Blogs

=//Quarter Two //=


 * Blog Reflection #1**

According to Tyler Cowen, education is the only hope for people to escape poverty in Haiti. Though the Haitian state barely plays a role in primary education, the non-state sector has been making an effort to get children to school despite economic and political constraints. Even though Haiti is one of the poorest countries, it is the only one to have more than 50 percent of its children attend non-state schools. In total, there are 14,424 private and 1,240 public schools. 92 percent of all schools are private and 82 percent of primary and secondary students enroll in private schools. I find it odd that such a poor country has so many privately funded schools. How can the poor families of Haiti afford to pay tuition for their children? I didn't think there were that many schools at all, let alone private schools. Also, Cowen suggests that education is the way to escape poverty, but still so many families remain impoverished though their children get a better education in private schools. This could be because they are spending so much money to give their kids a better education. I am grateful that I am enrolled in a great academic program and I don't have to deal with the stress that Haitian families struggle with everyday.

=Quarter One =


 * Blog Reflection #4**

A topic called "Has a potentially habitable planet just been discovered?" intrigued me because of my interest in science, especially astronomy. The planet is slightly larger than Earth with similar day and night sides. One side is locked facing light from a star, the other side is locked in total darkness. Being 21 light years away, scientists are still unsure whether or not there is Oxygen. The average surface temperature is estimated to be between -31 to -12 degrees Celsius. It is likely that the planet in the Gliese 581 system has a rocky composition similar to Earth. It's amazing how much scientists can figure out even though they are so far away from what they are studying. I enjoy learning about different galaxies and planets that possibly have life. One of my goals as a teacher is to educate my students a great amount about the solar system. I hope to interest my students with science because it is my personal favorite subject.


 * Blog Reflection #3**

I found Cowen's piece on "Why is the suicide rate rising for baby boomers?" quite interesting. The rates among middle-aged people in 1979-2005 showed a significant increase in suicides by men aged 50-59 and women aged 40-59 between the years 1995 and 2005. The risks were higher for unmarried people and those without college degrees. Some possible reasons for the rise include awareness of chronic diseases, discouragement of anti-depressant drugs, and, shown through studies, knowing someone that has committed suicide is a risk factor for people who later kill themselves. I picked this piece to reflect on because I feel it can help me as a school counselor or teacher. Unfortunately, suicide is a problem among teenagers as well as middle-aged people. It claims more lives than homicide. As a school counselor or teacher, I hope to help suicidal students and somehow improve the community.


 * Blog Reflection #2**

Tyler Cowen, writer on the blog, "Marginal Revolution," offers some valid points as to why hospital food is so nutritionally bad. First off, many people do not choose a hospital according to the food it serves. Everyone has different tastes, therefore a hospital is likely to use the same food service contract for patients and visitors. Another point, the food is specifically designed for rapid protein and carbohydrate intake of the patients. This may benefit someone who is extremely ill and has no will to eat. The sicker patients tend to have trouble tasting their food anyway. Some hospitals are making progress by adding fresh fruit and vegetables to their menus. In my opinion, hospitals should have high quality foods no matter what, even if patients cannot taste it. The purpose of hospitals is to nurse the ill back to health, and providing healthy food is a good place to start. When my grandmother was in the hospital, all she did was mention the horrible food. She had no appetite and refused to eat. Perhaps if the food was more appealing and nutritious, more patients would have an appetite.


 * Blog Reflection #1**

Tyler Cowen discusses new Japanese technology on the blog "Marginal Revolution." Acure brand machines were installed in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Station and they can do just about anything! The "next-generation drink machines" distribute beverages and other items varying from bags of rice to flower bouquets. These high-tech machines even recharge your phone. At the size of two refrigerators, each machine contains a camera that processes a person's image. The customer's face is then matched to a database of people types. With this information, the machine is able to recommend a specific drink to the customer. Personally, I think this new invention sounds interesting, perhaps even fun to use. Seeing if the machine's suggestions are accurate seems entertaining, though pointless. The machine may not always be correct, it depends on the person's mood. I'm very interested in Japanese culture and I would love to visit the country someday. Japan is known for it's advanced technology, but I feel that this invention is rather unnecessary and overcomplicated. Luckily, it does serve some use. If you're all out of rice at the train station you know where to go!