iVillage, a website dedicated to news and content for women, recently rated the 50 states based on how pleasant or awful it is to live there as a woman. From the site:
In creating our rankings, we analyzed health care and reproductive rights as well as economic success, access to affordable childcare, female representation in government and educational attainment. We wondered: Which states are getting things right and really helping women? And which states still have a learning curve on these issues?
Sadly (but not surprisingly), Louisiana was near the bottom of the list.
This makes me feel very lucky, since I have health insurance and a reasonable income, but also very sad that the reality is that this great state has a long way to go to be more inclusive.
metazensae:
I am impressed by this and applaud China’s dedication to education. For a country that is often too closed towards certain topics, they are making steps toward this intimate, yet important topic.
In the US, I have heard ridiculous stories being told to children about where they come from. One in particular included a magical key that released the baby from the mother’s belly.
I support a position that is more honest with children without being too explicit. The kids in that video were quite knowledgeable and eager to show what they’ve learned. Hopefully, this will result in educated decision making later on in early adulthood.
However, I find it highly unlikely that Chinese teenagers will have more sex if educated on safe/preventative sex measures. Chinese teenagers have little to no free time to develop casual relationships. It isn’t until they get more freedom in college that these sort of opportunities present themselves. This has, at least, been my experience with students in China, and as this topic is still somewhat taboo sexual activity was not a topic freely discussed.
I’m proud of China, and I wish that the United States would consider maturing when it comes to topics and health of the human body.
I concur with Elizabeth. Are we forgetting the wise adage, “Honesty is the best policy”? The more children and adolescents know about these topics, the easier it will be for them to make informed decisions.
motherjones:
thirdwaythinktank:
New chart from Tax Policy Center.
shortformblog:
Obama vs. Romney on tax rates: As you can see, rates are largely the same—except for the nation’s richest and poorest. The poor would pay almost twice as much in taxes under Romney’s plan; meanwhile, the very richest in the country would be forced to cough up about 10% more of their income under Obama. The net effect? In short, Romney’s plan would reduce federal revenues to about 17% of GDP—down .9% from where they are now. Obama’s budget would raise revenues 19.2%, with most of that money coming from those making over $250,000 a year (Graphic and data courtesy of The Washington Post / Tax Policy Center).
Just so we’re clear:
If you’re in the lower 60 percent, your taxes will be lower under Obama than under Romney.
If you’re in the lower 90 percent, your taxes will be lower or roughly the same under Obama.
If you’re in the top 10 percent, Romney got yer back.
I registered to vote today due to a little prompting from GOOD. It was about time anyway since I’m starting to actually have an opinion about politics. There are certain issues that happen to be important to me - namely equal rights (particularly gay marriage), health care (birth control and the right for women to be pro-choice) and education - that certain candidates are being jerks about and I am not about to see any of them in office if I can help it. For the first time I’m actually looking forward to voting in November. Until then: Obama, will you be my Valentine?
(via barackobama)
Since my school days I have had issues with the curriculum mandated by “the man.” You know, the kind that forces students to take certain required classes. For instance, why are students taught useless things like algebra? Think about it - people tend to interact with others on a daily basis, but only a fraction actually go into higher maths and sciences and whatnot. So, why not teach kids more day to day stuff, especially when we can’t count on parents doing it? This is why I think I should be a teacher (and the President one day). But, I digress. Here are some courses I think should actually be on the required curriculum for students between the ages of 4 and 18 to prepare them for the real world:
- Basic Social Interactions (or How Not to Make a Fool of Yourself the First Time You Get Asked Out on a Date)
- Intro to Culinary Arts (or How Not to Starve to Death When You Move Away From Home)
- Proper Etiquette (or How Not to Embarrass Yourself in Front of People with a Higher Status Than You)
- How to Sew (or How Not to Have to Buy New Jeans After Falling Over While Drunk at that Party)
- Sexual Education (or How Not to Be 16 and Pregnant)
- Accounting (or How Not to Have a Panic Attack When You Realize You Need to File Your Own Taxes)
- Study Abroad (or How Not to Assume That You Come From a Superior Culture and That Your Way is Not the Only Way)
- Finance (or How Not to Go Into Credit Card Debt Your First Year of College)
Et cetera.
Am I a genius or what?
Since the 1980s, the main driver of Finnish education policy has been the idea that every child should have exactly the same opportunity to learn, regardless of family background, income, or geographic location. Education has been seen first and foremost not as a way to produce star performers, but as an instrument to even out social inequality.
Fascinating read and something to think about!
“School in Japan” from Where’s Andrew? TV
This adorable video reminds me of how badly I want to teach in Japan.
Seriously, how cool are these kids?
A little late, but I’ve gotta get my act together.
- Finish submitting documents to Tulane so I can start in the Spring
- Register for the PRAXIS and get my study on
- Stop consuming alcohol
- Start meditating
- Become conscious of how my actions affect others (I’m not rude, I’m just so absentminded, y’all)
- Finish Bossypants by Tina Fey
- See HP7 one more time
And then I will be a better person.
Got two packages tonight - makeup from Sephora and a PRAXIS study guide. I was more excited about the latter. Good to know I’m headed down the right career path!
