Laine McKay Norton

Today, many school classes are taught where a teacher stands in front of the class and rattles off facts for the students to memorize and regurgitate on a test. After the test, the students often forget what they have learned. How successful is teaching to a test? Teaching to a test does not produce successful people. Finland has one of the top education systems in the world. In a recent interview with Finish teachers, the teachers talked about how one of the top 5 reasons why the United States education system has not improved is because of standardized tests. Important information, like civics and debate, get lost because they are not tested in a test. Teaching students how to think does produce successful people. In law schools, students are taught how to think critically about the facts. Students are given a case to study outside of class. In class, the law professors ask hard questions that require students to think critically about the case. There is a reason why this method is...

Most people who live in democratic societies believe that free speech is a basic human right. The freedom of speech dates back to Ancient Greece; it became a fundamental part of the democracy of Athens. “Leaders, philosophers, playwrights and everyday Athenians were free to openly discuss politics and religion…”. In the United States, Freedom of Speech is ensured in the First Amendment. The only speech that is not protected by the First Amendment is child pornography, true threats, defamation, and plagiarism of copyrighted material. 1 This idea of free speech has been cherished by Americans for hundreds of years, but we are in danger of losing it.  Greg Lukianoff, President of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education explained, “A generation is being raised not to believe in freedom of speech but rather that they should have freedom from speech.” 2 Should we ban things that are deemed hateful or hurtful? Safe spaces are "A place where anyone can relax and be fully...