An Analysis of Language in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart :: Things Fall Apart essays

 â â â Albert Chinualumogu Achebe was conceived on November 16, 1930 to Isaiah Okafo and Janet Achebe in the entirely temperamental nation of Ogidi, Nigeria. He was presented to teachers right off the bat in his youth on the grounds that Ogidi was one of the main preacher communities set up in Eastern Nigeria and his dad was an evangelist. However it was not until he started to learn at the University of Ibadan that Achebe found what he himself needed to do. He had developed apalled to the shallow picture of Nigeria that numerous non-Nigerian creators were giving. That is when Achebe made plans to compose something that saw his nation from the inside.â (Gallagher, Susan, The Christian Century, v114, 260)â â His first novel, Things Fall Apart, accomplished precisely this.â Things Fall Apart depends on Nigeria's initial encounters with the British. It is the tale of an Ibo town and one of it's extraordinary men, Okonkwo, who is an exceptionally high achiever being a victor grappler, a well off rancher, a spouse to three wives, and a man with titles. Okonkwo's reality is upset with the presence of the principal white man who attempts to perpetrate his religion on the Umuofia locals. Okonkwo, a high tempered man, later executes a British utilized man and in the long run ends his own life.  â â â â â â â â â â Achebe himself once stated, Language is a weapon and we use it, and there's no point inâ battling it. ( Gallagher, The Christian Century, v114, 260)â These are words that Achebe lives by. He remained by this announcement all through his whole profession with a language style that would change African writing. was no exemption. He achieved his objective by expounding on his own way of life and his own family in a wonderful, proverbic style.  â The exceptional language style of Things Fall Apart changed Achebe's vocation, however it likewise changed his nation. Achebe himself once stated, Art is, and consistently was, at the administration of man. Our progenitors made their fantasies and recounted to their accounts for a human reason. Any great story, any great novel, ought to have a message, ought to have a reason. Achebe utilized the weapon of language to persuade untouchables that Nigeria is a country with extraordinary potential.

Find Out if Your Friend is a True Friend with Our Help

See whether Your Friend is a True Friend with Our Help Signs Someone Is A Real Friend We as a whole have companions, yet would they say they are valid or would they say they are simply on-screen characters? Underneath you can discover a few realities which will assist you with characterizing whether the individual is a genuine companion of yours or only a regrettable on-screen character. Genuine companions dont reprimand you for picking work over fun. You generally don't hesitate to snatch some food from their refrigerator. You both realize that if zombie end of the world comes and somebody unexpectedly gets chomped, you wont execute him except if he is 100% a zombie. Your companion is constantly prepared to tune in or offer guidance to you paying little heed to his mind-set and time. Being an old buddy implies you can be isolated for quite a long time or even months, yet there are still no questions about your kinship. Theyve helped you move. (In the event that they did this during summer be certain that they are the most genuine companions). Companions will be constantly prepared to assist you with tidying up a wreck after an enormous gathering at your home. At the point when you think everything is over for you, genuine companions will consistently bolster you. Each post on an interpersonal organization (paying little heed to what it is) is remarked, preferred or supported by your genuine companion. At the point when somebody is insolent towards your companion, you hinder and handle the issue. Genuine closest companions will do likewise for you. Genuine companions are in every case truly glad for your successes and upset for your misfortunes. Genuine companions will consistently reveal to you straight away when youre being idiotic or unseemly. You dont stress that your companion will post the photograph where you believe yourself to be revolting. They will disclose to you any excruciating data you probably won't know. You generally call each other inept names or revile words. In any event, when dating somebody, they dont disregard your companionship. They will never disregard you. They will never be quiet about your young lady undermining you. You dont need any interpersonal organizations to know whom they are dating or when is their birthday, since you practically definitely know it. They wont let you do moronic stuff in any event not without anyone else. Being a decent individual is a key to get genuine companions through your life. So dont lie, dont sell out and dont exploit your companions.

Reliability vs Validity All You Should Know About Them

Reliability vs Validity All You Should Know About Them Reliability vs Validity is always a big concern between the students mind. In this blog we are going to solve all your doubts between Reliability vs Validity. Lets get started:- What is Validity and Reliability? Summary What is Validity and Reliability?Reliability vs ValidityTypes of ReliabilityInterraterTest-retest ReliabilityParallel forms reliabilityTypes of ValidityConstruct ValidityHow are Reliability and Validity assessed?Role of Reliability and Validity In PsychologyWhat Are Validity and Reliability in ResearchValidity in ResearchReliability in ResearchMethods to improve the ValidityWays to Improve ReliabilityImportance of Reliability and ValidityConclusion Validity and Reliability are two crucial parts of several successful research. Several research scholars have come up with insightful techniques to outbuilding light on Validity vs. Reliability. When you write a thesis, the quality assessment of your research is created on two factors. According to the experts point of view, the procedure of measurement should be reliable for a study to be measured as valid. Reliability refers to the grade to which the research technique produces stable and consistent results. Reliability vs Validity Types of Reliability Interrater The degree of agreement between different people who experience or analyze the same object is calculated. Many scientists make the same test or analysis on the same specimen to assess the interrater reliability. Then you calculate the correlation between the results of their different sets. The high interrater Reliability on a test is based on the rating of the researchers. Test-retest Reliability The accuracy of the tests is calculated by repeating the same experiment on the same sample at a different time point. You use it when you calculate something in your test that you expect to remain constant. Parallel forms reliability You first need to build two parallel forms of parallel form consistency. One way to achieve this is to create a large set of questions that answer the same structure and then break the questions into two sets at random. All devices were given to the same sample of people. The comparison between the two complementary modes is the accuracy measure. Types of Validity Face Validity: Face Validity indicates that the test works to evaluate the possible framework under analysis. Stakeholders will quickly determine the legitimacy of the eyes. Though this is not a very scientific type of Validity, it can be a vital component in recruiting motivation of stakeholders Construct Validity Construct Validity is used to confirm that the test measures what is supposed to be calculated (i.e., the project) and no other variable. The use of a construct-familiar board of experts is a process in which this form of credibility can be tested. The specialists will analyze the products and choose to quantify what is expected for that particular item. In this phase, students can find it challenging to get their answers. How are Reliability and Validity assessed? The Reliability mat is estimated by comparing diverse versions of a similar measurement. Validity is challenging to assess, but it may be determined by comparing the results to other applicable theory or data. The estimating methods of Reliability and Validity are usually divided up into diverse types. Role of Reliability and Validity In Psychology It is a complicated process. The Psychology branch identifies two types of Reliability- external and internal. Experts are of the view that both the definition may be divided into external and internal factors. What Are Validity and Reliability in Research Validity in Research The validity act is to remain correct. Statistically speaking, the term validity suggests utility. It may be regarded as the most crucial yardstick that signals the degree to which research instrument gauges. There are mostly three kinds of Validity. Reliability in Research If a measurement is achieved repeatedly, the consistent result of the research element is Reliability. There are diverse techniques to measure whether a component is reliable or not. Some of the measuring components are test-retest, internal constancy methods, and other forms. Methods to improve the Validity Make sure your objectives then goals are definite and put in operation. Prospects must be written down.Get respondents involved; take the students to look over the assessment for difficult language, or other problems. Ways to Improve Reliability Use of appropriate questions to determine competency.Have a clear software setting. To ensure the test results are reliable, the test environment must be reasonable. Meaning that complete respondents take the same time to take the test and take a similar environment. Importance of Reliability and Validity Validity and Reliability are together very significant measures for examining the quality of measures. Though they are autonomous aspects, they are also somewhat related.Both are significant factors of psychological research educations. They allow us to increase firm and correct results. Along with helping us to simplify our answers to a broader populace. And in turn, relate research outcomes to the world to increase features. Conclusion Students write the assignment on Validity vs Reliability. And sometimes it is challenging and time-consuming. So the above information guides from writing to Validity and Reliability. If you are facing any problem writing the Validity and Reliability assignment. So you can take help from our company regarding any types of assignments and papers. Professionals are always available to solve your problem. Our company is providing the original content as compared to the other company with less price.

Overview of Sociobiology Theory

While the term sociobiology can be traced to the 1940s, the concept of sociobiology first gained major recognition with Edward O. Wilson’s 1975 publication Sociobiology: The New Synthesis. In it, he introduced the concept of sociobiology as the application of evolutionary theory to social behavior. Overview Sociobiology is based on the premise that some behaviors are at least partly inherited and can be affected by natural selection. It begins with the idea that behaviors have evolved over time, similar to the way that physical traits are thought to have evolved. Animals will, therefore, act in ways that have proven to be evolutionarily successful over time, which can result in the formation of complex social processes, among other things.​ According to sociobiologists, many social behaviors have been shaped by natural selection. Sociobiology investigates social behaviors such as mating patterns, territorial fights, and pack hunting. It argues that just as selection pressure led to animals evolving useful ways of interacting with the natural environment, it also led to the genetic evolution of advantageous social behavior. Behavior is therefore seen as an effort to preserve one’s genes in the population and certain genes or gene combinations are thought to influence particular behavioral traits from generation to generation. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection explains that traits less adapted to particular conditions of life will not endure in a population because organisms with those traits tend to have lower rates of survival and reproduction. Sociobiologists model the evolution of human behaviors in much the same way, using various behaviors as the relevant traits. In addition, they add several other theoretical components to their theory. Sociobiologists believe that evolution includes not just genes, but also psychological, social, and cultural features. When humans reproduce, offspring inherit the genes of their parents, and when parents and children share genetic, developmental, physical, and social environments, the children inherit the gene-effects of their parents. Sociobiologists also believe that the different rates of reproductive success are related to different levels of wealth, social status, and power within that culture. Example of Sociobiology in Practice One example of how sociobiologists use their theory in practice is through the study of sex-role stereotypes. Traditional social science assumes that humans are born with no innate predispositions or mental contents and that sex differences in children’s behavior is explained by the differential treatment of parents who hold sex-role stereotypes. For example, giving girls baby dolls to play with while giving boys toy trucks, or dressing little girls in only pink and purple while dressing boys in blue and red. Sociobiologists, however, argue that babies do have innate behavioral differences, which trigger the reaction by parents to treat boys one way and girls another way. Further, females with low status and less access to resources tend to have more female offspring while females with high status and more access to resources tend to have more male offspring. This is because a woman’s physiology adjusts to her social status in a way that affects both the sex of her child and her parenting style. That is, socially dominant women tend to have higher testosterone levels than others and their chemistry makes them more active, assertive, and independent than other women. This makes them more likely to have male children and also to have a more assertive, dominant parenting style. Critiques of Sociobiology Like any theory, sociobiology has its critics. One critique of the theory is that it is inadequate to account for human behavior because it ignores the contributions of the mind and culture. The second critique of sociobiology is that it relies on genetic determinism, which implies approval of the status quo. For example, if male aggression is genetically fixed and reproductively advantageous, critics argue, then male aggression seems to be a biologic reality in which we have little control.

Code Of Laws Impacting School Discipline - 1846 Words

Discipline in Schools A Legal Guide Hierarchy of Laws ImpactingSchool Discipline Federal LevelConstitutional Rights Freedom of Speech The First Amendment, U.S. Constitution Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Search and Seizures The Fourth Amendment, U.S. Constitution The right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Due Process of Law The Fifth Amendment, U.S. Constitution No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment, U.S. Constitution All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within it jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.Show MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Truant Behaviors In Schools1132 Words   |  5 Pagesstakeholders such as, schools, juvenile justice system and law enforcement. SB 1317, states that the families of truant youth are now being held responsible when a child is chronically truant (California Legislative Information , 2009). Furthermore, to help reduce youth delinquency, drug use and other criminal activities which involve the juvenile justice system, schools are required to maintain efficient records of attendance ( U.S. Department of Ed ucation, 2017). Schools In the state of CalifornianRead MoreLegal Aspects Of Medical Legal Partnerships1452 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Background Medical-legal partnerships (â€Å"MLPs†) are collaborations between lawyers and medical professionals that provide an integrated approach to addressing the complex social and systemic issues impacting health, especially in vulnerable populations. MLPs have three core components (Lawton Tyler, 2013; Sandel et al., 2010). The first component is legal advice and assistance, which is meant to address the legal needs of individual patients and positively impact individuals’ healthRead MoreEthics And Ethics Of Religion1574 Words   |  7 Pagesreligion in the US military. It is hard for any Air Force member to go throughout their career without having to deal with religion in the workplace as a trending topic. â€Å"After entering the 21st century religion in the workplace has impacted not only schools, most major cooperation’s† (Ludolph, R. C., Wolfe, A. A. (2013) , but the United States military across all the branches of the uniform service. In this paper I will be using two ethical theories and one ethical perspective to persuade you intoRead MoreBusiness Ethics Assignment : Cfnc And My Chosen Career Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesBusiness Ethics Assignment CFNC AND MY CHOSEN CAREER The CFNC Interest Profiler defined me as a â€Å"helper† and as a â€Å"thinker,† which coincides perfectly with my chosen career as a secondary school English teacher. Teachers need a substantial amount of critical thinking skills and interpersonal skills; an excellent teacher comprehends material well, is capable of analysis, is articulate, is compassionate, listens effectively and has an innate goal to assist anyone they have the means to. CFNC alsoRead MoreArmed Teachers: Superheroes of the Future?1364 Words   |  5 Pagesconsidered outcasts, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, walked into Columbine High School in Colorado, opened fire and murdered twelve students, one teacher, while injuring twenty-four additional students before turning the gun on themselves. In 2007, Seung-Hui Choo, a senior at Virginia Tech, shot and killed thirty-two people and injured seventeen others, before turning the gun on himself. It was the deadliest mass shooting at a school in Unite d States history. In 2012, Adam Lanza, shot and killed his motherRead MoreProblem Solution Essay1641 Words   |  7 PagesVIOLENCE IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS There are approximately 27,900 gangs, with 774,000 members, impacting towns, cities, and communities across the United States. According to a recent bulletin released by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 23 percent of students aged 12 through 18 years reported presence of street gangs in their schools. Almost half (46%) of students in public schools reported street gang presence. In addition, 21 percent of students in suburban schools and 15 percentRead MoreSea Level Rise And Coastal Flooding Analysis3207 Words   |  13 PagesDHS. Academic collaboration across disciplinary lines, involving multi-institutional support, strengthened the project and provided a more comprehensive understanding of environmental changes. The project management and synergy between the two disciplines is presented in Figure 1. Project Plan The project plan was developed to maximize collaboration between the natural science team and the sociological team. Thus, the proposed summer research project provided a comprehensive approach to bothRead MoreRole of Appearance in the Hiring Process2584 Words   |  11 PagesLooks and appearance have always dominated Hollywood culture and the actors and actresses that play roles in movies; also the popularity contest among teens in high-school. Bulimia and anorexia plague women and men throughout the United States. Today’s society is dominated by the obsession of appearances. But how far has this fixation gone? Has this Hollywood mentality taken over the otherwise standard way of running a business and the process of hiring one’s employees in a way not determined byRead MoreIntroduction. The Benefits Of Training And Developing Teachers1870 Words   |  8 Pagesignored just as much by the first year students who had newly arrived on campus as those who had been there (and therefore assimilated) for several semesters. The transition from high school norms to (very different) university norms seemed almost instantaneous in the United Kingdom, whereas in the United States the high school norm of asking questions persists both at the beginning and throughout their college years. This is in keeping with Sisco and Reinhart (2007), who wrote â€Å"I only gradually understoodRead MoreEssay about Toshiba Accounting Scandal3594 Words   |  15 Pagesbe measured by examining the laws that influence corporate Japan. Historically, Japan has been well known to have lax corporate governance laws when compared to the western world (Roach 2015). This has led to loopholes that make it easier for Japanese corporations to get away with unethical behavior. In April of 2014, Japan began its first large step in ending unethical corporate business practices by issuing a law called the Stewardship Code (Roach 2015). This code requires greater communication

Latin american woman from 1825 Free Essays

From 1810 to 1825 women were engaged effectively in different wars of independence against the Spanish.   The most recognized women were the Latin American women who were deeply involved in the struggles for independence especially in the struggle for women’s rights in the broadest sense of economic, political and legal.   The women were also credited for the great role they played in redemocratization and economic reconstruction. We will write a custom essay sample on Latin american woman from 1825 or any similar topic only for you Order Now IMPACT OF SPANISH CONQUEST ON INCA AND AZTEC WOMEN Many Spaniards moved into America because of the reports of gold.   Many people were pressed into ritual slavery in search of gold. Consequently the local overlords grew rich and the natives remained poor.   The continued success of the local overlords led to Spanish conquest in America. Aztec rulers were ruling around 25 million people who were living in large cities administered by elaborate array of military leaders: priests and government officials. There were also village elders who were united through marriage arrangement between their families and other families. â€Å"Chief speaker† was a body of elected representative elders, and it developed into strong emperor figure and was having great powers.   The Aztec system was theoretically meant the empire enjoyed closer ties of divinity and the priest was to select sacrifices required to keep sun shinning and to see rains falling. The priest was also required to maintain order in the society and during the time the sacrifices were being made. (Tompkins, 2001) The Incas were however weakened in regime from factional fighting and diseases even before the sparkles armored.   Emperor Pizzarro’s forces were captured the empire leading to the destruction of the Incas and then the way was open to Spanish enconmediams to take over the Inca and Aztec empires which were found in the gulf of Mexico. The Spaniards persecuted the people in the two empires and their cities were destroyed and were to be replaced by Spaniard cities.   These people faced horrible time in the Spaniards hands because they were massacred purposely or accidentally by transmitting to them European diseases. The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was conquered destroyed and the Spaniards build their own capital: Mexico City (just on the site of destroyed Aztec capital). The Aztec and Inca empires were located in the present Gulf of Mexico and by the time they were conquered they were barely a century old.   Both empires were extending over large areas and were having millions of people.   The conquest of Aztecs by Spaniards was due to the epidemics that had affected them while the Incas were conquered through the impact of deliberate infection of European diseases though they were also weakened by internal conflicts. (D’Altroy, 2002) Aztec community is an ethnic group found in central Mexico particularly those who speak Nahuati language.   They achieved a political and military dominance in the parts of Mesoamerica.   While the Inca Empire was on the other hand the largest empire in the pre- Columbia America. (Michael, 1984) Before the invasion and occupation of Mexican Gulf by the Spaniards the Aztec and Inca women were considered to be lesser members of the society.   The Inca women were given the specific task of making the local brew while the Aztec women were empowered in textiles making.   However with colonialism the roles of women changed women were seen to be in the fore fronts to fight against the inhumaniterian activities that were being done by the Spaniards. During colonization the women were having very great levels of uncertainties because this was the time when sexual harassment on women was on the range of rising. They were also used as maids in the houses of the ruling elites.   These mistreatments generated the uprising of women to fight for colonial liberation which they needed more than the men. Colonialism also saw the abolition of indigenous ways of life for example the use of the indigenous trees and plants to cure some diseases and some agricultural seeds which they treasured were abolished. In their role as the primary protectors of the family the Aztec and Inca women saw this as a threat to their royalties they had valued for long time.   They also fought for land rights; globalization and clear cut cultural identity with no job description for males and females in the society. (Michael, 1984) ROLE OF INDIGENOUS TUPI WOMEN The Tupi women were generally described as indigenous women rooted to domestic domains and so they were not able to fulfill institutionalized political and economic roles.   However this was not easy to achieve because in the indigenous Tupi there were distinct gender regimes and gender symbolism were associated with masculinity, this lead to increased war in Tupi society. These women worked hard to see new complementary spaces opening up to them and most of them even fought for colonial liberation from Europe.   They also demonstrated strong desires and complain to survive the criticism and brutality; they also ensured that they adjusted to resist the myriad colonial changes.   Despite the numerous attempts by the colonial governments the Tupi women were able to negotiate for social and political rights for the society. (Miller, 1991) Traditionally Tupi women were restricted to aesthetics alone for instance, they were required to decorate the housed, and they also painted their men to look delightful all over their bodies like birds or waves of the sea.   The women also painted their own legs so that someone seeing them from a distance may think they are dressed in the black worsted stockings. Council of male elders ruled the Tupi tribes to mean that women had no leadership positions in this tribe.   The elders met almost daily and were only addressed by the chief on how to rule the society.   The Tupi also believed in the real supernatural power but they were not having formal organized form of religion.   They believed in spirits and deonoms making their tribes life to be a form of myth, legend spiritual and ceremonial web. The women were entitled to domestic chores and they also participated in agricultural activities with no voice in administration. They were greatly discriminated upon by the men and were not allowed to make any vital decisions but to listen to and follow orders from their men. (Monteiro, 2000) However after colonialism the roles these women changed greatly with leadership style taking different dimensions. The women participated actively in the fight for colonial liberation giving their cultural and indigenous practices new meaning and approach. The women formed different movements to fight for equal representation in the ruling class as well as liberalized roles for both genders. They wanted an end to the work specification according to gender that had been there in olden days and was also magnified by the Spaniards during colonialism. This is because during the fight for colonial liberation the Tupi women realized their potentials to rule and do other duties better than the men. Their roles eventually changed but they maintained one provision of domestic needs and services mostly decoration of their bodies and houses using traditional approaches. Bibliography D’Altroy, T. (2002), the Incas: peoples of America. Blackwell publishers. Michael, D. (1984). Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs (ancient people and places) Miller, F. (1991), American women and the search for social justice. Hanover university press. Monteiro, J. (2000), the heathen castes of sixteenth century. Duke university press. Tompkins C, Foster D W, (2001), Notable Twentieth Century Latin American women, Amazon, Green wood press.    How to cite Latin american woman from 1825, Essay examples

School Voucher Initiative Essays - Education, Education Economics

School Voucher Initiative In The United States today, there is a broad consensus that the nation's public education system needs improvement. Despite enormous budget increases, American public schools are not adequately educating their students, inevitably weakening the nation's future. Private and Parochial schools, however, generally continue their tradition of education and discipline and produce graduates properly equipped to meet the challenges of the workforce. A movement aimed at correcting this disparity in the hopes of improving overall education has recently been gaining momentum in the political and media arenas. School voucher initiatives, will help revamp the education system by creating competition between public and private schools and offering American parents and students the freedom to choose the best school for their individual needs. Such voucher programs, though not yet thoroughly proven, is consistent in promoting the American ideas of independence, freedom, and free market competition, while upholding both clauses of the First Amendment. The Current State of American Education "In the United States, most public school districts make enrollment assignments without regard to student or parent preference. Students are simply assigned to the school nearest their home. While occasionally students can be assaigned elsewhere for administrative reasons such as racial balance, the administrators who determine enrollment generally do not consider the unique aptitudes and interests of individual students and the learning environment that would best foster their growth. School choice is non-existent. School vouchers provide a comprehensive kind of choice that allows parents to choose from among not only government schools but independent schools as well. While there are several ways to create this choice, the one most proposed is through state-issued vouchers worth up to a specified dollar amount when redeemed at participating schools for tuition. School choice lets parents determine what schools best meet the needs of their children. Parents may choose any qualifying schools with space available, public or private, either within or outside the district. The dollar then follows the scholar. Students choosing public schools continue to receive state funding. Students opting for private schools may receive state scholarships worth, under most voucher proposals, half the per-pupil cost of public schooling. If a state's system of public education costs the taxpayers $6,000 per student?near the national average?a student attending an independent school could receive a scholarship of $3,000. That is more than enough to cover the tuition at most independent schools, a fact that in and of itself speaks volumes about the state of U.S. public schools. School vouchers dramatically increases equality of opportunity. Schools will be funded only to the extent that parents voluntarily decide to enroll their children in that particular school. Like private enterprises, the schools will need to compete to satisfy their customers. No customer will be forced to accept unsatisfactory performance." Agenda for America 131-133 America's public education system is at a crossroads. Too many of our citizens are not educated. Illiteracy has become a national epidemic. American students are scoring significantly lower than their international counterparts on international exams, and our Scholastic Aptitude Test scores have fallen dramatically, down nearly eighty points in the past three decades. 1 America has the best-paid educators and the least-educated teenagers in the developed world. America has the best-organized teacher unions and the most chaotic schools in the developed world. Agenda p. 127 A Harris poll of employers found that only 22% feel today's entrants to the workforce know math well. Only 12% feel that new employees can write well. A mere 10% believe that graduates know how to solve complex problems. Only 30% of emplyers tanked the overall education of current students as positive. Source: Scan...NCPA #1 Education spending in constant dollars has increased 12-fold since 1920. But in spite of longer school years, a doubling of teachers' salaries' and dramatic downsizing in classrooms, one-fourth of American children cannot, or can barely, understand written English. Census data show public schools have become the second likeliest place in America for a violent crime to occur. The solution is to unlock the public-school door, so kids and parents can escape failed schools if they choose. THOMAS #1 After more than a decade of national attention and reform efforts, there should be little doubt that America's schools remain in crisis. The number of college freshman taking remedial courses in reading, writing, and math is rapidly accelerating. America's public school system was initiated in the early 1900s by Progressive Era reformers who believed that a rational, professional, and bureaucratic system--a "one best system"--could be established to maintain certain standards of education for all of society. Although such socialist thinking and economic planning have collapsed elsewhere in