A Women Should Be Priceless

"We accept the love we think we deserve."

"Do you want to hear the heartbeat?"

"GREENSBORO, N.C. - January 17th, 2014

A federal judge ruled against a North Carolina law requiring doctors to read a script to patients while showing them an ultrasound, saying the provision violates a doctor's First Amendment rights." 
- WNCN 


     It demands doctors that perform abortions to read a script describing the condition of the fetus as well as showing the women images of the ultrasound at least four hours before their scheduled abortion. The bill was praised by social conservatives, it also requires that a woman be offered to hear the heartbeat of the unborn child. Clearly, this is deliberate effort to decrease the number of abortions in North Carolina. However many doctors, Democrats, and most importantly women feel this bill is a direct violation of their rights.

A National Signing Day we'll never see

The political cartoon indirectly addresses the issue of college athletes, many with little to no academic merit, getting accepted to even the most prestigious universities. Nevertheless, these students attend their universities on full ride scholarships. Poor billy here with his high GPA, above average test scores, and extracurricular activities is no competition for a student athlete who will bring the school money and recognition with their athletic ability. A professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted a research study on the reading levels of college athletes. The results were alarming, she discovered that many of them read between a 5th to 8th grade level. She tells an interviewer about a college basketball player who once came into her office and she was appalled to discover he could not read multisyllabic words.The study was effective because she requested the reading levels of college athletes of 36 different universities, many which denied her request. The 20 universities or so who did comply showed a similar and concerning correlation. How these individuals get into some of the most selective universities in the country is very clear. Their performance on the field is valuable, so much so, that their performance in the classroom is simply overlooked. 

“Miss why do we have to read this?”

          I believe it is beneficial for teachers to teach old and archaic texts to their students. These texts often reflect the original way that educated people of the time period thought; these same ideas sometimes evolved into modern day concepts. Reading old text is often difficult and involving breaking down ideas and concepts this can improve a student’s reading fluency and comprehension. Frequently, the texts presented to students are legal documents that give historical context to modern pieces that they may be reading. Books that are written or staged in the past can be best appreciated by someone who has a clear understanding on how to read archaic texts. Although I have been taught many things in my life that make me question the importance of knowing such a thing, reading and attempting to comprehend archaic texts has always seemed purposeful.