Reform for Education

  School, nowadays, is not the same as it was back then. In the past, school systems were much easier on the student; they allowed students to have a life and a good time outside of the seven hours a day, five days a week of education they received. In today’s world, it is very difficult for some students to find time for themselves, like reading a book for pleasure or going out to the movies. Some, in fact, find themselves going to school twice a day: in the morning for lessons and in the afternoon for homework and studying. It is like a CEO’s job. The CEO, or student in this case, never stops working!
  This has become an outrageous situation because it is hurting students more than the government or school authorities know, for it is they who are imposing these conditions on the students. The school is simply tiring out the students physically and mentally; it is taking away their lives as well. As difficult as it is to comprehend, it is the truth. Students do not have time for themselves anymore.
  A student enters the building, but there is something wrong. He almost trips on the stairs as his heavy backpack is making it hard for him to balance in those early morning hours. His eye shadows seem to be bigger than his eyes themselves. He does not walk normally, but drags his feet as he makes his daily routes across the building. The stairs are a killer, for there is five floors. In class, he slouches as his eyes close by themselves. This is reality. It is physically what most students look like, at least those who try to earn good grades. The physical exhaustion they endure is taking a toll on their behaviors and appearance.
  Teenagers are in a dangerous situation with their physical health at risk. The large amount of studies after school cut down on the amount of sleep a student will receive. The student mentioned before is getting less hours of sleep than the doctor's recommendation, an occurrence well known throughout high schools across the country. Therefore, the shadows underneath his eyes, get darker and bigger as the days go by. Weekends seem to be a salvation, but soon they become a very short break in the extensive learning period of an entire week. This phenomenon results in mental weakening meaning a decrease in academic performance. The exemplified student cannot gather focus and attention for all his classes.
  This, however, is not the only problem. The nation's school system is putting students in a difficult position. Although colleges and universities require good grades for scholarships, they also want to see résumés filled with clubs, sports, and other extra-curricular activities. These two requirements oppose each other. How can the poor student have time to accomplish all these things after school if he needs to do all his work and study at the same time?! As mentioned in the beginning, the student’s life outside of school is taken away.
  This leads to a severe problem our nation is facing. The condition of students is worsening, as new course methods and material increase in difficulty. For example, AP tests our now harder than in the years past; this is proven by statistical records of less students receiving fours and fives. The important question to ask is does this type of rigorous educational routine have an impact for the future of these students? It does not. In fact, it does not make sense. A student could have nothing in his future career to do with chemistry, and yet in high school, he needs to try laboriously to get a good grade so he can get a scholarship to the college that is training for his type of job. Essentially, it is work that could be avoided if the educational system was reformed.