School is Necessary

To what extent do you agree that we don’t really need to go to school?

I once read a book, and I don't remember what it was called, but it said something like, 'school is a major problem in society, but it is also necessary'. I completely agree with this statement. School is just as bad as society. But for a select few, it is perfect. The comparisons are remarkably similar. The popular succeed and the ones making the highest marks/money thrive. Meanwhile, the rest of us fit in somewhere below on the ladder. Only so many can be the most athletic, the most social, get the best grades, be the most popular, wear the newest fashions. So the rest of us go to school, and depending on where we fit, it's somewhere between "meh" and hell. Ideally, we'd all go to schools like the ones I've been fortunate enough to go to. Ideally, we'd all live in suburban neighborhoods with 2.3 kids and a white picket fence and a two car garage. But never in history has this been possible, not even in the most socialist, communist territories. And for this reason, school teaches us an invaluable lesson: life isn't fair, so do your best. It's ridiculous to think that we can all be Ragged Dick. Fortunately people can find happiness elsewhere. Happiness is your own definition, and those who need to will eventually learn that. I think that in the end, most people grow up. Cliques break up, we move into the real world, and school means nothing anymore. Most of the things we learned, we forget. But there are things we don't forget, and they aren't factual. The ability to think, to make decisions, to comprehend the world we live in, and how to play "the game". Because after it's all said and done, most people move into society, some people move into the wilderness, and a select few continue rolling along in the upper echelons of popularity and wealth. Why should kids not be exposed to this from an early age?

Nonacademic Education = Good Idea

Blog – Do you value the ‘nonacademic’ education you are receiving? Why or why not?

I am pretty biased, having always received a nonacademic education, but I absolutely think that nonacademic education is extremely important. Even in Africa, the schools put a high focus on it, especially physical education. Perhaps this is most evident in the number of great runners from Kenya. In America, schools focus on even more nonacademic education, especially private ones. I went to a public school in 3rd grade and I remember we had Spanish twice a week, P.E. once a week, Art once a week, and Music once a week. When I switched to a private school, I had P.E., music, Spanish, and art every day. In addition, there were school plays that everybody was required to participate in and recess and projects that included a variety of nonacademic outlets. In high school, it seems to have dropped off somewhat. This, however, has been compensated for with the experience of playing on the school athletic teams. There are many life lessons that you can learn from sports. I'm sure that people who do theater or music would tell you the same thing. I know that there are schools out there that do not give much nonacademic education, mostly due to a lack of funding and time. I think that these kids and schools are missing out, and it would be great if everybody in America got to have recess and art and music and P.E. everyday. There is definitely something to be said for the lessons that nonacademic classes can teach you.

Out on the Town Presentations

The presentations for the Rhethoric Out on the Town were all very interesting. I thought everybody did a great job finding photos or magazine pictures. One presentation that stood out to me was Molly's about the LA Fitness picture. She pointed out how the architecture of the building was reminiscent of what you would find in a warmer/more western climate. I hadn't realized that the LA part refers to Los Angeles. I had always assumed it was Spanish, like la casa. Anyways, I had never thought about the way that LA Fitness is trying to present an image of warmer climates, but it makes perfect sense. I thought that Katie's Hamilton 16 Imax picture was very interesting because it was a situation in which dual advertising is going on: they're trying to sell a movie, but they are also trying to sell the theater. I liked how Ashley brought in two different pictures of signs advertising Broad Ripple Village. It was interesting how they advertised in one place multiple times. This helps Broad Ripple set the tone of the community.