Schools Avoid Class Ranking
Alan Finder of the New York Times reports in 2006 about the growing trend of high schools dismissing their class ranking systems from their students college applications. Angry, colleges argue that class ranking helps colleges see the excellence of a student relative to the rest of the class of the school. Without a ranking system, colleges are forced to weigh standardized test scores more heavily, which hurts the students applying. High schools argue that class rankings have lead to cutthroat, high-tension competition among students, which led to a hostile learning environment. In addition, high schools stated that rankings are unfair among small schools with smaller percentiles and schools with a highly elite class. High schools argue that the difference between the top 10 and the top 20 in schools is minute; without a class ranking, colleges are forced to look at students more fully rather than just the number assigned to them.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Research (First Post of Many)
What Class Rank Says About Health
Roni Rabin of New York Times reports that research and studies have shown that students with better class ranks have better health. Students who perform better in school tend to have acquire occupations with more job security than students who perform poorly. In addition, high class ranked students have better habits and manage their life better. The high-level of learning increases critical thinking and cognitive skills needed in life. Generally, high ranked students have the "psychological characteristics" of a hardworking student such as diligence, time management, responsibility, and they are able to learn and operate more effectively.
Roni Rabin of New York Times reports that research and studies have shown that students with better class ranks have better health. Students who perform better in school tend to have acquire occupations with more job security than students who perform poorly. In addition, high class ranked students have better habits and manage their life better. The high-level of learning increases critical thinking and cognitive skills needed in life. Generally, high ranked students have the "psychological characteristics" of a hardworking student such as diligence, time management, responsibility, and they are able to learn and operate more effectively.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Monday Matters: Controversy #3
Ban illegal immigrants from state colleges
Jeremy Redmon and Laura Diamond of Atlanta Journal Constitution give insight on the new legislation of Georgia sponsored by Republican lawmakers that would effectively prevent illegal immigrants from attending Georgia colleges. The legislation requires incoming students to provide verifiable identification that will be run through a federal database in order to attend the state colleges or universities. Georgia's University System opposes the legislation as they already address the issue of illegal immigrants, stating that they either turn away academically unqualified students or require illegal students to pay out-of-state tuition to attend. Opponents argue that this legislation does not solve the real issue, the declining standard of education in Georgia, by further limiting educational opportunities for students. In addition, other opponents voice their concern that the tightening identification requirements will slow the issuance of certain licenses and permits that hinders economic development.
Jeremy Redmon and Laura Diamond of Atlanta Journal Constitution give insight on the new legislation of Georgia sponsored by Republican lawmakers that would effectively prevent illegal immigrants from attending Georgia colleges. The legislation requires incoming students to provide verifiable identification that will be run through a federal database in order to attend the state colleges or universities. Georgia's University System opposes the legislation as they already address the issue of illegal immigrants, stating that they either turn away academically unqualified students or require illegal students to pay out-of-state tuition to attend. Opponents argue that this legislation does not solve the real issue, the declining standard of education in Georgia, by further limiting educational opportunities for students. In addition, other opponents voice their concern that the tightening identification requirements will slow the issuance of certain licenses and permits that hinders economic development.
Monday Matters: Controversy #2
The White House No Longer Views Illegal Immigration As A Crime
Hanson of Investor's Business Daily offers his opinion on the White House's new perspective on illegal immigration. The Obama Administration stated that "it will focus enforcement only on those who have committed crimes — with the implicit understanding that it is no longer a crime to illegally enter and reside in the United States". Hanson voices his concern towards this policy, stating that illegal immigration is not just a one-time crime as the immigrants lie frequently on their job applications of their origins. In addition, the cheap labor that illegal aliens give damages the labor value of actual American citizens. Hanson also emphasizes the unfairness of this policy, as it punishes people seeking legal immigration with delay or rejection while awarding illegal immigrants for breaking the law and seeking to the American border. Hanson states that he is in affirmation of having the illegal immigrants test for proficiency, American citizenship, or pay a fine but reiterates that many illegal aliens would not be willing to comply with those demands.
Hanson of Investor's Business Daily offers his opinion on the White House's new perspective on illegal immigration. The Obama Administration stated that "it will focus enforcement only on those who have committed crimes — with the implicit understanding that it is no longer a crime to illegally enter and reside in the United States". Hanson voices his concern towards this policy, stating that illegal immigration is not just a one-time crime as the immigrants lie frequently on their job applications of their origins. In addition, the cheap labor that illegal aliens give damages the labor value of actual American citizens. Hanson also emphasizes the unfairness of this policy, as it punishes people seeking legal immigration with delay or rejection while awarding illegal immigrants for breaking the law and seeking to the American border. Hanson states that he is in affirmation of having the illegal immigrants test for proficiency, American citizenship, or pay a fine but reiterates that many illegal aliens would not be willing to comply with those demands.
Monday Matters: Controversy
Path to Green Card for Illegal Immigrants
Julia Preston of the New York Times reported that the Obama administration was working on facilitating the procedure of getting an American green card for illegal immigrants related to legal American citizens. The current policy states that the American citizens must apply for green cards for their illegal immigrant relatives while the immigrants are deported back to their home country. Upon deportation, the aliens are barred from entering America for years even after eligibility for legal residency. Waivers for this barring are available but hard to obtain. The Obama administration seeks to establish the use of provisional waivers for the aliens before deportation so that they will most definitely come back to the States after eligibility for legal residency has been approved. In addition, this action does not require the approval of Congress, so the process can be applied quickly and efficiently. In doing so, the waiting time for legal residency will be cut down significantly. This policy has been met with positive feedback from the Latino population.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Monday Matters - Hola, Columnists! Synthesis
Thomas Friedman is one of the nation's most well-known columnist as he seeks to give his perspective on issues both domestically and internationally. Like Friedman's popular book The Lexus and the Olive Tree which depicts society's constant struggle between new innovations and old traditions, the world as depicted by Friedman is filled with struggles between differing factions. Friedman's main focus in his pieces is analyzes the issues and finding corresponding solutions, or at least better scenarios.
As a columnist, Thomas Friedman constantly asks the readers: "How can we make this situation better?" Friedman always looks for ways for people to achieve a desired effect in a situation. In regard to America's declining education, Friedman evaluates the correlation between academic achievement and the role of the parent in a student's academic career. Although Friedman acknowledges the importance of excellent teachers, he provides a different outlook in which parents can contribute to a stronger learning environment as well, allowing parents to take partial blame for the academic decline. In addition, in his analysis of the upcoming Egypt elections Friedman is quick to realize that the two strongest parties, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist Nour Party hold strong religious conservatism. Friedman's solution to those to want more liberties and more freedom is for secular divisions to ban together in order to take control of Egypt's new government.
Thomas Friedman always notices impending danger in situations. Friedman adds extra emphasis on dissension between differing factions such as the situation in Egypt, Syria, and even Iraq. In these revolutions, Friedman is concerned with factions fighting amongst themselves rather than working together to promote peace and prosperity. He firmly believes that parties should ban together against adversity such as his call to action for the youths of Syria in order to thwart the human rights violations of the reigning regime. With Iraq, Friedman praises the ability for the Kurds, the Sunnis, and the Shiites to ban together in peace to form a new democratic government.
In his many articles, Friedman holds an objective but rather optimistic view of the world. Although Friedman is aware of the dangers and disasters of society, he always looks for solutions or alleviations to problems. Friedman analyzes situations and his statements always have reasoning behind them. With strong knowledge and firm support, Friedman often knows what to do in many situations. His credibility as a columnist is unbeatable.
As a columnist, Thomas Friedman constantly asks the readers: "How can we make this situation better?" Friedman always looks for ways for people to achieve a desired effect in a situation. In regard to America's declining education, Friedman evaluates the correlation between academic achievement and the role of the parent in a student's academic career. Although Friedman acknowledges the importance of excellent teachers, he provides a different outlook in which parents can contribute to a stronger learning environment as well, allowing parents to take partial blame for the academic decline. In addition, in his analysis of the upcoming Egypt elections Friedman is quick to realize that the two strongest parties, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist Nour Party hold strong religious conservatism. Friedman's solution to those to want more liberties and more freedom is for secular divisions to ban together in order to take control of Egypt's new government.
Thomas Friedman always notices impending danger in situations. Friedman adds extra emphasis on dissension between differing factions such as the situation in Egypt, Syria, and even Iraq. In these revolutions, Friedman is concerned with factions fighting amongst themselves rather than working together to promote peace and prosperity. He firmly believes that parties should ban together against adversity such as his call to action for the youths of Syria in order to thwart the human rights violations of the reigning regime. With Iraq, Friedman praises the ability for the Kurds, the Sunnis, and the Shiites to ban together in peace to form a new democratic government.
In his many articles, Friedman holds an objective but rather optimistic view of the world. Although Friedman is aware of the dangers and disasters of society, he always looks for solutions or alleviations to problems. Friedman analyzes situations and his statements always have reasoning behind them. With strong knowledge and firm support, Friedman often knows what to do in many situations. His credibility as a columnist is unbeatable.
Monday Matters - Hola, Columnists! #4
US Forces finally out of Iraq
Thomas Friedman of New York Times analyzes the costs and benefits of the war on Iraq and speculates on Iraq's future. He states that the Iraqi war cost too much for it to be a success: in American lives, Iraqi lives, American dollars, and time. Later, Friedman analyzes how the war was mainly between the Al Qaeda and their ideology versus the Western/ American mentality. For the war's benefits, Friedman congratulates Iraq's first ever agreement between the state's Sunni, Shiite, and Kurd people. Friedman is anxious for the future of Iraq because if the different ethnic groups can coexist, it can become a strong democracy needed in the volatile Arab world.
Friedman views the war on Iraq extremely objectively. Throughout the column, Friedman analyzed the pros and cons of the war as well as speculated as to how Iraq can blossom into a full-fletched democratic state. He refers to a number of states undergoing the same issue as Iraq and really raises the question of unity among ethnic groups in Iraq. Friedman also includes Russia in his example of how Iraq could become in the future, a loosely-held democracy, with a brief mentioning of how Russia is finally turning towards a stronger democracy in the event of new thinking. Friedman wants to let the American people whether or not the Iraqi war was worth it and how Iraq can blossom and really make all the American lives and money worth it.
Thomas Friedman of New York Times analyzes the costs and benefits of the war on Iraq and speculates on Iraq's future. He states that the Iraqi war cost too much for it to be a success: in American lives, Iraqi lives, American dollars, and time. Later, Friedman analyzes how the war was mainly between the Al Qaeda and their ideology versus the Western/ American mentality. For the war's benefits, Friedman congratulates Iraq's first ever agreement between the state's Sunni, Shiite, and Kurd people. Friedman is anxious for the future of Iraq because if the different ethnic groups can coexist, it can become a strong democracy needed in the volatile Arab world.
Friedman views the war on Iraq extremely objectively. Throughout the column, Friedman analyzed the pros and cons of the war as well as speculated as to how Iraq can blossom into a full-fletched democratic state. He refers to a number of states undergoing the same issue as Iraq and really raises the question of unity among ethnic groups in Iraq. Friedman also includes Russia in his example of how Iraq could become in the future, a loosely-held democracy, with a brief mentioning of how Russia is finally turning towards a stronger democracy in the event of new thinking. Friedman wants to let the American people whether or not the Iraqi war was worth it and how Iraq can blossom and really make all the American lives and money worth it.
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