I know one person who truly enjoys the prospect of final examinations.
Generally, students unleash their "inner stress" as final papers, cram sessions and nail biting dominate every caffeine-stimulated second of available time.
Speaking in terms of what entertains and what does not, it is perfectly reasonable to state that time spent working hard isn't necessarily entertaining.
And yet, despite the trauma associated with wrapping up the end of a college semester, I take comfort knowing that, for one final week, my intellect and will to succeed endure late nights sifting through piles of books. Relishing in education -- crazy, right?
Education is one topic which America's presidential contenders have not spent nearly enough time addressing. Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain discuss the economy, the war in Iraq and job creation and promotion. Even race and gender have been talked about during this election cycle.
However, not nearly enough attention is placed on the subject of education in America. For our candidates to not debate some sort of educational reform astounds me, especially during a period of American society in which approximately one-third of all high school students drop out, and about another half are incapable of placing the US Civil War in chronological context, even when given a 50-year spread of time.
"Who needs to know when the Civil War occurred?" Anyone asking a question like that is ignorant (obviously); being part of that 50 percent does not make a person "cool."
Instead, the question that needs addressing is how America -- the self-proclaimed greatest nation in the world -- could allow educational standards to sink so low. President Bush sought to improve our public education system with the No Child Left Behind act, but all that accomplished was to create a correlation between the amount of government funding a school received with students' performance on standardized tests in math and reading.
Generally, students unleash their "inner stress" as final papers, cram sessions and nail biting dominate every caffeine-stimulated second of available time.
Speaking in terms of what entertains and what does not, it is perfectly reasonable to state that time spent working hard isn't necessarily entertaining.
And yet, despite the trauma associated with wrapping up the end of a college semester, I take comfort knowing that, for one final week, my intellect and will to succeed endure late nights sifting through piles of books. Relishing in education -- crazy, right?
Education is one topic which America's presidential contenders have not spent nearly enough time addressing. Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain discuss the economy, the war in Iraq and job creation and promotion. Even race and gender have been talked about during this election cycle.
However, not nearly enough attention is placed on the subject of education in America. For our candidates to not debate some sort of educational reform astounds me, especially during a period of American society in which approximately one-third of all high school students drop out, and about another half are incapable of placing the US Civil War in chronological context, even when given a 50-year spread of time.
"Who needs to know when the Civil War occurred?" Anyone asking a question like that is ignorant (obviously); being part of that 50 percent does not make a person "cool."
Instead, the question that needs addressing is how America -- the self-proclaimed greatest nation in the world -- could allow educational standards to sink so low. President Bush sought to improve our public education system with the No Child Left Behind act, but all that accomplished was to create a correlation between the amount of government funding a school received with students' performance on standardized tests in math and reading.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Mabel
posted 5/07/08 @ 5:38 PM EST
Excellent article! Education is the only certain way of dealing with the world's issues. Solving the problems of academic inequality created by the No Child Left Behind act will be a huge challenge for any of the candidates. (Continued…)
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