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Essay / The Consequences of Lack of Education - 817
In 2020, Kevin Hanley works as a janitor. In 2050, his son begs on the street. How did this happen to all the Kevin Hanleys in one generation? This story was just fiction, called “The Fable of the Lazy Teenager” by Ben Stein. It was about the decline of America because of the derogation of the American educational system. If the education system fails, we will not become better than our ancestors in that we will not have education and will therefore revert to starting positions as beasts of burden. Education and our conscience are what separate us from animals. However, according to "The Land of Opportunity" by James Loewen, even the education system is out of control, stating that when it asks questions such as "why are people poor?" he received woefully inadequate responses. In “The Land of Opportunity” and “The Lies My History Teacher Told Me,” also by Loewen, the root cause of most of the problems in schools and their lack of effective education is textbooks . : These problems include drought and a poor outlook. Both pieces agree on this point. Since textbooks are the compulsory curriculum for teachers and textbooks are dry and boring, it is difficult for teachers to revitalize history. “Lies My History Teacher Told Me” says that history is one of the most hated courses in American high schools, surpassing even mathematics! Another problem that textbooks run into is that they build on each other. If something new is found, they are all updated. If another finds a new perspective, then others include that perspective in their article. Along with this, most history textbooks have another problem. This problem is not recent...... middle of paper ...... In fact, there will be a quote from "The Fable of the Lazy Teenager" said by Kevin Hanley in 2050 after speaking to the Japanese anthropologist of America. in the past. “Being able to make a living through your mind rather than through stealing,” he said. “It would be a miracle. » Works Cited Loewen, James W. The Land of Opportunity. From investigation to academic writing. By Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky. Ed. Stephen A. Scipone. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2012. 201-05. Print.Loewen, James W. Lies My Teacher Told Me. 1996. From investigation to academic writing. By Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky. Ed. Stephen A. Scipone. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2012. 383-403. Print. Stein, Ben. “The Fable of the Lazy Teenager.” The Somerville Educational Association Newsletter. Somerville Educational Association, 2008. Web. November 20. 2013.