Critical Essay Topic 1

many cities in the world don't have enough facilities for disabled people. it is well known fact that most cities in the world do not have enough facilities for disabled people. developed countries have begun to be aware of this situation just in the last decades making goverment programs for improving the city facilities. in my opinion, chile has started to change this situation but quite slowly and the goverment has made relatively less effort than private charity institutions. the chilean goverment has told in many oportunities that they are very aware about the needs of minorities but apart of some specific measures, like build special lift in the subway stations and put sound signals to help blind people in downtown, for example, they are not investing very much in specific politics for disabled groups because they have other priorities. nevertheless, private institutions as teleton have reached high standarts in supporting crippled people and they usually make successful programs through tv shows to get money . furthermore, i have seen some news programes of privated tv channels that have special conductors speaking the signal language for deaf people. some people argue that the most important measure to get assistence for deseabled people is build adecuated infraestructure in cities for them. however, to me the most important measure that goverment and private instututions can take is provide a good educational program to, in first instance, ordinary people were aware of desabled people needs and, in second instance, teach ordinary people what they can do to help them. university students don't have to wear the uniform, some say. what's your opinion? students are always complaining about the dress codes at their school, and totally rejecting the idea of school uniforms, but i feel there are many benefits to this proposal. these days everyone is so concerned about being attractive and popular that they forget the real reason for going to school. the increase in academic performance and school spirit, along with the decrease in violence, is more important than looking cool for your friends. south carolina school systems have the lowest test scores in the nation. our students are not daft; they just do not consider schoolwork a top priority. with uniforms for every student, there would be less focus on fashion and more emphasis on education. our report cards would be posted on the refrigerators for everyone to see, rather than stuffing them in the bottom of our backpacks. the students would be rewarded for their efforts, therefore their self esteem would also rise. teen violence has reached its peak in our schools. last year, numerous killings took place at schools around the country, largely due to taunting amongst the students. uniforms would prohibit the wearing of chains, large pockets for hiding weapons, and gang colors worn to incite fights. less students would be teased for their attire, and sexual harassment caused by provocative clothing would come to an end. our schools would provide a more secure environment in which we all could learn. school spirit in south carolina is extremely lacking, and it shows. our athletic teams have very limited support, and it affects their performance greatly. a student could be missing on a field trip, and they would not be located for hours because they simply �blended� with the crowds from other schools. if we were

obligated to wear uniforms, we would be more recognizable in public surroundings, and our sense of school pride would blossom. to quote henry david thoreau, �take the earth at your feet, and paint your house that color.� school spirit should shine eminently in all students' lives; not fizzle out like a dampened fuse. many students argue about the restrictions on their personal freedom. they do not realize that they could still select their own trendy accessories, and they can wear whatever they desire at home and on the weekends. i feel also, that with a standardized dress code, individual personalities would shine, and not be hidden behind the latest fashion. parents are constantly advising their children that if everyone appeared the same on the outside, people would begin to recognize others for what is on the inside. we are encouraged to change the standards and be individuals. we should all stand out in what we achieve, and what we believe; not in what we wear. technology can bring many benefits, but it can also cause social and environmental problems. in relation to new technology, the primary duty of governments should be to focus on potential problems, rather than benefits.

sample it is true that new technologies can create serious social and environmental problems. the question is whether governments should focus on these problems when they are formulating policies relating to new technology. some people would argue that governments have an important watchdog role to play and that they should attempt to establish whether a proposed technology is likely to have any harmful effects. this is seen as an aspect of government looking after the public interest and showing concern for the welfare of its citizens. these people would invest government with the power to veto the introduction of certain technologies. the problem with this approach, however, is that it is very difficult to know in advance what the full effects of any new technology will be. the history of science and technology has many fascinating examples of unexpected developments. sometimes a technological advance in one area can lead to a surprising breakthrough in another, seemingly unrelated area. for example, technology which originated from the us space program has been further developed and applied in many other areas of life. and one certainly cannot depend on government bureaucracies to make accurate assessments about these matters. another problem is that, where one government might decide to ban the use of a new technology, another country may well go ahead with its introduction. in an increasingly competitive global economy the first country may severely disadvantage itself by such an action. new technology is essential for a country's economic development. the best approach is to positively encourage the development of new technologies and to focus on their benefits. any problems that may arise can be dealt with after implementation. many people now have degrees. does this make a degree less important? education: losing its value

today, it seems to be universally accepted that increased education is a good thing. thousands of colleges and millions of students spend vast amounts of time and money chasing pieces of paper. but what is the value of these qualifications? this essay will discuss whether education has been devalued. supporters of education (usually teachers or educators, or those who have an interest in stopping people thinking for themselves) say that increased levels of education will open doors for students. certificates, diplomas, and degrees are held up as a status symbol, a passport to a private club of money and power. however, the truly powerful are not those who have taken degrees, but people who have stood back and looked at what is really important in life. they have seen opportunity and followed dreams. these people are found in every part of society. like many brilliant people, einstein was a weak student at math. like many successful businessmen, bill gates never completed college. like many inventive and creative people, edison never went to school. the greatest religious teachers do not have letters after their name, but have looked into their hearts for meaning. similarly, the world's political leaders do not have master's degrees or doctorates. these are the people who shaped our century, and they are too busy with real life to spend time in the paper chase. students in college are being sold an illusion. they are made to believe that self-understanding and society approval will come with the acquisition of a piece of paper. instead of thinking for themselves, and finding their own personality and strengths, they are fitted like square pegs into round holes. the role of education is to prepare masses of people to operate at low levels of ability in a very limited and restricted range of activities. some of these activities are more challenging than perhaps the assembly lines of the past, but still the ultimate purpose is equally uninteresting. more worryingly, despite the increased level of education, people are still not genuinely expected to think for themselves. in fact, the longer years of schooling make the job of brainwashing even easier. there is still a role for study, research, and education. however, we need to examine our emphasis on education for the sake of a piece of paper, and to learn the real meaning and revolutionary challenge of knowledge.