The Life Of Error, By Diane Ravitch - 856 Words

In Reign of Error, Diane Ravitch covers her opinions on American education in public schools. Along with this, she gives multiple solutions to the issues that started in the education system in the 1980 s by the federal government and are still having a consequence on America today. Ravitch focuses in on the ineffectiveness of educational reforms and legislation put in place for teachers and school districts. For example, she states, When evidence is lacking, we should not move forward with a sense of urgency. The reformers are putting the nation s children on a train that is headed for a cliff. (3-4) One of the fundamental points Ravitch makes is in the second chapter when she speaks about No Child Left Behind. I had heard of No Child Left Behind before, but not in the amount of detail that is provided in this book. First, Ravitch starts by saying that 100% proficiency is an unrealistic goal. Furthermore, I agree that teachers being punished for their classroom not receiving this go al is unfair. Next, she goes on to explain that schools are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on tests and testing materials. Even after all of this money had been spent, good results were still not being seen. Through this evidence, we can clearly say that something isn t quite right. Lastly, in the second chapter, she mentions Barack Obama s Race to the Top competition. Through this competition, states had to be willing to adopt new common standards and tests, being the CommonShow MoreRelatedThe School Of Charter Schools Essay1634 Words   |  7 Pageshigher achievement† and that when â€Å"schools compete, all students gain.† What is some evidence of the achievement effects of charter schools? To what does Ravitch attribute the positive effects? Can these positive effects be achieved by public schools? Did competition between private and public schools improve both, as was the intention? (p. 295) †¢ Ravitch mentions that reformers erroneously â€Å"imagine that it is easy to create a successful school† and that â€Å"the lessons of a successful school are obviousRead MoreIn The Midst Of Worrying About The Consequences Our Economy,1840 Words   |  8 Pagesmore women great things do occur. However, perhaps this was not the right person for the job. Using the film â€Å"Freedom Writer†, the documentaries â€Å"Good Morning Mission Hill† and â€Å"SelectED†, and lastly the books â€Å"You’re Not Listening† and â€Å"Reign Of Error† I will inform Secretary DeVos on issues within the education system. 1. Two of the many principle themes in urban education are privatization and standardized testing. Both are equally important to DeVos’s understanding of urban education becauseRead MoreAmerican Education System Is Failing2359 Words   |  10 Pagesin Shanghai-China. â€Å"One in four U.S students did not reach the PISA baseline level 2 of mathematics proficiency. At this level, ‘students begin to demonstrate the skills that will that will enable them to participate effectively and productively in life’, according to the PISA report† (DeWeese public education is failing). America spends inconsiderable amount of money on education to ensure that students have the resources they need in order to succeed. The U.S leads in two categories, amount of moneyRead MoreThe Importance Of Education1813 Words   |  8 Pagesmany students are simply focused on grades rather than obtaining information. If a student takes a class and receives an â€Å"A† in the course, but doesn’t retain any of the information presented, then this student has virtually gained no advantages to life as a result from the class. Although the student may feel as if they are being successful because of a high letter mark in the course. This is a result of outside pressure on students to be the best and obtain high grade point averages. This same system

Graduation Speech My Experience Essay - 1873 Words

I was always the corny child that loved going to school; however, if you even mentioned English I would run in the opposite direction until I could not run anymore. English for me has always been hard, boring, and one of the worst classes throughout my school years. In all of my English classes, I was always behind no matter how hard I tried to catch up and stay ahead. As I grew up I was always worried about what we would be doing in English even if it was just going over a story and digging into it; I always made myself more nervous than I needed to be. Going through many different English classes to try to get to graduation was the only way I could get through. Based on previous academic experiences, reflecting back on myself has prompted deeper thinking regarding not only my English courses but also my writing during my previous school years; thus, I have considered all of my strengths and weakness throughout my previous English 100 papers. Before I started high school, I enjoyed English; due to, the fact that the main thing we did in class was spelling words. I was always good at spelling and would excel during every spelling test. Once I got in Junior high, we continued taking spelling tests; however, we began doing more things consisting of readings and digging into stories. During high school, I was terrified to go to English; I know that sound crazy; however, I could not stand the thought of having to go to class and feel like I knew nothing about what we were goingShow MoreRelatedGraduation Speech : My Experience880 Words   |  4 Pagesinto the class and what my thoughts were. I was very excited to be taking the class and I was very curious as to what the course would be like. Prior to this class my entire coursework have been online and this is the first time in some time that I was on campus so I was really ready for that in class interaction. I can remember telling my mentors and my Godly counsel that I was taking multicultural counseling and they were very excited about the work of the Lord they see in my life. I was also worriedRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Experience Essay1735 Words   |  7 PagesGraduation The long buildup to one of my happiest experiences began many years ago, when I first started school. This experience isn’t just one single event that occurred in the span of a day, but a transition that took place over a few months. Even on my very first day of kindergarten, it was already clear to me that going to school wasn’t going to be something that I enjoyed. I was very shy and withdrawn, and the other kids weren’t at all interested in being friends with me. Despite my effortsRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Experience1594 Words   |  7 Pageswith writing and was unable to adjust my habits to accommodate the flow of this course. I had not written an essay, except for research papers, since my fall quarter of freshman year. It was especially hard for me to adjust my time to account for all the activities in the class. Since the course is a hybrid course, I only had one face-to-face meeting with the class. Half of the class requires self-pace and constant checking of what needed to be accomplished. With my initial abilities, I was unable toRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Experience957 Words   |  4 PagesI can remember a presentation I gave to my school when I was in grade 4. Students were nominated by their teachers from grade 4 to grade 6 and the students were asked to give a speech on a particular question. I believe it was my first big presentation, so I made sure I practiced many times at home in front of my parents and on my own in front of a mirror as well. When it came time for me to present, I forgot all the words to my presentation. I remember feeling embarrassed, but also disappointedRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Experience877 Words   |  4 PagesMy experience in education from kindergarten to being a senior in high school was very challenging but rewarding. Throughout my schooling, I was blessed to have some exceptional teachers and coaches that had taught me life lessons and challenged me to be a better person out side the classroom and a better student in the classroom. From kindergarten to being a senior in high school, I attended three different types of schools in the South Carolina School system. I attended a small private ChristianRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Experience913 Words   |  4 Pagesof spending the summer abroad in Hong Kong through UCLA for my college classes. From the beginning, I knew that my goal of this summer abroad was to understand how to work with a culture very different than my own. I would be lying if I stated that I wasn’t a challenge to adjust, but with my patience, understanding, and my desire to succeed, I eventually prevailed. I pushed through my fear of not doing well enough and decided to try my best. The skills I learned in communicating with people whomRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Experience Essay1654 Words   |  7 PagesThe long, gloomy buildup to my joyful experience began many years ago, when I first started school. Even on my very firs t day of kindergarten, it was already clear to me that going to school wasn’t going to be something that I enjoyed. I was very shy and withdrawn, and the other kids weren’t at all interested in being friends with me. Despite my efforts to try and fit in, they never seemed to like me as much as they all liked each other, The kids in my class didn’t see my quiet nature as shyness, butRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Educational Experience915 Words   |  4 Pages My educational experience is just now beginning as of now I am taking an English class also over summer I took an online academic skills class. Although online classes don’t do college justice you don’t really get the full college experience. As of now I am just focusing on my general education then eventually I hope to attend an RN program. So as of my educational experience this far would be high school and as Dweck author of Brainology would say I had a fixed mindset during high school ev en duringRead MoreGraduation Speech : My First Experience905 Words   |  4 PagesIn my twenty nine years of life I have met every type of teacher. I remember when I was in kindergarten having a strict teacher that never let anything slip by. When I was in fifth grade I learned what it was to have no extra help, I repeated fifth grade. The one type of teacher I will never forget is my Junior year social studies teacher, she encouraged me throughout that year to be the best at everything I did in school. You will have these type of teachers throughout your life, the strict teacherRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Personal Experience909 Words   |  4 Pageslearn from their mistake because my parents gave me the opportunity to fail and later on in life I achieved success from my fail and my personal experience as well as sherry connects with how failure improved education. For example in her essay, â€Å" In Praise of the F word†, she states how countless students do not have the skills they need to succeed and how diplomas for students don’t value anything. Furthermore, she in the essay it also give a personal experiences about her son and h ow she as a parent

Winners Never Quit free essay sample

How many of you are living your childhood and adolescence dreams? Two years back I went to Arbaminch University to give a bridge design course and on my way back in a plane, a 9 year old kid sat beside me. His mother and elder sister sat one step behind us. After some acquaintance, I asked him What do you want to become when you grow up? He replied I want to become a pilot. Then I asked him What about your sister? He said She wants to become a queen. The girls dream may look unrealistic in a country with a different form of government, but the point is that as kids, we were full of dreams. Our dreams get clearer and more realistic as we grow up into adolescence. One reason I love teaching is because I help shape the future of young boys and girls so that they attain their dreams. We will write a custom essay sample on Winners Never Quit or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To be full of dreams is innate and natural. As Deepak Chopra, a world renowned mind body medicine expert put it in his book entitled The seven spiritual laws of success, we are purposeful beings we are born to accomplish something and contribute for the better of humanity. There are certain things that you and only you can accomplish in this whole world because you are endowed with the talent or talents to accomplish it. Therefore, the first step is to discover what your purpose is, what you are here on earth for. Mother Tereza was here on earth to care for the needy and share them love. Mahtama Ghandi freed India from colonialism peacefully. Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, etc. served their purposes. When you discover your purpose and do that thing you are on earth for, you enjoy doing it and you do it effortlessly and attain internal purpose (happiness and joy), and you will be successful and attain external purpose. Do we have the resource we need to accomplish our purpose? Do you know what resource we need to accomplish our purpose? Anthony Robbins in his book entitled Awaken the Giant within says that the capacity of our brain is unfathomable and it can help us accomplish virtually anything we desire. Its capacity, speed, and quality of solution are far, far greater than the most sophisticated computer here on earth. Many neurologists call it A Sleeping Giant Machine. It is just to awaken it and make it work. You can do wonders using your greatest gift, your brain. Not to do so would actually be to rob the world of what it out to benefit from your contribution. The second step is to have passion for what you do. Martin Luther King said If you dont have passion for something, you havent started living. Therefore, the essence of life is to be consumed by passion and make a difference. When you have passion for what you do, you always think about it, you plan it and amazing ideas and methods will occur to you that will help you accomplish it the best way. You will be unstoppable by challenges and adversities. People who succeeded and contributed despite challenges and adversities amaze me a lot. The first man is Thomas Edison, an American inventor. He tried so many times to get electric bulb lit, but it wouldnt work. He tried 1000 times, it wouldnt work. 2,000 times, 5,000 times, 9,999 times it didnt work. Did he quit? No he didnt. His close friend said to him Edison you tried 9,500 times and you failed. Why do you waste your time? Why dont you quit? He replied, I knew 9,500 different ways electric bulb doesnt work, I didnt fail but I got feed back. The 10,000th time, EUREKA! it worked. What an amazing persistence. Now, we all benefit from his invention. Glittering success is the prize to those who never quit. Edison says there is no failure but only feedback. Using the feedback he was continuously improving and refining his methods until he achieved what he desired. The second person that amazes me a lot is Mr. Honda, owner of Honda Motors Corporation. 1938 he was a high school student. He quitted school and invested every thing he had in a little workshop to produce piston rings and sell them to Toyota Corporation. When he took his piston rings to Toyota, he was told they dont meet Toyota standards. Then when he went back to school, his teachers and fellow students laughed at him derisively saying hat absurd his designs were. That was painful, but did he quit? No. Two years later Toyota Corporation gave him the contract he desired to supply piston rings to Toyota. At that time, the Japanese government was gearing for war. Everything was to the war front and Mr. Honda was denied concrete to build his factory. He and his team overcame the challenge inventing a way to make concrete from other materials. After the factory was built and became operational, an adversity hit. His factory was bombed twice by US jet fighters destroying the major portions of the manufacturing facility. Did he quit? No! he didnt. Instead he used the adversity as an opportunity. He collected gasoline cans left by US jet fighters as raw material to produce piston rings, raw material he cant find in Japan at the time. He was saying those cans were gifts from President Truman of the US. After overcoming all these challenges and adversities, another adversity, which is more severe hit. An earthquake occurred and completely destroyed his factory. Very very sad and painful. Back to zero. At this point Mr. Honda decided to sell his piston operation to Toyota Corporation. Opportunities nock at the door of non quitters. After the war, there was shortage of gasoline in Japan and Mr. Honda couldnt drive his car to even get food for his family. An enterprising man of mechanical and automotive acumen, he attached a little motor to his bicycle and used it. His neighbors and many others asked him to make for them also. A motor bicycle was invented, for which he received the emperors award. He later was exporting to Europe and the US. Now Honda Motors Corporation employs 100, 000 people both in Japan and the US. Mr. Honda says success is 99% failure. Winners never quit. The third important point is to apply Continuous And Never ending Improvement (CANI) until we attain our goals. This is a miracle formula that helped the Japanese to become the second largest economic power in the world in two or three decades. Winners never quit but they continuously improve and refine their methods until they succeed. Another amazing man is Colonel Harlan Sanders, an American military officer. When he retired at an age of 65 with very little money in his account, he said I must do something for my country; his mentality is that retirement was not the end of productive years, but the beginning. He knows one method of frying chicken and he decided to teach this method to restaurants so that they share him the profit they get from it. When he approached restaurants, they said to him they dont need it. He kept on going to restaurant after restaurant, but didnt get positive response. Did he quit? No. He kept on approaching restaurant after restaurant until he found some which said to him; let us give you a try. He was happy and it attracted market, they shared him the profit. He then established a world quality burger house Mc Donald, we dont have it here in Ethiopia. I used to have its burger while I was in Japan, a real quality burger. When he died, he bequeathed millions of dollars to his children. It is not too late even in your old age to accomplish your purpose. Fellow toastmasters and distinguished guests, definitely, each one of you in this room do not want to live like an ordinary and die like an ordinary, definitely. But desire alone doesnt take you anywhere. I want to challenge you this evening to rise up and take massive action towards attainment of your goals. Do away with complacency. Dont leave your destiny to strokes of chances. Instead shape it and make it the way you want it to be. This world belongs to unstoppable people by challenges and adversities to those who never quit. You have every resource to help you accomplish, to help you contribute and make a difference. Now is time to rise up and make a difference. So that towards the end you would see and say with satisfaction Wonderful, this is my artifact, this is my contribution job well done. And when time comes to depart, so that you would say I have run my race, accomplished my purpose, now I dont mind even if I rest with my fore fathers and fore mothers. Winners Never Quit free essay sample Are you ready to get success in whatever the goal you have set? Are you ready to achieve your dream with confidence and commitment? Do you really want to achieve what you dreamt for? It does not matter what you want to achieve but willpower and importance of your dream in your life are matter for achieving of goal. Winners never quit and Those Who Quit Never Wins In the 1968 Olympics, John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania started the race with the rest of the runners. However, he was alone when he reached the finishing line after the winner broke the inish line only a handful of viewers left in the stadium. Later, a reporter took his interview and asked why he didnt quit like the rest of the runners since the winner has already broken the finish line. He answered My country did not send me to the Olympics to start the race; they sent me here to finish it. We will write a custom essay sample on Winners Never Quit or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page If we imply the same phenomenon in our life too, the key of success is that we should not quit Just because of one has finished the race, we must keep on moving and learning with our own experiences, it would definitely make us able to improve and un the race in better and stronger way next time. Most of the people do put their firm endeavours to move in the direction of their aims. However many people failed because of choosing an easier option that is quitting. Failure makes only procrastinate to success but quitting widens the gap between one and his aim or goal which becomes almost impossible for him to achieve. Quitting too much in the long run can turn oneself into an escapist. We always tend to work on our own comfort zones. The world would not be advanced because f those people who never thought of quitting when things do not turn out as what they have initially planned. Thomas A Edison discovered 10,000 ways. That ways did not work when he tried to invent the light bulb. He could have quitted long ago but never let his efforts down. He says: Many of lifes failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. With a persistent attitude, we would be able to accomplish anything. As it is being said sweat never goes in waste, any endeavour even if leading to a ailure is the first step of reaching to success, one must not get disappointed by the strong winds of hard times, but must have killer instinct to fght with it and be triumphant. Failure is never permanent until the day we decide to quit and give up. Someone truly said Its never too late. So why to bother about the future pros and cons? A let go- attitude is required to give the boost to our own endeavours and must have pledge to accomplish our task with proud and dignity. Winners Never Quit By rsruthi

Literature And Life Essays - New Criticism, Fiction, Literature

Literature And Life Evan Banks Reading Literature Henricson Literature: The Window to the Fallacies of my World I have never been a person totally content with life. I have always sought more and thirsted for some kind of meaning to the seemingly meaningless things that society forces me to do. I suppose that this yearning I have for the truth ultimately stems from my love of literature. To me, literature is the ultimate marker and judge of society; one can always tell how far a society has come through the words of that societys literary critics. The reason for this is that writers are true thinkers who have no stake in the world but their writing. In this way authors and poets are the only true objective voices of reason in our world. I have always seen writing as a cultural magnifying glass for the human species and many times the negative aspect of humanity is revealed through this magnification. Constantly I am reminded of the aspects of human nature that anger me and often times this resentful feeling is bolstered by literature. However, I must confess that literature also shows me the b eautiful side of life and the world; a side that I often dont see or even look for. A good writer can bring the most dull and seemingly inane concept or idea into a new light. I often times will take something for granted then read a piece of literature dealing exactly with that topic and come out changed. Nothing is as beautiful until seen through the eyes of a writer. English Essays