The Pressure to be as Efficient as a Machine

In this generation technology plays a huge role in peoples everyday lives. As the years go by the amount of technology in classroom settings and learning environments has increased. Although technology has been very helpful in a lot of aspects including education, the increased focus on experimenting with technology in the classroom can be very disrupting and take away from the actual learning process. One Valencia student told Jeff Selingo who wrote the article “Did Anyone Ask the Students?” said that online classes are pretty much like paying to teach yourself. In my experience with online classes I’d have to say that the comment was pretty much on point. The online classes’ I've taken just seem to leave me to my own devices with very limited guidance or communication. Although I have no qualms about reading information and having discussions through text I couldn't help but feel lost in these situations.

I also remember throughout my earlier education (elementary, middle, and high school) different technological changes would be made at times with very little warning or discussion. All it really did was waste a huge chunk of time trying to figure out how to work some very complicated thing that supposedly was going to revolutionize learning. When all it really did was confuse everyone. I did somewhat appreciate the implementation of laptops at the high school level though. They had a purpose and made typed essays and homework easier to access. Yet the mass regulations and complications with maintaining the laptop and abiding by the school rules proved to be a huge hindrance to their effectiveness. And not to mention the absolutely ridiculous and unorganized way of handing payments for the use of said laptop. Which amounted to more than it was actually worth and made it hard for students who couldn't constantly pay the annual and minor fees.

Along with technology there has also been a stigma with certain degrees and how students should choose them and why. I know people judge art degrees, and well basically anything that doesn't have to contribute to societies working jobs. But not everyone is built for that or even interested we shouldn't force people into being miserable the rest of their lives. Why does it matter anyway? I don’t feel like anyone owes society anything or why anyone really cares. In the long run it doesn't matter I’d rather spend my time doing what I love and fulfilling my dreams instead of worrying about how acceptable as a worker to society. It all depends on the individual’s wants, goals, and aspirations. There are plenty of people who choose a degree for many different reasons. It could be passion, it could be the money, the interests, and it could be about a million different reasons depending on who you’re talking to. I think everyone should respect that a little more.

With all this technology and pressure to be not only efficient but faster too, it all seems really overwhelming. And I’m probably not the only one to say their needs to be some changes with the education system and how they address actual student’s interests.  

The Effects of Being Wrong

Confirmation bias is basically all about having that feeling of fitting in. its where our “open-ness” on subjects stops. Where you ask? Right when somebody starts stating opinions that are the opposite of our own. http://io9.com/5974468/the-most-common-cognitive-biases-that-prevent-you-from-being-rational this website provides a really good description of confirmation bias as well as 11 other biases worth taking a look at. This description brings up a very good point about an effect of this bias “It's why we only visit websites that express our political opinions”. This is very true for most people especially for members of political parties. The GOP rarely looks at the other viewpoints of political parties. We have all seen the political advertisements on TV. They are very accusatory, one-sided, and totally entitled to their bias. When elections come closer and closer it all just seems like the dialogue of bickering siblings between the parties

“I’m right”

“No, I’m right”

 “I was right first”

 “As if”.

Political parties are so inclusive and they come attached with a million stereotypes all against each other. These stereotypes can be found even in modern entertainment today, but to be realistic political parties’ have pushed their influence in entertainment since these factions began their existence.

 These influences definitely effect the way citizen’s in the US have discussions or even try to be more forward thinking about the issues that the US is facing. People can get so stuck in this singular political party centric view that they lose what the real issue even was about. Just to stick with following the political party to constantly confirm all their beliefs.

No one is really exempt from this mindset even if it isn’t pertaining to political parties. Nobody wants to be wrong. Being wrong is one of the most uncomfortable feelings and if you’re like me and you over think EVERYTHING a million times over you will fester in it forever. I think that this gross feelings comes with the stigma attached to being wrong. Making a mistake, being wrong, or doing or saying something that isn’t immediately agreed with can make you feel like your “dumb”. That’s a very powerful word and with all the negative connotations on it and explicit synonyms that even contribute to ableism. It effects our outlook on ourselves, and in my opinion it brings us back to being a child in the worst sense. When we were always looked down upon, even in classrooms and the feedback we would get from taunting classmates. I think all of that together just strikes a huge nerve with people, and could absolutely be the root of this whole confirmation bias problem we have.

We need to teach our youth that it’s ok to be wrong, parents should be examples of how to handle it. Because at this point generation after generation just keeps spreading this mindset over and over again of not owning up to mistakes and treating people who have made them with more sympathy and understanding. I believe that treating the youth of today with respect would be a great solution to all these problems.

 If we are constantly keeping ourselves within our own safe bubble of right-ness we won’t ever grow. We would all be more progressive as a society if we could have more real open discussions. And realize that’s its completely okay to be wrong, to make mistakes, and to change your mind depending on the different information you allow yourself to be introduced to. 

Censorship is a Tool of Communism

The Mexican-American studies and curriculum in schools in Arizona are being banned under the HB2281. This house bill challenges any curriculum that “Promote the overthrow of the United States Government” Or “Are designed primarily for people of a particular ethnic group”. John Huppenthal the superintendent for Arizona’s public instruction has targeted Mexican-American curriculum in Arizona, more specifically in the Tuscan school District. He has even gone as far to place blame on universities for teaching this “bias” to people and wants to dismantle that curriculum as well because he claims its creating a bias against America and attacking patriotism.

                But isn’t the patriotic mindset considered a bias? It focuses on one viewpoint and leaves out others. It wouldn’t be off-base to say that History taught in America has a White man bias. So why isn’t that being challenged? Where is the logic in it? Wouldn’t it be considered more un-American to continue banning anything that remotely criticizes American government? Censorship is extremely undemocratic and any “founding father” we praise or who even had a hand in the constitution would be appalled at the censorship taking place. That’s what they fought for, for the freedom to criticize and speak. Hupenthalls incredibly racist and uncomfortable feeling toward Mexican-American curriculum is so ironic. Every statement he makes trying to back up his point of view just further proves himself wrong. He doesn’t want any bias being taught in school when in all reality the world is a bias. Literally everything and everyone has a bias. There is no way to truly be unbiased. He wants no discrimination yet he is discriminating against a certain group.

                Antonio Estrada the director of the Mexican American studies program at U of A told fox news “…Academic freedom will be lost if these programs are not sustained at the university level.” Which was a very strong statement being provided by someone who will be effected by the events that play out due to Huppenthalls decisions.

In my opinion Hupenthall is promoting communism in the sense that no one is allowed to have a voice. That criticism, freedom of speech, freedom of education, and discussion should not exist. His views are extremely dangerous to an already fragile system that’s slowly teetering toward more rights of the people in the US to be taken away. He talks of patriotism and how he feels these programs are a danger to it when the real danger is taking these things away. Just because you try to cover up things that happen it does not mean that they didn’t happen. The sooner people like Huppemthall realize this the better. We need to have these discussions, they are taking away peoples culture, and rights.