Coxsackie-athens high school valedictory speech

In this discussion about the American education system, the controversial issue is whether academia has adequately prepared its students for the challenges of higher education. On one hand, Goldson argues that she is graduating at the top of her class only because she did her best to follow what she was told to do within the system that is already set up before her. On the other hand, academia contends that they stress not only memorization, but also understanding, challenging, and innovating when engaging new ideas. My own view is that the potential to learn and the probe cannot be suppressed if we do not allow it. I believe, too, that academia does not wish to see its students fail to thrive in school. It is about time that people begin to see that grades do not make the person. Such thinking could lead the way towards, hopefully, important and effective changes.