Idiot Nation

I have to say, going into this reading I was expecting the worst. Michael Moore tends to get on my nerves, quiet frankly. This essay really surprised me however. There were a considerable amount of statements I found myself agreeing with. Michael Moore is famous for his bluntness and extreme left wing views. He was very much himself in this writing. I like that it gives his writing more personality, even though I don't necessarily like or agree with what is being said. This style of writing could either entice a reader or totally turn them away. Without even knowing who the author is, within the first few paragraphs you get the sense that they are strongly opinionated and very sarcastic. I found myself wanting to learn more about the state of our education system. I wanted to challenge Moore's beliefs as well as my own. I even got on google and began pouring myself into statistics.
The numbers presented in this essay shocked me, even though I already knew there were flaws in the education system. 44 million Americans without the ability to read above a fourth grade reading level is scary. Although I'm not sure what that number is based off of and I'm not sure if that includes individuals with disability. The point is, this statistic got me wanting to learn more. Another statement that caught my attention was the quotation from our former president, "And to the C students, I say you, too, can be president of the united states". What a sad statement, I want the leader of my country to encourage people to be the best and brightest they can be, that statement doesn't sound very encouraging. Further more I want my president to be one of the best and brightest, not just a mediocre student with good connections. I want that for everyone who makes major decisions on my behalf. Another interesting point that Moore brought up was when he referenced a test given to 556 seniors from 55 universities, only 53% of them answered "high school level" questions right, this made for a great plat form for the failed education system. I really am curious to see how well Dixie State College students would do on that same test. I would like to see how well I would do on that test. Another issue Moore brings up in is standardized testing itself.
Standardized testing was an issue I remember becoming a big deal my senior year of high school. The sophomores would be the first class required to pass the Washington State standardized test (we called it the WASAL) there was alot of discussion about the fairness of this test. Many parents were furious. I thought, after taking the test, it would be ridiculous to allow anybody to graduate high school who couldn't pass it. I wasn't exactly what you would call a good student and I found the test very do-able. If a student couldn't pass it, they weren't ready for the real world and definitely not ready for college. Standardized testing is a good way to see how well a school is teaching. It can pin point flaws in an academic system. It should be a source of accountability. This accountability shouldn't just be for the teachers though. It should apply to everyone in that students life and community. I like how Moore takes the side of the teacher without dismissing the importance of standardized testing. Although I did not like the way he downplayed the importance of accountability. Over all I think Moore raises a lot of really good points in this essay.