Medicine Lodge High School
Medicine Lodge, Kansas
Teachers: Devra Parker and Mike Hubka
It's a Jungle Out There
By Inge Angle
12th Grade
Throughout her high school career, Tabitha was considered to be an ideal student. She served as president of her senior class and enjoyed playing softball and basketball. She was a member of the dance team, the pep band, and many other student organizations. While staying busy with her extra-curricular activities, Tabitha maintained a 4.0 grade point average and served as valedictorian of her graduating class. Achieving this goal was especially difficult because she completed the most challenging curriculum her school had to offer. Her classmate, Cooper, spent his days in home economics and welding classes. While Tabitha spent hours studying calculus of a single variable, Cooper learned how to balance a checkbook. Tabitha exhausted herself by studying for her physics final exam, while Cooper spent hours learning the importance of separating white clothing from colored clothing when washing laundry. Thus, it was certain that Tabitha would be more likely to succeed in life. However, as the two entered college, Tabitha had many problems completing her day-to-day affairs. She did not know how to perform some of the simplest duties, such as doing her laundry or balancing her checkbook. Cooper, on the other hand, had no problems with these simplistic tasks.
Many young adults have found that including a home economics class in their curriculum is a prudent decision. Numerous students entering college find that although they are prepared for their classes, they are unprepared to live on their own. However, who is responsible for teaching these basic duties to students? Should a child's guardian be solely responsible for teaching children basic day-to-day duties, or should the government instill programs to teach America's youth the basics of living independently? How might we prepare students to successfully live alone? Educating students for the unavoidable realities of life is exceedingly important.
Foremost, who is responsible for teaching children how to live on their own? Parents or guardians as well as the state government should all be held responsible for teaching children such life skills. An essential understanding of cooking, balancing a checkbook, and cleaning laundry is necessary in order for young adults to thrive in life. It is the duty of the parent or guardians, the state government, and the community to help provide children with an education in academics as well as life skills to better prepare students for a brighter future. The communities, school systems, and state governments must learn to work hand in hand to help provide students who may lack parental guidance with the support and understanding necessary to prepare for the future. The quality of life in communities would be greatly improved by helping children make better choices that will benefit their approaching autonomy. Teaching these basic skills will be profitable for children who need to learn how to successfully function in a social world. If Tabitha had dedicated a small portion of her busy day to learning some basic life skills, she may not have required Cooper's assistance with washing her laundry.
Moreover, it is of great importance that children learn to successfully live independently. The ability to complete basic redundant duties will result in America's youth becoming independent individuals. If students learn to thrive in their home lives, they may have a better chance of being prosperous in their careers. Students who learn how to manage money, balance a checkbook, and undertake positive social skills will benefit in all aspects of their lives. This will lead to young adults making prudent decisions in choosing colleges, careers, and first homes. Learning to write a resume or balance a budget would have helped Tabitha apply for her first job or successfully live on a minimal budget while attending college.
Furthermore, what programs can parents or guardians, state governments, and communities implement to benefit children in all aspects of life? Classes such as "Consumer Economics," "Parenting and Relationships," and "Living on My Own' should be offered to high school students. This method would aid in teaching children how to choose an insurance company or to pay an automobile emolument. Another option that will involve the entire community is to hold workshops taught by community members. This alternative option would offer children the chance to receive help from a wide variety of people. It may also teach students to function better socially. The most beneficial option would be to begin teaching children these skills at home. This will result in a more comfortable learning environment, and the skills could be practiced on a daily basis. There are ample opportunities that need to be taken advantage of to teach children how to live on their own. Tabitha would have been more prepared to live on her own if she had taken advantage of these options.
Finally, preparing students for life academically as well as socially is not the tedious task it seems to be. The responsibility of teaching these tasks lies not only with parents or guardians, but also with the state governments and local communities as well. They must be able to work together to prepare students for life after high school. There are many opportunities for parents or guardians, state governments and communities to teach children the skills they will need to become successful adults. If we all work together, the future generations are sure to be bright.
Answers To Questions
Q1.How does society invest in marriage in the USA and in Manus?
A1. In the United States, society accepts the fact that many Americans face divorce each year. Long-standing marriages have almost become non-existent. However, in Manus, New Guinea, the people center their investments about tried and enduring marriages. The Manus society believes it is prestigious to have an enduring marriage.
Q2. Interview 10 married people. State the length and number of each one's marriages and a lone or two of advice from each on how to maintain a long, happy relationship.
A2. Couple one has been married for six years. Their secret to a long, happy marriage is to practice the art of good communication. Couple two has been married for twenty-three years. According to them, amounts of tolerance and caring and family togetherness makes this couple a success. Couple three has been married for eighteen years. Their secret is to display a lot of patience, as well as a balance of giving and taking. Couple four has been married for thirty-six years. They jokingly stated that good communication and not going to bed angry are two important keys to a strong relationship. Couple five has also been married for eighteen years. They also believe that good communication is an important goal to having a successful relationship. Couple six has been married for twenty-six years. They believe that being committed to one another makes a relationship long lasting. Couple seven has been married for twenty-three years. Their secret is sharing great amounts of love and honesty. Couple eight has shared twenty-seven years of marital bliss. She jokingly said that the key her marriage is that he knows that she is the boss. However, on a serious note, their respect for each other has helped them maintain a long, happy relationship. Couple nine has been married for nine years. Their secret to a happy relationship is to always remember to kiss each other goodbye and be completely open and honest with each other. Couple ten is still newlywed and has been married for ten short months. They believe their relationship will last a lifetime because of their honesty to each other, as well as their dedication to their marriage.
Q3. According to Richard Eckersley, what should our collective
goal be?
A3. According to Richard Eckersley, how we respond in seemingly little ways today could have big outcomes tomorrow. How we choose to live affects the world; there is no escaping that so we should choose to live to change the world.
Q4. Write a worthy goal for your local community.
A4. A worthy goal for the Medicine Lodge community is to endorse marriage as a prestigious covenant.
Q5. Comment on the exerpts from "Tomorrow's Child."
A5. The exerpts seem to share the idea of lonely children, who use dolls designed to remind children of their parental figures. They are now able to carry their parents around in doll form. Also, the gap between the rich and the poor is continuously widening. In the near future, we may find ourselves living in an extremely competitive world.
Q6. How does the fact the USA is a democracy make lawyers particularly helpful, according to Kathleen Sullivan? How does our diversity, wealth and size make lawyers particularly helpful.
A6. According to Kathleen Sullivan, lawyers create a form of public responsibility and accountability that would not occur in an irrepressible government. The diversity the United States makes lawyers particularly helpful because we are an increasingly conglomerate society. That heterogeneity brings about more conflict and less agreement about social customs. Wealthy Americans worry about healthcare and longevity of human life and are often the ones who contemplate about what law can do to solve those problems. America's vast and expansive territory transforms our society into incorporating local organizations into national organizations.
Q7. Ms. Sullivan claims bad practices are changed either by regulations or punitive damages. Which do you prefer and why? Can you think of an alternative?
A7. Bad practices can be changed by regulations or by punitive damages. However, in most cases, it would be beneficial for the company and society to have punitive damages. Punitive damages were designed to make a company absorb the real cost of the activity, rather than to pay the individual and say it is just the cost of doing business.
Briefly describe
Q8. three ways society would benefit from the coming retirement of baby boomers, according to the required reading.
A8. Society will benefit from the coming retirement of baby boomers because the retirees will offer services to the large generation X'ers because they will be having families. Also, the retirees may provide opportunities for teenage entrepreneurs. The retirees may also become entrepreneurs and start new businesses that will be widely employed by other retired baby boomers.
Q9. Evaluate the likelihood of President Clinton's anti-poverty program making a real impact. Give at least three reasons to back up your conclusions.
A9. The anti-poverty program may not work because it will increase the national debt, the poor are not educated or trained enough to fill the new job requirements and the chance of discrimination will widen.
Q10. Name three things Truett Cathy and Tom Lewis have in common.
A10. Both men are very religious, they are successful businessmen, and they work with under privileged children.