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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
More Americans Go Hungry
Although the number for household secure for food is still around 80% that number is dropping rapidly with the rising economic and job issues taking hold in the United States. More and more families are beginning to lost jobs and out of work unable to provide for their families. In a report given by the U.S department of Agriculture seventeen million children live in households with limited food supply and over a million who are without food at all. As the number of families needing support grows the food shortages at each food bank within the use also increases. As food decreases off the table many parents say there is not enough food to make balanced meals much of it not lasting until they could afford more food, this greatly affects the needs of the children within the households. The face of hunger can be somewhat distorted many Americans not even realizing the amount of families and children affected by this issue. Yet as jobs are lost and salaries dropped the dramatic increase in solving this problem will begin to surface. There are many ways to help, one by finding local food banks. One link is to the website Feeding America, which has a food bank locator where you can find ways to help volunteer or offer donations. Another thing this website provides is the statistics for each state, Florida alone has a Child Food insecurity rate of 15.9 % and those Under Five affected 16.4%. Education can play an exceedingly important part in helping these kids stay in school and stop from going hungry. The Backpack Program that began at many schools is a way children can be feed at home by giving backpacks full of food for children to have during the time away from school. They are even beginning to impart extra food with children who have smaller siblings at home and throughout the summer months. These program incourages students to stay in school because they receive the nutrition and food to survive be coming everyday and participating in the program. By starting small and helping out in our local communities it’s a start to try and help out the 1 and 8 Americans affected by hunger every day
Links:
Feeding America
Food DATA
Washington Post
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Success in Cheating: Academic Dishonesty in American Schools
An issue that many American schools are facing today is academic dishonesty. It comes in many forms and can be found across the spectrum from elementary school level children to adults seeking higher degrees from colleges and universities. The importance of this issue is underplayed and often schools take the path of least resistance; many schools ignore the problem or put it off as low priority. This is just fueling the fire. The more cheating is ignored the more students will feel at liberty to take advantage of the system. Students cheat for many reasons, but one of the most common answers is: “everyone else is doing it.” The fact is that students in school know when their peers are cheating, and thus feel disadvantaged. America, land of the free and home of Capitalism where hard work equals success, students are easily put off when their peers that cheat receive higher scores than them. This is enough incentive to cheat.
This plays into another reason students cheat, the increased pressure of grades. According to Cheating Is a Personal Fowl students in the past would cheat just to get by and it was often the kids on the low end of the grade scale that would cheat whereas now, more frequently kids who are college bound or close to the top of their class are found cheating. “80% of the country’s best students cheated to get to the top of their class.” The grades put a lot of pressure on students but another main factor of cheating is it is taking the easy way out.
Students are becoming increasingly lazy and are expecting more and more of their work to be done for them. In many students eyes the work is not practicable and not worth their effort. In the past cheating was not worth the risk and the effort that would go into it. Cheating has become so easy in the past ten years that students are finding it impossible to turn down the opportunities to cheat. The technology age has brought students the internet, cell phones, cell phones with the internet, micro cameras and many other resources that were never available before. Not only this, but because it is not the traditional form of cheating students have an easier time justifying their actions. 35% of teens with cell phones have used them to cheat during a test and 52% said they have used the internet to cheat. High Tech Cheating on the Rise in Schools
Disturbingly, this is not only found in teens and elementary level students. A shocking number of graduate students admitted to cheating at least once in the past year. In one discipline more than others; 56% students seeking business degrees admitted to cheating and 47% of non business degree seeking masters students admitted to cheating. It is scary to think that the future leaders of the country are cheating their ways to the top. It is easy to wonder how their practices in the real world are going to differ. People rely on others to do the right thing every day. The fact that more than half of these leaders are cheating in some form or fashion is very alarming. For example; how can a person have faith in their surgeon if they know that person could have cheated through school? These numbers are clearly problematic but often overlooked. It is a growing issue, which may already be out of control. There needs to be some kind of solution.
Graduate Business Students More Likely to Cheat
Cheating is a problem so widespread that it is in every single academic institution in the country, the reason it is underplayed is because no one has come up with a very good solution. Schools have put Honor Systems in place but often students do not get caught. For plagiarism some schools are using electronic scanning programs but as the numbers reveal these methods are not really effective. I hope that in the near future schools can figure out a way to combat the cheating, or if cheating is what is happening, find a way to account for it and grade accordingly. Maybe the United States should try and follow the example of a country that is more successful in their schooling but whatever the change is it needs to happen soon.
This plays into another reason students cheat, the increased pressure of grades. According to Cheating Is a Personal Fowl students in the past would cheat just to get by and it was often the kids on the low end of the grade scale that would cheat whereas now, more frequently kids who are college bound or close to the top of their class are found cheating. “80% of the country’s best students cheated to get to the top of their class.” The grades put a lot of pressure on students but another main factor of cheating is it is taking the easy way out.
Students are becoming increasingly lazy and are expecting more and more of their work to be done for them. In many students eyes the work is not practicable and not worth their effort. In the past cheating was not worth the risk and the effort that would go into it. Cheating has become so easy in the past ten years that students are finding it impossible to turn down the opportunities to cheat. The technology age has brought students the internet, cell phones, cell phones with the internet, micro cameras and many other resources that were never available before. Not only this, but because it is not the traditional form of cheating students have an easier time justifying their actions. 35% of teens with cell phones have used them to cheat during a test and 52% said they have used the internet to cheat. High Tech Cheating on the Rise in Schools
Disturbingly, this is not only found in teens and elementary level students. A shocking number of graduate students admitted to cheating at least once in the past year. In one discipline more than others; 56% students seeking business degrees admitted to cheating and 47% of non business degree seeking masters students admitted to cheating. It is scary to think that the future leaders of the country are cheating their ways to the top. It is easy to wonder how their practices in the real world are going to differ. People rely on others to do the right thing every day. The fact that more than half of these leaders are cheating in some form or fashion is very alarming. For example; how can a person have faith in their surgeon if they know that person could have cheated through school? These numbers are clearly problematic but often overlooked. It is a growing issue, which may already be out of control. There needs to be some kind of solution.
Graduate Business Students More Likely to Cheat
Cheating is a problem so widespread that it is in every single academic institution in the country, the reason it is underplayed is because no one has come up with a very good solution. Schools have put Honor Systems in place but often students do not get caught. For plagiarism some schools are using electronic scanning programs but as the numbers reveal these methods are not really effective. I hope that in the near future schools can figure out a way to combat the cheating, or if cheating is what is happening, find a way to account for it and grade accordingly. Maybe the United States should try and follow the example of a country that is more successful in their schooling but whatever the change is it needs to happen soon.
We Are All Equals: On Gay Rights and Gay Marriage
*Article: Same Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships*
I grew up in a pretty small town that is only two miles by four miles in size and has a population of just under 25,000 people. It is the farthest South on the map of the U.S. and is geographically an island. This city, although small and quite removed, has taught me that everyone is equal, whether gay or straight, black or white, man or woman, rich or poor. This town is called Key West, Florida and within its small boundaries, has a whole community of gay and lesbian individuals. They are politicians, educators, entertainers, business professionals, and fulfill an array of positions in town. I have grown up viewing all gay and lesbian people as equal and no different than a straight person. So in my mind, it is baffling for people to try and tell these people that they cannot have the same rights and privileges as their straight neighbors. Why is it that they can make a difference on a political standpoint in schools or that they can be the head-chef at the best restaurant, yet in their personal lives they are unable to marry the person they love just because they are the same sex as them.
In many of the articles I read on gay rights and gay marriage, it seems that our country is trying very hard to make moves on this issue. Gay rights activists are becoming louder and louder on these issues and politicians are beginning to feel the pressure to make changes on current legislation. The Northeast U.S. is leading the movement, but throughout the other States it is still only a battle in its early stages. Gay marriage is not the only issue being confronted. There are issues for gay couples such as adopting children, living together, gaining health benefits, and fighting hate crimes.
Although some people may see being gay or lesbian as wrong and abnormal, it is the lifestyle some people choose to lead and it should not be anyone else’s business to tell those people how to live their lives. It is only out of ignorance that these opponents have such a strong stance against being gay and having equal rights. President Obama is quoted in the New York times as “opposing same-sex marriage as a Christian… but as a fierce advocate of equality for gay men and lesbians.” We all need to follow our President’s lead by putting out personal opinions aside for these issues and being advocates of equality first, because no matter what we do, as human beings we are all different in one way or another. We need to accept this, deal with it, and actively pursue equality for everyone!
*Video*Ellen Degeneres & John McCain discuss Gay Marriage
Working Mothers Negatively Impact Children's Health
Recently MSNBC had a feature on a study done in Britain about children of working moms. The study claims to have found that children whose mothers work are more likely to eat unhealthy food such as chips, chocolate, and cookies and consume unhealthy drinks such as soda. In addition the study found that these children also tend to exercise less, being more likely to be driven to school and to spend time in front of a computer screen or television set. The article concludes by saying that the purpose of the study is not to chastise mothers who choose to work, but rather to highlight that the government should come up with policies and programs that would help benefit working mothers. What I would like to know is where the study on children whose fathers work is? The article implicates that a working father is the norm; it is when the mother works outside the home that we need to worry about the well being.
It is true that traditionally, it is the mother who assumes the role of nurturer and caretaker. Usually responsible for cooking the family meals, cleaning the family home, and shuttling children to and from activities, so it is no wonder that adding a career to that as well would mean that some areas are going to suffer. However, I believe that if there was more involvement overall from fathers in capacities that are typically viewed as womanly or motherly then children wouldn’t be faced with these deficiencies. Additionally, rather than needing the government to step in and fund programs, perhaps companies should be more tolerant of homes where both parents are required or choose to work and allow flexibility of scheduling, day care, or after school care to children. In my office, which is predominately comprised of women a woman gave birth last February. After returning to the office after her maternity leave, she found that the strain of being away from her child was too hard on her and she hated the idea of having to leave her in day care too often at such a young age. Officially, the University would not be inclined in assisting in this dilemma. However, unofficially because other coworkers felt empathetic to her feelings, they came up with a way for her to work alternate hours throughout the week so that she could take more time off to be with her daughter. But why should this be unofficial? Why is it that we cannot come up with a healthier balance of work and home life, and why does the burden fall primarily on the mother? If a woman becomes a mother while working and chooses to take the first year or so of the child’s life off, chances are there won’t be a job for her to return to. And yet we are critical of the outcome of children whose mothers work. It seems like a no-win situation for mothers.
If indeed the government was able and willing to create programs to supplement this, I think that it would need to involve some sort of incentive programs that would give tax breaks or insurance breaks or something of the like to companies who provide or supplement childcare. I do know that there are companies that exist which offer daycare, but I don’t often hear of companies offering after school care for school age children. I think that fathers involvement and company’s care and flexibility and compassion towards working parents would both improve children’s health and habits.
http://www.nj.com/parenting/lee_lusardiconnor/index.ssf/2009/11/post.html
It is true that traditionally, it is the mother who assumes the role of nurturer and caretaker. Usually responsible for cooking the family meals, cleaning the family home, and shuttling children to and from activities, so it is no wonder that adding a career to that as well would mean that some areas are going to suffer. However, I believe that if there was more involvement overall from fathers in capacities that are typically viewed as womanly or motherly then children wouldn’t be faced with these deficiencies. Additionally, rather than needing the government to step in and fund programs, perhaps companies should be more tolerant of homes where both parents are required or choose to work and allow flexibility of scheduling, day care, or after school care to children. In my office, which is predominately comprised of women a woman gave birth last February. After returning to the office after her maternity leave, she found that the strain of being away from her child was too hard on her and she hated the idea of having to leave her in day care too often at such a young age. Officially, the University would not be inclined in assisting in this dilemma. However, unofficially because other coworkers felt empathetic to her feelings, they came up with a way for her to work alternate hours throughout the week so that she could take more time off to be with her daughter. But why should this be unofficial? Why is it that we cannot come up with a healthier balance of work and home life, and why does the burden fall primarily on the mother? If a woman becomes a mother while working and chooses to take the first year or so of the child’s life off, chances are there won’t be a job for her to return to. And yet we are critical of the outcome of children whose mothers work. It seems like a no-win situation for mothers.
If indeed the government was able and willing to create programs to supplement this, I think that it would need to involve some sort of incentive programs that would give tax breaks or insurance breaks or something of the like to companies who provide or supplement childcare. I do know that there are companies that exist which offer daycare, but I don’t often hear of companies offering after school care for school age children. I think that fathers involvement and company’s care and flexibility and compassion towards working parents would both improve children’s health and habits.
http://www.nj.com/parenting/lee_lusardiconnor/index.ssf/2009/11/post.html
Black Male Students Face a Label of Injustice
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=c8ec8bec183f89091a61cdc015f1a6c8
Race is already in itself a controversial topic. However, it’s truly disturbing to hear race being used as a rationale to blame others. Along with this idea of subjugation, comes the harsh reality that black students are deemed upon as less intelligent, falling behind, lacking motivation, or in other terms a failed effort. In this instance, a label becomes critical of the minority. This label is detrimental, dehumanizing, and creates generalizations that devalue the individual. The misconception that all black male students are engaged in violent or gang related activities, that they don’t take their education seriously, and that there exists no possibility of a black male student changing his rebellious mindset only guide the principles of those who wish to be ignorant. To question why this group of students is not performing in accordance with their peers is more troubling, because the mentality behind our social institutions accepts racism in our society—so acceptable that it puts aside the effort of those who do succeed.
As mentioned above, if people ignore or humiliate the capacity of black male students then their level of confidence is lowered and eventually they begin to internalize this idea that they are a problem. Steele’s stereotype threat demonstrates how a person will underperform in a manner that fulfills that negative label. This is disheartening. To think that social structures limit and abandon their hopes in black children can only show the fatality of our nation’s educational system or perhaps of our nation as a whole. Most of these teens are immediately viewed as dropouts, possessing illegal weapons, or participating in criminal activities. Thus, I turn to the CNN Student News Special , where some of these same children “refuse to be a stereotype” and find refuge in their schools. Many are bright and understanding individuals who are able to note their current situation, their disadvantage, and some find it necessary to beat the odds by staying in school. School might be the only liberation from their adversity in a system that wants to deprive them from merit.
Moreover, the article “SCHOOL MATTERS: How African-American Males Can Succeed in School” indicates how vital it is to create a nurturing and comforting environment for these students who often come to school afraid, depressed, and tortured by their imposed inferiority. Because, they’re treated as a threat wherever they go, they take on a role of resistance toward those who view them as such. If they’re so bad, then why go to a place where they’re unwanted? Then, the problems begin. The problems begin because of the whiteness that permeates the psyches of so many individuals. “African-American males did better in school when their teachers were interested in them personally, treated them fairly, encouraged them to express their views, and gave extra help when needed” says the article and that’s exactly the type of national effort that should be implemented. If teachers are to take that heartfelt concern and arouse interest in their black male students then maybe this could be a step towards resolving the issue of high dropout rates. Students need teachers that instruct but also take the time to listen, since their voices are usually silenced anyway. School activities, organizations, and even parent involvement can unite people to work towards taking these teens out of their misery. If they see a positive outlook, a positive attitude from others, and a positive mindset that wants to cooperate then maybe they’ll start transforming their own self-image into one that fits these ideals.
Black male students shouldn’t have to be suffering just thinking about school. It’s bad enough that all black students are discriminated against, but it’s even worse to think that black males are being put to shame for their situation when social factors originating in white society have a large role in this unfairness.
Article 1- Colleges Fight to Get and Keep Black Males
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=c91a1a8470fc42d78d0d522717ed3a61
Article 2- America has lost a Generation of Black Boys
http://www.blackstarproject.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=38
Article 3- Reaching Black Men
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/14/blackmale
CNN: Student News Special: Black in America
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