Category Archives: U.S.

Opinion, U.S.

Issues with the U.S. education system, and how to fix them -Opinion

The United States has been facing an education crisis for the past 10 years, getting worse, and worse.  Now, 2010, many are thinking of ways to fix the education system.  However, most arguments are for one of three probable issues; techers, students, or administration.

Teachers

From my experience in school, more and more of the good teachers are getting fired, retiring, or quitting.  These teachers mostly get replaced with teachers that either care less about teaching, and more about their paycheck, or are very opinionated in their teaching.  There are the good teachers, those who know what they are teaching, how to teach it, and keep their own personal views and life outside of school, out of the classroom.  Then there are the bad teachers, who like to add their own view, talk about their personal life while teaching something, don’t know or care about what they are teaching, don’t know how to teach what they are teaching.

Students

While I was in school, most of the students with me seemed to care about their studies, and tried to get good grades.  Even those who didn’t want to be in school, tried to get at least D’s.  However, there were those who frankly didn’t care.  They didn’t care either because of drugs, laziness, or even, they were so rich, they didn’t ever have to have a job.  I don’t see this as an issue in the education crisis.

Administration

This is a big one I have seen.  Rules are set in the aspect of money, not how well the teacher can teach with that rule in effect.  Administrators get paid too much.  When the superintendant of one school district gets paid more than the governor of the state, there is money getting thrown away that could be spent for education.  Administration does not have to do what a teacher does, their work is much simpler.

How to fix it all

First off, teachers need to be taught how to teach in the real world, not like how one of my high school teachers told me, “…they told me that the students are craving for someone to teach them, and they come to school ready to learn.”

This is obviously not the case.  Teachers also need to know how to teach their subject, and care about that subject or teaching for that matter.  More time needs to be spent teaching the information, and not review the past year, or “teaching how to learn”.  Teachers also must not get mad at a student for being an open atheist, or dressing a way the teacher does not like.  Teachers are there to teach a specific subject.  If the teacher is teaching “how to be like the majority of the populous” or “Ethics”, then fine, but in math, who cares what the student is wearing or thinking.

Administration needs to be reduced, drastically.  Administration came into the picture in the mid to late 20th century.  We got along just fine without it.  That is basically it for Administration.  More power to the teachers.

U.S.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Fails

WASHINGTON - MARCH 18: People sign their names during a rally in support of a repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don t Tell' policy March 18, 2010 at the Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC. The policy is currently under review by the Pentagon and Democrats in the House and the Senate have unveiled legislation to repeal the policy. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

While it was not a bill itself, the defense funding bill failed to get the required 60 votes to pass Tuesday.  Although it had majority support, many senators voted against the bill because it had too many amendments.

“…I cannot vote to proceed to this bill under a situation that is going to shut down the debate and preclude Republican amendments,”  Senator Susan Collins (ME – R.), a supporter of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  Collins was the only Republican to vote to put the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the defense bill.

More than 3/4th’s of Americans support the repeal, even Senator John McCain’s (AZ – R.) wife and daughter support it.  One of the more popular supporters is Lady Gaga, who rallied in Maine on Monday in an attempt to get the two senators to vote for the defense bill.

Business/Economics, U.S.

LED street lights for Arlington County, VA

Over the next 6 years, Arlington County, Virginia, is planning to replace all 4,200 high pressure sodium (HPS) street lights owned by the county with LED street lights. Spending approximately $1.5 million just in 2010 to replace 1,800 fixtures with LED technology.

However, Dominion Power owns 12,000 street lights in Arlington County. The county is discussing with Dominion Power about working together to replace all 16,200 street lights with LED technology over the next decade. This will result in an estimated a $1 million per year savings once the project is complete.

“We anticipate reducing our total streetlight energy costs by nearly 50%, and when we successfully convert all 16,000 streetlights, we will be saving about $1 million per year.” Chief of Transportation Wayne Wentz, Arlington County.

from www.newstreetlights.com

Arlington County, VA, isn’t the only one switching to LED street lighting. Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, and Pittsburgh, PA, are just a few of the many cities planning to convert to the new lighting.

LED street lighting emits a whitter and brighter light, which studies suggest may decrease or displace crime in the better lit areas. Some argue the bluer light has a calming effect as opposed to the harsher orange-yellow HDS street lights. However, some argue that it may increase crime due to the increased visibility.

Reasons for opposition include; glare, light pollution, light trespass, operations to upgrade lighting being disruptive, officials attempting to disrupt livelihood. Opposition can also come from nearby neighborhoods in the form of jealousy or concern for displacement of crime to their neighborhood. Opposition in business districts can be similar.

from U.S. Department of Justice – Improving Street Lighting to Reduce Crime in Residential Areas

U.S.

Repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

PORTLAND, ME - SEPTEMBER 20: General view of atmosphere at the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Grassroots Rally in support of repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' at Deering Oaks Park near the University of Southern Maine campus on September 20, 2010 in Portland, ME. (Photo by Cliff Kucine/Getty Images)


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV – D.) wants to push a bill that repeals the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ rule put in place by the Pentagon in 1993.  This rule bans gays from openly serving in the U.S. military.

This repeal is attached to the $726 billion defense bill, which is set to be on the floor in the Senate next week (has passed in the House).  In order for this move to go through, it would need 60 votes and support from at least one Republican senator.  Of course, the bill still has a veto threat looming in its horizon.

The Department of Defense is going to study what the effects of this bill would be in practice, due by December 1.  Many want to see this study first before taking action on ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’, including Senator John McCain (AZ – R.)