Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Essay 3 Topic
I was thinking of doing the causes of the Lakota Tribe being driven out of the Black Hills in South Dakota. What do you guys think?
Monday, October 4, 2010
Essay 2 Draft
Woodrow Dismukes
Dr. Kerr
EN101-H1
9/15/2010
America vs. Finland on Education
Approximately 49.4 million students began American elementary and secondary schools in fall, 2010 ("Fast Facts."). Only 68.8 percent of these students are expected to graduate from high school (Khadaroo). This rate has dropped nearly 10 percent from 1969 (Khadaroo). Finland, on the contrary, graduated only 5.5 percent less from University in 2008, (Coughlan, “UK’) with a large portion of other students attending vocational school or some other post-secondary education ("Schools in Finland."). This is one of the many reasons Finland was said in an international survey to have the worlds best educational system (Steffen). Many countries, including the U.S., are now looking toward Finland for inspiration for their own educational systems. It is because of Finland’s school framing, curriculum and fiscal concerns that Finish students hold the overall best educational statistics in the world.
Though a subtle difference, the uniform framing of the national school system plays a large part in the development of Finnish minds. Contrary to American children, who generally start school at age 5, Finnish children begin first grade at age 7 (Coughlan, “School”). Although, Finnish students also enjoy free preschool education until the time they start school (Pellissier). Once beginning the first grade, Finnish students will attend the same school until they enter high school at age 16 (Coughlan, “School”). At this point the students will then declare a focus or a vocation and be separated into different schools depending on what choice they make (Coughlan, “School”). In America, traditionally students do not declare a focus (or major) until college, and students will also have already attended three different levels of schools before then ("The American School System."). However, American students have the option of attending private schools, if they are willing to pay tuition. In this case the primary education schools may be combined ("The American School System."). Finnish students have the option of attending a private school, but, even the private schools must abide by the national standardized educational plan and charging tuition is illegal ("Schools in Finland."). Most private schools, therefor, are either religiously or philosophically oriented ("Schools in Finland."). Perhaps the strangest difference is that Finnish students enjoy a long, 10 week summer break, as well as numerous breaks throughout the year, such as a 1 week break in the spring for skiing ("Schools in Finland.").
Though the framing of the school structure may contradict evidence that Finland holds the greatest educational system in the world, the curriculum defines proficiency. Most competitive American colleges either require or recommend only 3 credits of the same foreign language for acceptance (Grove). Finland require all of its students to be proficient in at least 2 languages just to graduate (English and 1 Scandinavian language, usually Finish or Swedish) (Lahelma); however, most Finish people are fluent in at least 3 languages (Gamerman). Moreover, Finish students are encouraged to combine creativity with problem solving in math and science (Landers). Students are also expected to solve equations in front of the class (Landers) Contrary to traditional American education, the focuses of math and science in Finland are skills and logic. Finland has also been able to establish a national standardized curriculum (with a heavy emphasis on the International Baccalaureate program) ("Schools in Finland."), while also giving the teachers freedoms, such as, the ability to design lesson plans and choose which text books to use (Landers).
Still, though the Finish are extremely proficient, a large part of their success lies in finances. While educational funding in America is largely left to the states, Finland allots the same amount of funds for each student (Thomas). Strangely, Finland spends $7500 per student, while America spends an average of $8700 (Pellissier). Unlike the U.S., Finland also provides its students with free lunches and healthcare on this budget ("Schools in Finland."). Moreover, teachers (K-12) in America are paid an average of $34.06 per hour (Greene). Finnish teachers (1-8) are paid $40-$50 per hour, while secondary school teachers (9-12) are paid $75-$80 per hour (Pellissier). That means Finish teachers can be paid up to twice as much as American teachers of the same position.
On the surface it appears that Finland’s educational system should be much less productive than the American educational system. Finnish students rarely get more than a half-hour of homework, never follow a dress code (some schools do not even require students to wear shoes), and skip school more often than 85% of developed nations students (Pellissier). Americans outspend the Finnish by $1200 dollars per student (Pellissier) and begin school 2 years earlier (Coughlan, “School”). Yet, Americans fall behind the Finnish in nearly every subject. The only answer is that the Finish are simply more proficient in educating students than Americans. Perhaps America should abandon its “the more the merrier” philosophy and join Finland’s movement. Maybe it is true, “Less is more.”
Works Cited
"The American School System." RZUser.com. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~el6/presentations/pres_c2_uss/TheAmericanSchoolSystem.htm>.
Coughlan, Sean. "School That Becomes a Family." BBC News. BBC, 23 Nov. 2004. Web. 1 Oct. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4033593.stm>.
Coughlan, Sean. "UK Slipping down Graduate League." BBCNews. BBC, 7 Sept. 2010. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11203790>.
"Fast Facts." National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a Part of the U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372>.
Gamerman, Ellen. "What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart? - WSJ.com." The Wall Street Journal [Helsinki, Finland] 29 Feb. 2008, Business sec. Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com. Dow Jones & Company, Inc., 29 Feb. 2008. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120425355065601997.html>.
Greene, Jay P. "Is $34.06 Per Hour 'Underpaid'?" The Wall Street Journal [New York City] 2 Feb. 2007. Manhattan Institute. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc., 2 Feb. 2007. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_wsj-is_34.06_per_hour_underpaid.htm>.
Grove, Allen. "Foreign Language Requirement for College Admissions." About.com. The New York Times Company. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/a/ForeignLanguage.htm>.
Khadaroo, Stacy T. "Graduation Rate for US High-schoolers Falls for Second Straight Year." The Christian Science Monitor 10 June 2010, USA sec. The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com. The Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2010. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2010/0610/Graduation-rate-for-US-high-schoolers-falls-for-second-straight-year>.
Lahelma, Antti, and Johan Olofsson. "4.2.8 Finland: The School System." Stason.org. Stas Bekman. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://stason.org/TULARC/travel/nordic-scandinavia/4-2-8-Finland-The-School-system.html>.
Landers, Jim. "Texas School Reformers Try to Learn Lessons from Finland." The Dallas Morning News [Helsinki, Finland] 8 Feb. 2009, Local/News sec. DallasNews.com. The Dallas Morning News, Inc., 8 Feb. 2009. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/020809dnbusfinaland.30a53af.html>.
Pellissier, Hank. "The Finnish Miracle." GreatSchools. GreatSchools Inc. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.greatschools.org/students/finland-education.gs?content=2453>.
"Schools in Finland." World Map, Map of the World. MapXL Inc. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.mapsofworld.com/finland/education/schools.html>.
Steffen, Alex. "Finland: The World's Best School System?" WorldChanging. Eben Design, 22 Dec. 2004. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001779.html>.
Thomas. "Several Lessons to Be Learned from the Finnish School System." Web log post. Open Education. Open Education.net. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.openeducation.net/2008/03/10/several-lessons-to-be-learned-from-the-finnish-school-system/>.
Dr. Kerr
EN101-H1
9/15/2010
America vs. Finland on Education
Approximately 49.4 million students began American elementary and secondary schools in fall, 2010 ("Fast Facts."). Only 68.8 percent of these students are expected to graduate from high school (Khadaroo). This rate has dropped nearly 10 percent from 1969 (Khadaroo). Finland, on the contrary, graduated only 5.5 percent less from University in 2008, (Coughlan, “UK’) with a large portion of other students attending vocational school or some other post-secondary education ("Schools in Finland."). This is one of the many reasons Finland was said in an international survey to have the worlds best educational system (Steffen). Many countries, including the U.S., are now looking toward Finland for inspiration for their own educational systems. It is because of Finland’s school framing, curriculum and fiscal concerns that Finish students hold the overall best educational statistics in the world.
Though a subtle difference, the uniform framing of the national school system plays a large part in the development of Finnish minds. Contrary to American children, who generally start school at age 5, Finnish children begin first grade at age 7 (Coughlan, “School”). Although, Finnish students also enjoy free preschool education until the time they start school (Pellissier). Once beginning the first grade, Finnish students will attend the same school until they enter high school at age 16 (Coughlan, “School”). At this point the students will then declare a focus or a vocation and be separated into different schools depending on what choice they make (Coughlan, “School”). In America, traditionally students do not declare a focus (or major) until college, and students will also have already attended three different levels of schools before then ("The American School System."). However, American students have the option of attending private schools, if they are willing to pay tuition. In this case the primary education schools may be combined ("The American School System."). Finnish students have the option of attending a private school, but, even the private schools must abide by the national standardized educational plan and charging tuition is illegal ("Schools in Finland."). Most private schools, therefor, are either religiously or philosophically oriented ("Schools in Finland."). Perhaps the strangest difference is that Finnish students enjoy a long, 10 week summer break, as well as numerous breaks throughout the year, such as a 1 week break in the spring for skiing ("Schools in Finland.").
Though the framing of the school structure may contradict evidence that Finland holds the greatest educational system in the world, the curriculum defines proficiency. Most competitive American colleges either require or recommend only 3 credits of the same foreign language for acceptance (Grove). Finland require all of its students to be proficient in at least 2 languages just to graduate (English and 1 Scandinavian language, usually Finish or Swedish) (Lahelma); however, most Finish people are fluent in at least 3 languages (Gamerman). Moreover, Finish students are encouraged to combine creativity with problem solving in math and science (Landers). Students are also expected to solve equations in front of the class (Landers) Contrary to traditional American education, the focuses of math and science in Finland are skills and logic. Finland has also been able to establish a national standardized curriculum (with a heavy emphasis on the International Baccalaureate program) ("Schools in Finland."), while also giving the teachers freedoms, such as, the ability to design lesson plans and choose which text books to use (Landers).
Still, though the Finish are extremely proficient, a large part of their success lies in finances. While educational funding in America is largely left to the states, Finland allots the same amount of funds for each student (Thomas). Strangely, Finland spends $7500 per student, while America spends an average of $8700 (Pellissier). Unlike the U.S., Finland also provides its students with free lunches and healthcare on this budget ("Schools in Finland."). Moreover, teachers (K-12) in America are paid an average of $34.06 per hour (Greene). Finnish teachers (1-8) are paid $40-$50 per hour, while secondary school teachers (9-12) are paid $75-$80 per hour (Pellissier). That means Finish teachers can be paid up to twice as much as American teachers of the same position.
On the surface it appears that Finland’s educational system should be much less productive than the American educational system. Finnish students rarely get more than a half-hour of homework, never follow a dress code (some schools do not even require students to wear shoes), and skip school more often than 85% of developed nations students (Pellissier). Americans outspend the Finnish by $1200 dollars per student (Pellissier) and begin school 2 years earlier (Coughlan, “School”). Yet, Americans fall behind the Finnish in nearly every subject. The only answer is that the Finish are simply more proficient in educating students than Americans. Perhaps America should abandon its “the more the merrier” philosophy and join Finland’s movement. Maybe it is true, “Less is more.”
Works Cited
"The American School System." RZUser.com. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~el6/presentations/pres_c2_uss/TheAmericanSchoolSystem.htm>.
Coughlan, Sean. "School That Becomes a Family." BBC News. BBC, 23 Nov. 2004. Web. 1 Oct. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4033593.stm>.
Coughlan, Sean. "UK Slipping down Graduate League." BBCNews. BBC, 7 Sept. 2010. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11203790>.
"Fast Facts." National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a Part of the U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372>.
Gamerman, Ellen. "What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart? - WSJ.com." The Wall Street Journal [Helsinki, Finland] 29 Feb. 2008, Business sec. Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com. Dow Jones & Company, Inc., 29 Feb. 2008. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120425355065601997.html>.
Greene, Jay P. "Is $34.06 Per Hour 'Underpaid'?" The Wall Street Journal [New York City] 2 Feb. 2007. Manhattan Institute. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc., 2 Feb. 2007. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_wsj-is_34.06_per_hour_underpaid.htm>.
Grove, Allen. "Foreign Language Requirement for College Admissions." About.com. The New York Times Company. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/a/ForeignLanguage.htm>.
Khadaroo, Stacy T. "Graduation Rate for US High-schoolers Falls for Second Straight Year." The Christian Science Monitor 10 June 2010, USA sec. The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com. The Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2010. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2010/0610/Graduation-rate-for-US-high-schoolers-falls-for-second-straight-year>.
Lahelma, Antti, and Johan Olofsson. "4.2.8 Finland: The School System." Stason.org. Stas Bekman. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://stason.org/TULARC/travel/nordic-scandinavia/4-2-8-Finland-The-School-system.html>.
Landers, Jim. "Texas School Reformers Try to Learn Lessons from Finland." The Dallas Morning News [Helsinki, Finland] 8 Feb. 2009, Local/News sec. DallasNews.com. The Dallas Morning News, Inc., 8 Feb. 2009. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/020809dnbusfinaland.30a53af.html>.
Pellissier, Hank. "The Finnish Miracle." GreatSchools. GreatSchools Inc. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.greatschools.org/students/finland-education.gs?content=2453>.
"Schools in Finland." World Map, Map of the World. MapXL Inc. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.mapsofworld.com/finland/education/schools.html>.
Steffen, Alex. "Finland: The World's Best School System?" WorldChanging. Eben Design, 22 Dec. 2004. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001779.html>.
Thomas. "Several Lessons to Be Learned from the Finnish School System." Web log post. Open Education. Open Education.net. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.openeducation.net/2008/03/10/several-lessons-to-be-learned-from-the-finnish-school-system/>.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Essay Topic
I am debating whether I should compare the Bible to the Qur'an or the Archetypes in the Bible to the Archetypes in Star Wars.
What do you guys think?
What do you guys think?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Essay Draft
Despite the existence of over 1 billion squatters in the world, squatting is an issue which stays largely under the radar, regardless of the country. (Neuwirth, ted.com) A squatter is defined as “one that settles on property without right or title or payment of rent.”(Merriam Webster) Squatters can be broken down into two major groups, urban squatters, those who squat in cities usually in preexisting housing, or land occupation squatters, those who squat on land they do not own and build their own housing. (lipmagazine) What truly distinguishes these groups is land occupation squatters are mainly driven by poverty and the for affordable housing; whereas, urban squatter (while some certainly are driven by poverty) tend to squat as more of a political act. (lipmagazine) Some people, especially in Europe, squat because they believe housing should be a right instead of a means of real estate investment. (lipmagazine) Considering 1 in 6 people on earth squat, aspects of domestic, international and third world squatting need to be made aware to people across the world. (ted.com)
Although the United States has few national laws against squatting, squatting is rarely tolerated. (tripatlas.com) Most states have individualized laws against squatting that prevent it from happening. However, there are organizations that exist which help all those willing to squat find homes, buildings and land to squat. (takebacktheland.org) Take Back the Land and Home Not Jails are two of these organizations that epitomize the typical American squatter view.(lipmagazine.com) These organizations see property and housing as a right and strive to provide as many people as possible homes by means of squatting. Many Americans squat as a protest to proves this point, however, others squat just to have a shelter to sleep in. (lipmagazine) After the 2008 financial crisis organizations like these helped many homeless and jobless people find places to stay. Many of these “places” being foreclosed houses. Police have been too busy with various other crimes to evict squatters, making foreclosed housing perfect for squatting. (nytimes.com)
Europeans have a similar view towards squatting, however, Europeans tend to be much more politically active about it. Many people from around the world travel to Amsterdam to take part in it’s infamous squatting scene. (lipmagazine) In Berlin, Germany Squ@t!net (an international squatting magazine) holds an annual squatting festival which acts as a socialist demonstration for squatting rights. (squat.net) However, the biggest difference between squatting in America and squatting in Europe is Europeans dislike “Wild Squatters”, squatters who squat separated from the squatting “scene” (largely because European squatters tend to be much more political). (lipmagazine) Despite the fact that squatting is almost always illegal there are some right that squatters do have. In England a squatter can legally aquire a property after 12 years of squatting. (timesonline.co.uk) Still most squatting does require breaking and entering, as well as trespassing; so, somewhere in the squatting process a law is usually broken.
However, the most prominent issue within squatting exists in the third world. Because of the large amount of extreme poverty in third world nations, squatting differs greatly in the third world from any where else. Squatting in third world nations is characterized by the establishment of squatting “settlements” more commonly known as “shanty towns” or “slums.” (ted.com) In these slums often do not have water or sewage, the housing is well below what most societies deem as the minimum standard for living, and electricity is a rare commodity. (gdrc.com) Though the settlements are rarely built on “desirable” land, most always the land is illegally settled, even if the land is public property. (gdrc.com) Unfortunately the problem is not getting any better. Between (approximately) 30 - 35 percent of the urban population of the Third World reside in squatting settlements. (sciencedirect.com) This number is only growing. About 130 people every minute are driven into a squatting community. It is estimated that by the year 2030 1 in every 4 people on the planet will be driven to squatting; that is approximately 2 billion squatters. (ted.com)
Strangely, squatting is one of the few things that exists in every culture. Consequently it is an issue around the globe, for better or for worse. It is something that effects everyone regardless of where one lives. Because the squatting population is increasing so rapidly awareness for this subject needs to be raised.
Although the United States has few national laws against squatting, squatting is rarely tolerated. (tripatlas.com) Most states have individualized laws against squatting that prevent it from happening. However, there are organizations that exist which help all those willing to squat find homes, buildings and land to squat. (takebacktheland.org) Take Back the Land and Home Not Jails are two of these organizations that epitomize the typical American squatter view.(lipmagazine.com) These organizations see property and housing as a right and strive to provide as many people as possible homes by means of squatting. Many Americans squat as a protest to proves this point, however, others squat just to have a shelter to sleep in. (lipmagazine) After the 2008 financial crisis organizations like these helped many homeless and jobless people find places to stay. Many of these “places” being foreclosed houses. Police have been too busy with various other crimes to evict squatters, making foreclosed housing perfect for squatting. (nytimes.com)
Europeans have a similar view towards squatting, however, Europeans tend to be much more politically active about it. Many people from around the world travel to Amsterdam to take part in it’s infamous squatting scene. (lipmagazine) In Berlin, Germany Squ@t!net (an international squatting magazine) holds an annual squatting festival which acts as a socialist demonstration for squatting rights. (squat.net) However, the biggest difference between squatting in America and squatting in Europe is Europeans dislike “Wild Squatters”, squatters who squat separated from the squatting “scene” (largely because European squatters tend to be much more political). (lipmagazine) Despite the fact that squatting is almost always illegal there are some right that squatters do have. In England a squatter can legally aquire a property after 12 years of squatting. (timesonline.co.uk) Still most squatting does require breaking and entering, as well as trespassing; so, somewhere in the squatting process a law is usually broken.
However, the most prominent issue within squatting exists in the third world. Because of the large amount of extreme poverty in third world nations, squatting differs greatly in the third world from any where else. Squatting in third world nations is characterized by the establishment of squatting “settlements” more commonly known as “shanty towns” or “slums.” (ted.com) In these slums often do not have water or sewage, the housing is well below what most societies deem as the minimum standard for living, and electricity is a rare commodity. (gdrc.com) Though the settlements are rarely built on “desirable” land, most always the land is illegally settled, even if the land is public property. (gdrc.com) Unfortunately the problem is not getting any better. Between (approximately) 30 - 35 percent of the urban population of the Third World reside in squatting settlements. (sciencedirect.com) This number is only growing. About 130 people every minute are driven into a squatting community. It is estimated that by the year 2030 1 in every 4 people on the planet will be driven to squatting; that is approximately 2 billion squatters. (ted.com)
Strangely, squatting is one of the few things that exists in every culture. Consequently it is an issue around the globe, for better or for worse. It is something that effects everyone regardless of where one lives. Because the squatting population is increasing so rapidly awareness for this subject needs to be raised.
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