Mari Best talks about the issue of students not getting enough sleep now a days. Due to increased stress, and homework, many kids are sacrificing their sleep as they get older in order to get things done. While kids in elementary school seemed to be okay, by the time they reach the end of middle school/the beginning of high school, the less sleep they get. This is contradictory, because in order for kids to be able to function and learn to the best of their ability during class, sleep is essential. Yet, it is the the stress of these classes, that are causing the lack of sleep for many. This could be an interesting area of research because I know many stevenson students who do not sleep willingly, in order to participate in as many clubs and AP classes as possible. All nighters and caffeine are second nature to many of my friends, which is unhealthy. I think it's a problem that students sacrifice their health for grades.
http://redwoodbark.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2729&Itemid=58
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday Matters 16
Anita Bruzesse brings up the question of whether or not college is the best route for kids these days. Today, earning a college degree doesn't necessarily guarantee a job anymore. Plus, it puts many families in debt, as much as $80,000. It may not be worth it to spend that much. There's also the point that many kids aren't even sure about what it is they want to do, so spending thousands of dollars to figure it out, when it isn't the only way to figure it out, may not be the best decision. Of course college isn't a bad choice for everyone, it's usually a good choice, but it wouldn't be completely out of the question to consider other options if it makes sense for the individual. This could be an interesting area of research, because there are more and more unemployed people now, regardless of whether they have college degrees or not.
http://onthejob.45things.com/2011/11/does-college-make-sense-anymore.html
http://onthejob.45things.com/2011/11/does-college-make-sense-anymore.html
Monday Matters 15
In this article, Andrew Z Cohen examines an aspect of love that he believes is vital and often overlooked, trust. He believes that trust is the product and "sweetest gift" of absolute true love. He thinks that many people say they love another, but they actually don't trust. Trust is what brings true freedom and space, that's otherwise hard to acquire. Most tend to become attached when they feel they love someone, so to trust that someone will be faithful, there for you, etc. is a hard thing to do, but essential. Being vulnerable is important. This question could be relevant, because I feel like it expands the definition of love. Although it may be hard to research, it would be a new twist on vulnerability which tends to normally be viewed negatively.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-z-cohen/trust--more-difficult-than-love_b_1279288.html?ref=mindful-living&ir=Mindful%20Living
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-z-cohen/trust--more-difficult-than-love_b_1279288.html?ref=mindful-living&ir=Mindful%20Living
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Monday Matters 14
Overall, Charles M. Blow seems to have a currently negative view about society; however, he does believe that change can be brought about. He includes many calls to action in his articles, and although he thinks that we are far from where we need to be, he's hopeful that if we unite we can change it. Unity seems to be the overall goal he is trying to relay through his writing. The first article I monitored from him was explicitly about that, "Decline of American Exceptionalism". In it he stated the dyer need for a stronger sense of nationalism in the United States. His next column was an attack on Newt Gingrich, however he was reaching out about a bigger issue, that many of the poor people in America are working very hard but their situations still aren't changing. He believes that the Republican party needs to alter some of the images they are relaying about the poor in America. This is a situation where a need for unity, to help the poor, is called for. The next column, "The Brutal Side of Hazing" was about how it's important to put an end to this awful practice that is still going on and harming kids at college. He says, "We must end the “conspiracy of silence." The only way that can happen is by working together. The last column of his that I read was called "Inconvenient Income Inequality" and was about how the gap between the rich and poor in America is becoming a large problem, even though most don't see it. Blow seems to view society as too nonchalant when it comes to problems that are huge issues now and will only get worse as time goes on. He wants people to open up their eyes and realize that this nation is far from perfect and to start questioning what they can do to change that. He seems to be striving for fairness, and sticking up for the underdogs, such as the poor.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Monday Matters 13
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/opinion/blow-inconvenient-income-inequality.html?ref=charlesmblow
In Charles M. Blow's column, "Inconvenient Income Inequality" he discusses the gap between the rich and poor in the United States. He starts off by saying that according to Americans, more see themselves as better off than not. However, this is not a true view. According to the Associated Press, the middle class in America is shrinking and 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty. He also reiterates the fact that the gap between the rich and poor in the United States has "reached its highest level in 30 years." All of these points lead up to his biggest one, that this income inequality could be economically awful for the United States. He believes that if the United States continues to believe that this income inequality is normal, that that is living in denial and could be very economically dangerous for this country.
In Charles M. Blow's column, "Inconvenient Income Inequality" he discusses the gap between the rich and poor in the United States. He starts off by saying that according to Americans, more see themselves as better off than not. However, this is not a true view. According to the Associated Press, the middle class in America is shrinking and 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty. He also reiterates the fact that the gap between the rich and poor in the United States has "reached its highest level in 30 years." All of these points lead up to his biggest one, that this income inequality could be economically awful for the United States. He believes that if the United States continues to believe that this income inequality is normal, that that is living in denial and could be very economically dangerous for this country.
Monday Matters 12
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/opinion/blow-the-brutal-side-of-hazing.html?ref=charlesmblow
In this column by Charles M. Blow, "The Brutal Side of Hazing", he discusses the hidden and alarming realities of college hazing, and the recent death of a college student who was a victim of it, Robert Champion. He discusses how college hazing is a common thing in the country at colleges, and that most of it is truly dangerous. Many officials choose to pretend that this stuff isn't happening, and turn their attention away from it even though they know that it is happening. Students put themselves through all of this trauma simply to "fit in", and that mindset needs to change, as the practice of dangerous hazing is ridiculous. Blow believes that we need to end hazing as the prices that people pay for it are not worth the "barbaric physical and psychological trauma" students face to prove they are strong. His main way of communicating this point is through is persona experience with hazing when he was young. Adding in this narrative gives him credibility because he truly does understand the brutality of hazing and the stubborn mindsets of its participants. He starts of the column with an abrupt paragraph "The tragic loss of Robert Champion may be another sad case of a college student literally dying to belong". This grabs attention, because there has recently been a tragic young death, and the reason stated for his death seems very pitiful. In order to show how hidden in the background the harshness of hazing is he says, "And we weren’t Animal House-like alcoholics and louses. We were campus leaders. The fraternity prided itself on receiving the high-G.P.A. award, and I was the freshman class president." He says this to show how when you're young and have the desire to belong, it doesn't really matter how smart or driven you are, you can become a victim. He refers to the 2008 study by researchers at the University of Maine, that stated that 95% of kids involved in hazing don't report it. He then goes on to say "I certainly didn't." This should alarm the reader because he described in such detail just how brutal and unimaginable his experience with hazing was, and how much pain he was in. Yet, he still didn't feel the need to report it, as most college students don't. This sad point aids his call to action that "We must end the “conspiracy of silence.”" Outside help of more enlightened people who have lived on this earth for longer than the youth is needed. These horrible acts of hazing will only be put to a stop if it is no longer allowed, and if its illegality is enforced.
In this column by Charles M. Blow, "The Brutal Side of Hazing", he discusses the hidden and alarming realities of college hazing, and the recent death of a college student who was a victim of it, Robert Champion. He discusses how college hazing is a common thing in the country at colleges, and that most of it is truly dangerous. Many officials choose to pretend that this stuff isn't happening, and turn their attention away from it even though they know that it is happening. Students put themselves through all of this trauma simply to "fit in", and that mindset needs to change, as the practice of dangerous hazing is ridiculous. Blow believes that we need to end hazing as the prices that people pay for it are not worth the "barbaric physical and psychological trauma" students face to prove they are strong. His main way of communicating this point is through is persona experience with hazing when he was young. Adding in this narrative gives him credibility because he truly does understand the brutality of hazing and the stubborn mindsets of its participants. He starts of the column with an abrupt paragraph "The tragic loss of Robert Champion may be another sad case of a college student literally dying to belong". This grabs attention, because there has recently been a tragic young death, and the reason stated for his death seems very pitiful. In order to show how hidden in the background the harshness of hazing is he says, "And we weren’t Animal House-like alcoholics and louses. We were campus leaders. The fraternity prided itself on receiving the high-G.P.A. award, and I was the freshman class president." He says this to show how when you're young and have the desire to belong, it doesn't really matter how smart or driven you are, you can become a victim. He refers to the 2008 study by researchers at the University of Maine, that stated that 95% of kids involved in hazing don't report it. He then goes on to say "I certainly didn't." This should alarm the reader because he described in such detail just how brutal and unimaginable his experience with hazing was, and how much pain he was in. Yet, he still didn't feel the need to report it, as most college students don't. This sad point aids his call to action that "We must end the “conspiracy of silence.”" Outside help of more enlightened people who have lived on this earth for longer than the youth is needed. These horrible acts of hazing will only be put to a stop if it is no longer allowed, and if its illegality is enforced.
Monday Matters 11
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/opinion/blow-newts-war-on-poor-children.html?ref=charlesmblow
This column of Charles M. Blow was entitled "Newt's War on Poor Children" and was a criticism of some statements the former House speaker, Newt Gingrich, has made. He basically said that poor children do illegal things, and have no working habits whatsoever. Blow was quick to come to the defense of "America's most vulnerable" - the poor. His main point was that many of the nation's poor, are in fact, employed. 3 out of 4 poor working aged adults have jobs, and therefore most poor kids have at least one working parent. He argues that Gingrich's statements aren't backed up by any facts at all, and that the true facts contradict everything that he's said. And the last point he touches on is that people who are in lack of money do not necessarily lack morals. Just because someone is poor doesn't mean they will steal and fall into other illegal activities, and he backs this up by in recent years America's overall crime rate, especially among juveniles, has dropped even though the poverty rates have gone up. After shooting down all of Gingrich's claims with facts, he criticizes the current status of the Republican party as it is becoming increasingly less compassionate and accurate in the information it preaches.
This column of Charles M. Blow was entitled "Newt's War on Poor Children" and was a criticism of some statements the former House speaker, Newt Gingrich, has made. He basically said that poor children do illegal things, and have no working habits whatsoever. Blow was quick to come to the defense of "America's most vulnerable" - the poor. His main point was that many of the nation's poor, are in fact, employed. 3 out of 4 poor working aged adults have jobs, and therefore most poor kids have at least one working parent. He argues that Gingrich's statements aren't backed up by any facts at all, and that the true facts contradict everything that he's said. And the last point he touches on is that people who are in lack of money do not necessarily lack morals. Just because someone is poor doesn't mean they will steal and fall into other illegal activities, and he backs this up by in recent years America's overall crime rate, especially among juveniles, has dropped even though the poverty rates have gone up. After shooting down all of Gingrich's claims with facts, he criticizes the current status of the Republican party as it is becoming increasingly less compassionate and accurate in the information it preaches.
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