Public Schools
Essays

Should Evolution be Taught in Schools? Introduction / Thesis (Part One) The debate between those that believe in creationism – or "intelligent design," a refined offshoot of the creationism theory – and those who believe in the science of evolution, spilled over into the schools in the United States many years ago. Conservative Christians and others who are in denial vis-à-vis Charles Darwin's research and theory argue that at the very least their religious-based theories should be placed side-by-side in public school textbooks. Scientists, biologists, teachers, scholars and others who accept the empirical nature of scientific evolution have battled to keep creationism and intelligent design (ID) out of the science textbooks – with some degree of success albeit in certain conservative communities and states politicians and school board members have overruled logic by those insisting that ID be part of science textbooks. Some objective scholarship sees this debate as another example of the recent trend toward the rejection of science among certain groups in the country – including the dismissal of enormous volumes of empirical data related to global climate change. Journalists, scholars, and other informed observers view the recent refutation of science-based research as related more to political ideology and religious beliefs – embraced by conservatives, evangelicals and others in the U.S. – than to fact-filled dialogue that leads to scholarly debate. Thesis: Notwithstanding the pronouncements and beliefs of conservative ideologues, politicians and spokespersons within the evangelical and other movements, evolution is no longer a theory, it is science, and hence it should be taught in public schools and indeed teachers should be well informed and prepared to defend science against attacks from the right.

Latino Opportunities in America: Is Discrimination Hindering Latino Success

Though many citizens of the United States are under the impression that the national popular vote every four years leads directly to the election of the President, but in reality the popular vote simply elects electors…

Cuban, Larry. (2004). The Blackboard and the Bottom Line: Why Schools Can't Be Businesses. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: Harvard University Press.

There are signs that the ongoing financial crisis is coming to an end. The GDP has risen in each of the last two quarters, housing prices has stabilized, the Dow Jones Industrial Index is back above 10,000 and the White…

This paper provides an analysis of the obesity problem in the United States compared to Thailand where obesity is not as great a problem, but where the prevalence of obesity is still on the rise. A further comparison of obesity rates and obesity-related healthcare costs in New York compared to national rates and costs is followed by an assessment concerning how the political aspects of this issue hinder the ability of epidemiologists in addressing this problem. In addition, recommendations concerning four new policies or laws that the government can implement to address the obesity problem in the U.S. are followed by an analysis of the implications of those policies or laws on people, health insurance, healthcare providers, businesses, and the food industry. Finally, an examination of the causes that have made obesity rates increase for the past decade is followed by a summary of the research and important findings in the conclusion.

Option B: Progressive Education in North America and Canada

Two years after Katrina the population of New Orleans is still growing, but only 40% of children in the public schools are previous inhabitants. Homes are for sale everywhere and, though the prices have dropped in some…

Jamie Story is a Texas advocate for school choice as a way to reduce dropout rates. She is a policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the host of this web site that argues her position.

Kozol, J. (1991) Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc.