WRIT 2000
Instructor: Dr. Ryan Crawford
Student: Georgios Chrelias ID# 4058995
9/24/2013
Single-Source Essay (Revision)
According to Carl Singleton, author of the article ‘’What Our education system Needs Is More F’s’’, the solution for improving the quality of the American education system is ‘’…not more money or better teaching but simply a widespread giving of F’s.’’ (C. Singleton).
He states that it only students who have a good grasp of the material taught should be allowed to pass and the rest should not pass. C. Singleton points out that this is due to school that have added to ignorance on a massive scale issuing passing grades unfairly in the last 20 years , therefore leading to college students who need to take make up classes due to lack of basic skills in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics.
Therefore by giving out failing grades, parents would have to actively get involved in their children’s academic life instead of allowing too many liberties to their children while they themselves remain indifferent, according to the author. This passing out of ‘’F’s’’ should ‘’…force principals, school boards, and voters to come to terms with cost as a factor in improving our educational system.’’, thus leading to more money being spent to keep students at a level in their education, passing them only when they are ready.
The Term Paper on Over Representation of African American Students in the Special Education System.
Introduction My current school has special education roster of 32 students in self contain with over 90% of the students being African-American. This paper will address the large number African-American students in the special education system. Attention will be focus on the social economic roles that play a part in placement. When done properly and in appropriate perspective, special education is ...
Carl Singleton specifies that his given solution of passing out failing grades to students will not solve the entirety of problems found in the American education system but unless the students who deserve to fail are not failed his other suggestions will have no great effect in the improvement of education.
The author’s principles in the article are mostly based on his point that educational standards have been lowered in a way that leads to sub-standard teaching and thus sub-standard students and graduates. He implies that due to the fact that there is no fair method of grading due to apathy from both teachers and students, that attending class is not the learning experience it should be but rather standard procedure where your passing grade is guaranteed if you attend. The want for better teachers is noted since ‘’ As every teacher knows, a failed student can be the product of a failed teacher.’’ (C. Singleton).
Although Carl Singleton doesn’t emphasize the need for higher salaries he states in text that there should be a better appropriation of costs when it comes to education, implying that thus far schools have been using funds in a non-effective way, leading to them having lower standards.
Parental guidance is an issue pointed out as well, or the lack thereof. The implication is that lack of involvement from the parents side leads children to not having good results but at the same time ‘’Johnny doesn’t deserve to pass just because Daddy doesn’t care or is ignorant.’’ (C. Singleton).
In my own opinion, as a student there are a few reasons I find this reasoning at least slightly faulty. To be honest, giving out failing grades to students is a healthy habit if a teacher does so in an unbiased manner, yet there is no guarantee that this is the case for every teacher in every classroom. Pointing out that students are the only ones responsible for knowing their material is objective, but at the same time objectivity is hard to find in any human being as a standard. Teachers are prone to human error and thus they can be biased, failing or passing students according to personal standards and not educational ones. Students on the other hand are a different case entirely.
The Essay on Theories of Learning & Teacher Student Realtionship in the Classroom or Clinical Setting
Learning theorists: Koffka, Kohler, Lewin, Piaget, Ausubel,Bruner, Gagne View of the learning process: Internal mental process (including insight, information processing, memory, perception Locus of learning: Internal cognitive structuring Purpose in education: Develop capacity and skills to learn better Educator’s role: Structures content of learning activity Manifestations in adult learning: ...
Apparently C. Singleton is a bit indifferent to the effects a tumultuous personal life can have on a young student. This is not a way of implying that everyone who has a ‘’sob story’’ should be allowed to pass if they are in the position of failing a class, but at the same time psychological welfare is important especially at a young age. Your mentality is slightly unstable and more prone to being affected by ‘’Daddy’’ not caring than one might think. I’m not disagreeing per say, rather what I want to point out is that the indiscriminate method of grading would be to pass whoever deserves to be passed but at the same time, my own experience points out that there were various bright minds that had great academic potential but despite that their personal life, i.e. problems form or with parents, got them lower or failing grades. What I think is the right solution to such a dilemma is perhaps more time allocated to knowing the students in the class. By getting to know a bit about each student’s life, a teacher would have greater awareness of what affects and what does not affect their performance. What a teacher does from there is their own personal choice.
Finances, for sure, play also an important part in education. Higher salaries are not a solution indeed, but they are an improvement. Making more money as a teacher will create the positive effect of higher dedication to one’s job as an educator. Teaching is at times very stressful, having to take on dozens of different classes in the same day for an entire week. Besides, teachers mold the young minds of tomorrow so there should be no reasons for them not to be compensated fairly, as an initiative to do their best in their job. I have noticed that, in general teachers have a miserable salary with rare exceptions such as teachers in the U.K. or Luxembourg. With that said, I’d rather leave the future of children’s education to someone who is not frustrated by their teaching job because of their salary.
The Essay on secondary science teacher career analyis
Secondary Science Teacher Career Analysis After obtaining a bachelors degree in science, most people begin to scour the job market. Many people may find difficulty obtaining a job pertaining to science without a master?s degree. Rather than give up people tend to explore their options. Some people continue their education to ensure their success in the science industry. Others explore alternative ...
To conclude, C. Singleton makes a fair point, if not a bit single-minded, yet I agree on one thing with him: America needs better education. Thinking back to my childhood visit to the U.S.A. , I got asked by a random person in one instance (of many), where Europe is. They weren’t aware that such a continent ever existed. I myself am ignorant in a few more matters then I would like to admit, but I am aware of my ignorance and hope to better myself when I have the chance and opportunity to do so. Not knowing something is not shameful if you admit your lack of knowledge yet, at the same time, not even being aware of your ignorance is painful. Knowledge is empowering and worth investing in for everyone, everywhere.
Bibilography:
Singleton, Carl. “What Our Education System Needs Is More F’s.” Chronicle of Higher Education n.d.: n. pag. Print.
