Another AP Lang bit

DISCLAIMER: To any unschoolers out there I apologize if I offend, I'm just an ignorant kid who needed something to write about and pick on.

Thinking Outside of the Pencil Box

by Cailin Rogers

    I was taught from a very young age one important fact. It was common sense, something that seemed to just be part of life. Homeschoolers are smarter than public school kids. I was too little to read it from a media source, how did I know this fact so innately?
    One could infer that my tiny ears picked it up at 'co-op,' an organization created by moms for homeschooled kids. Or from my friends. Or from my parents.

You see, I was homeschooled until fifth grade.

   I am very familiar with homeschooling and public school. And I think in scenarios with good variables, both work.Then I heard of unschooling, which I was unaware of it's existence. It's proper definition is a "lack of schooling" and that definition is frightfully unhelpful in depicting what it actually is. Basically, unschooling is when mothers allow their kids to learn what they wish. Children decide what they do for the day, and children decide exactly what they learn. These kids have never touched a textbook or taken a test; they act as if school systems don't exist. Many of these parents don't set rules for their kids.
   When I first heard of this, I thought, my God, these kids are living the dream. Then I thought about the future of these unschooled kids. Their parents give them no boundaries, so they will have a harder time understanding that no, you can't go as fast as you want on the road, and other rules set by the government. They've never taken a test or studied a textbook, so how will they get into a good college, if they are even literate enough to fill the application. And say they get into college, they will be competing against kids that have been using textbooks and taking tests since they could stand up...I wonder how they will succeed in life?
   My opinion? Homeschooling=Smiley face. Unschooling=? Well, don't ask them, no one taught them math.

Education is important. And so are you.

Hey gang!

    So, you may have realized, (I've mentioned it a few times) that I am a sophomore in high school. I have also grown up with a value of education: both of my parents have sacrificed a lot for each to go to college. I have always assumed that I will (must) go to college; not going to college is not an option, the only option is how much I will spend on it.

  With this mentality, I have always kept an ear out for what's happening in the world of textbooks and mechanical pencils. And recent stats have me worried. It's said that 55% of people who graduate with a degree will get a job out of college (in the profession their degree is tailored to). Some of it is people picking the wrong major, but if you think about it there's about a 50-50 chance that the multiple years of time and money that you put into that piece of paper will get you a job. Isn't that terrible?

   Also, people are getting laid off left and right. I have two family members that lost their jobs. And they both had their degrees in that field.

    I know a 35 year old who is a waitress working minimum wage, same job as I do. She got laid off.

   This is crazy!!! People need to understand whats up, and start doing something. Start breaking things. DO. SOMETHING. And that is my plea to the adults of this world. That is your mission today: break something. I already accomplished that mission this morning. (I'm cool.....no.)

Over and out.
Love,
Cailin