Public Education and its Effects

There is a lot of arguments on the strengths and weaknesses on the public education system in the United States of America. I believe while it does have big issues, I think it does a heck of a job considering the pressures to conform to ever changing demands and all the different types of students that are expected to learn under the system. I do believe that it needs to be changed to fit modern society and the technology emerging as the students progress through the system. We all have had different experiences with the system, which leads to different views and different ideas. The only thing that can be done is to remodel the system to better fit the students that have to learn in this set system that was established long ago for less kids in smaller classes and limited resources such as little to no technology. It's nearly impossible to have a inner-city school student learning under a system made for students with more resources at their disposable. For example, a student from Loudoun County where the family might be able to supply a tutor compared to a student in inner-city Baltimore who most likely couldn't afford extra support and as a result falls back in his studies do to something out of his/her control. Different areas have a mixture of both effective teachers and ineffective educators. However, even the most effective of teachers can be found lacking if they are not provided with the same resources as ineffective teachers in other areas who have all the technology in the world to help them. One teacher who brings the subject to life for students who can only provide students with worn out copies of novels that are barely able to be read is limited to those sources and may not be able to provide copies for all of their students. Those teachers could bring about a new change in their students life and help them go far if only they were able to provide more support to their students. Teachers in the case often purchase materials and other things from out of their own pocket yet they often aren't paid enough so even they are unable to help their students no matter how much they desire to. Meanwhile, a teacher who sits at their desk during the entire class and just lets their students filled around on IPads and laptops as well as brand new individual books for the students give students the opportunities to explore the world around them or at least enough copies of previous standardized tests for them to practice on and do well on the real one. These people can do nothing for the students expect provide them with the resources and the students could still do better than less privileged students. The imbalance in resources and the fact that the education system favors areas where students do better on standardized tests can really prove that the system itself is biased and doesn't allow for every student to have the chance to succeed at times. I realize this idea brings up the question of how to determine who makes a effective teachers and who qualifies as a less effective; but, all major change will have big questions, in which their answers will have to be handled by the leaders of the new system whether it be a type of test or another solution.

Injury and Recovery

Restrepo

When watching the film Restrepo it leads one to think about war and the reasons for it. A lot of wars start because of political and religious conflicts, epically when talking about the Middle East. Most wars on history are wars of religion but there have also been wars because of politics. Restrepo takes place in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley and revolves around a platoon of soldiers serving a one year deployment.  The journalist, Mr. Hetherington, selects to use little to no narration in the film. The lack of narration leads to the viewer having to come up with their own way to interrupt the film. In an interview, when Hetherington was asked if the film was political, he responded "Everything we do is political. So in some ways, of course, it's political." I would have to agree with that statement, when you think about it the things you wear, eat, buy, and drink all kind of show who you are as a person. When you think of the people you are friends with you tend to have things in common with them, meaning you might like the same clothes or band, which means you started talking based on what you observed about the other person. The way we meet, talk, and display ourselves is all political in one way or another. In Restrepo Hetherington doesn't seem to be supporting the war or be against it. He doesn't use narration which leads one the think was Hetherington believes about what is happening in the film. The sections of footage he uses is interesting because he mixes battle scenes with scenes of the soldiers dancing back at outpost Restrepo. Hetherington seems to use the film in a mutual way and really just shows the life of a soldier in the Korengal Valley.  

I recently went back to a place that molded my young life. As I was doing behind the wheel we made a stop at my old little league football field, the place I spent my autumn Saturdays. The cold air blows as I see the new generation warm up for their games, and it’s a harsh reminder that you can’t go back in time and relive great times or memories. As I stand in the line to enter the stadium, the smell of the snack bar loams in the air around me. The field looking just as I did when I played, green and lively, the announcer calls out the names of the young boys who will soon know victory or defeat. The field hosts a team of local boys and a team from one town over, which seem to bring out the best in me as a young player. The field seems smaller than the vast land I played at and much smaller at my now High school field. The excitement is in the year as they begin the coin toss, and all wait in anticipation. The away team wins the toss and deferred, this was odd for a little league team. As the ball is kicked off, I zone out and enter a former game of mine, the championship game I played on that very field. I can’t remember much of my games, just certain plays. The visit to the past time renews my love for the game. The time we are in goes by faster than, at least in my opinion, we all realize.

 

 

As I look at the ball that has changed my life since I was old enough to walk, I wonder what my life would be like without such a simple item. When you think of things in life it's easy to overlook a small brown ball. The easy white lines that directed so many young men into a life of team ship and dedication. My childhood ball, now covered by signatures of men who have made it big time of the simple concept, is now my motivation to get out of bed in the morning. The tough outer skin, which is needed not only for the ball but for the players who use it, shows the brutality of the sport and it speaks to the character of the men who play it.

In my mind is not only the name of my blog but my thought of this class. Throughout this year I hope my blog won't be to serious but have somewhat of a comedic undertone to it. My only fear is that people will take what I write to serious and maybe be offended by what I write. My blog isn't going to be some deep weekly post but like I said almost a comedic relief. I'm a pretty basic guy, don't really belief in crazy things, just  know what is right and wrong and react accordingly. I have two big interests Football and the Baltimore Ravens, you'll without a doubt see me talk into the subjects much more throughout the year.