Current Event Blog #2

I read an article about college level athletes and their academic levels. It explained that many college athletes cannot read past a third grade level or at all. Many people don't believe this is fair. They think everyone should have the same standards. According to the article teachers are payed for classes or grades that are not taught or deserved.

We are learning about plagiarism a lot this year. I think this could fit in that category. This athletes are either not doing their work or turning in someone else's work. If they are lying about classes, grades, etc., then how can anyone believe that their results for the entrance exams are true. The fact that these people will eventually graduate means that they will be doing public jobs. They possibly won't be able to read but they can become doctors or lawyers.

I think this is ludicrous. It scares me a little. This should not be happening or be possible. I believe in equality
and they should have to work as hard as every other person. I wouldn't want to go to a college that allows this. It is something that gives young people a reason not to care about school as long as they can play a sport well. I hope that schools get this under control and make sure it doesn't continue in the future. In the future, when I'm looking into colleges, I will certainly look into this.

The author supports his claim that this is happening by giving details, statistics, and percentages. The article states "Some athletes don't aim for high scores when taking entrance exams, looking only to score high enough to become NCAA eligible." This is one of the many problems that occur when academics are not deemed important. He told about how, while they were doing the investigation, they talked to many colleges. The results they got from every college varied. One college that had a program in place to help solve this problem. At Iowa State, their program is "any athlete who is specially admitted... is mandated to start school in the summer term, where they are given remediation." This remediation/tutoring is available to the other students as well. I think this is a great idea. Everything in this text makes this seem like something that is terrible but can be fixed.

Phayes, Michael. "Masuk football." Photograph. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 16 Oct. 2011. Media. 26 Jan. 2014. < http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Masuk_football.jpg >.

Ganim, Sara. "CNN analysis: Some college athletes play like adults, read like 5th-graders." CNN U.S. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc, 8 Jan. 2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/ncaa-athletes-reading-scores/index.html?hpt=hp_t1>.

Current Event Blog #1

 There was a devastating car crash that killed 4 people last month. The cause was a drunk teen driver. He had stolen a beer from a Walmart and then proceeded to crash his car. The first woman he killed was stranded on  the side of the road due to a car issue. Another woman and her daughter came to help and were also hit. A passerby was the last victim. The verdict was decided based on the thought that the teen suffered from  "affluenza". This means that he didn't understand the consequences of his actions because he was too rich and privileged. 

In my English class I am reading a book about suicide and that relates to this because of the deaths of young people. In Earth science we will learn about roadways and weather. I just finished a drivers ed class. This makes me think about how soon I will be driving. I don't want to end up in this teens position. I would never want to be responsible for someones death because I was being stupid. 

I think that this was the wrong decision on the judges part. Now there is an excuse for killing people that rich people can use. Not that they couldn't buy their way out of any way. This is the perfect example. He stole that beer. He got into his car. He needs to be punished. I don't know how he lives knowing what he did and the fact that he got away with it. I think some jail would do him good. He murdered 4 people. There is no way around that. Their families are suffering a loss that was unnecessary. As I read this article I was astonished at how crazy this is. I don't to drive knowing people like that are on the roads. I feel horrible for those peoples families.

His parents need parenting lessons. They should of had more control over their sons life. He should have never been allowed that freedom. I don't know him. I don't know his full story but I do know what its like to lose someone. I hope he has at least learned a lesson. I hope this teaches people about consequences. This should be a warning and should be spread. It could save lives if people find out what happens when your stupid. Don't ever think it won't happen to you. I'm sure that is what this teen thought. 

The central idea of the passage was the verdict of the case. It started by telling about car crash deaths. Then it told what this teen had been diagnosed with. The diagnosis was "affluenza" which the passage described as "his wealthy parents pretty much let him get away with everything." It explained what had happened with the case and how it ended. The final part included was what Eric Boyles, the husband and father of the woman and her daughter that were murdered, thought about the case. Boyles said "I felt that money did prevail." I have to agree with him. (Gray)

Howell, Robert. "Car Accident." Photograph. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 10 Oct. 2005. Media. 9 Jan. 2014. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Car_Accident.jpg>.

Gray, Madison. "The Affluenza Defense: Judge Rules Rich Kid’s Rich Kid-ness Makes Him Not Liable for Deadly Drunk Driving Accident." Time NewsFeed. Time Inc, 12 Dec. 2013. Web. 9 Jan. 2014. <http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/12/12/the-affluenza-defense-judge-rules-rich-kids-rich-kid-ness-makes-him-not-liable-for-deadly-drunk-driving-accident/>.