Writing Prompts

Directions: Type your responses to the items below.

1		The author states the "public education is not a uniform experience for American children." List at least two factors that affect the quality of public education. In other words, list the factors that make some public schools better than others. You may use factors mentioned in the selections as well as logical ones that you reason out.
2		Most other countries do not even attempt to make public education available to everyone, or else they use a system of tests that places students into "tracks" that lead either to vocational training or to college. Students who do not make high enough scores do not have the option of attending college. Do you think this is a good system or not? Explain your answer.
3		If you attended public school prior to college, do you feel you received a good education? Tell why or why not. Even if you did not attend public school, do you think the public schools in your community are good ones? Tell why you have that opinion.

To the Web

Consult one or more of the following websites that pertain to the topic of the reading selection. Then answer the questions based on information obtained from the websites.

The authors of these two website selections have very different views about the solution to public school violence.

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/1997/04/21/editorial4.html

This selection at this website appeared in the Denver Business Journal in 1997 when Clinton was president. It was written by a law professor. It mentions parents' dissatisfaction about public school students' relatively low achievement and parents' discontent over school violence.

4		The author does not think that educational standards and achievement in the U.S. can be raised by more government spending on education. List at least five reasons the author gives to support his belief.
5		What reasons does the author cite for increased school violence?
6		List at least three solutions the author suggests for improving public education.

http://www.fff.org/comment/com0202b.asp

This commentary is from the website sponsored by a libertarian website. Libertarian principles include individual freedom, free markets, private property, and limited government.

7		What is this organization's unusual view about ending public school violence?