Debate on Education Year-Round

Many states in America are considering year-round education for students. What many don’t know is that year round education would actually be the same 180 day system, just spread out with smaller breaks in between. No two month long summer vacation for students and teachers.

Reasons to like the year-round education system:

1. Ease on working families that  have to find alternative education, camps or child care during those months. An argument against that is the state is not a babysitter for working parents, but in order to best develop the minds of the next generation, this is when the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child” comes in.

2. Stimulation year round proves for smarter brain power and form of habits. Students can train themselves to get by till summer where they then tend to forget it all over the long break. Shorter vacations may increase retention rates.

3. Lower levels for boredom and mischief when parents are away at work with no alternative care. This could also decrease juvenile crime rates.

4. Other countries in the world currently use and like this system best.

5. Expanded educational programs will allow for more student enrollment space or lower classroom size and year round jobs since the buildings will now be utilized the full calendar.

Reasons Against:

1. How will this increase the states taxes?

2. Studies are not definitive on whether this system benefits children to learn more or retain information better over time.

3. Its an end to summer camps, youth programs and so on. This also means some college student will have to find a new avenue for summer work and high school students will not be able to work full time during breaks.

4. Many upgrades would need to be made to schools not equip to handle all seasons.

5.  Teachers will have to do a review after each shorter break vs. one big one at the beginning of each year.
Arguments for and against this system stem from many different agendas and perspectives. The parent, teachers, children, local employers and tax payers are all involved if the system changes. Its always the hardest to make change in something that has been set that way for years. There is a fear in the risk and in the energy and dollars required to do so.

Related articles on this topic are:CNN.com and the site for The National Association for Year-Round Education

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Hot Topic: Cost of Required College Books

Getting a college education now a days is a must. Its become almost impossible for non-college graduates, even those that work hard, to make a decent salary despite years of on the job experience and know-how over the newcomer with a college degree. That said, every other associated cost such as supplies and books really adds up in the process.

The NY Times report asked some great questions: Why do new college textbooks cost so much? How onerous is the cost of textbooks, whether in print or digital, for students? Do colleges have a stake in keeping the prices high? What are the factors that determine what the publishers charge and what students end up paying?

If the cost of educational tuition is so high, how can there not be regulations or even breaks on costs of supplies and textbooks that the students are required to have? A wholesale arrangement between the school and the printer to be able to sell the books at reasonable rates for their students exclusively. After all, the professors make buying a certain book or tool in most classes a mandatory requirement.

Why is it that the cost of tuition doesn’t include your books or a login to the online version?

Technology of online books make it almost  unnecessary, depending on how you learn best, to have a physical copy of a book as reference and have to lug it around campus. With Google and Wikipedia being so knowledgeable and fast today, any questions can be searched for free there anyway. Laptops are also easily portable with wireless available in many classrooms.

The library gets copies of all textbooks required too so thats a great free resource for students to use outside the classroom if they need.

New, but minimally effective, regulations have been placed this month so publishers will now sell materials separately instead of in one price bundles (the book and workbook sold together). Supply companies will also have to include the retail cost of the item in their sales pitch to schools so professors will be more aware of what students are asked to pay. Every step counts a little, but more still needs to be done to control costs. There is nothing like entering the work world with a huge debt from society required education.

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Buying Books on a Budget

If you are looking for a good book to read this summer or want to get a head start on reading up on your upcoming semester classes, there are a variety of places to find books for extremely affordable prices or even for free!Now with new technology out like Kindle and other online downloadable book reading resources, hard books may seem old fashion to you. But there is something about the smell of a good book that brings people home and allows you to relax and release the world around you.

In many cities in the US and Europe, there is a community book exchange policy: leave a book on the bench when you are finished with it for someone else to pick up and read. Then when you are done with it, you pass it on again. No reason to keep a ton of books you have already read, especially if you live in a small urban apartment. Share the knowledge!   Bargain book sale racks at local bookstores are fantastic. Often stores will put books outside in a sidewalk sale where you can score them as low as $1. Its a great way to pick up something you hadn’t planned on but were interested in. Used book stores have these areas too. My personal favorite finds happen at garage sales, summer flea markets or the Goodwill. Some of the best finds for as little as 50 cents are found there- its well worth the hunt through all the other stuff.

There are many online websites for used books with ratings attached so you can preview what others who have read it before you have to say. Then you can decide if you are still interested in buying. Online you can buy new or used and they generally ship pretty quickly.

Excel Assist is the newest place to buy and sell new and old books for school or your general reading pleasure. Be sure to check it out!

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The Definition of Education

Its important sometimes to brush up on the actual definitions to stay true to the words we speak. Potentially, something inspiring will come from doing so-  you may realize a new meaning to a conversation or a word you have been using. With the internet massively available today, there are an array of extremely useful sites like wikipedia.org and answers.com to further or revitalize your educational knowledge on your own.

The word education is derived from educare (Latin) “bring up”, which is related to educere “bring out”, “bring forth what is within”, “bring out potential”.

Education is:The act or process of educating or being educated. knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process.  A program of instruction of a specified kind or level. The field of study for teaching and learning.  An instructive or enlightening experience.

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More Reason to Learn a Second Language

New Spanish Education Promotions in California: US state office campaigns are now airing in Spanish with the topic of US education reform.  Meg Whitman who is running for Governor in California,  launched a new Spanish-language television ad to reach the Latino community. Check  out the educational focused commercial which will be airing statewide in California  here on YouTube.com

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“Get That Degree”

Nationally, young adults between 18 and 29 face dreadful unemployment and underemployment numbers. T he numbers are far worse for young African-Americans and Hispanics.

A Gallup poll out Monday says 13.3 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds are jobless and another 16. 3 percent work part-time but want full-time jobs.

Combined, that equals 29.6 percent of today’s young adults — almost a third — who are jobless or underemployed. T he number is half that for those between 50 and 64.

No less painful is the job situation for those with different levels of education. Here’s a U.S. breakdown, by education, again combining jobless and underemployed numbers: • No college: 23.9 percent.

• Some college: 19.6 percent • College grad: 12.9 percent.

• Postgrad work: 9.5 percent.

It ’s a daunting time in the job market. But it is a horrific market for the young lacking college or high school credentials. Get that degree.

Excerpt from Tampa Bay Times- read the full article here

Hardest hit in job market: the young and degreeless

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Summer Job Alternatives at Excel Assist

Can’t find a good old summer job as full time as you would like- consider multiple part time freelance jobs you can find and post through excel assist!

Other options:

1. Volunteer at a local charity organization. Use your free time this summer as a chance to give back and do something good for a group you care about. Meet new people along the way.
2. Intern to gain experience and network in a new field you have always wanted to try. No luck or too late to lock something down in your own field? Think about one skill or interest you have and see if you can get your feet wet there. Nothing like a new experience to broaden our insights.
3. Turn your summer hobby into you means for money. With so many craft selling sites available, why not test your talent and post a few of your original works for sale online. Offer your hobby service at excelassist.com under the freelance section under Public Selling Profile.

Reference: glassdoor.com Blog

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