#8

What surprised me about the film “Waiting for Superman” was the fact that the very institutions whose intended purpose is to support and improve that education system actually complicate it. It is ridiculous how these institutions create different standards or expectations that don’t unite the education system, rather is separates it on a local level. So if a student comes from a school that belongs to a low income neighborhood the academic expectations are low, while in an adjacent neighborhood they are higher. Basically, if one goes to the wrong school, they get a low quality education because the school is self-administering. The students at the US have unequal learning.

If Superman where to “rescue” these students he would have to change policy and the funding of all public schools in the US. The US education system is in a cycle of inequality; if a school does not meet standards then its funding goes down so the school would have to be unnecessarily strict with students which make them attend less. The student might have been better behaved and academically stable if the resources were available to them in the first place, but their resources depend on attendance and test scores. In order to help these children we must get involved in their lives, not just academically but also personally. We must encourage their involvement and continuation of learning. Parents can get involved by attending PTA or PTSA meetings and if they can’t because of work the school must come up with a way to find a student to aid their continuing education.

The things in “12 Lies to Stop Telling Yourself” are true and definitely apply to me. I do find myself saying things like “I can’t do it” or “I will fail”. I wish to think more calmly and just concentrate completely. When I do something strenuous with a time I just think that I won’t do a good job or this isn’t going to turn out right, but when I start doing what I have to do I accomplish it. I want to stop regretting and start learning from my mistakes and never seeing a dark future. I think that believing in one’s abilities is the fundamental way to accomplish things. Anyone can accomplish something if they put their mind and soul into it. The way I can inspire student is to relate my experiences to their and tell them that I went through things as well and that I still managed to get to college and learn. The words “difficult” and “easy” are words that should be taken out of one’s thoughts in order to do and finish. It is just a matter of doing. It’s like bungee jumping, you’re scared to jump off but when you do it’s amazing.

In order to help students with various socioeconomic statuses I believe that it is important just to emphasize the importance of education and that it is doable. I also believe that exposing them to different opportunities and resources that they might not otherwise get at their school or neighborhood is greatly beneficial to their academic life and graduation.

It is important to vote because it allows the created good for the people. If people don’t voice their opinions and tell others in power what they want then these vary powers will give them something random that they believe is right, even if it is quite the contrary.