Monday, August 25, 2008

Problems and Issues Facing American Schools

These days it cannot be denied that schools all around America are facing serious problems. Many are even calling it a crisis already. Most of the approaches the United States is doing to solve these problems are having minimal results so far. These supposed solutions cost a lot of money as well. There are some visible effects inside the school grounds, but outside the problems still carry on. The students still get affected by them and ultimately, education gets affected. The following are major issues and are just a few of the problems plaguing American schools. Hopefully, proper and working solutions will be implemented soon.


The most evident of the problems in American schools is that the students are learning so little. Classrooms are supposed to be places for education, where students’ minds can be filled with knowledge. Unfortunately, the current situation is the total opposite of this. Students who are receiving their diplomas these days are graduating with less knowledge than they need in order to compete in today’s world. They have less capabilities and less honed skills. In fact, if you compare today’s American graduates to graduates of other industrialized nations, American graduates rarely come out on top. This is truly a sad fact that needs to be addressed and immediately too!


It is also undeniable that classrooms get disrupted so often. Violence breaks out so commonly in schools; it is almost becoming common place. In fact, it seems as though the news reports incidents of classroom violence almost every day. Even school buses these days are sometimes scenes of school brutality. Expensive metal detectors and roaming campus police will only solve these problems minimally. Students still get abused outside of schools, hindering them from coming to school regularly and from learning the things they should be learning. Violence in schools is escalating and this is really becoming a problem!


Some problems and issues facing American schools can also be attributed to parents. Most parents these days do not care at all about their children’s education. Parents used to ask about projects, tests, and homework before, but now only a few do so. Parents are highly relying on schools to teach their children everything. There are still a few things that need to be taught at home, like morals, manners, and violence prevention. Yes the schools can teach these things but parents have to lend a hand as well.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Private Colleges and Universities in New York City and Long Island

New York City and Long Island are home to some of the best private colleges in the nation. Each college brings something unique and different to the higher education table, allowing students from across the globe to complete their education. While there are many private college and universities in the city of New York, these three schools can easily be considered as three of the best in the city and state.

Columbia University

Columbia University was established in 1754. This university was the first college ever created in the state of New York, and the fifth college to grace the new colonies. While the college was public at one time, it has long since been private. One of the many unique things about Columbia University is that it is not only a member of the Ivy League, but is actually the center of the Pulitzer Prize, which is recognized worldwide as far as writing and music is concerned. Columbia University has long been able to claim that it has had some of the firsts in the nation; Political Science and Anthropology degrees found their American birthplace at Columbia University. The school has many famous individuals who have attended or worked at the university, including founding fathers, former presidents, and many US Senators.

Julliard

Julliard is one of the most well known performing arts schools in the nation. Julliard has gained fame for multiple reasons besides the teaching that occurs at the school. Julliard boasts the lowest acceptance rate in the United States, at 7%. This has made it one of, if not the, hardest school to get into. Famous actors, actresses, musicians, and the like have been able to lift the school as well; Robin Williams, Yo Yo Ma, Marcia Cross, and Kelsey Grammar all attended the school of performing arts.

NYU

New York University, also known as NYU, is another well known private university in New York that is located in Greenwich Village. While the university has many different campus’, the main one is located in Greenwich Village. More than 40,000 students attend New York University, and that number will grow as Polytechnic University will soon merge with the university. NYU is one of the most prestigious schools in the United States. As this, it can boast having many former students who were Nobel Prize Winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, and various acting and musical awards.