How much is a child's education worth? How do you determine who is able to obtain these excellent programs and educations and who gets the scraps? You don't. As noted in the movie Waiting for Superman, education is the key to success. The most prominent men of our generation agrees that a well educated society results in a better future. This topic is very sensitive to me being raised in a failing school system that has such a low retention rate in public schooling. But, who do we look up to when we as a people make no attempt to change what is provided to us. This movie, did not surprise me, more so that it enraged me and upset me. Those looking to provide a better future and looking to change the lives of their children; their ability depends on their income. But schools in low income areas are to par at best. Many suffer with funding and perform poorly due to this. There are several ways out; the first way is through private school and the second is charter school. The private school, though it may be high performing, has a high cost in order to attend. The charter school, though is not independent requiring large amount of money, requires a lottery in order to enter. So where does this put us? We are left in a state where students have a change at success. The biggest advocacy group that supports this would be the teacher's union. The biggest barrier to change is this idea of tenure. Tenure causes teachers not to be able to be fire due to their contract. However, poorly performing school officials are kept because they are given tenure. This, though fair to some teachers, are harming the education system. The poorly performing school officials, whether it be a principal or a teacher, are kept and swapped rather than replaced. The protection should not be for teachers but for students. The students should be more important that one teacher's job. This is a very pessimistic way to put it but it is the truth. A teacher should not be held on to because of a word, they should be held on to and given praise do to performance.

The most inspiration quote I have ever heard came from this movie; it said "..I was crying because no one was coming with enough power to save us." This quote is powerful in showing the lack of power that we have in changing a world. If Superman were to rescue these students, I feel he would still be lacking in ability to change the system in which all students have a chance to succeed and match the wits of other regions of the world. This says a lot, showing one of the most powerful superheroes would not be able to change a education system. This is because the education system in all of America is scattered. The federal government set standards in which the state government overlaps with their own ideals. This dispersed method of educational services makes it difficult for any single person to make a lasting difference. However, in several Superman comics, he is able to speak to the nation or a group of people as a whole to change their ways. This is what Superman can do; convince the people that change is necessary in order to improve what we have.

To me, there are numerous reasons to explain why students lack in performance. The top reason's I came up with are influence, parental backup, and teachers. First off, with the idea of influence, many students in low income areas do not have inspirational figures to look up to. In many cases, the people around them are gang affiliated and/or in jail. This takes a toll on a child when he sees that everyone around him/her are in jail and start thinking less of themselves. With parents, education first begins with them. If a parent does not push their child to succeed and to do better, then there is no expectation put on them. A parent's guidance to do well means all the difference because in the end, parents are who the kids trust the most. It does not even need to be a long conversation. Children just need to know that what they are doing matter and that their effort has payoff and can make their parents proud. A quick chat in the morning or at night is all it takes. Finally, teachers. Students can only get as much as the teacher put in. Students learn different from one another and to say "I get paid whether or not you learn" is like saying I don't care. A teacher's job should include patience and determination, not to get the paycheck, but to teach.

What we can do to improve this situation? Grass root organizations and talking to big unions or interest groups. The first step is electing the right officials that will get the job done and are not afraid of blow back. Change is possible if your opinion is heard.

I constantly find myself saying "I have too much too lose." What am I talking about? Everything that doesn't require a risk isn't worth the effort. To to say that I have too much to risk is the equivalent as Martin Luther King Jr. or Gandhi saying they have too much to risk to take a stand and and ask for change. All change starts with a risk and as the article "12 Lies to Stop Telling Yourself" says, you will be more happy about your successes then what you lost in the end. However I feel hypocritical while expressing this opinion. Though I know better, I still tend to act quite the opposite. However, I am working to change this by taking up more risks and doing more in order to push myself and do things that I would normally not do. What is life if you don't live it? This information can be used to help people because it will encourage them to do more. Specifically, this can beneficial specifically to students. These doubts on ability and doubts on efficiency hinders education and causes a student to doubt their ability to perform. A student can perform well against all odds if they put forth a large amount of effort and is willing to work to obtain what they want.