“When I was growing up, my parents used to say to me: ‘Finish your dinner — people in China are starving.’ I, by contrast, find myself wanting to say to my daughters: ‘Finish your homework — people in China and India are starving for your job.’” -- from Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat
First, let me thank you all for your attention to the film last Friday. You probably know my answer to the question in the title of this post. I do think there is a crisis - a quiet crisis that is more dangerous than any crisis we face as a country. But this blogging session is not about what
I think. It is your opportunity to give your opinion about 2 Million Minutes, about the so-called crisis in American education, and your feelings about your experience with American education.The film 2 Million Minutes tells the story of how six students use their 2,000,000 minutes (4 yrs) of high school. It quickly becomes obvious that the two students from India and the two from China spend far more time in school and studying than the two students from the United States. While all six students went on to college, the Indian and Chinese students were disappointed that they did not get into their first choice of schools. What does this say about them? Are they weaker students than the film portrayed? Or did they just set their sights higher than the American students?
So, how does all of this relate to you?
Are you concerned or alarmed by what you saw? Do you think that American students like you should be doing something different? Should school officials and teachers being doing something different to help improve how American students are performing?
Is there really a crisis?
You may think that all this talk about a crisis in American education is just dead wrong. What do you think? Is there really a crisis? Do you think that you'll be prepared to compete for the really good jobs when you graduate from college?
Do you think tha
t American students spend enough time in school and studying? Do we spend too much time on other things - sports, TV, video games, or other things? Do you think that you should make changes in the amount of time that you study?Regardless of how you feel about 2 Million Minutes, there is a lot to talk about and debate. I want this to be the most active blogging session so far. Read all of the comments that have been made, enter your own comment, then come back often throughout this week to continue the conversation. The only thing that I ask, is that you keep the conversation thoughtful and intelligent. Be sure to give reasons for the opinions you offer.
Before commenting, take a few minutes to watch the following video:
Helpful Links
USA Today article about 2 Million Minutes
Boston Globe - My lazy American students
This session will end at 12 am on Saturday, January 16.
Student Sleeping image from Flickr
Posts
145 comments:
The 2,000,000 minutes was pretty interesting.
The movie 2 million mineuts is a great movie some parts made me laugh out loud. The one moment is the one were Briitany tryed on a lot of sunglasses. Neil is a little confusing to figure out
Tanner this is a good point but I disagree that it is interesting I think that it is seireous
2 million minutes really wasnt to bad it really made me think nit lieing!
I think 2,000,000 minutes was a some wut entertaining and egukational film and well werth waching.;)
I dissagreed with some of the fact's they gave.. We won't have to worry about being matched with other countries for awhile, That would possably take a decade:)
i did not like it at all!!!!!!
i really think you need to take the movie seriasly if you study alot now you may not have to later as long as you do good!
i think that the movie had some good points.i think that the movie was trying to explian that the world is compeating against each other. and you need to be set on a gaol for your life. :]
I think the show was trying to show us, is that if we dont succee we could drop into a big issue. If we strive to get good grades and accomplish something grate we shall march in first with pride.
that is right megan i todilly agree
one opinion about 2 million minitues is about if you achive your goals and keep your stoff completely organized you could get good grades and go to the college you always wanted to go to.
whos ak is that kate? and also the movie was sayiung like we dont try AT ALL!
I think we should think about were we are at this time in school. And see if we could change and get good grades. And make your parents proud!
kayla I am very interested about what you mean
I think more and more american students are getting used to being the number one educated country but the lazier we are getting the more and more we are falling behind. Think about it, some asian and chinese students learn in fourth grade what most american students learn in the sixth grade. I also think that people in other countries get not as good jobs as we do even though they work just as hard or harder.
2 million minutes was just confusing for me. I can't believe that us Americans are so laid back and just do whatever when there are other people in the world who have a way higher education than us.
cara very good point but how do you sopsed to take that seriously
I agree with Cara. If we don't try and we rank low in education. We need to stride to make a better education and economy for this country. And I disagree with Jacob I think we need to compare with our education and the other countrie's education or we won't exceed as far as we need to.
I agree with Alyssa if we don't try we won't get a a great education.And that means we began to rank very low.
I agree with Brandon T. stating that it was a educational film and well worth watching but I disagree that it was entertaining because we should think of it at a way that it is not entertaining but a problem we should start solving
in some way i can see how us american students need to apply this to our daily educational lives with putting studying in front of most underacheiving activities what will t.v. get you?i think that most people should have a life plan. amongst other things the many different countries are competing to take our jobs. becuase they are learning the proper techqnuique and the proper value on what it takes to become a american citizen...my question to america is are u ready to step up to the plate?
um i think that the video was not that good but it did give some information out about things i don`t know about yall i just don`t like it!!!!!!!
I feel like the government should do something so we won't be lacking intelligence.
I think that the American students are studying to the best of their ability. I also think that it would take a whole decade to meet other countries testing and studying standards.
you no some of us should try harder but mabey the teachers should to! if teachers arnt teaching us well then its not ALL our foalt but still...
I disagree with alyssa.
this movie in my opion is not a crisis
The vidoe I just seen in Mr.Veliz website, I think it was talking about what could happen in the future if we dont take controle.And what we have right now.
i think the video was made to show you some of the devices we use and when they were invented,also other things in that order. :)
The 2 millon minutes is a crisis because we are falling behind and watching to much tv or video games!
for me i watched to much back then i spent some times 4 hours each day in 3rd and 4th grade mostly on weekends and prackticly ive betten all my ps2 games and i played it so much it died!!!!
In 2 millon minutes there was a lot of things going on. It started with Brittany then it went to Neil then it went to other people in the world. I didn't really get half of the movie. But I think the main idea for it is that people are getting lazier as years pass by. All we have to do to see someone is just click a button then you can see that person.
I disagree with Jacob because although it might take just a little bit of time for other countries to catch up to our level we still need to work harder than we are now because when they do we would have no progress at all.
Well did you know that in the video the number of internet devices in 2008 is 1,000,000,000.
If the chinese and other countrie's learn english, why can't we learn there languages? I also think it's astounding that we don't work hard and we still make it into the colleges that we want to go into, and they work a tons load than us and they don't even get into there colleges they want to get in. And as Mr. Veliz said "We want to be ranked the highest in education", and if we do that we exceed in all categories.
but peple in other countries they do try hard and thats good but its all was nice to have a break all work and no play is not always good!
2,000,000 minutes befor you think about what you saw it seems demeaning to all American students, but if you think about it 2,000,000 minutes tells you the hard trueth about American students. The cold hard trueth is American students are lazzy, and need to step it up a noch. I know it is hard to hear but it is true.
i know right jacob i want one but no!!!! haha!!!!!! i agree with you Jose i do think someone should do something.!!!!!!!
It made me think what was really going on today.Also it really opened my eyes up.Something needs to be done!!
What if war start's, if we all become equally intelligent. I guess i'll just hijack a airplane and live in antartica!
The video also is trying to tell us we need to try to accomplish our goals to succeed
Travis i disagree you have to admitt us american students do not and will study to the best of their ability that is why other countries such as china, and india are catching ground with us americans
i agree with brandan but still like i said its always nice to havea break just not more then you need to! and you spelled truth wrong!
Do you think that we might drop or stay above everyone, with the show we watched yesturday?
i think the world is shirnking because of todays technoligy and also there are more CHINNESE students who are well educated then thier are american students!!!!!!!!
Lyndria made a great point I totally agree with her.
We need to pick up the pace. Another bad thing is it makes us look bad and gives us a bad name!!
i think that all amercian students can be the best. but the thing is that students from other countries are trying harder to reach their goals they want in life for amercian students every thing is given to them as a choice but for asin or indian students they have to try harder and harder every day to do what job they want and thats why i think the u.s.a is getting smaller
BUT ITS NICE TO SEE THAT THERE KINDA jelas OF US! HOW DO WE SPELL JELUS
I agree with Eric
I dont think its fair to say the whole of america isnt studying enough because what about the kids who do spend almost all their time studying in america?
I think that 2million minutes didn't really explain nothing very much about our education and how we can improve the movie just kept explainning how we american's don't study we don't study enough, which i think we do and they study really hard try out for different things to help their economy and how they struggle to make things happen.
i agree with Alyssa!!!!!!!
oh my...gosh!!! I looked at the video and I was way shocked.By the time someone getting a medical degree is in theyre 3rd year of learning the stuff theyve learned already has changed.
that is tottaly right us americans are falling behind we are very offf track as a country!
I agree with Cassandra we really do need to pick up the pace.
Mr. Veliz do you think this movie is a crisis
THATSD FUNNY ERIC AND thats true jermey i for one could do better but im trying hard and i will try harder just becouse that movie help!
I think all the students in china and india should sometimes take a break or chill out a bit in stead of working 20 hours straight.
I dont agree with Jose we are not stupid, we just dont spend enough time studing we can be as just be as smart as the other countries.
One true example of whats going on is over the last two minutes weve gone from 38 comments to 84 comments.
I mean 92
Cassondra is right we will get a impression of being the laziest country.
One way that we can still be in the lead is that we could study more often. Though it may not be fun, We could have study parties to make it all fun and see if we all get the same answers. Plus we could watch movies and pop popcorn during a movie about what you are doing in your class that could help you.
Kayla why do you say that just asking
I would get angry if I had to go to school that much in a single day for 12 years
I agree with kayla about the other countries competing with us and taking time to set goals for ourselves.
i think what cassandra wrote was really inspiring and may make a impact to our society, bloggers,and readers.
we can be as just be as smart as the other countries if we try.
Sometimes people don't realize that we shouldn't be able to just pick a college to go to and do that online.
i mostly agree with all of you on this but i just still don`t like it it needs more things about us and other cuntries and stuff like that do ya know what i mean...But what we need in this world is a little clean up not litterly but we need to stop cursing and stop trashing things BE NICE TO PEOPLE well clean up and help someone if they need it haha we really do... god that was alot to type!!!!!
piZZa haha giggle giggle! :)
American students need to work harder in academics
hi im joser
People don't realize that you can't just go any where with out an education.I mean ya mc donalds. but you can't get a job like Mr.Veliz. I think all teachers are good role models for kids.Also you have to work hard to reach success!!
brandon dont forget the money!
I AGREE WITH ALYSSA!
We should have study parties to help us and have fun at the same time.
Cara made an awesome point about studying more often even though it may not be fun but there are plenty ways to make it fun.
I agree with Taliyah
wow megan you are really funny and i love pizza to!!!!!!!!!!!
If I was in china or india and I had to work that much then I would just make a living out of fishing or hunting or something simple that could go a long way.
dude times going by fast! piZZa HAHA!
In "2 million minutes."Well there will be a crisis if we don't study as hard and if we do not learn anything and don't achive our goals and stay home and do nothing.Just sitting on the couch eating all day. As we i mean you, if you don't work hard than you are brinnging the whole country down with you which is a very bad thing!
people need to study more then watch tv or play video games then we might have a chance to become one of the top countries to be intellegent also thier are only 2 out of a hunderd kids taking schools seriosly right now
some kids are lucky enough to even go to school some are home schooled when i was suppose to be in 2nd grade i was home schooled
please tell me as us americans are falling behind our means in the education system do we matter as children
yes so us americans are lazy but not in sports we rock! But heres one thing did you know 1500 hours are spent eatch year or in a semester watching tv and 900 hours are spent studying in America!
we do bad now!:(
:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
as a community involment helper and support our earth i think that this movie wasn't a very good impact but it make a very little impact
Cara there is 2 more good reasons that we could stay ahead. one is that students could work harder. another is taht we could do more studying
Yes. Studying is something we need to do to help make it to what our goals are. If we don't we are going to be marked the laziest country. I don't think anyone wants to be called that? We are lazy now but we could step it up, acheive our goals, and work harder.
Everyone has their own opinion about the video and mostly all of them are correct and i just think the video could be an inspiration on someone who wants to learn about this stuff,and honestly the video was ok. L0v3 Braisha :)
I agree with alyssa. She said that studying is something we all should work on........... And i think that if we can study harder then we can achive more goals!
if don't study you will no where. You have to syudy to be a scientist and a teacher ex. I agree with alyssa studing is important. I need to do a little more of it!!
i agree with Courtney
I agree with every one who said we need to step it up and we could become the most intellegent country. i also think we need to take things more serously and the movie now that i think of it i think it was telling all of the students around the world is that we need to balace our life out so that we have about a equal amount of studying and messing around there are alot of people who study 20 hours a day well here is a question what fun do they have and do they get only 8 hours of sleep with studying that much and that hard. wow i said alot, no comments about how long this is either.
Let me jump in here for a minute. Remember to stick to the topic. There have been some really good comments, but let's leave out all of the "What's up" type comments.
Also, think about about what you want to say, say it, and then read it before you click on publish. There are far too many spelling and grammatical errors.
i agree with kayla who agrees with everybody! im watching the peanuts dvd just saying and sharing is anybody there
mr veliz whats your middle name?
oh my gosh you all are lazy BLOG, BLOG PEOPLE! :)
I agree with alyssa and courtney. I also think that we need to study but not like 24/7. I think that we need half and half, balance them out like school and our scocial life.We also need a little time to get out and hang out with our friends and I think that this movie is explaining alot about how other native countries study way to much and not having alot of time to get out their and explore the world their so worried about their economy and ratings that their pushung themselves to do more and more things that thier not even exploring life.
I also agree with Cassandra and Alyssa if we don't study or try we will be marked as the laziest country I'm pretty sure no one wants to be marked lazy so I think we should add a extra 30 minutes or if you think your studing way to hard and to much then you need to subtract about 30 minutes or an hour. I think we need to do whatever we need to do to make this a way better economy and have better ratings. We don't want to have to watch another movie explaining how we american's are LAZY, don't STUDY, and just go out to party's get drunk, take pictures have fun but don't Study. We want to hear how we amertican's are working our way up to the top to be the best country and how we are really trying hard and putting the silly buisness to the side and staying focused, still being active, and how great we are as a economy, country, and america's team.
I defentily agree with Jordan but I have to say I disagree with Megan. Megan was saying how their jealous of us, I don't think their jealous I just think that their a little disappointed in our country and how it's not working towards succeeding and that their working so hard and not getting rewarded and their not getting into the colledges they want to but we are. I mean I would be a little jealous to if we weren't getting into the colledges we wanted and getting rewarded for our hard work.
Mr.veliz i'm not in your class but I think that the movie had a great impact on us students.
Hi:) sixth graders how funny cuz im in sixth grade
i see what you mean taliyah!
ok well i want to say hey but then i want to say that the movie needed something else like something enteresting and that i really didn`t like it very much!!!!!!
and mr veliz um how do you get your own page agian because i forgot!!!!!!!
i agree with gabby. she said that it needs to be more interesting
Mr.Veliz and evreyone else! Do think there is a crisis? Because i think there will be if we keep on slacking on homework and studying! Also all we have to do to not make to a point where there is going to be a crisis is just study and do your homework and at the same time have fun!
Well 2,000,000 Minutes was a guilt trip for me. I relly hope America
steps it up before China and all those ather countries get ahead of us.
Did you know if your one in a million in china...there are 1,300 people just like us.Isn't that just amazing because if i had not saw that video i would have never know;
also did you know the 25 percent of india's population highest IQ is higher than the total population of the United States; India has more honor kids than american kids.I think these things are trying to convince us to try to learn more about school and what not.
I learned alot from 2,000,000 minutes.I agree with you Eric, it really is a crisis, Americans don't study enought.Like me, I only study 10% out of 100%.
Hey Mr. Veliz what do you think of the movie 2,000,000
LOL Gabby but why?
Two million minutes explains a real crisis and if we dont do a thing about it soon other countries will catch up academically and still us american students will have had made any progress at all. I disagree that the movie was really hard to understand but I guest it may have been hard for others. My opinion is just that we should actually be concerned even though the crisis is not in front of our faces everday or it's really noticeable, we should take some action in this problem while we have time.Also I agree with Kayla stating that the movie made some great points and that goals should be set for our lives.If we do less unconstructive activities and study a little bit more and T. V. a little bit less like Mr. Veliz stated America won't be near rock bottom of the academics chart. I also think that we should start individually working harder that would inspire others to work harder to make academics no longer a crisis in America.
thank you courtney and i agree with you haha whoever is AK what do you mean by WHY and what are you talking but ya mr. Veliz what did you think about the movie and anywase i agree with tanner and brandon he can see that and don`t be COUSIN boy u r going to get in trouble and really y can`t people help the earth and not rouin it you know what i mean.....
Taliyah is right don't study 24/7 it's only making you work harder than you need to. Yes you need to study sometimes I would prefer that, unlike watching t.v.. Like I said before we do not want that impression on being the laziest country. We need to pick up the pace keep on going, but not as hard to much work is not very well for us. If we can succeed we can do it all the way through. Yes, maybe we do succeed in everything else, that doesn't mean america has to be lazy. That makes us seem like we don't have to work to get anywhere we want, we can just do it. That makes us seem careless and sometimes, ignorant of us. But America doesn't have to be like that if we just stride to do more.
I agree with Taliyah and Alyssa. Don't over work yourself. Studing is important. But don't over do it, because your just putting more stress on yourself.
Exactly what I mean Cassandra.
I agree with Alissa, who agrees with two other people, and Brandon that was really well put! :) Also, this has nothing to do with 2 million minutes, but there was a earthquake in Haiti! :)
see what i dont get is why is it that were so layzy I mean come on cant we try to at least earn what we have.So we need to cut back on TV and other things so we have good jobs and not work at a gas station!so let us all work our best and try!
And Alyssa is correct yes do not over work your selves or that will make it worse and bad things could happen like stress,bad thouhts, and suiside!Maby? mosty stress and depression.
The 2,000,000 minutes was also inpiering to try your best do your work and have fun at the same time!
Oh and sorry i for got to put my name on the one that says Anonomous thats me Eric!
2 million minutes is something that will convince people to go out and study instead of just sitting at home and watching t.v. for 2-3 hours.
The video we recently watched during school "2 Million Minutes" was really encouraging on me. I think this video's meaning was to prove to us that we need to step it up and the normal school average isn't good enough. I don't think many children at this point is taking this concern very seriously because they think since their children they can slack off and not give it their best shot. Well most of these children are one hundred percent wrong. This movie I really understood. But don't us kids think every once in a while we should put down a tv remote and pick up a text book or some home work recently assigned? I hope C period really took all of my thoughts to consider.
-- Hanna E from Mr. Veliz's E period 7th grade civics class.
2 million minutes REALLY is a crisis!
I agree with Taliyah and Alyssa because yes we need more in americas academic area but we dont have to work ourselves half to death we can do better and still have fun like I said earlier we should inspire other people to work harder because we are falling behind and other countries are catching up faster than we think it is a crisis and to me people are acting as if it not a problem.
who is the anonamis i really want to know please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the 2000,000 million minuets really helped me under stand the way of life and how harder i should try that's why i set a goal for my self
hghf
2 million minutes still shoed us like as if we dont try at all but i did see what they ment and herd what they had to say!
Hanna E (F period), thank you for commenting. Yes that's correct we do need to get off our butts and open a textbook, not once in a blue moon but almost every 2 days. If you have a test, STUDY! Us, lazy kids always think it's going to be fine if we don't study or work hard, well your wrong sometimes we have to work hard to get what we want and make this a better economy.
I thought 2,000,000 minutes was ok at first but once I looked over it a couple of times I thought of it as a great video... yeah thats all i can say for now??
Hanna, I really thought of what you said. I totally agree with putting down a t.v remote and picking up a textbook...but I might not always do that(: I really wanna not slack off a lot, it's not like I mean too..but yeah I thought out what ya said!
Bailey!--Mr. Veliz's A.P B period class
i agree with Alysa we really need to get off of our BUTTS and read or do something about this stuff.. And i say this and mean it but i don`t even crack open a book or study alot and i really need to stat to do that....
wow i cant belive how long this conversion is so long, still going on!
But Gabby i know we have to get off our butts but still we can still have fun at the same time!
The Did you Know video was very interesting... cool facts. I thought the new computer that we could get in 2049 was awesome! Hard to believe that when you start college you might learn things that are out of date when you end college. WEIRD!
The king,(Martin luther king) sayed a very strong statement about how blacks and whites should come togather and do the oppisite of fighting and have fun togather enstead of doing vilent things to one another!
Also, just imagine going up to express your heart for that evreyone to get along and then "Bang", you get shot/killed!
To me Martin luther king statement is "I HAVE A DREAM..."
Martin luther king is a very powerful, strong, brave man you stoud up for everyone and changed everyone minds to say what the heck let's get along!
As we were talking in class, about Martin Luther King junior, I got real mad because, to think about what white people did, made me want to cry. They had no right to treat the way they did to color people.
I belive that Martin Luther King juiner, believed that he could change the world, and come together with peace and love.
One of his speeches he gave was, " I have a DREAM!" He got right on the stage into the million microphones and, I bet you that every one had a dream about how strong, brave he was to stand up there and let his feelings out.
Belive it or not, not to long ago after he gave his speech " I have a DREAM!" He was murder with a bullet trigered by a gun.
But who ever did that will be punished. They will have to sleep every day, and every mimute of the day thinking about what they did. Turns out a few years after he gave his speech, colored and white people joined together with peace and love.
The awful person is probaly thinking why in the world did I do that. Im such a jerk. I am so thankful that god put Martin Luther King juinor, on Earth! He truely changed the world!
Thank you Martin Luther King Juinor!
i dont know what to say!
um Mr.Veliz i don`t know how to get the new blogging asignment up even my mom and dad don`t know what to do with that sorry!!!!!!!!!!
hay eric how about you rub your brain cells together and dont be stupid
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