The number of high school graduates has climbed to a record height this decade. You’d think that would make college admissions more competitive than ever, but a recent paper by an economist suggests otherwise. Read more…
THEIR company names were conspicuously absent from their nametags, but that is how these hedge fund managers and analysts — members of a field known for secrecy — preferred it. They filled the party space at the W Hotel on Lexington Avenue in late October, mostly men in their 30s. Balancing drinks on easels adorned with students’ colorful drawings, they juggled PDA’s and business cards, before sitting down to poker tables to raise money for New York City charter schools. Read more…
For all the protests and controversy that preceded it, President Obama’s speech to America’s students this week turned out to be an inspirational and positive discourse. Despite alarming warnings from the President’s harshest GOP critics, his core message – stay in school, work hard, and follow your dreams – didn’t smack of any veiled political agenda.
On the contrary, it reiterated what many youths in this nation already know but sometimes don’t heed – that education is the key to success, even though the path might sometimes be bumpy, “and you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try,” the President said.
But perseverance will pay off – literally and figuratively speaking – in the end because, according to some published numbers, high school graduates will earn $143 more per week than high school dropouts. And college grads will make, on average, $336 more per week than high school graduates (and certainly MUCH more than high school dropouts).
Indeed, according to a survey by The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, a college education has become necessary for a good job and comfortable lifestyle. In the survey, 66 percent of those who did not go to college say they wished that they had, and 62 percent feel that having gone to college would have made a significant difference in their current standard of living.
Of course, at the end of the day, the value of education is not just about dollars and cents. It is also about fostering a sense of curiosity and knowledge, preparing us to face life’s challenges, opening our minds and enlarging our horizons. Educated people will have a positive and meaningful impact on society by helping build a strong economy and a healthier environment for everyone. As Martin Luther King put it: “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
It’s true – a good education is never wasted. Knowledge is power. And those are not just tales out of school.
If your reading this sentence, do you see that their is something wrong with it?
No? In that case you should be embarassed, er, E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S-S-E-D.
But if spelling is not your strong suit, don’t worry – you are not alone. In fact, a new study carried out by the London-based Spelling Society found that correct spelling of some commonly used English words is all Greek to a majority of Americans.
For example, 62 percent misspell “embarrassed,” 61 percent have a problem with “liaison,” and for 52 percent “millennium” is a real brain twister.
Fortunately, the word “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” was not on the test or the national average would have plunged drastically.
Now, the question is why are Americans (and English speakers in general) such bad spellers? Some people are quick to blame the level of education in public schools, but this explanation only goes so far. It would seem that even some high public officials (who presumably graduated from college) sometimes have their humiliating “oops” moments when it comes to spelling. A case in point is former vice-president Dan Quayle who was corrected by a sixth grader when he famously (or possibly infamously) spelled “potato” with an “e” at the end. Talk about being embarassed – sorry, embarrassed.
So although it is easy to point an accusing finger at schools, at least part of the blame might lie with the nature of the English language, which has 1,100 different ways to spell its 44 separate sounds – more than any other language.
“We have different spellings for the same sound, especially for vowels – silent letters, missing letters and a system that reflects how English was spoken in the 13th to 15th centuries, not how it’s spoken today,” Edward Baranowski, a linguist with California State University at Sacramento recently told The Washington Post. “So many changes have occurred in the language, which are not reflected in modern spelling, that we are left with ‘fossilized’ system.”
Whatever the reason, the art of spelling is definitely worth mastering, since inability to write correctly can hinder your academic progress and career.
How can you improve your skills and not just rely on a spell check every time you write? Repetition and practice. It may sound tedious, but it’s the only way to unlearn bad spelling habits and acquire new, correct ones.
If you think that’s difficult just be thankful you don’t have to routinely spell words such as “lentokonesuihkuturbiinmoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas,” which reportedly means “technical warrant officer trainee specializing in jet engines” in Finnish.
See, English spelling is not that hard. And that’s one message that won’t get lost in translation.
There is a promising piece of news out of Washington this month: when it comes to funding for music, the Obama Administration is singing a refreshingly new tune.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior has just approved a bill that sets the annual budgets for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities at $170 million each for the 2010 fiscal year, $15 million more than the current appropriation.
That’s a giant leap from just a decade ago when the Republicans slashed the budget for the arts by 40 percent to $99.5 million in 1996 and 1997, cuts that drastically reduced music and arts programs in public schools and communities across America. State and private funding also declined over the past few years as recession hit local governments and philanthropic organizations.
The new injection of money came on the heels of a campaign by a nonprofit group, Americans for the Arts, http://www.artsusa.org, who urged the Congress in March of this year to boost funding for the arts. Renowned jazz musician Wynton Marsalis lent his support in an impassioned plea to Congress.
“All around the world, music links generations old and young, and cultures near and far,” he said. “So, it’s critical for the nation to reevaluate its priorities during this financial crisis to ensure the best aspects of American culture aren’t lost to younger generations because of scarce funding.”
It is not yet clear how much of the newly appropriated funds will trickle down to local school districts, but at least it looks like the lawmakers on Capital Hill are finally hitting the right notes.
All the more so because there is an abundance of scientific and anecdotal evidence to suggest that music is a vitally important part of our lives. For example:
• Middle and high school students who participated in instrumental music performances scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests. (University of Sarasota Study)
• Music training helps under-achievers. Students lagging behind in scholastic performance caught up to their fellow students in reading and surpassed their classmates in math by 22% when given music instruction over seven months. (Nature, May 23, 1996)
• The College Entrance Examination Board found that students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation. (College-Bound Seniors National Report. “Profile of SAT Program Test Takers. Princeton, NJ.” The College Entrance Examination Board, 2001)
Compelling evidence, isn’t it, but wait – there is more! Beyond the purely academic benefits, the National Institutes of Health say music can also considerably reduce our stress and pain levels.
If you are interested in learning more about the importance of music education, check out these sites:
http://www.schoolmusicmatters.com/
http://www.vh1savethemusic.com/
With the high cost of fuel these days, many students are forgoing enrolling at traditional colleges and universities and opting for another way to earn their degrees: online. According to an article in The New York Times, thousands of students have decided to cut costs caused by rising gas prices by taking one or more of their classes over the internet. With the vast majority of college students living off campus, commuting back and forth to campus can be a drain on their already minimal budgets. By enrolling in internet classes, students have found a way to stay in school and continue their education.
Although most large colleges and universities offer online courses, the largest increases in enrollment has been seen in two-year colleges during summer sessions, according to the NY Times article. But with the increase comes something else: waiting lists. There are still a maximum number of students allowed to enroll, even in online courses, and many students will run into waiting lists unless they enroll early.
Another downfall is the lack of interaction with others in a classroom setting. Sure the work can get done, but the face-to-face contact will be lost. Make sure all of this is taken into consideration before making the decision to enroll in an online course. Consider also that some students find online coursework harder than classroom study. And be aware that regular trips to the campus will still need to be made for some classes; not all of the courses will be available online.
Online courses present an option that can be beneficial and budget-friendly. Consider all of the pros and cons and make the decision that is right for you!
Happy learning!
From TEDTalks:
Ben Dunlap shares the story of Sandor Teszler, a Hungarian man he met at Wofford College. Listen as he weaves the tale of Mr. Teszler’s life, arching from the Holocaust to the South in the 50′s…it is a wonderful tale of passion, and justice, and living your life.
About Mr. Dunlap:
Ben Dunlap was a dancer for four years with the Columbia City Ballet, kicking off a life of artistic and cultural exploration. A Rhodes Scholar, he did his PhD in English literature at Harvard, and is now the president of Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in South Carolina. He has taught classes on a wide variety of subjects, from Asian history to creative writing.
He’s also a writer-producer for television, and his 19-part series The Renaissance has been adopted for use by more than 100 colleges. He has been a Senior Fulbright Lecturer in Thailand and a moderator at the Aspen Institute.
Happy learning!
An article published recently in the Wall Street Journal uncovers a mystery: Finnish students score “extraordinarily high” on an international test and are among the smartest in the world. This mystery has American educators taking note, and attempting to figure out what Finnish educators are doing and how to adapt.
The international tests, known as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), are sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and are given every three years to 15-year-old students in 57 different countries. In the most recent test, Finland students place first in science (the test’s focus), and near the top in math and reading.
So what makes Finnish students so smart? The answer is a simple one: Finland’s educators are well-trained and the children are responsible. Finland has a system of “comprehensive” schooling—free public education for all children from 1st to 9th grade. All of these students, no matter their academic abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds, sit in the same rooms. According to an article in U. S. News & World Report, this environment “focuses on equity for all.”
Students in Finland begin primary school the year they turn 7, in a small classroom (usually 20-25 students). There are not the usual concerns during the school day in Finland; lunches are free, schools have flexibility in choosing textbooks, designing curricula, and allocating funds, and healthcare and transportation are taken care of. All of these offer students support in their learning process.
But the most critical element in this equation may the teachers. Since 1970, Finland has mandated that teachers for all grades obtain at least a master’s degree. Teachers enjoy high prestige in Finland, the teacher-education programs at Finnish universities are highly competitive, and according to Jouni Valijarvi, director of the Institute for Educational Research at the University of Jyvaskyla, “The status of teachers is comparable to doctors and lawyers.”
Focusing on students, designing a curriculum that challenges students, eliminating distractions, requiring teachers to succeed, and rewarding them for doing so? Sounds like a foundation for success…
Happy learning!
