User talk:Stevenarntson/group spaces/analytical writing/group 5


 * Hi Group 5,
 * I browsed through some of these sources--there's a good variety here. I'm skeptical about the value of wikiAnswers for serious research, but many of these other spots look good. I mentioned Ivan Illich the other day as an example on the far left of someone who advocates for the end of compulsory education. You can find his book online here and a wikipedia page about it here.
 * Stevenarntson 15:09, 11 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi Group 5,
 * I was hoping to see a bit more posted here this week--keep in mind that you'll be presenting this to the class in seven days! We'll talk more later this morning.
 * Best, Stevenarntson 14:25, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

"Cadieblaser 08:57, 11 February 2009 (UTC)"

Here is a list of different sources that we have gathered over the last couple weeks:

Social Problem – Education System

School Funding http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/10facts/index.html The United States is a world leader in education investment. However, nations that spend far less achieve higher levels of student performance.

School funding background: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/backgrounders/school_funding.html

Private & public; politics and the structure of education funding Source: http://www.voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/559

Low Standards Article about public education standards Source: http://www.edweek.org/rc/issues/standards/ Is public education an effective means of educating children? Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_public_education_an_effective_means_of_educating_children

No Child Left Behind : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act

Negative views on No Child Left Behind:

-A plurality (40%) had an unfavorable view of No Child Left Behind in 2007, up from 13% in 2003.(Gallup, September 2007)

-52% of public school parents said in 2007 there is too much emphasis on testing, up from 32% in 2002. (Only 43% of all adults agree there is too much emphasis, up from 31%.) (Gallup, September 2007)

-Only one-third of public school parents say NCLB is helping their schools, with the rest saying it is hurting or making no difference. (Gallup, September 2007)

-Only one-third of public school parents say the “increase in testing” is helping their schools, with the rest saying it is hurting or making no difference. (Gallup, September 2007)

Source: http://www.ourfuture.org/public-pulse/negative-views-no-child-left-behind-are-growing-rapidly

History History of the public education system: Source: http://www.servintfree.net/~aidmn-ejournal/publications/2001-11/PublicEducationInTheUnitedStates.html

Higher Education: college; interesting article about the progression of college and high school standards Source: http://thecollegepuzzle.blogspot.com/2007/05/disjuncture-between-k12-and-higher.html

GPA/Competition Good source: http://www.degreedriven.com/education/gpa-tips GPA’s are starting to be less of an issue when applying for college and more of what classes you took Source: http://www.petersons.com/common/article.asp?id=477&sponsor=1&path=ug.gs.advice

Tips on how to maintain a better GPA	http://hubpages.com/hub/increasegpa

Davedoumis 20:05, 4 February 2009 (UTC) -

''After meeting together we put together an outline, to help narrow the topic. We designated a sub-topic to cover for each person in our group, so next week we can piece each individual part into a paper:''

CADIE: Funding of college? Is the money spent really worth it? What is the percentage of people who go to college? What is the rise of cost in college? Have to be rich to get in Does the expense of college pay for it self? Does college mean you have better job opportunities? Going to college a gamble?

BRETT: Why are we going to school other than diploma? Alternate education? Trade schools? You need a diploma? Why do schools have to be the only educators? School: Bright people

DAVE: What is the transition between high school and college? Is high school setting you up for success in college? What function does collage serve? Perfect school? Perfectly meeting our needs?

SAM: Who are the type of people attending college? Tuition rate? Kind of people Wealthy? Race? Economics? Diversity?

Davedoumis 20:05, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

Alternate Forms of Education.

Draft

Society has made a post-secondary education a requirement for most any job worth having. What if you could fulfill your dreams without the cost of a diploma? It hasn’t always been that a college education and a diploma is the only way to get a descent paying job. I believe this has caused many social problems. With thousands of families in debt, and a country facing an economic depression, a job shouldn’t cost $40,000+. Society needs to learn to accept alternate forms of education as equivalent to the diploma.

Certain jobs, like being a doctor or surgeon, require specific education and training. But for trade jobs; like being an electrician, plumber, mechanic, audio engineer, graphic designer, or photographer, you shouldn’t have to acquire a diploma just to work.

Vocational schools, career colleges, or trade schools are schools that focus learning towards one career goal. Essentially what the Art Institute offers. Both private, and state vocational schools exist, and the state grants financial aid for both. You come out of a vocational school with an education, and a diploma to showcase your education. Other organizations offer education by means of work. Essentially, the main difference in these two forms of education is the diploma.

The Work to Learn Center is a privately operated trade school that “provides a 4-semester sequence of academic courses and related work experiences that emphasize a core academic curriculum for each semester.” Students at the Work to Learn Center work half time, and go to class half time. Students work as a team on projects, like building a house with the skills they have acquired. This prepares them for what working in the real world is really like. Sitting in class and talking about how an industry operates, is nothing like working in the industry to learn first hand how it operates. Going to a school like this doesn’t give you a diploma to showcase your knowledge and education, and doesn’t stand next to a diploma from a vocational school or university in an interview situation.

Another form of education that I feel deserves to be equivalent to a diploma is an internship or apprenticeship. By working in the shadow of an employer or professional, you develop a clear vision of the future. You are given a chance to understand how the industry operates before spending thousands of dollars going to school, to find out that a different job would suit yourself better. It allows you to work hands-on in a professional environment, and see first hand how what you’re learning applies in the real world. During an internship you are applying what you are learning, while you are learning.

Imagine if we could gain our education for free, if we could learn everything we need to work in a specific industry without the outrageous cost of acquiring a diploma. Too many people start school without knowing what they want to do in their future, and suffer financially in debt for years because of it. The most logical solution to this problem is accepting alternate forms of education equivalent to the diploma.