In a recent Ausitn American Statesman article, statistics show that students overwhelmingly agree that same-sex schools and student uniforms are a not in their best interest. Results were recorded in an online survey, which reported a whopping 81% of students against the proposed same-sex school segregation plan by district leaders in Texas, who had the projected to implement the plan as soon as the 2013-2014 school year. Students also rejected the idea of school uniforms in a similar 80% against the use of mandatory school uniforms. As of now, the feedback received from the survey is currently under review by the Board of Trustees.
My opinion on this subject is rather simple, why implement a controversial policy that carries more of a burden on the students than it actually helps them do better in school, exams, and getting ready for college? The main argument behind the segregation plan, according to Board of Trustees President, Mark Williams, "The challenge is, we have too many kids in that area who are dropping out, too many teen pregnancies," Williams said. "We have not been successful with the different (education) models." If you want to prevent teen pregnancies, educate the students about it instead of policing everyone, it a way better method of teaching students this lesson. If anything, segregation gives students a false sense of the real world, making them more narrow-minded than ever. In conclusion, we can see that the Texas education system is in a terrible state thanks to legislation and decisions that do more harm than good, evident by continuous poor performance by students in Texas. The solution is not what the Board of Trustees is trying to implement, instead, we really got to look in the mirror and understand that we need to make drastic changes in the education system. We've just got too be smart about it and make education more efficient.
2 comments:
I think you are right on point with this blog post. I as well believe that we should not make our students have same sex public schools and universities. The idea of that is ridiculous. I know that if they would have put me in a same sex school when I was younger, I would not have had the type of social interaction I needed to succeed in the real world. Having both women and men in the same school is a good thing. They try to blame the problem on the whole to many girls having children and dropping out of school problem.
I think that is a problem but I read in a KXAN article "a greater percentage of students at Pearce and Garcia have friends involved in gang activity and have used marijuana and alcohol." I think the schools should be more worried about their children getting into drugs and alcohol, which tends to lead more towards under age sex. If kids are having more under aged sex then their will be more risk of teen pregnancies. Instead of focusing all the problem of the pregnancies fix the problem of drugs and alcohol that lead to teen pregnancies.
Another thing you had talked about that I really liked was how the Board of Trustee's are viewing the survey results. They really need to listen to the people because if they really went through with this system of schooling I think it will create more problems then there already are. In that same article it said “The Department of Education has declared that basing curriculum on gender stereotypes is unconstitutional." Which I think is very true because students in public schools should have the right of going to school with different sexes. The American Civil Liberties Union recently started a national campaign and are trying to go in and sue schools with one sex schooling. I am al for that campaign and hope they do not force our Austin students to be in same sex schools.
PoliTex makes an argument that Texas students are now facing a conflict with legislation and policies affecting their education. For example, 81% of the students argue against district leaders' proposal for same-sex school segregation plan. In addition, about 80% of the students are against policies that require students to wear uniforms. These policies are not in the students' interests generally.
The author provides good statistical information of the number of students who are against specific education legislation and policies. Furthermore, the author was effective in adding a perspective of the Board of Trustees President, Mark Williams. This insight emphasizes on how significant this issue is in Texas education.
The author, however, should've provided some more insight and background of how these controversial policies affect the students in "school, exams, and getting ready for college." The part about preventing pregnancies educationally is not necessary to support the argument.
I agree that majority of the students are against policies that restrict them of benefits and freedom in their education. Therefore, the Texas government should implement changes to policies that could eliminate the same-sex segregation plan and required uniforms. The Texas government should also work harder to fix up laws concerning with sexual orientation-based discrimination (such as the gay students) in public schools and universities. These laws affect students whose beliefs and lifestyles are different with the majority. The changes in the law should reflect on the benefits and interests of the students.
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