Title: "The black-white test score gap: why it persists and what can be done"
Authors: Christopher Jencks , Meredith Phillips
Web Address: http://www.questia.com/googleSchlar.qst;jsessionid=LvCwWY8
6Lhn6LXrl2dWkNjQ1CpH20L3PSQT8hDpsdhyryh6YWLJ!
-1711127296!1699119870?docId=5001330463
The article that I have chosen is about the "race gap" in test scores in schools across the country and how much diversity among test scores there is between white children and other races. The article goes into some in-depth research to find out what may be the cause of such diversity in the test scores and in the end the researchers blame some combination of black poverty, racial segregation, and inadequate funding of black schools from the past as the key reasons for the lower African-American test scores. The other races were more difficult to research so the researches mainly stuck with explaining the diversity of test scores among white and black children. One thing they found was that the typical American black still scores below 75 percent of American whites on almost every standardized test, but this "race gap" is starting to narrow.
This article is covering the topic of diversity in test scores mainly between white and black children. The authors are also trying to make their point in the article that we all need to do something to narrow the "race gap" even further. The authors are, in fact, targeting all of us because of how many people this affects and if test scores start improving our country will be a better place. This article is very important because it brings up something that has gone fairly unnoticed in our country.
In my opinion, I don't notice this "race gap" as much at our school, but it might be still there. I have no room to argue though because I can't look at everyone's grades. However, we should still do something in our country about this. If the test scores for everyone just happen to get better it might make for a more successful country in the future. Schools need to start narrowing this gap however they can, but more importantly, they need to start as early as they can in people's lives to stop the problem before it happens.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Song Analysis - Crazy Train
Song: Crazy Train
Artist: Ozzy Osbourne
Genre: Heavy Metal
Time period/year of release: 1980
Song Lyrics
All aboard
Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not too late
To learn how to love
And forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you live the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Who's the one to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeah
Heirs of a cold war
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
What is the issue being addressed by the song?
The growing presence of hate in the world among people at the time of the Cold War.
What is the song artist’s point of view or opinion?
He believes that everyone needs to learn how to love in a world gone mad.
What are contextual factors surrounding the writing of this song? (Were there any major social events taking place around the time of the song’s writing? Examples: war, oppression, economic crisis, social liberty success or struggle.)
The Cold War was taking place during this time period which had a large influence on every part of this song. The war was not just a threat to peoples' safety but it was affecting other aspects of their life as well. Many were fighting against each other in their own nation because of their views on the war and many people were being driven mad. The economy was not doing as well either and all of the other problems were just adding to peoples' stress levels. Ozzy wrote this song to convince others that we could get through these tough times if we just learned to love eachother.
What is the issue?
This whole song is about the Cold War and how it is messing up many peoples' lives. When Ozzy says "millions of people living as foes," he is talking about the millions of people who are being affect in Russia, the United States, and other countries. There was always the scare of a nuclear attack on both sides of the war which really messed with peoples' heads as well.
Who is affected?
Millions of people were affected by the Cold War in Russia and the United States alone. Also, if things kept escalating between Russia and the United States, the world would have likely "gone off the rails on a crazy train" like Ozzy says in the song. If nuclear weapons were used, the whole world would have been brought into this war.
Identify the varying perspectives of the public towards the issue. (Who is supportive, opposing, what are their views and arguments)
The majority of people during this time period were against the war and what it was doing to their nation. They argued that the war would just lead to more and more deaths. Those who were against this war believed that "Crazy Train" was a great song that really spoke to them. They believed that everyone just needed to "learn how to love and forget how to hate" like Ozzy says. Those who were in favor of the war were usually those who had a strong disliking for Russia (The Soviet Union back then). They wanted to put an end to their ways (communism).
What is the severity of the issue? (How many people affected, how much damage, etc.)
Not much damage was done, thankfully, and pretty much everyone remained unharmed throughout the war. It could have been much more severe if nuclear weapons were used by both sides of the war.
What is the significance of the issue? (What’s the big deal?)
It affected many people because of the threat of nuclear attacks. The war took an emotional toll on many people back then.
Is this a moral, political, economic, ethical issue?
It was pretty much all of these, but mainly it had to do with ethics and politics because the government was is control, and thankfully they made the ethical decision to not begin a nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
Is there any one in control of the issue, or who has strong influence over the issue?
The government had most of the control over this issue, but many artists like Ozzy influenced the way people across the nation viewed the issue.
What has been done or is being done to address the issue?
Many songs were written about the Cold War, such as this one, and many people spoke out against the government. Many tried to convince others that the war was wrong and had been going on for too long. The Cold War lasted much too long for many people.
Is the issue being resolved or becoming more controversial?
It has been resolved, but many questions are still left unanswered about the war and the government's role in it.
Artist: Ozzy Osbourne
Genre: Heavy Metal
Time period/year of release: 1980
Song Lyrics
All aboard
Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not too late
To learn how to love
And forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you live the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Who's the one to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeah
Heirs of a cold war
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
What is the issue being addressed by the song?
The growing presence of hate in the world among people at the time of the Cold War.
What is the song artist’s point of view or opinion?
He believes that everyone needs to learn how to love in a world gone mad.
What are contextual factors surrounding the writing of this song? (Were there any major social events taking place around the time of the song’s writing? Examples: war, oppression, economic crisis, social liberty success or struggle.)
The Cold War was taking place during this time period which had a large influence on every part of this song. The war was not just a threat to peoples' safety but it was affecting other aspects of their life as well. Many were fighting against each other in their own nation because of their views on the war and many people were being driven mad. The economy was not doing as well either and all of the other problems were just adding to peoples' stress levels. Ozzy wrote this song to convince others that we could get through these tough times if we just learned to love eachother.
What is the issue?
This whole song is about the Cold War and how it is messing up many peoples' lives. When Ozzy says "millions of people living as foes," he is talking about the millions of people who are being affect in Russia, the United States, and other countries. There was always the scare of a nuclear attack on both sides of the war which really messed with peoples' heads as well.
Who is affected?
Millions of people were affected by the Cold War in Russia and the United States alone. Also, if things kept escalating between Russia and the United States, the world would have likely "gone off the rails on a crazy train" like Ozzy says in the song. If nuclear weapons were used, the whole world would have been brought into this war.
Identify the varying perspectives of the public towards the issue. (Who is supportive, opposing, what are their views and arguments)
The majority of people during this time period were against the war and what it was doing to their nation. They argued that the war would just lead to more and more deaths. Those who were against this war believed that "Crazy Train" was a great song that really spoke to them. They believed that everyone just needed to "learn how to love and forget how to hate" like Ozzy says. Those who were in favor of the war were usually those who had a strong disliking for Russia (The Soviet Union back then). They wanted to put an end to their ways (communism).
What is the severity of the issue? (How many people affected, how much damage, etc.)
Not much damage was done, thankfully, and pretty much everyone remained unharmed throughout the war. It could have been much more severe if nuclear weapons were used by both sides of the war.
What is the significance of the issue? (What’s the big deal?)
It affected many people because of the threat of nuclear attacks. The war took an emotional toll on many people back then.
Is this a moral, political, economic, ethical issue?
It was pretty much all of these, but mainly it had to do with ethics and politics because the government was is control, and thankfully they made the ethical decision to not begin a nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
Is there any one in control of the issue, or who has strong influence over the issue?
The government had most of the control over this issue, but many artists like Ozzy influenced the way people across the nation viewed the issue.
What has been done or is being done to address the issue?
Many songs were written about the Cold War, such as this one, and many people spoke out against the government. Many tried to convince others that the war was wrong and had been going on for too long. The Cold War lasted much too long for many people.
Is the issue being resolved or becoming more controversial?
It has been resolved, but many questions are still left unanswered about the war and the government's role in it.
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