Year: 2025

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Economics Education Social Issues

Department of Education Must Stay in Operation

The debate over the existence of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) often centers on the tension between federal oversight and state autonomy. While critics argue that education is a local matter and the federal bureaucracy is an unnecessary “middleman,” the Department plays a critical, irreplaceable role in protecting the rights of vulnerable students and ensuring that zip codes do not determine the quality of a child’s future. Abolishing the Department would not merely shift paperwork to the states; it would dismantle the essential “guardrails” of equity, civil rights, and financial stability in the American education system.

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Conflict Power Social Issues

Ludwig van Beethoven

Today, December 16, marks the anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth in 1770. While the world rightfully celebrates him as a titan of Western classical music—the man who bridged the Classical and Romantic eras—his legacy extends far beyond the stave and the symphony. Remembering Beethoven is essential not only for the “superb” nature of his compositions but because he was a radical thinker whose progressive social views and vision of human brotherhood laid the spiritual groundwork for modern ideals of world peace and global cooperation.

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Economics Education Power Social Issues

She’s the Boss Now!

The Unfolding Power: Black Women’s Ascent in Education and Leadership

The narrative of American progress is continually being reshaped by the resilience and determination of Black women. Nowhere is this more evident than in their extraordinary and persistent rise in education, a foundational movement that is now beginning to translate into a commanding presence in positions of leadership and authority across all sectors. Black women are not just participating in the pursuit of knowledge; they are excelling, often outpacing all other demographic groups in educational attainment. This educational prowess is a potent force, signaling a powerful and inevitable shift in the landscape of leadership in the United States.

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Conflict Power Social Issues

Dangers of Antisemitism

🌍 The Persistent Shadow: Addressing the Dangers of Modern Antisemitism

Antisemitism, often referred to as “the longest hatred,” is not a relic of the past but a dangerous and dynamic force in the contemporary world. Despite the universal condemnation of the Holocaust, Jewish people and institutions globally face a disturbing resurgence of prejudice, harassment, and violent attacks. This essay will explore the profound dangers of modern antisemitism, emphatically distinguish legitimate criticism of the State of Israel from anti-Jewish hatred, and outline the urgent need for more robust involvement by the United Nations to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities worldwide.

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Education Health Care Social Issues Technology

Generation Alpha

The Glass Barrier: Generation Alpha, iPads, and the Call for Public Oversight

Generation Alpha, born into a world where touchscreens are as ubiquitous as toys, faces a defining challenge: the iPad problem. These devices, heralded as tools for education and connection, have become, for many young children, digital pacifiers that carry profound and often detrimental effects on development. The excessive, unmonitored screen time experienced by this generation is a public health crisis in the making, and it demands a response that transcends the individual household. While parental responsibility is undeniable, the sheer scale of the digital environment and its impact on foundational human development necessitate that the government and social services step in to actively monitor and regulate the screen time of small children.

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Education Social Issues

Phonics in Schools

📚 The Unbreakable Code: Reasserting the Primacy of Phonics in Education

The ability to read is the cornerstone of academic success and a fundamental driver of social mobility. At the heart of achieving widespread literacy lies phonics, a systematic instructional method that teaches children to decode the written word by understanding the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and the letters or groups of letters (graphemes) that represent them. The decision by many educational institutions to move away from systematic phonics instruction in the mid-to-late 20th century in favor of approaches like “Whole Language” and “Balanced Literacy” was a detrimental swing of the pedagogical pendulum—a mistake that research has consistently shown to have hindered reading proficiency for a generation of students. Re-embracing explicit, systematic phonics is not a regression but a necessary return to evidence-based practice.

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Power Social Issues

Nostalgia and Politics

🕰️ The Mirage of the Past: How Nostalgia Poisons the Political Present

Nostalgia, in its purest form, is a gentle, bittersweet human emotion—a longing for the “good old days” of one’s personal past. It is a necessary psychological tool that provides comfort, a sense of continuity, and a buffer against the anxieties of a rapidly changing world. It is the fond recollection of a childhood home or the echo of a favorite song, and in this private sphere, it is harmless, even restorative.

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Economics Social Issues

Capital Punishment

The Case Against Capital Punishment: Cost, Civilization, and Deterrence

The debate surrounding the death penalty, or capital punishment, is one of the most enduring and emotionally charged issues in modern jurisprudence. While proponents often cite justice for victims and the principle of “an eye for an eye,” a compelling argument against its use rests on three fundamental pillars: its exorbitant financial cost, its character as an uncivilized form of state violence, and the absence of credible evidence that it serves as an effective deterrent to crime.

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Social Issues Technology

Social Media and Young People

🛡️ A Guarded Passage: Reimagining Social Media for Australia’s Youth

Australia’s landmark decision to make social media platforms off-limits for individuals under the age of 16 represents a seismic shift in global digital governance. Driven by mounting evidence linking unrestricted social media use to a decline in youth mental health, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act is a bold, world-first intervention. While the protective intent behind this legislation is laudable, a blanket ban risks creating a digital chasm, alienating young people from essential peer communication and digital literacy development. To reconcile the need for safety with the reality of a connected world, the Australian government should consider a nuanced evolution of this policy: a legislative mandate for separate, regulated social media platforms dedicated exclusively to minors.

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Education Social Issues

Classical Music in the Schools

The Essential Harmony: Advocating for Classical Music in Schools 🎻

The modern school curriculum, often seeking to be “relevant,” frequently embraces popular music genres like rock, rap, and hip-hop. While these forms of music have cultural significance, a compelling argument exists for a strategic shift in focus: prioritizing classical music education in schools. This move is not an arbitrary exercise in taste, but a foundational investment in students’ academic performance, cognitive development, and character. By emphasizing the structured complexity and emotional depth of classical music, schools can cultivate a more focused, constructive, and educated society, while helping to guide students toward cultural literacy beyond fleeting trends.

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