Burlington High School
Burlington, Kansas
Teacher: Devra Parker
Excellence: Has it Been Abandoned in America?
By Loran Martin
12th grade
When I came home from school, my friend called me and said that his play that I had missed “was excellent.” Then, I got ready to heat up my dinner and my dad said, “I am not sure that it is going to be as tasty reheated when it was fresh. It was excellent.” Later I got on to the computer and started chatting via msn messenger, and told my friend that I wouldn’t be at school tomorrow because of my senior portraits were being taken. Her response was “excellent.” The word excellent is misused or overused in our society; what does it really mean? Excellence is the quality of surpassing especially in good qualities; being better than, exceeding, being pre-eminent. Has America neglected excellence?
I believe that almost every American has neglected excellence in one way or another. Take, for example, excellence in education and performance in school; it has been minimized immensely. Remember when a grade point average mattered? Having straight A’s was something students strived for, and taking challenging course were goals valued by students and their parents. I think some of the reasons why excellence in the school has decreased is because parents, teachers and students aren’t putting enough effort into improving communities or education.
Personally, I didn’t push myself to make straight A’s, but I don’t believe myself to be an A student. That doesn’t mean I’m a bad student. Just the opposite is true I possess qualities of a successful student. I know what is expected of me by my teachers; I listen, follow directions, show respect, complete tasks, and work cooperatively with others. In doing this I learn and continue to gain knowledge and understanding. Still, like other students, I lack excellence in education because it isn’t constantly my main focus, so I’m not devoting 100 percent of my energy to it. Lack of confidence in my educational abilities affects me striving for excellence, too. Some community members are too concerned about the cost of educational excellence. Lower taxes are more important to them. Parents used to sit with their children and help them through homework. Now, time is too precious to them. Some even complain. My child has too much homework” or “I never use this in my work.” Teachers are forced to complete so much testing to prove students gain adequate yearly progress that there is barely time for anything else. Is adequate progress excellence? I don’t think so.
What about excellence in religion? Man is God’s ultimate creation, but are we continuing to strive to live our lives as images of God? Is it right to strive for excellence in the human race if that means aborting a child because that baby isn’t the best choice right now for the parents? Does excellence in human health include using human embryos for stem cell research? What about the religious leaders who preach to us about achieving moral excellence but then abuse children, steal from donators or kill in the name of Allah, God, or Muhammad?
Personally, I strive for excellence in my moral and religious beliefs by challenging myself to be a better person. If I make an error, I learn from it and try not to repeat that same mistake. I involve myself with those who will support me in upholding my values. My behavior and actions help me keep my reputation as a caring person. I am active in many Christian activities. Attending church, youth rallies, religious education classes, and Christian-based group meetings are ways I practice my faith and strengthen my values. Many others do these same types of actions to work toward excellence in mortality, but we are constantly tempted to misbehave. If America and the world were striving for moral and religious excellence, would we have such an increase in temptations of the seven chief reasons we sin? Think about how much lust, anger, pride, covetousness, gluttony, envy and sloth there is in America and worldwide. Reflecting on this leads me to think we Americans are far from moral excellence.
One way we are trying to achieve greater morality is by helping those in need by using our talents to assist others as our troops are doing world wide. Most of America’s armed forces are striving to do their job with excellence by bringing a better life for those they serve. Even when they suffer defeats or let downs, our armed forces are still fighting to keep our country and to improve the life of others safe, but what are they getting out of all this trauma? The citizens fighting for us are leaving behind their families. What about the funding for the armed forces? I think that America has let down excellence by not giving the armed forces all the proper equipment, not giving their families at home the money to stay secure, and not properly planning, strategizing and allying ourselves with others before we send our military troops anywhere.
Even with all of our faults, there is no place that I would rather live than here in the United States of America. Here we have the freedom to write and speak about what is wrong without the fear of being punished or killed even by those in the government. American schools are criticized when they score lower then other countries on world wide “report cards,” but all Americans are provided an education, not just a select group. Just look at the number of foreigners who choose to come to America for a better education. We may behave in immoral ways, but we also are a nation of people persons, caring individuals and groups who support one another in many causes. It is for these reasons that although America is not excellent in every way, I am still proud to be an American.
Answers To Questions To Re: Required Reading
Q1- Am I really where I want to be?
I am, for the most part, where I would like to be. I am attending high school and making pretty good grades, they could be better but I won’t complain. I work for a preschool as a work study program and I absolutely love my job and the great people I work with. I am very glad that I am in touch with God and I have excellent morals.
Q2- Am I moving in the direction that will enable me to make the greatest contribution?
I would consider myself to be moving in a positive direction to make a contribution to my community. I am trying my hardest to help the children in the community have a good education, I also enjoy being involved in various community service programs, and love working with the elderly. I am also a very helping and loving person, and I am willing to help anyone with a problem.
Q3- If I could achieve my highest goals, what would my accomplishments look like?
If I could achieve my highest goals, I would graduate college with a masters degree in the education major hopefully having decent grades. I will also have gotten started in my career of teaching at my very own preschool in a small rural community. I will also have a loving and stable family of my own.
Q4- Do I recognize excellence and search it out or do I find mediocre acceptable and am willing to settle?
I definitely would never settle for a job that I completed only half-heartedly. I always strive for excellence and to be the best. I put 100 percent into everything I do and usually don’t give up until I have achieved my goal. I love a challenge and am always ready for one!
Q5- Do I seek out people, books, movies and other things that encourage me to be the best I can be?
I do, listening to pure music and read scriptures, but in the world today it is very hard to do, but I try my hardest. I also try to watch movies and listen to music that is positive and encouraging. I enjoy being around people that are also striving for excellence and aren’t willing to give up. This can also be great motivation.
Q6- Do I recognize the best in others?
I try to recognize the best qualities in other individuals, but sometimes its really hard for me. I try to focus on the things people do that I enjoy. I try to never judge a person until I get to know them, never judge a book by its cover!
Q7- Do you agree with Morrow (paragraph seven) that: "Excellence demands standards. It does not usually flourish in the midst of rapid, hectic change. This century’s sheer velocity has subverted the principle of excellence; a culture must be able to catch its breath."
I would agree with this statement. Our society is changing so rapidly that sometimes we become out of control and a little hectic. We do need some time to just work on our moral values and to make ourselves better. Maybe if things weren’t moving so quickly then we would be able to concentrate more on making ourselves better and more respectful.
Q8- Interpret this quote from paragraph nine: "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion."
With all the success Americas have had, many people are just resting easy. They are taking the easy way out of things being lazy. Some have forgotten about their morals and having to work hard to achieve their goals. There may be consequences some day if people continue to act like the way they are.
Q9- Argue pro and con Morrow's contention that "Americans not yet successful (the struggling, the underclass) are apt to aim at ease, not excellence" ?
I see why the author stated that the underclass is more suitable to strive for ease, because they have had rough lives. It may be that they just do their job to get done and not worry about the quality. I also disagree with this statement, there are some people who work their hardest to get out of their tough situation.
Q10- Explain what Morrow means when he says (A) "the confusion contaminates character and disables ambition." Do you agree?
Morrow is stating that with the quick rate our society is moving at today, people are getting lost with it all and forgetting their moral values. I don’t really agree with him on this issue. Yes, there is a lot of advancement at a quick rate in American society, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s character is jeopardized by it. I feel that people can make their own decisions and how fast society is moving doesn’t really have anything to do with it.
Q11- Argue pro and con the effect of over stimulation and under stimulation as discussed in paragraph 10.
Over stimulation may be viewed as both positive and negative. With so much of this in the United States, we have been able to make more advanced technology than anywhere in the world. We are able to protect ourselves better and are more civilized than many places around the world. However, over stimulation may lead to less excellence as well. We are exposed to such a great amount of sex, drugs, and other sinful behaviors so often that we may not even realize the difference between right and wrong any more. Under stimulation may be viewed as a positive aspect for the exact opposite reasons. People aren’t shown so many bad images, so they may still have better morals and higher opinions of excellence. On the other hand, it may lead to less technological advancement, and the society may be left behind.
Q12- Contrast practical excellence with metaphysical excellence as used in Morrow's last paragraph.
Morrow is talking about the way people confuse their practical excellence with metaphysical excellence. The American people have been able to become very successful by relying on the way they are very practical. However, this only goes so far, and it all comes back to the excellence that matters, metaphysical excellence. This type is based on the way people set their morals and abide by them. It is a much more personal matter that one can only decide by themselves.
Q13- Copy and interpret your two favorite quotes. Explain why you chose them.
“I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” First, I choose this quote because it explains that I have control over myself and the actions that I take. No matter where I am in life or what I am doing, I always have control over my actions. I can use this to do good or bad with my life; it is my choice.
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” Next, I choose this quote because I completely agree with it. A person may have all the money in the world and be able to buy whatever she wants, but as long as she has not found that inner peace with herself, she will never be truly happy.