This sadly is my final post. It has been a very awesome and informative semester, and I leave having grown substantially in my understanding of how our local and state government operates.
This post is in response to a classmates blog in which he addresses the possibility of Texas removing the Algebra II requirement to graduate high school found here . This is my response:
I absolutely agree with this post! I think removing the requirement for Algebra 2 will really hurt the youth in the long run more than help it. The U.S. and specifically Texas already rank depressingly low in math and science education, and this is only gonna make the matter worse.
Sure some people say that you don't use Algebra outside of school, but that isn't entirely true. Algebra isn't just about formula and numbers... it is about being able to work through a problem given certain parameters, and coming up with the solution regardless if you were given all the information in the beginning.
Taking away this requirement, and allowing high school kids to choose the math course they take is not a good idea. Most teenagers are lazy, and will choose the path of least resistance instead of learning to push themselves and figuring out how to conquer hard tasks and become better for it.
In an age of over entitlement and brats, kids need to learn early on that life isn't easy, things aren't gonna be handed to you, and you have to work hard for something you want, even if it's something you might not want to do.
An overwhelming majority of students already have to take some sort of remedial math in college before they move on to basic College Algebra, and if this passes, it will only make matter worse. Instead I feel we should be looking at the problem differently. WHY are so many kids having such a hard time in these classes and what can we do as a community to come together and help our your ( and ourselves) get over this stigma about math?
Speaking of required classes, at first I was pretty irked that I HAD to take this class as a requirement...having grown up in a different state that doesn't require to take a state government class, I though this was pretty dumb. But now I understand how important it is, and am VERY thankful for what I have learned as I feel a little less helpless to the system. It is my opinion that every state should require a similar class dealing in their state governments, as it would really help keep people from being ignorant of the change we are capable of making in our communities. Which is in part the reason why I feel removing the above Algebra II requirement is overall a terribad idea.
So long, and thanks for all the fish!
Friday, December 13, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
What Can We Do?
In a continuation of my previous post, I am gonna focus more on what we Texans can do to help solve this massive water issue we are facing. While there is no single or easy answer, if we work together as a community to do our part and push for big business to do theirs, we can really make a difference and get on the right path!
So what can we do as individuals and a community? The average Texan uses at least 72.5 gallons of water each and every single day. And this is considered conservative by many. This really adds up quickly given that there are roughly 26.06 million people in this state (as of 2012). Sadly, a lot of this water used is wasted due to outdated technology such as top loading washers, and outdated toilets. Purchasing a updated low-flow technology toilet, washing machine, and shower head can cut each and every citizens water usage by upwards of 40%. Another important thing to consider as a resident of Texas, is lawncare. Many people strive to have thick, lush yards of grass that isn't meant to grow in this particularly harsh climate. It is important to landscape using grass and plants that thrive in this climate, or even consider xeriscaping as an option. Drought is not stranger to Texas, and trying to live our lives oblivious to that fact is a dangerous game to play.
There are also updated technologies and agricultural practices that can be used domestically as well as commercially to help lessen the impact of the droughts this region faces while still promoting healthy growth. For instance, using drip irrigation and soaker hoses are much more effective and wastes less water than traditional watering methods. On a more commercial level, there are workshops available for farmers and ranchers who wish to learn how to conserve water while still maintaining their business. This however requires ranchers and farmers to be open to learning new practices and evolving the way they operate their businesses. As consumers, we can do our part to encourage this behavior by using our purchasing power to let them know what we want from our businesses.
Another very important thing we can do individually is to demand to our state lawmakers that policies be made to stop rewarding excessive water usage and update our terrible water rights laws. Right now, Oil and Fraking companies receive massive tax breaks and subsidies for their excessive water usage, and the more they use, the cheaper it is for them. What's worse is that over 50% of what they use is just wasted. There has been a push to get these companies to recycle the water they use, which has proven effective, but it is still cheaper to mine the water directly from the table below them so many are not interested in this avenue.
Like I said before, there is no easy solution to the monster we are all facing. But if we work hard, learn to adapt, and compromise, we can really make a difference. We are Texans, we deserve better and we need to fight for it!
So what can we do as individuals and a community? The average Texan uses at least 72.5 gallons of water each and every single day. And this is considered conservative by many. This really adds up quickly given that there are roughly 26.06 million people in this state (as of 2012). Sadly, a lot of this water used is wasted due to outdated technology such as top loading washers, and outdated toilets. Purchasing a updated low-flow technology toilet, washing machine, and shower head can cut each and every citizens water usage by upwards of 40%. Another important thing to consider as a resident of Texas, is lawncare. Many people strive to have thick, lush yards of grass that isn't meant to grow in this particularly harsh climate. It is important to landscape using grass and plants that thrive in this climate, or even consider xeriscaping as an option. Drought is not stranger to Texas, and trying to live our lives oblivious to that fact is a dangerous game to play.
There are also updated technologies and agricultural practices that can be used domestically as well as commercially to help lessen the impact of the droughts this region faces while still promoting healthy growth. For instance, using drip irrigation and soaker hoses are much more effective and wastes less water than traditional watering methods. On a more commercial level, there are workshops available for farmers and ranchers who wish to learn how to conserve water while still maintaining their business. This however requires ranchers and farmers to be open to learning new practices and evolving the way they operate their businesses. As consumers, we can do our part to encourage this behavior by using our purchasing power to let them know what we want from our businesses.
Another very important thing we can do individually is to demand to our state lawmakers that policies be made to stop rewarding excessive water usage and update our terrible water rights laws. Right now, Oil and Fraking companies receive massive tax breaks and subsidies for their excessive water usage, and the more they use, the cheaper it is for them. What's worse is that over 50% of what they use is just wasted. There has been a push to get these companies to recycle the water they use, which has proven effective, but it is still cheaper to mine the water directly from the table below them so many are not interested in this avenue.
Like I said before, there is no easy solution to the monster we are all facing. But if we work hard, learn to adapt, and compromise, we can really make a difference. We are Texans, we deserve better and we need to fight for it!
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