One emerging issue in the world of sociology is the problems within education. While this is already currently viewed as a social problem, if things continue the way the are it could emerge as a much more severe issue in our world. The fact that the number of students dropping out of school is rapidly increasing is something that needs to be addressed. Also, students are graduating from high school, still unable to read, perform simple maths, or write a basic sentences, proving that the education system is in a crisis.
Education is extremely important as children are our world's future. It is crucial that children are given the education they need and deserve. It is not right that there are inequalities between levels of education across the world, but also within the United States itself. All children should have access to an education that is suited to them. It needs to be recognized that while not all students are going to go on to become college graduates, it is still important that they are taught the basic things that will get them through life. It seems that minorities, such as females and those of color, are once again those who are missing out on education, and this is something which must be overcome.
"Waiting for Superman" is a film which follows the lives of a number of students from tough backgrounds, who are waiting to see if they will be selected in a lottery to be accepted to a charter school. As the film follows these children it also shows many of the problems in the public education system.
Having grown up in Australia and therefore not experiencing any form of education in the US until this year, my first year of college, I found this film to be very insightful. Both of my parents are teachers and I have also worked at a primary school so I have some background knowledge on education systems and schools, which made this film very interesting to me. Watching the film made me feel terrible for the many children here in the US who are receiving such a poor and disadvantaged education. This then made me appreciate the education I received a lot more and highlighted to me how lucky I have been, and continue to be with regards to my education. The lottery system presented in the film is something I had previously never heard of. I couldn't believe that such a system exists and there is such inconsistencies between the levels of education children receive. It is sad that children who come from a disadvantaged background, are in many cases, not able to receive the education they deserve. It is often the children who come from tough home lives that need not only a good education, but also a place they can feel comfortable in, and be with people who are supportive and caring towards them. It is important for children to learn math, English, science etc, but it is also important for them to learn life skills and lessons that many may not learn at home. A good education is something which should be freely available for all, and I believe the current issues in the education system are a major social problem.
I believe it is important that all students are thought of as individuals and not as a whole. Students should be taught according to their individual needs as not all children learn at the same rate. I like this picture as I believe it shows this idea that learning is not as easy for some as it is for others.
This is a short clip from the film, Waiting for Superman. "Waiting for Superman Drop Out Factories" (2011) explains the currents issue of so many students dropping out of school and refers to these schools where this is occurring most as "dropout factories".
Websites http://www.educateamerica.org/ This website is an organization attempting to improve education in the United States.
http://www.ed.gov/ This is the site for the US Department of Education. It includes much information about the education system, such as policies and funding.
I chose this chapter as I believe that alcohol and drugs are not only a major social problem in themselves, but also the cause of many other social problems. I have heard of many devastating stories that have occurred as a result of alcohol and drug abuse and think it is important that people are aware of such issues.
I think this picture is important as many people do not think of alcohol as a drug, and therefore do not realize that if used excessively, it can have many of the same effects as other drugs.
This video, "Drug Addicts Affect on Family" (2010) shows how a drug/alchohol addiction not only affects the person abusing the substances, but also those around the person, such as family and friends.
Shinedown (2005) speaks of one suffering with a drug addiction: "Save Me"
I got a candle And I've got a spoon I live in a hallway with no doors And no rooms
Under a windowsill They all were found A touch of concrete within the doorway Without a sound
Someone save me if you will And take away all these pillsAnd please just save me if you can From my blasphemy in my wasteland
How did I get here And what went wrong Couldn't handle forgiveness Now I'm far beyond gone
I can hardly remember The look of my own eyes How can I love this a life so dishonest It made me compromise
Someone save me if you will And take away all these pills And please just save me if you can From my blasphemy in my wasteland Jump in the water Jump in with me Jump on the altar Lay down with me
The hardest question to answer Is why
Why
Someone save me if you will And take away all these pills And please just save me if you can From my blasphemy in my wastelandSomeone save me Someone save me Somebody save me Somebody save me Please don't erase me
Websites http://www.drugfreeworld.org/real-life-stories.html This website testimonies from ex-substance abusers. It is important for stories such as these to be published so as others can learn of the truths associated with the problems, rather than just hearing of facts and statistics.
I chose this chapter on Race, Ethinicity, and Immigration
as I found it interesting to learn of the racial diversity across the United
States, having not grown up here myself. I find the inequality and
discrimination that occurs to be a major social problem.
This picture shows that the world is a very diverse place, with people from all races spread across the globe, making the world the way it is today.
This is a trailer for the Australian film, "Rabbit-Proof Fence" (2009). The film tells the story of young Aboriginal children who were taken away from their families by the government in an attempt to make them adopt the ways of the white culture.
Archie Roach (1990) writes about the Australian Stolen Generation: "Took The Children Away"
This story's right, this story's true I would not tell lies to you Like the promises they did not keep And how they fenced us in like sheep. Said to us come take our hand Sent us off to mission land. Taught us to read, to write and pray Then they took the children away, Took the children away, The children away. Snatched from their mother's breast Said this is for the best Took them away. The welfare and the policeman Said you've got to understand We'll give them what you can't give Teach them how to really live. Teach them how to live they said Humiliated them instead Taught them that and taught them this And others taught them prejudice. You took the children away The children away Breaking their mothers heart Tearing us all apart Took them awayOne dark day on Framingham Come and didn't give a damn My mother cried go get their dad He came running, fighting mad Mother's tears were falling down Dad shaped up and stood his ground. He said 'You touch my kids and you fight me' And they took us from our family. Took us away They took us away Snatched from our mother's breast Said this was for the best Took us away. Told us what to do and say Told us all the white man's ways Then they split us up again And gave us gifts to ease the pain Sent us off to foster homes As we grew up we felt alone Cause we were acting white Yet feeling black
One sweet day all the children came back The children come back The children come back Back where their hearts grow strong Back where they all belong The children came back Said the children come backThe children come back Back where they understand Back to their mother's land The children come back
Back to their mother Back to their father Back to their sister Back to their brother Back to their people Back to their land All the children come back The children come back The children come back Yes I came back.
http://stolengenerationstestimonies.com/ The above site includes testimonies of those who were a part of the Stolen Generation- the concept presented in the above mentioned movie, Rabbit-Proof Fence. The testimonies speak of the Aboriginal peoples' ordeals in being taken away from their families and made to become "white" people.
Hi there! My name is Sophie Vickers and welcome to my Critical Insight Blog for Sociology 230. I am a Freshman here at the University of Idaho, majoring in Exercise Science and Health. Although not directly related to my degree, I chose to take Sociology as I thought it would be interesting to learn of the social problems here in the US and compare them to those of my home country, Australia. I have been in the US since August last year, when I first arrived to begin my college experience and become a member of the Vandals Women's Tennis Team.
The above trailer is for the movie, The Ron Clark Story-The Triumph (2010), one of my favorites. It tells the story of a driven man who moves from his rural hometown to New York City where he teaches at a public school. Despite the difficult backgrounds his students come from, the man is passionate about helping the children to become not only better students, but better people. The devotion and support shown to the students makes for a truly inspirational film.
Ben Harper (2003) writes about making the world a better place:
"With My Own Two Hands"
I can change the world With my own two hands Make a better place With my own two hands Make a kinder place Oh- with my Oh- with my own two hands With my own Oh- with my own two hands With my own With my own two hands
I can make peace on earth With my own two hands And I can clean up the earthOh- with my own two hands And I can reach out to you Oh- with my own two hands With my own With my own two hands Oh- with my own Oh- with my own two hands
I'm gonna make it a brighter place (with my own) I'm gonna make it a safer place (with my own) I'm gonna help the human race (with my own) (with my own two hands)
Now I can hold youWith my own two hands And I can comfort you With my own two hands But you got to use Use your own two hands Use your own Use your own two hands
Use your own two hands And with our own With our own two hands With our With our With our own two hands Oh- with my own With my own two handsI'm gonna make it a brighter place (with my own) I'm gonna make it a safer place (with my own) I'm gonna help the human race (with my own) Oh- make it a brighter place (with my own) I can hold you (with my own) And I can comfort you (with my own) But you got You got You got You got You gotYou got You got to use Oh- use your own Oh- use your own Lord
But you got You got You got You got You got to use - use Use your own Use your own Use your own Use your own Use your own Use your own Use your own Use your own Use your own Use your own
