Time To Change The Way Schools Work

Education is the key to success in today’s society. The leaders of the United States of America have been acknowledging this fact for many years, but reform is needed now more than ever. The Prussian model of schooling has been the most popular and is widely used in public schools around the USA, which lumps students together by age and separating subjects. Teachers are bound to a educational model which is “one-size-fits-all” which leaves little room for helping students who may fall behind. Despite spending an enormous amount of money on education, the United States of America is not even in the top 10 countries in regards to mathematics, science, and reading. In order to better the educational system in the United States, radical reforms need to be made to the ways in which students are educated.

Technology...Not Quite All That

The twenty-first century has come with an abundance of new technologies. From personal devices, to military, to medical, people sometimes cannot fathom what life would be like without the new amenities that we have only had for a couple of years. As great as the advances in technology are, many of the negative aspects are being overlooked. Everyone is rushing to become as connected as possible by constantly checking social media sites, texting friends, and seeing the latest updates in the world. Becoming hyper connected is what people are striving for, but how often do people look at the downsides of such actions? When people are constantly paying attention to the screens at their disposal, quickly switching from task to task, we lose the depth and focus that are so crucial in our lives.

Entertainment Industry And The Culture Of Violence

Is there a “culture of violence” that is plaguing the American public? It seems as though many adults, especially politicians believe this to be true and are using this reason to suggest change in this election year. But where does this stem from?  Is life more violent than it used to be, or are all the stories just out in the open rather than kept quiet? The entertainment industry holds one of the largest influences and puts these ideas in the open to the public so this is where I see this idea sprouting.

Everyone Is Included

It seems to me that there is a constant buzz in the air of parents that are complaining in order to protect their children. And it isn’t just from dangers like traffic and crime. It is an attempt to shelter them from any possible negative influences on their lives. From music, to school, to television, parents are becoming more controlling in their views. Even though no parent wants  harm to come to their children (and if they do, something should be done), I think that parents are going too far in protecting them. Parents in today's society are trying to prevent anything bad from happening to their children and I believe that it is having a negative effect on the younger generations.

I've Been Published!

Taking a break from the music writing, I wrote a poem last week that was published on a website and I would love for everyone to check it out.

Become Great

What Is Music Telling Us? Pt. 1-Rap

I have always been interested in music and I enjoy listening to various genres from show tunes to rap. From country to electronic. From classical to hip-hop. One thing that I find incredibly interesting is how each genre varies in messages. These next few posts have been inspired by having to read part of an essay entitled "Eminem Is Right" by Mary Eberstadt.I want to explore the various meanings that surround the different genres that are most popular today. Building off this essay, I am going to start by writing about rap music in today's society, focusing especially on Eminem because he is who I listen to most.

I Can Say Whatever I Want

Today in my Expository Writing class, we talked about the idea of free speech and whether or not the government has the right to censor what is allowed to be published (in response to reading an excerpt of "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg). It is hard to determine if there is a line which writers can/shouldn't cross while writing for an audience. Admittedly Ginsberg didn't intend for "Howl" to be published, yet obscenities have grown more popular in today's culture. A large amount of shows on television deal with sexual and vulgar jokes which many wouldn't like to tell their parents. I think this has desensitized our feelings toward these subjects and have created a society where these topics almost seem expected for a show to be a hit. I haven't decided for myself whether or not this is positive or negative, but it definitely makes me think. But as of right now, I can say what I want, whenever I want.