Top Ten Percent Rule In Depth: Is It Really Fair?

Over the past 100 yrs, or nation has struggled with discrimination and prejudice, but through dire times attempts by people such as Martin Luther King to create racial equality have proved to be successful. Fortunately, Americans are now better informed and many of the unintelligent unreasonable prejudice among individuals, has been lifted. Sadly what has not changed is the racial wealth divide among communities that seek to attain economic equality. Contemporary society needs to take the proper measures to raise public awareness of the historical and contemporary barriers to economic equality and racial justice. While many Americans would consider wealth to be monetary, wealth is not just about money. True wealth, according to Manoj Sharma [1], the head of DifferWorld's [2]faculty makes a very strong case of the importance of factoring in both financial wealth and non-financial wealth. Manoj Sharma's definition of True Wealth, the combination of financial, mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wealth and how it is channeled towards the general good of humanity provides a more accurate meaning for the old English word “weal,” the derivative of wealth. If the society where the individual resides is unable to meet there needs, it compromises the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
In Texas, colleges no longer use affirmative action when considering applicants. Instead Texas took a broader approach to diversify higher education institutions, and implemented the “Top Ten Percent” rule, which allows any graduate in the top ten percent of his or her class admission to the Texas College of their choice, permitting they follow the guidelines for applying under the new rule. Unfortunately, for many students, the guidelines they follow, which permit certain applicants, s arguably unjust. While the universities seek to diversify their population, many applicants from states other than Texas, applicants who have notably higher grades, are being denied access due to the “top 10” percent rule. This raises questions about the admissions process, as well as questions about the skill level some of the students are at who are being automatically accepted to some of the best schools in the country. With numerous numbers of high schools not meeting satisfactory standards, what does that say about the education they have received, as opposed to a magnet schools “top 10” percent. You answer the question, is it really fair

COMMENTARY BLOG 6

Las Vegas isn’t named the “City of Sin,” because the lights go out at 2am and the majority of people are in bed asleep by midnight. The city that never sleeps, houses some of the best and worst people Americans loath, yet still accommodate, but what makes the city unlike any other is not its virginal characteristics. Las Vegas is a place to escape when the normality of life is so mundane that innate impulsivity takes over. Unfortunately, Texas is not Nevada. What sets us apart is the cultural aspect. Texas has been a melting pot to many ethnic groups. Although there are pockets of metropolitan areas the majority of the state is rural. Because of our proximity with Mexico, Texans have integrated a lot of the Hispanic culture into everyday living. Hispanics also tend to put more emphasis in the importance of family, which could be one of the reasons that our laws our not as lose as other states. Texans are still very conservative, as opposed to states such as California and Nevada. While Austin itself is a very liberal city, the rest of our neighboring cities are not as quick to adapt to liberal ideology. So for right now, because of the demographics of the state and a ridiculously high number of fatalities due to drunk driving, I don’t think that Texans will see the drinking hour being extended.

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In one of the most pivotal elections in American History, Senator Barack Obama defeated running mate Senator John McCain, and left the GOP scrambling to save incumbents. In an era when economic uncertainly lends no helping hands to republican big business tactics, the democratic Party capitalized on the need for change. Luckily, under the weight of debt and frustration, American’s everywhere are concentrating more on issues that deal with the quality of life, rather than a standard for living.
Although, throughout the debates, it’s easy for us to forget that our great nation is divided by fifty equally great states. Each of the states consists of individuals who make every vote count; individuals who knock on doors and poll and cold call undecided voters, because of there overwhelming passion for their candidate’s platform.
Take Texas for example, which had a higher turn out for people between the ages of 18-24, than any other election of its kind. Part of it has to do with how demographics have changed, but for the majority of young adults, they have embarked on a crusade to enable change. Causing long lines at polling precincts and ballot shortages were the least of some of the problems.

America at its finest

Growing up, having two parents that were educators was never easy. Although it was a major factor that eased the transition from one grade to the next, no child wants to hear "well talk about this when we get home" from their teacher. Fortunately, the lessons i learned were appreciated with age, but it doesnt take away from the stress that i watched both parents go through. They worked long hours and dealt with the ridiculous complaints of parents that were very trivial in the total scheme of what was best for their child's education. Every parent has an idea of what is best for their child, but sometimes there judgement is clouded by emotion and by interfering they make it much more difficult for the teacher to teach and the student to learn. They were never praised for their accomplishments only ridiculed when test scores didn't met Texas standards.

Teacher compensation that is awarded to individuals who go above and beyond, as well as to teachers that work in at risk areas, is one of the best plans that Texas has come to offer. It somewhat mirrors what was offered when the Vietnam war was around and the government offered pardons to the draft if a teacher agreed to teach at an at risk school for a certain amount of time.

The people that teach our children should be valued and appreciated. These are the people that are molding the minds of the future doctors, lawyers, and possibly presidents. With the shortage of educators, there should be even more incentives for new teachers as well as better benefits for ten year and doctorate degrees.

It takes someone very selfless to teach and I'm very proud that the two people that i love more than anything were selfless enough to pass their teachings on to me.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/31/1031meritpay.html

A More Rational Way of Thinking

We started by building a wall, separating ourselves from our neighboring country and affirming our hostility against Mexico and change. Just like the Great Wall of China, which was discontinuous, it allowed places for the Mongol invaders to breach therefore deeming it unsuccessful and eventually abandoned it, America's wall is not unassailable. Rather than dealing with the problem in a humane manner, Americans chose to bottle the American dream. Unfortunately, we vote through fear, but who could honestly blame us for using a cognitive behavior that has been ingrained in our minds, just as language has. Fear of what though? Fear that Anglo Americans would no longer be the major demographic that makes up the United States, or fear that incorporating a large number of the Hispanic population would jeopardize our jobs, housing, political ideology, therefore changing congress and challenging the disproportionally recognized white incumbents. Fortunately for Americans, someone among our congress, was thinking "free of emotion"and thought about a logical way to control the overwhelming number of illegal immigrants. while some people could argue that this would encourage immigrants without naturalization rights to drive without licences, therefor all so driving without insurance, most other states as well as countries, do not offer drivers licences or id cards until they are fully aware of who they are issuing it to. Texas has been very accommodating to immigrants, especially to people that come from our bordering nation, Mexico, so maybe its about time that we take care of ourselves before taking care of everyone else. Honest and morally sound people except that laws are set in place because they protect the liberties of each individual. This being said, then those who chose to violate it should be persecuted accordingly, but hopefully it will cut the amount of illegals that jeopardize the liberties of people who rightly deserve them. so instead of biulding a wall, Texas is thinking on a more local level. What good is a wall if it is not solid? No where near as good as the laws which our country is governed on.

www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/09/1009id.html

AN ALREADY SHAKY ECONOMY. WHAT MORE CAN WE TAKE?

If you watch NBC, CBS, FOX news, or any of the national and local news stations, then your undoubtably aware that our country is on the brink of financial devestaton. Rampant inflation, mortgage loan fraud, and a growing credit crisis have weakened the fagile economy and deepened the distrust amungst americans and there relationgship government officials. a feelng of inabilty to run the united states acoordinly with our constitutional rights has swept the nation ten folds. And at one of the most contreversial times, texans were faced with yet another issue concerning the fate of our country.......would there be a place to vote for McCain and Obama on the Texas ballot? If you read the Chronicle's publishing about late filings then the answer would have been no.......or atleast if libritarian bob barr had gotten his way. In a letter on Aug 5th the the secretary of sate, Barr demanded "that the Obama/Biden ticket be denied ballot access because they missed the deadline". He also made accusations that the mccain/palin ticket was not eligible since "Sarah Palin didn't receive (her) nomination(s) until Sept. 3" so keeping this in mind, i ask you ......who would you have voted for if neither of the major parties nominiees been on the ballot? Would you fight or lobby the sepreme court over the injustice both parties are being scrutinized to, or would you reluctanly picked Bob Barr who thought that the next president should be chosen by a filing date and not by their ability to run a country? i guess there is always the option to stay home. All i know is that im realived and happy to not have one more thing i have to worry about when it comes time for me to fill in my box.

link to article: http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A671869