Burlington High School Burlingto

Burlington High School
Burlington, Kansas
Teacher: Devra Parker

National Education for the Common Good Overwhelms Individual Liberty
By: Robin Troyer
12^th grade

A student rolls out of bed at six thirty am, punches the alarm clock, and drags himself to the bathroom, where he will begin his day. Is this individual rolling out of bed on his own whim or that of the institutions that surround him? This young man has been raised up via a society with requirements that are claimed to be for the common good; do they [conflict with] his rights as an individual? Often times in America, the state or society imposes rules upon individuals that often [constrict] their…liberties. …

Is it really necessary for students to continue an education to a certain age? Further, should state schools have as much authority as they currently posses over students who attend their institutions? What may be an ideal curriculum for one area may not be the same as another. These and many more are all legitimate concerns…among many, myself (as a student) included.

Firstly, the core of an education system is the curriculum by which students are taught. It is understandable that some children need guidance in preparing for the future.... However, for some students that are…goal oriented it would be valuable…for them to be able to…schedule courses that will benefit them in college and their career…. It is my opinion that in an effort to create a basic education for [everybody], some states have stepped on the toes of many who [already] know what they want and how to get it. Admit it or not, some of those basic education courses that are supposed to be for the real world, will never be used by half of the people attending the classes. I am quite certain that learning the primary and secondary colors will do me little to no good in an English field.

In addition, the concept of requiring students to become educated is an important but inconvenient one. It is my personal belief that all students should be educated; however, I also firmly believe that schooling is not for everyone and a decision should be left to each household, not the government. Although there are tons of individuals in locations such as the Middle East who would give their right arm for an education, there are some who would sacrifice the same to not have a required education system. As the old saying goes: force a child to do something and watch the fury, allow the child to something and watch the passion unfold.

Also, more and more young people are wasting their life. Sure, going to school would be absolutely beneficial, but what happened to the days when spending the day with a parent learning real world tools was ideal? As a young woman, I am certainly glad that my parents took the time to teach me things such as changing oil, doing laundry, cooking, and the importance of maintaining a job even while in high school.

Finally, government programs geared to aid students are nothing but moronic nonsense. In 2001 President Bush passed an act entitled No Child Left Behind, which essentially set guidelines that were entirely unreachable. How…can a government set standards for a nation of students as a generic group? ... Will it do any good to declare my educators as terrorists, Mr. President?

Perhaps…educational institutions could look at us students, as not a society, but as individuals. How can something that is not good for so many individuals [benefit] to the common good? I think [there is no way]. Maybe the time has come to be selfish. The common good laws of education do not get me, an individual, where I need to be.

Answers to Questions Regarding the Required Reading

Q1-What do you think Justin Reiter meant by including the following in his essay?

“…if the people are not accustomed to the freedom they will be angered by the inequality.” Were you angered by some of the things Justin said in his essay? Did you agree or disagree?

Although I did agree with the many points that Justin chose to include, I did not agree with the way he chose to write them. This paper could have had a lot more structure and grammatical correctness. However, it is the bitter truth that equality and freedom play into one another and often times, having one means axing the other. Justin did an excellent job portraying the reality within his issue. I believe that when he said that (the above mentioned quote), he meant that individuals in a society where freedom is not an option would not know the ways that freedom and equality play. Thus, equality would absolutely be expected and anticipated.

Q2- Explain: “He felt that the common good could be served by each individual pursuing self-interest.” To whom did Chris Carney attribute these feelings?

Firstly, I would like to start by saying this is the most poorly written paper my eyes have ever had to run across. After reading, I still have a feeling of confusion as to what his main point even was. What he probably meant in the above mentioned quote is that James Madison firmly believed that any individual interested in bettering their own stature should take into consideration others doing the same. Therefore, by helping the common good of the community, one would be helping himself. As the old saying goes, don’t bite your nose to spite your face.

Q3- In the next to the last paragraph in her essay, Faith Doyle discuses Emperor Diocletian and his Edict of 301. Relate that to the essay topic.

This example Miss Doyle used relating Emperor Diocletian and his “Edict of 301” is talking about how putting wage and price control on everything completely overwhelmed the Romans freedoms to the point of complete independence and slavery set forth unto the government. This relates to the subject, The Role of Personal Responsibility In Balancing Individual Liberty and the Common Good, because it is a prime example of unbalance in the common wealth of their society.

Q4- Kelly Lanier says in her essay: “Even though everyone is born with the same rights here in America; sometimes a person can step on or take away the rights of another person.” Relate the example she gives and give us another one of your own.

The statement that a person can step on or take away another’s individual rights is sadly a true reality. For example, every individual has the right to not be forced to hear and become persuaded in things that they do not want to know of. However, it is also a person’s freedom and right to speak as they choose. In an instant of saying something someone else does not want to hear, a persons rights have been infringed upon.

Q5- Explain what Joshua Spencer means when he says that “individual liberty is a fragile, yet powerful, asset.” How does he relate individual liberty to dictators? Do you agree with his assessment? Why or why not? Be specific.

What I believe Mr. Spencer meant when he spoke of individual liberty is thus: being an individual of oneself is a powerful tool, a person creates their own destiny and chooses how powerful he will become, one will live up to his own expectations. In this paper, Spencer relates individual liberty to dictatorship by means of comparison. When a dictator rules, the people no longer have any liberties about them. I, to a certain extent, agree with the stance Joshua Spencer took on the power that each individual holds in his own hands.

Q6-Luck Hall asked “Will we maintain our freedom or destroy it to be safe?” How would you answer that question?

From either side that you may attempt to approach the above mentioned question, there will be downfalls. Maintaining freedom allows society to make their own dreams, go their own way, and achieve. However, being free may be at a loss when in compared to the safety Mr. Hall spoke so openly of. In contrast, is safety worth losing a person’s freedoms? Thus this inquiry is not a mere question, but more so a vicious circle.

Q7- Some people, according to which student essayist in 1999, suggested that “the Constitution's framers might have 'put greater emphasis on the protection of the community over individual liberty', had they seen the world today.”? She doesn’t agree. Do You?

I find reality in both agreeing and disagreeing with this quote. The Constitution is the law of the land, laid down for us by our founding fathers. On the other hand, the framers of the Constitution could in no way imagine the world in which we live today. As far as smoking and guns is concerned, individuals who choose not to smoke should not have to be forced to breath in tobacco ridden air, however it is just as much a smokers right to smoke. It is, however, the responsibility of society to protect the youth who cannot protect themselves from school violence.

Q8- “Just because a law may achieve desirable results, it should not take precedence over the Constitution.” Do you agree or disagree? Aaron Traffas, discusses the Ban on Smoking in Public Places and the Gun Free School Zones Act. How do you personally feel about these two issues?

Q9- Annie St. Romain referred to a book in her essay where “the government regulated every possible aspect of human life from profession to family to emotions.” What was the name of that book? Have you read it?

The name of the book was The Giver by Lois Lowry and I have not read this book.

Q10- “As nations grow in size and social complexity, governments claim greater powers to restrain individuals and groups. Those who criticize this development believe that it has gone so far as to threaten the existence of individual liberty. Others believe that only if government is granted such powers, can complex problems be solved.” This quote can be found in Jessie Veit’s essay. Which side of the issue do you support and why?

Q11- Give three examples where personal responsibility would replace the need for laws. Do not duplicate those found in Patrick Karcher’s essay.

Q12- It is obvious that Benji Lehman is idealistic. In his essay he claims when the founding fathers “wrote the constitution they put a great emphasis on each person having personal rights as well as individual liberties. The true strength of each and every community falls on the individual. Believing each man, woman, and child will, and can recognize the importance of good responsibility.…These were laws that gave each and everyone of us the opportunity and self-respect to do the right thing.” Benji believed that people would make choices that would serve and benefit their communities. Do you believe that? Please explain.

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