Common Core Controversy

             Common Core State Standards "are academic benchmarks that outline the skills a student should have at each level" and are embraced by President Obama and his administration. Common Core claims the program embraces new ways of thinking while reducing emphasis on memorization. Many states  adopted the new standards during the Recession after states realized they would receive millions of dollars in federal money. The new standards coincide with new tests under No Child Left Behind, an education law passed during George W. Bush's administration.
            Teachers, parents and students are divided on the effectiveness of Common Core. Many conservatives believe the standards are ineffective while some students and teachers see benefits in the new standards. Some states have seen drops in student scores, but teachers argue it will take students time to get used to the new system. Most parents do not like Common Core because their children do not understand the material and end up failing a grade. Diane Ravitch, research professor of education at New York State University, argues students are not failing because "students are dumb, but because the state chose to set an unrealistic passing mark". Ravitch adds that teachers have not received proper training to teach Common Core and public officials need to listen to parents. 
           My sister is in high school and began learning Common Core standards last year. She is an excellent student but finds the new standards incredibly confusing. She thought the "old ways" of teaching were more efficient than the new norms and does not understand why the school district changed it's curriculum. In Common Core, there is a new process that students must follow to show work for math problems and my sister finds it incredibly tedious and "a waste of time". 
          Many other people support my sister's opinions and believe Common Core is ineffective because children learn differently and teachers just "teach to teach the test". Students do not really learn the material because teachers are focused in covering the material that will be on the tests. Based on evidence from my teachers and my personal experience, I believe Common Core is a mistake. 

The Children of Presidents Are Off Limits

           Last week, President Obama pardoned a turkey, preventing the bird from being eaten for Thanksgiving dinner. However, at this traditional event most of the attention was on Sasha and Malia Obama, the daughters of the president. The girls understandably seemed bored and embarrassed by their dad's jokes. In fact, the girls' expressions and demeanor were discussed in an article written by Buzzfeed titled, "The Obama Girls Could Not Be More Bored by Their Dad's Jokes". Teenagers are notorious for being embarrassed by their parents and the media capitalized on the fact that the president's daughters are just like any other teenagers in America.

           Republican congressional aide Elizabeth Lauten disagreed with the way Sasha and Malia presented themselves, so she wrote a scathing letter on her Facebook page. In the letter, Lauten criticized the Obama girls on their seeming lack of interest in the event and poor choice in clothes. In her post, she tells the Obama girls to “...rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar”. Lauten's comments went viral and caused extreme backlash from the American public. In response to the criticism from the public Lauten resigned yesterday.

          I found Lauten's comments extremely distasteful and frankly, caused me to wonder about Lauten's sanity. I have a hard time imagining why any adult would criticize a child, and especially who is in the public eye and had no choice in the profession of their parents. Sasha and Malia behaved like typical teenagers, and I saw no reason to criticize them for their actions. Lauren is the person who acted immaturely. Unfortunately, criticism of children of presidents is not new. The daughter of Ronald Reagan, Patti Davis, wrote a letter to Sasha and Malia explaining her  experiences with the press and how "as First Daughters, you can't win". I believe all children should be off limits to the press and public criticism, regardless of political affiliation. 

President Obama's Executive Order

            Last week, President Obama signed an executive order preventing "the deportation of about 4 million parents and guardians who lack the same legal status as their children". The executive order has caused a huge uproar among Americans who disagree with the executive order. Many economic analyses believe after parents and guardians get work permits; there will be a boost in the economy. "The new order could boost labor income by $6.8 billion, helping to generate 160,000 new jobs and $2.5 billion in additional tax revenues". Other economists say a larger immigration overhaul, making more current illegal immigrants legal, could attract quality immigrant workers who have strong work ethics and desire to own their  businesses. Experts believe more immigration reform would attract more immigrants who could help the economy by taking over jobs from an aging, retiring workforce.

           I completely disagree with the executive order President Obama just signed. While the order applies to about 4 million illegal immigrants already in the country, I believe it may cause an increase in illegal immigrants. The new illegal immigrants may think that if Obama signs one executive order, why wouldn't he sign another one to help them? If I was a citizen of another country and heard about Obama's executive order, it may prompt me to enter illegally into the United States because I have faith Obama will sign another executive order to help me. The order also devalues the millions of immigrants who came the United States legally. The years and money they spent gaining citizenship are essentially wasted because millions of illegal immigrants received the same benefits without the same effort legal immigrants put into the process. I have friends and family members who went through the citizenship process, and it angers me that millions of illegal immigrants will receive the same status, but without putting in the hard work.

The Importance of Early Education

         Research shows early education programs, such as pre-kindergarten and pre-school, have positive long-term effects for children. However, only a small portion of three-year-olds and four-year-olds are enrolled in these types of programs because it is too expensive for most families. Supporters of these programs include politicians and teachers who believe every child deserves a quality early education.
        However, since the government funds many pre-k programs, politicians think it is important to distinguish pre-k from pre-school in order for it to sound more academic. Some people argue "pre-school" conjures up images of "glorified babysitting," where children do not learn subjects like math, reading, etc. Both Republican and Democrat politicians, including Tom Wolf (D) of Pennsylvania, used the phrase "pre-kindergarten" in their campaigns. Therefore, the decision to distinguish between "pre-k" and pre-school is merely political.
          "Pre-k typically refers to a specific category of early learning that focuses on ensuring kids are ready for kindergarten". Ideally, teachers in pre-k programs have Bachelor's Degrees and introduce children to subjects such as writing and science. Supporters also argue that pre-k is an "economic investment because it’s believed to reduce the chances a kid will drop out of school, get arrested, and rely on social services, as well as significantly increase that person’s earning potential". Pre-kindergarten is seen as having these benefits as well as a solution to the gap between the rich and poor which is why politicians see pre-k programs as a "great equalizer" between different classes and races in all areas of the country.
        Critics argue pre-k programs are not as effective as politicians claim. While critics agree pre-k programs help close the gap between the poor and middle class, there is not evidence to see changes between the different levels of the middle class-lower, middle, and high middle class.
       I agree with the politicians who argue that pre-k programs for every child is ideal. I know it is naive to believe that every child will receive the same education, but I think it can happen in some communities. This semester, I have learned a great deal about child psychology in my childhood and adolescent development class and understand the importance and difference early education programs like pre-k and pre-school made in a child's life.

Remembering Women Veterans and Their Children

       
              Veteran's Day is a day to honor the men and women who have served our country. Today is also a day to bring attention to the rates of homelessness among veterans. Many organizations, including US Veteran's Affairs and nonprofits, have helped decrease the number of homeless veterans in the United States. However, the decrease in homelessness does not translate to female veterans. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that women are 10% of the homeless veteran population. Experts believe the rate of homeless women veterans is rising because the of the lack of affordable housing and child care. Women are returning to the United States after combat struggle because many federal assistance programs lack the services women, and their children require.  
              Mental health services are also important for homeless female veterans. Issues including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are common among veterans. Veterans who are mothers need to assimilate back into civilian life while at the same time, take care of children. Politicians need to do more for female homeless veterans and their families because no veteran should be homeless.
             When I was a child in elementary school, I thought Veteran's Day was just a day I did not have to go to school. Now I realize Veteran's Day is a day to remember our servicemen and servicewomen who have served our country. I have a cousin in the U.S. Navy, and both of my grandfathers served in the Army during the Korean War and World War II, respectively. My parents told me they struggled with mental health problems when they returned after their service. I can only imagine what it would be like to be a woman veteran with children and struggling with the same issues as my grandfathers did. I believe it is a disgrace that veterans are coming home from combat with no place to live, no services to help them, and no help with their children.

How Neighborhoods Impact Children

            The impact of where children grow up is a controversial topic. People are curious to know whether a child's well-being and success in life are determined by where children live when they are young. Some people argue that "good neighborhoods with strong schools"  help children become well-rounded adults while neighborhoods with extreme poverty and bad schools have a significant negative impact on childrens' physical and mental health. Interestingly, there is evidence to support the idea that poor children in excellent school districts have increased academic performance. Studies show "poor children who live in low-poverty neighborhoods and consistently attend high-quality schools perform significantly better academically than those who do not". Poor children in excellent schools do well because of high teacher quality, generally speaking, and parents are more involved in the lives of students.  
            Others argue the importance of good neighborhoods and strong schools. The Moving to Opportunity (MTO) was a 15-year long study of thousands of low-income families who moved to low-poverty neighborhoods.  The results of the MTO study were dissapointing to researchers because they are not able notice any educational value of the families living in low-poverty neighborhoods. However, the MTO study had limitations including the families who moved to the low-poverty neighborhoods only stayed in neighborhoods for a few years. Consequently, researchers do not know the effects of staying in low-poverty neighborhoods for a longer periods of time. 
           I was raised in an affluent suburb of San Francisco. The suburb is known for award-winning schools and high test scores. However, as a child I was not aware that the education I was receiving was different from any other child who did not live in the same suburb. I was given many opportunities poor children in bad schools were not given. Teachers and parents were very involved in the lives of students. Based on my experience I believe children in better schools and neighborhoods have an advantage over children who were not so fortunate.

Election Plays a Key Role in Childrens' Lives

          "On the ballot this year are campaigns for school board, city council, governor, state legislator, congressman, and senator that will impact the education, health, nutrition, poverty, child abuse and neglect, juvenile justice, and housing needs of children at all ages - from infants in early childhood programs to school-age children to youth transitioning to adulthood". Education tends to be overshadowed by issues such as Iraq, Medicare and Social Security, which makes this election especially important. Many Americans believe education is a local issue and therefore should not focus on state or federal elections because they will not impact children as much as local elections. Thus, issues such as Common Core standards, standardized testing and high school requirements are ignored on the ballot by the American public because they believe children will not be affected. The midterm election should not be ignored by the American public because the elected politicians will have a significant impact on the lives of American children. The public needs to educate themselves about the different issues in order to make informed decisions. 
          Education is a key campaign issue in many states for the 2014 midterm election. Campaigns include North Carolina Senate, Kansas Governor, Iowa Senate, and Florida Governor.While Republicans are not concentrating on education, Democrats are enticing voters in battleground states with issues "such as college affordability and K-12 funding". The efforts of the Democratic party seem to have made an impact on voters who are single women and minorities. Polls conducted in battleground states by Democrat political strategists found that issues related to education lead to more voters. 
          As a Childhood and Adolescent Development major, I want to help children become healthy, educated adults that are why I believe voting is important. Obviously, children are not able to vote, so it is the responsibility of adults to make sure children receive an excellent education. Adolescents and young adults are also affected because many adolescents and young adults go to college. Most Americans are no longer able to pay for college out of pocket. I have friends who have taken out loans to help pay for college and are now tens of thousands of dollars in debt. 
        Voting in the 2014 midterm election is a way for Americans to make changes in our education system and ensure children will receive quality education. VOTE TODAY!

Children at Protests in China

          Over the past few weeks, pro-democracy protests have spread across China.  The protests are between the Chinese government and Chinese citizens who are frustrated with the government trying to introduce Chinese history lessons into the public school systems. Protesters view the proposed history lessons as "brainwashing" children in public schools with "pro-Beijing teaching materials." Other Chinese citizens believe the government has failed in education reform throughout the country. 
          The public is also divided over whether children should be allowed at the protests because of safety concerns. In the city of Mong Kok, children were used as a human shield between protesters and police. After this incident, parents were warned not to take their children to protests because of the violence. Some Chinese citizens sided with the police, saying children should not be at the debate because they are too young to understand the political reasons behind the protests. Also, since protesting is illegal, the protesters should not encourage children to follow their actions. Other Chinese citizens believe having children at the protests and debates would introduce children to politics and have them get an introduction in democracy.
     While it is encouraging to see pro-democracy protests happening in China, the safety of the children at the protests concerns me greatly. I find it despicable that children were used as a human shield in order to protect the protesters from police. I side with the Chinese who feel children should not be allowed at the protests because they are too young to understand what is happening around them. In addition, children can easily be hurt or even killed in the violence. While some parents may have good intentions of bringing their children to introduce them to democracy, it is incredibly unsafe. Children at this age can not comprehend why people are angry at the government and why police are hurting people who do not follow orders. I hope more parents realize the negative impact that having children at the protests can have. 

Democrats Argue for Illegal Immigrant Families

       Ten Democratic senators are protesting Homeland Security's "massive expansion of immigrant family detention, a practice that allows women and children seeking asylum to be locked up and potentially puts them at risk of abuse" by writing to the secretary of Homeland Security. The senators believe the women and children who are seeking asylum are targets of abuse in the detention centers and strongly feel that building more family detention centers may cause a higher number of abuse cases. The proposed facility in Texas is meant to house 2,400 people, which is to help with the influx of illegal immigrants. There were "68,000 family units" who were caught trying to cross the U.S./Mexico border this year, which is an increase of almost 15,000 family units from 2013. 
    Immigration advocates echo similar statements as the senators and argue some of the families are coming from countries with much violence. They say the families just want to be safe. Advocates also point out that it is harder for the families to receive legal help because many of the detention centers are in rural areas. 
    I find the Democratic senators' protest to be ridiculous because it has no legal standing. These families are not legal citizens; therefore, they have no rights. I sympathize with the reports of sexual abuse because no one should have to endure that kind of trauma. However, these women would not be sexually abused in the detention centers if they came to the United States legally.The families are making the choice to come to the United States and should face the consequences if they do not follow the law. My opinion may seem callous and cold-hearted to some people, but it is the truth.

Abortion Laws Tied to Women's and Children's Health

A study conducted by Ibis Reproductive Health and the Center for Reproductive Rights, "found that a state's performance on indicators for women and children's health and well-being is inversely proportional to the amount of anti-abortion laws in that state". The indicators include obesity, mortality for women and children, lack of health insurance for women and children, and teen birth rates. Essentially, the higher number of anti-abortion laws a state has in place, the higher the likelihood that the state has lower quality of life for women and children. Presently, "more than 250 anti-abortion bills have been introduced in state legislatures" this year. Over twenty states have more than eleven anti-abortion laws or restrictions in place. Vermont is the only state with no anti-abortion legislature. Interestingly, there is also a correlation between poor performing states and political ideology. The states that performed poorly, those that have anti-abortion legislature and poor quality of life for women and children, identify as conservative Republican. These states include Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, and Arizona. 
   This article confirms my beliefs that Republican lawmakers and their supporters only care about the baby while it is in utero. I have heard of the term,"pro-birther", to describe the legislators and citizens who just want the mother to give birth. After the mother gives birth, they couldn't care less about the mother and the child. 
  I wish more women in states with anti-abortion laws and restrictions would realize lawmakers do not care about them as people. These laws are put into place to restrict a woman's right to an abortion. In many ways, legislators protect the "rights" of the baby and not a woman. 
  My feelings about abortion are mixed. While I feel every woman should have the right to an abortion, I am not sure I would get one myself if I were in the same position. Also, I find it repulsive that women use abortion as a method of birth control so I support sex education for adults as well. I believe comprehensive sex education should be required in schools across the United States, instead of saying "don't have sex, be abstinent" and expecting students to not have sex. If we teach students while they are young, many abortions can be avoided. However, in conservative states, abstinence is the only method of birth control taught.

Education Sensorship

     Students from six high schools in Denver, Colorado decided to take a stand against a "conservative-led school board proposal" last week by protesting outside their respective schools. The board proposed changes to textbook and course plans for history classes because they want to "present positive aspects of the nation and its heritage". Ideally,the values the board wants to emphasize are patriotism, respect for authority, and discouraging civil disobidence. If the proposal is passed, all textbooks and school materials would need to be revised in order to meet the new standards. A member of the board, Julie Williams,is a conservative who defended the proposal saying," 'we shouldn't be encouraging our kids to think that America is a bad place'." The proposal is currently on hold. 
     While reading this article, I grew more and more flabbergasted over the content of the proposal. I found the board members to be idiots, frankly, because they are trying to ignore our nation's foundations and how we became the country we are today. After all, the founding fathers committed treason in the eyes of England because they were not loyal to the Crown. Our country would not exist today is it weren't for the "civil disobedience" and "lack of respect" our fathers demonstrated. 
    Many other historical events show these same "un-American" qualities including the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Suffrage Movement. If African-Americans and women respected authority and did not protest, they would not have the same rights as they do today. Ironically, Ms. Williams would likely not be in the position she is in now if it was not for the Women Suffrage Movement. 
    If the proposed changes are included in textbooks and materials, millions of children and adolescences in the school system would be lied too. Our history is hypocritical, messy and at times, downright disgusting. However, it is the history of our nation. In order to accept the "good" of the U.S., we also need to accept and include the "bad". Children will not believe that "America is a bad place", as Ms. Williams fears. Instead, they will be informed about the true history of our nation. While they will be proud of their country, they will also know we are not perfect. 
    I am incredibly proud of all of the students who protested. I believe they shows true patriotism and the board should feel ashamed of themselves.

Cannabis Oil: The New Miracle Drug?

        When I was in community college, I took a research design sociology class. The professor put the class into groups and we were assigned a research question to answer. The question my group had was, "should marijuana be legalized on a federal level?" Our group found evidence that marijuana has many long term negative effects including "distorted perception, decreased attention span and hallucinations" in some individuals. The chemical in marijuana responsible for this "high" is called THC. My group and I found more evidence that marijuana has harmful effects for some individuals. We interviewed multiple people and found that the subjects who smoked marijuana daily, as opposed to occasionally, reported failing multiple classes and unable to keep their jobs. 
         Colorado and Washington recently became the first states in the nation to legalize marijuana. Consequently, both states have reported millions of dollars in additional revenue from the marijuana industry. 
         Many Americans have decided to leave their home states and relocate to Colorado or Washington because of easier access to marijuana. The Wilson family of Scotch Plains, New Jersey is an example of this phenomenon. They moved to Denver, Colorado in February 2014 because their three year old daughter Vivian has Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is a form of severe epilepsy and can be fatal. The Wilson's left New Jersey because of road blocks in the medical marijuana program and resistance from politicians, including Governor Chris Christie. They did not want to rely on change in the government because it could take years, which is time Vivian does not have. Brian Wilson, Vivian's father, heard about other success stories with cannabis oil in children with epilepsy and decided he needed to see if cannabis oil worked for Vivian. He reports that Vivian has improved significantly, but is remaining cautiously optimistic. The cannabis oil the Mr. Wilson makes himself is low in THC, but high in CBD, which is the "good"chemical that reduces the seizures. The Wilson's would like to return to New Jersey because they miss their family and friends, but say there needs to be changes in the law and hope Governor Christie can push legislation through to make it happen. 
         I have done a lot of research on the consequences of marijuana use and although I feel it is harmful, I believe that marijuana will be legalized on a federal level in my lifetime. Also, I am starting to wonder if marijuana has benefits for a percentage of the population, as demonstrated in the Wilson case. It would be interesting and beneficial for tests to be done at a credible hospital or university to see results in children with debilitating illnesses. I will be looking for updates on the Wilson case and others across the country. 

Children and Illegal Immigration

      I remember understanding the phrase "illegal immigration" when I was sophomore in high school. My history teacher had our class discuss main policy points of the upcoming 2008 presidential election. The topics our class debated were illegal immigration, abortion, and gay marriage. While my classmates were split fairly evenly on abortion and gay marriage, everyone seemed to agree with allowing illegal immigration. I remember feeling uncomfortable because I disagreed with the idea of people coming illegally into the United States and expecting the same rights as citizens. 
     A problem that has been in the news recently is unaccompanied children illegally crossing the U.S. border and not having legal representation when they are brought to court. A group called Kids In Need of Defense, also known as KIND, is attempting to pair the children with pro bono attorneys who can help in immigration court. The group is striving to gain support from the Obama administration, but so far has been shut down by the House of Representatives. In my opinion, the group attempts to gain sympathy by telling the public that innocent children are being deported back to their respective home countries. My suspicions prove correct because in the last paragraph of the article Wendy Young, president of KIND, states, " 'I wish people would take a deep breath and remember these are children' ". Young fails to realize that the children she is trying to help are still illegal immigrants. I find it heart breaking that these children have traveled great distances, only to be detained at the border. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that what these children are doing is illegal. 
      I disagree with giving illegal immigrants, including children, rights and citizenship. When the DREAM Act in California was signed into law in 2011, I was furious with the government because I have many friends and family members struggling to pay for college. They are all U.S. citizens and yet are all in debt because of the loans they have taken out. Meanwhile, the DREAM Act allows students who are illegal immigrants to "apply for and receive state financial aid at California public and private colleges and private scholarships administered by California public colleges". The fact that an illegal immigrant can receive financial aid instead of a U.S. citizen truly confuses me.
     Conversely,I completely support legal immigration. My great-grandmother and her family immigrated from Yugoslavia, now the country of Croatia, in the early 1900's. My great-great-grandfather had already been living in the United States, legally, for thirteen years before his family was able to join him. During that time, he worked to save money for the proper paperwork and travel expenses for his wife and five children. The entire family became fluent in English and took pride in being Americans. In addition, many of my friends immigrated to the United States with their families after years of saving and preparation. They were also able to become U.S. citizens after living in the States for many years and taking the citizenship test. 
      I am against illegal immigration because it devalues my own family history. My ancestors struggled for many years to legally come to this country and for others to receive similar benefits just because they happen to be illegal is a metaphorical slap to the face. 

Subsidies Expected to Continue

     I found an article from The Wall Street Journal titled "Appeals Court to Revisit Ruling Limiting Health Law Subsidies" from September 4, 2014. 
     This article discusses insurance subsidies in the Affordable Health Care Act. A federal appeals court recently ruled that it will "rehear a case challenging insurance subsidies in the federal health law after making   "an earlier ruling that invalidated the subsidies in many states." 
     The court overruled their former decision that abolished the IRS regulation which explains subsidies are available on both state and federal levels. 
      Millions of Americans receive subsidies through the federal government and the Affordable Health Care Act would allow this to continue on a federal level. The court is expected to begin new arguments on December 17th.
      This issue is important because it will likely cause conflict amongst Republicans, many of whom want the Affordable Health Care Act to be repealed. However, this ruling is considered a "win" for the Obama administration. Also,the American public should be following this debate closely because they could qualify for subsidies. 

Medicare Costs to Lower

       I found an article from The New York Times titled, “Medicare: Not Such A Budget-Buster Anymore”,from August 27, 2014.

       The continuation of Medicare has been a debated topic for quite some time because of the believed astronomical expense.

       This article reveals startling new evidence that the current Medicare budget for 2019 is $95 billion, less than was projected in 2010. This means that although the deficit for the United States is high, it is not viewed to rise quite as high as previously thought.

The Congressional Budget Office (C.B.O.) is the organization responsible for estimating the cost of Medicare in the future. It is important to keep in mind that the numbers are estimates, and other factors that affect reductions should be taken into consideration. The Affordable Health Care Act and members of the health care industry, including doctors and their patients, have helped make remarkable strides in reducing costs.

While it is encouraging that the changes being made are making an impact to the deficit, it is not known if Medicare costs will rise or fall when the economy strengthens.
       I plan on becoming a speech-language pathologist and I hope to work in a hospital with elderly patients so Medicare costs are of great interest to me. In the future, I may not be able to help many patients with Medicare because I would not be compensated financially. I would be forced to accept more patients that pay privately, in order to make a living.