Best Thinking in Society & Humanities

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  Is No Child Left Behind a Failure?
  By BestThinking

  The No Child Left Behind Act, established as law in 2002, strived to bring American education to new heights. With new forms of standardized testing and more qualified teachers, former President Bush believed this to be the door for success. However since its inception, the act...

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  Pros and Cons of Teacher Evaluations
  By BestThinking

  Teacher evaluations have often been a way to measure educators' performances and effectiveness. Evaluation systems vary by state, but tend to have similarities. Student performance or classroom observations are often used as measurement tools. For example, the Washington, D.C. evaluation...

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  Gun Laws and Safety in Schools
  By BestThinking

  On August 4, 2011, an armed individual was spotted walking on the Virginia Tech University campus. While authorities notified students on campus of the gun alarm, the individual could not be found and caused no harm on the school grounds. However, this incident raises questions concerning...

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  The Ongoing Debate of American Education
  By BestThinking

  With the upcoming 2012 Presidential Election drawing closer, candidates are sure to address the U.S. education system. As students in the United States continue to lag behind countries such as India and China in math and science, the issue of American education remains an unsolved problem....

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  Predictions for the 2012 Wildfire Season
  By Kate Prengaman

  Last year wildfires engulfed almost 4 million acres across Texas alone, destroying thousands of homes and killing 10 people. Climatologists predict that the extreme drought that created highly flammable conditions will continue in 2012. Texas is not alone. Across the United States, more...

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  The Third Party Problem
  By Carrie Kirby

  Come election time, my husband and I often find ourselves on opposite sides of the voting booth. It's not that our political beliefs differ much -- we're both liberals. The difference is that he believes in voting for the candidate who most closely matches his personal beliefs, which often...

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  Is Sunscreen Safe?
  By BestThinking

  It is well-documented that unprotected exposure to the sun and UV rays can lead to skin cancer. With UV levels reaching all-time highs, it is important that people take preventative measures to protect themselves from UV exposure which can cause damage to their skin, as well as their eyes. ...

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  Acid in the Ocean
  By Harvey K Black

  Mention climate change and people’s thoughts typically turn to changes in the weather. We hear stories of extreme events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, mammoth snow and rain--storms linked to man-made climate change. Another eye-catcher is stories of sea-level rise, and the inundation of...

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  Ban Violent Video Games to Protect Children
  By BestThinking

  On June 27, 2011 U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association that overturned a California law that would have banned children under 18 years old from purchasing violent video games. California argued that it had the responsibility to protect children from...

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