Fifth blog

Some topics I have been looking at are somewhat worthy of writing a paper on but I'm kind of torn between the two topics:

1. Should Classes Be Offered to Non-English Speaking Students in Their Own Language?

For this topic, I can easily say that offering non-English speaking students classes in their own language has its pros and cons. Of course it would be extremely beneficial but the purpose of coming to America is to expand one's horizon. Culture diversity and staying true to your roots is a beautiful thing, but learning about other cultures is also a goal a non-English speaking student should maintain. It's kind of difficult for me to pick sides with this topic, mainly because my parents were non-English speaking students when they came to America, and they had to cope with the ridicule of not being able to comprehend what people were saying. I've grown up speaking English and Laotian with my mom and dad, and I think because they weren't offered Laotian classes, they were given more opportunities to learn and create a more "Americanized" lifestyle. Today, there are a numerous amount of races in schools, and it would be a challenge to accomodate every single person who didn't speak English. On the other hand, if these students were placed in an environment where they couldn't understand anything they were being taught, going to school would be pointless. The whole purpose of going to school is to learn, whether you understand something or not, there are always ways you can figure something out. There are always people who are willing to help, so I don't really think there should specifically be a class for non-English speakers.

2. Are Standardized Tests Good Measures of Academic Ability or Progress?

Hmm... standardized testing has always bothered me. Since I'm currently a high school student, this topic is a lot easier for me to relate to. I don't necessarily believe that standardized testing is a good measure of academic ability or progress. The occasional benchmarks are usually something that students want to brush off their shoulder, and the STAR testing in the middle of April is just a reason for students to sleep during class and doodle all over their notebooks. Of course there are the people who actually want to do something worthwhile and put effort into their work, but the majority of high school students aren't that motivated. No matter how much breakfast school officials tell you to eat, or how many hours of sleep they tell you to get, there will always be those students who slack off and make Christmas trees on their scantron. There are students who are dedicated to their education, and there are students who don't really give a hoot, and that's something the world can't change. Academic ability shouldn't be based on a test given towards the end of the year. By that time, most students have already forgotten what they've learned at the beginning of the year. Standardized testing helps a high school's rank, but if students don't put in the effort, the lower the high school is on the scale. Apparently, I feel that standardized testing is pointless if students aren't willing to pay attention. If high schools made it an obligation for students to do their best, I would think otherwise.