First Paper: Proposal

Everyone who has known me for a while ought to know by now that music is one of my ‘top 3 loves.’ I am a musician and have been for many years. My grandmother taught me my first song on piano at the age of 7 (it was Jingle Bells) and from that point on I began to develop a strong appreciation for music. I went on to learn the melodies of some classical compositions on piano playing by ear, in 4^th grade I took up violin and played it through 6^th grade. In 7^th grade I put down the fragile violin so that I may go on to hit round objects with sticks, which I happened to be better at. I have been a percussionist and very avid musician since then; my will to succeed and love of live performance makes me want to learn how to play every instrument known to man. I have achieved at least the status of mediocre on instruments such as the guitar, recorder, clarinet, and piano; however my level of percussive skill has provided opportunity for me to teach younger percussionists on some occasions. In case you haven’t already noticed, I am a bit cocky; at least I am aware enough to admit that; you can’t help it really when you are as passionate about something as I am.

            Anyway, let’s get back on the right path here. While I am a very avid musician, there are still some elements of the musical world that pique my interest more so than others. One of those things is rock and roll. I like the classics: Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, etc.; as a matter of fact I have the soundtrack to the movie Great Balls of Fire that I listen to quite frequently. The first time I heard Jason D. Williams (a very prominent Jerry Lee Lewis imitator) perform, I fell in love with rock and roll. The only things I had known about rock and roll were the fact that it existed and that I knew the songs of a few new-age rock groups. I was not nearly as aware of this genre’s history as I am now.

Here’s the thing: what used to be a highly frowned upon genre has made its way up to being one of the most appreciated forms of music in the course of history. Rock and Roll set new standards for how music should sound in many ways, from the lyrics all the way to how upbeat the music is. Some of music’s greatest names were discovered because of the uprising of this genre.  It’s also very important to know that the ruckus that has resulted from rock and roll music has helped to make music what it is today. Just think, if Jerry Lee Lewis hadn’t put out his chart-topping risqué song Whole Lotta Shakin’ in 1957, you may not be listening to Pitbull’s Give Me Everything on your iPod right now. Also, the racial/cultural harmony that lies within music might not have even come into existence like it has today.

            The best thing about rock and roll is its level of appeal. Everyone can relate to it in some way, because virtually everyone in today’s society has heard at least one rock and roll some in their lifetime. It doesn’t matter if the song is new-age rock and roll or the older 1950’s rock and roll like I enjoy, it appeals to nearly everyone.

           

Response #5: "Education and the Structural Crisis of Capital"

Having just come out of high school a little over a year ago, I understand what school is like in society today. Too many standardized tests, boring and repetitive lectures over a 12 year period, favoritism of sports over arts, etc. Something else I know quite well is the tight spending limit each state has for education; the money that the government expects all the schools to be able to furnish textbooks, staff, and other educational tools with. I agree wholeheartedly that the fact that capitalism is the cause for the downfall of education rather than the need for restructuring. Obviously, with the current economic situations we are undergoing, the government is cutting funding to programs that aren’t seen as a ‘high priority.’ Unfortunately, education is one of those elements that gets the short end of the stick because it supposedly cannot boost the economy out of its present state. I will argue with that belief; if anything, education should be a high priority in today’s society.

Education, though it doesn’t do this right now, has the potential to educate the future generations in ways the government obviously doesn’t see. A proactive solution to the current economy is to educate; this can help better the way that our future societies handle money, which may result in the decline in debt and possibly a boost in the state of our economy over the course of a few years. Of course, then comes the question “Well, if nobody knows how to properly handle money now, how are we supposed to teach our kids how to do so?” That’s where we look to experts with ideas that can be put into play. While this idea may not have an effect on the state of our present economy, it can help to better the outlook of our financial future as a country. It can educate our future politicians and Wall Street bankers so that they may be more able to turn things around a bit more easily, pending problems like this arise again.

Something schools do focus on is attempting to prepare future generations for their careers. Thing is, like the author said in the article, kids that graduate high school right now don’t necessarily end up on the financially stable end of the totem pole. Many of them don’t go to college because they don’t feel like it’s going to do them any good with the current state of the economy. They are right; a college degree has become nothing more than a fancy piece of paper. You can give the kids the knowledge to do a job, but unemployment rates and financial situations of some companies make it impossible to even get the job to start with. As a college student, this is one of the fears I have. Luckily I have a fairly decent backup plan, but nobody should have to have a backup plan. The sad part is that a lot of high school level students do now. These kids see the current financial situations at home, work, and school; they feel like a backup plan is a ‘must’ in today’s society. These kids know that they aren’t being educated in the right way because the schools get the shaft when it comes to funding.
           

 I, personally, am worried about the education of my future children. The fact that education is so ill-appreciated by the American government that it makes you wonder why education even still exists at all. Hopefully the capitalist society we live in won’t put a complete end to education. It won’t if we start acting now.