1. April 2009 by student.

When kids are young they begin experimenting with different activities in order to discover what extra curricular activities they will participate in.  These activities could range from sports to theater, but whatever they decide to do, they do it for a reason.  That reason being they truly enjoy it and have fun doing their activity of choice.  I think extra curricular activities are a must for children, allowing them to stay active, meet friends and learn life long lessons.  The part I don’t agree with is when parents begin to get too involved in their children’s activities. 

I worked the clock at a basketball tournament this weekend for girls between the ages of 11 and 16.  I was in shock at how intense and serious the parents were at the games, especially for the girls who were only 11 years old.  At one game in particular a girl had two turnovers in a row and she missed a lay up.  Her father ran down to the coach and said, “You take my daughter out of the game right now.  She is an embarrassment not only to me but to your team.”  I was in shock.  I mean honestly she is 11 years old and is still learning the game.  In order to get better kids have to make mistakes.  If her dad continues to act like that the girl is going to end up hating the sport.  The girl came running off the floor and her coach got in her face and started yelling at her.  Tears began to fall down her face and she looked completely discouraged.  Parents need to understand that kids are only kids.  Kids can be serious about a sport, but they still need to have fun while playing. 

It has also become very popular for kids to start getting personal trainers at a young age.  Getting too serious at a young age can cause kids to burn out.  A perfect example is a girl I played AAU basketball against.  Her father got her a personal trainer and she worked out with him everyday.  They were constantly working on her defense, three point shot and her pull up jumper.  At first, the girl was ok with it, and the results were amazing.  She was 6’4’’ and played the guard position.  No one could guard her, if they lay off, she shoots right over them and if they are up on her she can get to the basket in one dribble.  When it was time to begin the recruiting process everyone wanted her.  She was the number one recruit in the class of 2008.  Eventually, she decided to continue her basketball career at the University of Connecticut.  Everyone expected big things out of her and her team and coaches were ecstatic to add her to the roster, but no one saw what was coming.  After being at college for one week she made an announcement that she was quitting.

She made a public statement talking about how she hated basketball and how she did not understand how anyone could truly love the game.  The only reason she played for so long was because he dad wanted her to play so badly.  She said she could not play a sport she did not love anymore.  She ended up going back to her home state and playing volleyball at a small school. 

Her dad pushed her too far.  She was no longer playing the sport because she loved it, but because it had become her job.  It is becoming more and more common.  Parents are trying to live through their children and end up pushing them to hate the game they once loved.  I think parents need to be more supportive and helpful when it comes to their children.  Leave it to their coaches to pushing and let the parents be the support system.      

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1. April 2009 by student.

Some people say that human beings are born with the notion for helping the weak and innocent, but child abuse images say different. There are many child abuse images that include statistics like that fact that the rate of child abuse in the United States from birth to age 3 is 16.4 per 1000 children. Reading these statistics in child abuse images would make anyone shake their heads in disbelief. Children are the weakest and most innocent beings we know and the fact that child abuse images exist at all, is a testament that some of us are not born with the inclination to help the weak and innocent. And don’t think that just because you are not the direct cause of child abuse images that you don’t have anything to do with it. If after seeing child abuse images, and lamenting them, you continue your daily life as if there is nothing you can do, you too become part of the problem. We must think of all those children in child abuse pics and stories that have nobody to speak for them, no one to defend them, and certainly nobody to rescue them. We must decide to act, to do something about all the evil that is going around us. The way we behave toward all children is a direct reflection of who we are as individuals and as a society. The fact that child abuse images abound daily, should stick in our minds until we take action. Child abuse affects all society no matter what social class, values or culture you may have. Therefore, it is a social problem that pictures do not solve, but society as a whole coming to together to educate and prevent this horrible act. There many ways you can help, just pick one and do it consistently—do not neglect your responsibility.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

1. April 2009 by student.

Despite their biases, inaccuracies, limited ability to measure achievement or ability, and other flaws, schools use standardized tests to determine if children are ready for school, track them into instructional groups; diagnose for learning disability, retardation and other handicaps; and decide whether to promote, retain in grade, or graduate many students.  Schools also use tests to channel and manage curriculum content and teaching methods.

As a poor test taker, the word-standardized test repulses me.  I have always been a good student and done well at the high school and college level, obtaining mostly A’s in both environments.  In concurrence with this, I did not do well on my SAT’s and ACT’s which determined where I went to college.  Sadly, because of my mediocre test score I was not quite up to par with Ohio State University’s admissions requirements and denied admission for the quarter I had requested admission.  39 semester credits later with a majority of A’s and a few B’s I reapplied and was accepted and told I was just the type of student the University looks for, I was perfect Ohio State material.  It is for reasons like this I believe standardized tests are a poor representation of a student’s academic qualities.  I do not believe you can base a student’s four years worth of learning outcomes on a four-hour test, it’s just not practical.  In my case the SAT’s and ACT’s were not representative of my academic achievements nor of my abilities as a university student.  This coming Autumn quarter I will be at my dream school.

Those whom are most effected by standardized testing are students from low-income and minority-group backgrounds are more likely to be retained in grade, placed in a lower track, or put in special or remedial education programs when it is not necessary.  They are more likely to be given a watered-down or “dummied-down” curriculum, based heavily on rote drill and test practice.  This only ensures they will fall further and further behind their peers. On the other hand, children from white, middle and upper income backgrounds are more likely to be placed in “gifted and talented” or college preparatory programs where they are challenged to read, explore, investigate, think and progress rapidly.

I also firmly believe the quality of education is lowered due to the heavy use of standardized testing in schools today.  Teachers in today’s school systems are instructed to teach towards the standardized testing.  The focus on more important subjects has been lost in the midst.  Teaching to the test narrows the curriculum, forcing teachers and students to concentrate on memorization of isolated facts, instead of developing fundamental and higher order abilities. For example, multiple-choice writing tests are really copy-editing tests, which do not measure the ability to organize or communicate ideas.  Beginning early in the elementary education teachers are trained to start teaching their students how to bubble in grid sheets, such as those used in the FCAT tests.  This is absurd, students at this age should be learning how to read, basic math, history, and social studies; not how to bubble in a test sheet.  Instances like these take away from the learning environment in schools.  When taught how to write an essay for the Florida writes you are taught the five-paragraph format, this method was drilled into my head up until I got to my Composition I class in college.  Once in college you don’t write in the five paragraph essay format, you learn to write like a writer.  It was a huge adjustment to make after being taught to write the elementary, five-paragraph, Florida Write’s style.  Learning to write in this style just slowed  me down as a writer and put a damper on my writing skills.  My philosophy is to let teacher’s teach, our youth would be a lot better off that way. 

From years of standardized testing experience, I strongly believe it is a poor representation of a student’s academic abilities and strengths.  I hope that, one-day schools at the university level and lower will not focus so heavily on standardized test scores.  I am a perfect example.

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1. April 2009 by student.

Domestic abuse, also known as spousal abuse, occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person.  An abuser does not “play fair.”  He or she uses fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and gain complete power over you.  He or she may threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you.  Domestic abuse that includes physical violence is called domestic violence.Something that many individuals misconstrue is the fact victims of domestic abuse or domestic violence may be men or women, although women are among the most common to become victimized.  This abuse happens among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships.  Except for the gender difference, domestic abuse doesn’t discriminate. It happens within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and financial levels.  The abuse may occur during a relationship, while the couple is breaking up, or after the relationship has ended. 

Despite what many people believe, domestic violence is not due to the abuser’s loss of control over his behavior.  In fact, violence is a deliberate choice made by the abuser in order to take control over his wife or partner. Reasons we know an abuser’s behaviors are not out anger and rage: 

• He/she does not batter/abuse other individuals - the boss who does not give him time off or the  waitress that spills a drink in his lap. He waits until there are no witnesses and abuses the person he says he loves.
• If you ask an abused woman/man, “can he/she stop when the phone rings or the police come to the door?”  She/he will say “yes.”  Most often, when the police show up, he is looking calm, cool and collected and she/he is the one who may look hysterical.  If he/she were truly “out of control” he/she would not be able to stop himself when it is to his advantage to do so.
•  The abuser very often escalates from pushing and shoving to hitting in places where the bruises and marks will not show.  If he were “out of control or in a rage,” he/she would not be able to direct or limit where his kicks or where punches land.Spousal abuse and battery are used for one purpose: to gain and maintain total control over the victim. 

 Spousal abuse is not always achieved through battery it can also come from dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats, intimidation, and denial and blame.  The effects of all of these instances leave the victim emotionally abused.  One isn’t worse than the other the both do equal damage and can lead to serious situations, such as death.There are many signs of an abusive relationship.  The most significant sign is fear of your partner. Other signs include a partner who belittles you or tries to control you, and feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, and desperation begin to arise. 

Someone who believes they are experiencing an abusive relationship needs to ask themselves some questions, similar to the questions listed below.

If you ever feel afraid of your partner a majority of the time, avoid certain topics out of fear of angering your partner, feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner, believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated,  wonder if you’re the one who is crazy, or feel emotionally numb or helpless; you are probably a victim of domestic abuse. 

 If your partner humiliates, criticizes, or yells at you.  Treats you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see.  Ignores or puts down your opinions or accomplishments.  Blames you for his own abusive behavior.  Sees you as his/her property or as a sex object, rather than as a person, your partner is probably abusive.

Domestic abuse is very hard on the victim.  If you ever feel like your partner does anything to you listed above I strongly advise you to end the relationship and seek help.  Although, this might be hard it will benefit you in the long run, it could even save your life.

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1. April 2009 by student.

Yesterday a couple of my friends and I drove down to Miami to watch the Sony Ericson Open  a tennis masters series event in which all of the top pros participate in.  One of my friends accompanying me happened to idolize one of the top professionals at this tournament Roger Federer and he was driven to meet him at this event.

My friend happened to meet one of the announcers (Cliff Drysdale) for the event earlier this month who told my friend that there was a possibility that he could meet Federer if we went to the Sony Ericson open.  We showed up at the Ericson open and my friend called Drysdale and Drysdale gave my friend the phone number of Federer’s agent.  Federer’s agent told us that there was a possibility that we could meet Federer he told us that Federer was warming up on a back court and to just follow him when he was done warming up into the player’s lounge and that he would set up an appointment between Federer and my friend.  We rushed to the back courts in excitement to meet the great roger federer but it looked as if everyone else was just as excitied.  When federer was done hitting he was swarmed by eager fans desperate to have a picture or an autograph.  I went from a feeling of eaginess and excitement to a feeling of sadness for federer for he couldn’t move more than two inches without being bambared and jumped on by fans.  These people who were pushing cameras and papers into his face didn’t know him as a person, they didn’t know how he felt that day all these people knew was that this person was famous and that his signature meant something.  I become embarrassed as I was mixed in the crowd of annoying fans. 

Just as Federer thought he was finally done signing autographs and being pushed around he began walking into the player’s lounge finally left alone but then he was stopped by his agent and was told to talk to my friend.  My friend was stunned he got a picture and an autograph and he told federer “I have loved you for ten years.”

I stepped back and thought about that, he just told another man he loved him for ten years, that may seem like an ordinary thing to say to an idol.  But the fact of the matter is Federer is an everyday ordinary human being who just so happens to be an exceptionally good tennis player.  How would you feel if someone you have never met or seen before in your life were to tell you that they have loved you for the last ten years.  I would hope that you would be a little worried. 

The social problem that I am addressing here is that some people look to celebrities too much for answers or for guidance without understanding that celebrities are ordinary human beings just like you and I.  Celebrities should not have any extra pull or weight to what they say compared to ordinary people and they should also not hold any more responsibility than the average person.

Posted in Social Problems | 2 Comments »

1. April 2009 by student.

Half of my family is Jewish, so I’ve encountered hatred towards Jews throughout my life. People have a common misconception of Jews; they see them as money grubbing, big nosed, Yakima wearing loud business owners. I got to tell you, that is complete bullshit. We get a bad rap because some evil  backstabbing people back in the day got together and gave Jesus over to the Romans. These people happened to be Jews. Does this mean that all Jews are like that?  Of course not. Keep in mind that I have been around a lot of Jews in my time and I am used to that “type” of person. But see that is the problem; there really is not a “type” of person I can think of unless we’re talking about color ethnicity. Jews are normal people with a negative tag stapled to their Menorahs.  I compare it to saying that all Muslims are terrorists who would strap a bomb to themselves and blow up buses. Seriously, it’s just a stereotype that causes trouble for people who follow this religion. It will take many steps to eradicate this problem but the first step is to realize there is an issue and educate people on the facts. 

Posted in Social Problems | 2 Comments »

1. April 2009 by student.

I think what we as “Americans” have done to the Indian culture is absolutely horrible. I love being American, I do. I just don’t like what we did to these people to achieve that status. We were nothere first by any means. They were, so they should have dibs on all of this land. We of course came with greater technology and took over everything land wise we have today. We were “nice” about things though; we gave them land they could call their own without interference from the U.S. government. Unfortunately, this land was undesirable to us. These lands consisted of marshes and/or bogs that nobody would want to live on. Then, many years later, we slander the Native Americans for opening casinos on these lands because of the tax free interest that comes with this package deal. I think this is a small justification for what we have done to them and there is really nothing we can do to make it up to this culture for the atrocities we have caused. We damn near destroyed most of these cultures even so to the point of extinction of that race. I suppose it is in nature for people to want to expand they’re empire, it has happened for thousands of years prior to this instance, and I don’t see it stopping any time soon.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

1. April 2009 by student.

I know from experience that adoption is very great for all the including parties. Let’s say a couple cannot have a child for whatever reason. They of course want a child so they have another individual to care for and potentially extend their family farther down the road. Now let’s say that there is another family somewhere that cannot support a child but unfortunately had one. That child could have a better life with family number one and presumably the child’s original family knows that. Hopefully the family gives up the child to the adoption agency and this kid or kids would land in the hands of the more economically inclined family. Now the other family can have that stress of a child they cannot take care of off their shoulders and the other family is happy because they have children they can call their own. Everybody wins and everyone’s happy. I think adoption is a beautiful thing.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | No Comments »

1. April 2009 by student.

I find it fascinating that people usually have to be coaxed to do something. Let me explain; say there is crime in a neighborhood and all the residents want it to stop. Obviously, one approach would be to volunteer to patrol at night or donate some money to increase street light efficiency. In reality, people rarely voluntarily act to achieve a common goal unless forced to do so. Usually, they act to secure they’re own interests first and foremost. I for one would figure that others would donate money to improve the street lights or volunteer to patrol the area so I would not do so. Most people would have the same mind set in this situation as well as other situations and eventually nothing would be accomplished. This is called a social dilemma. A perfect example would be global warming. We know that it exists yet most of us do little if not nothing to prevent it. “someone will invent some sort of clean energy and mass produce it so we all can get It and use it cheaply which will fix the problem.” That is a very common answer. Well, im waiting for that person to hurry up and invent that so we can be saved. That is the exact problem; we need to go out and do something about it ourselves.

Posted in Social Problems | 3 Comments »

1. April 2009 by student.

Ive knew a few drug addicts in my life; some of which were my good friends. I understand that sometimes addiction gets the better of you and that causes you to make very stupid decisions. It is very strange to hear that one of your friends is in jail because he broke into a pawn shop to steal things he would pawn off anyway. Why would do such a thing? What would cause him to do this? The addiction to heroin got the better of him. He originally got into drugs because it was a cool thing to do when your new to high school. He figured that he would make more friends if he took and sold drugs. Surprisingly it worked; he became very popular with druggies and non-druggies alike. I knew him before that and he turned into a ghost of his former self. Eventually he stopped selling because he had enough to support his habit. When that money ran out he had nothing left to sell so he would go out and steal stuff for money. He was a good kid, and to see him digress into what he turned into over something like being the cool kid blows my mind. I suppose having the “perception” of being a drug user seems to have a status today as someone who is cool. This “perception” caused my friend 5 years of his life. He got out this year while I was in college and he is still finishing high school. He is just a mess. The urge to be socially significant to my friend was so much that he chose this path. I just feel so bad for him. I think how easily this could have happened to anyone, including myself. It’s just scary how much people strive for popularity.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | No Comments »