Less standardized tests > more standardized test

          I have a good friend from Finland and conversation is always interesting because no matter what somethings get lost in translation. There's a cool a mysterious way of talking about the differences of lifestyles and community, in fact I'm still freaking out about all their weird festivities and mayonnaise. Anyhow, one of the more fascinating and frustrating topics we sometimes get ourselves into is education. PUBLIC EDUCATION. The Finns are famous for and can go on about two things: Being extremely pale and having awesome education. The emphasis on the student and on personal development is upheld, homework and tests are like water in dessert, and the focus is on developing ideas and questions. Nothing like the tunnel vision we have in Texas, where we look for answers and little else.

          Public education. Something very important and inescapable in my life as I have spend pretty much forever in public school, attending college, and have a mother who works in an elementary school with autistic students. It's everywhere and every bit influentially powerful. Now that being said, I'm totally fed up with hearing how amazing and advanced other nations educational school systems are and dealing with how our own hot mess is funneling a majority of young people out who are masters of 'copy and paste' and information regurgitation. (Eww, I know, but that's what came to mind).

          So that's a big beef of mine, our hard core curriculum, lack of putting the children's best interest at hand, reliance on high stakes tests, and disregard for the big picture educationally. We need more well rounded people! There are better and more efficient ways to get many high quality students! So when I read this article in the Texas Tribune, it warmed my heart...just a little. This article is about the bill that was voted which eliminates a couple standardized test in primary and secondary school and makes some revisions possible. This will give a little breathing space for students as they take in subject material with out school boards breathing down their necks. Not perfect, but a nice move in the right direction.

Religion and Politics Alert!

          I'm all for moderation, but I'm in the same line of thinking as far as where our priorities stand as a state. The ability to exercise such great freedom is actually hindering different and imperative aspects of Texas, and it's worrisome how narrow minded we choose to be as a whole.
          Equal rights are such a hot topic right now and I feel like it's just the tip of the iceberg. With a great call for a great cause, I'm happy to see a shift in the overwhelming pool of conservatism. The status of Texas and it's conservatism pains me as I witness our politics and people react to an evolving world around us. We naively push away and frown upon very intimate social subjects with such irrelevant counter arguments.
          I'm a very tolerant person, and while I am biased through my atheism the concern I feel about the overwhelming religious influence is one that is genuinely for all Texans. The separation of church and state is a goal that I wish was widely shared or expressed in my state because then we could remove a very archaic and unnecessary filter when looking into our future and for what is best for all. This could account for better management of civil rights, education, and opportunities for many. Mrs. DeVilbiss raised a wonderful example of some true and rooted problems that we face and may be to close at times to see. Morals are subjective and rights should be attainable if logical and reasonable. 

When situations are going south, that's a sign to think of solutions

          Without sounding like some sort of weak brown-noser, my local government class is the cherriest  of all my courses this semester. There's something special about the campfire atmosphere and structure of the lectures lead by the interesting and involved people. Sure, it's 9am and the chairs don't recline but the laissez style and genuineness makes up for it. Also, something I've never experienced in any class before, but I feel REALLY guilty when my eyelids get heavy and I assume the 'head resting on desk' move every once in a while. Basically, this class is worth my time and and my thoughts.

          A couple of weeks ago a student in class made a presentation on the trouble state of planned parenthood. The ban on clinics affiliated with abortion providers and the end of state funding has placed much attention and stress on the future of this constructive and preventative program. Much was said on either side of the situation, but it made me think of how we can further strengthen Texans as far as sex education goes. Education is badass because of the influences it makes in our choices, with this I've come to the conclusion that Texas needs to offer a better quality and quantity of sexual education courses to our youths, providing a stronger impression of preventative care for the adolescents in a formative time in their lives.

          Texas is cool, but unfortunately it has one of the highest teen birthrates in the nation. Coming in at 46th in the United States, it's difficult to think of the future obstacles for this increasing trend in  demographic. The imperative and important choices that our youths are having to make for both themselves and their child's wellbeing must be thoroughly developed and informed. Unfortunately the majority of teens and young adults don't have the resources or means to properly provide for themselves. With an abundance of quality information about the consequences of sexual and social actions we can enforce a greater understanding of choices and responsibility that our youth can use as tools for their future.

          The reality is a bit overwhelming and worrisome, and with the current state of Texas' sex ed having a large emphasis on abstinence we need to start asking the right questions about how we are going to teach our youths about healthy lifestyles. What is the most effective way to educate our youth? How can the government help with this increasing trend? What teens need reliable sources of information and appropriate educational tools at appropriate ages. We need a better system that can be followed through out an educational carer to thwart disease and life altering decisions. If Planned Parenthood is to go down, and even if it doesn't, we need to start spending more money on beneficial comprehensive sex education.

Let's bring up the Austin bag ban and then get on with our lives

          As a young student I have many fellow peers who work in the retail biz and I swear to God, the stories I hear. So, in dedication to all my friends who spend hours in stores helping and listening to customers needs, I'm going to dish on the plastic bag ban in Austin. According to these employees, being forced to listen to every single comment or perspective of this very abrupt ban is like hanging out in the bird section of a Petsmart. Most of the what these people hear are either upset nagging about a 'huge' inconvenience, or loud praising about how Austin is saving the world. So basically a ton of loud squawking at someone who hears the same thing over and ever. Anyhow, I thought this would provide a wonderful opportunity to read into the ban and on some of the conclusions drawn from it.

          I stumbled upon a particular commentary Bag the Bans by Dustin Matocha and was very interested by the writing. Before diving in, the bag ban was approved by the Austin City Council and is another city in Texas to possess a ban on plastic and/or paper handleless bags (the first being Brownsville). This ban went into action on March 1st and has already ruffled some feathers, queue the blog by Mr. Matocha. A very conservative, right leaning blog gave me the quick and dirty on the ban by me simply reading the title. Matocha takes no time at all to introduce the ban as an a veil of conservation and waste management to limit liberties for both businesses and consumers. The writer provides a picture of a reckless city council who didn't let the public vote and ignored 'negative consequences', then introduces Republican State Rep. Drew Springer who filed HB2416 which would invalidate the ban on bags. The bill is pending, and the leftist are described as using 'local control' as a justification.

          While very conservative and very against the bag ban for the sake of our rights, I can understand the shock of a city as large as Austin getting rid of helpful and useful bags in an impromptu fashion. Matocha is merely a social media coordinator for Empower Texans, and I'm sure this ban bothers lots of businesses and customers, however at the end of the day this ban is something that is not a crippling handicap that the city can't overcome or deal with. Austin is a fairly environmentally friendly city and from most of my friends, people think the change is good even if it does require remembering to bring a reusable bag everywhere with them. Short story: Austin is choosing to try to give what lots of people in Austin want, litter control. Storter story: ban on bags isn't a very big deal and we'll see if this works in the long run for everyone.

The Plight of Mental Illness Sufferers

Mental illness can be an uncomfortable front for us to deal with and in our local community we are having to constantly face the consequences that our lack support for sufferers hands us. Ligon's working toward a stronger mental health system is a great commentary on our fellow citizens in Texas who are battling the poor system we have in place for the mentally ill. My mother is a TA for the Autism unit at an elementary school, and because of the conglomeration of some of the schools programs she also tends to the children who have severe behavior management. Some of her students in the past and present are dependent on medication and have difficulty behaving appropriately in class. Unfortunately in many cases, several students of hers between the ages of 7 to 13 have been admitted to the Austin State Mental Hospital. Upon reading this commentary I felt as though the renovations that Ligon called on for the system hit close to home as she argues for a more diligent mental health system with tighter preventative measures. By changing our attitude from condemning to caring, providing the opportunity for assessment and treatment, and expanding medicaid, it would lead to a positive son sequence in which 'everyone in Texas would benefit'. The article details the nuts and bolts of how large and who makes up those who suffer from mental illness in Texas, something that I find sad as I hear my mothers stories of our troubled future adults. The preventative measures that the Ligon suggest are those that are well calculated and developed with our prospective future in mind. The ideas of a larger budget  for those in need would be an incredible step, allowing treatment to be closer to hand would be heaven sent as Ligon describes how the majority of sufferers are adults who live in near poverty. Ligon, who hails from the center for Public Policy Priorities does an incredible job informing those of an underestimated problem in Texas, and with her credible position as servant for the community does an amazing job at coming up with some solutions. For the ssafey of the sufferers and those who live in the same Texas communities, I as a citizen who worries of the safety of my community as well as my mother who sees the constant presence of mental illness in children, find Ligon's concern and proposition overwhelmingly wonderful for the future.

UT of Austin Embraces Online Education to the Masses

As a friend to many educators and a follower online media, I was totally fascinated by Reeve Hamilton's article 'UT-Austin Announces Nine Massive Open Online Courses' in the Texas Tribune. The article is a basic but optimistic telling of the free educational courses that UT will offer starting in Fall 2013 due to the partnership between UT and Edx ( A provider of massive open online courses).This is news that I had been expecting for about three years when I began my adventure into higher education. How wonderful would it be for the public to grab hold of something that could seem very elusive? I know many people who struggle with the bittersweet demands of higher education, whether it's due to financial woes, time restraints, or family obligations. I can't help but think that it would be an amazing opportunity for those willing to grasp at the chance. However, I also can't  imagine the reconstruction of the entire educational system and the substitutions that would be set. While still in its baby stages of development, this progressive moment involving wider availability to students is one to follow closely. Even though the classes are few and preliminary I feel a storm-a-comin' as far as online education availability goes. I watched this TED talks a while back (highly recommended) which is a wonderful look into online education that pairs perfectly with this chunk of Texas news.