Blog #2: Phanuel Plancher - Post #2

 The Importance of Being Informed

In our Public Speaking course SPC2608 at Miami Dade College our class just finished a group presentation project about elections and other issues that affect our country. Each group was given a topic, such as immigration policies, the economy, education policies and the electorate and election process. Even though each group talked about a topic all the presentations linked to problems that shape our everyday lives and our future as citizens. During these presentations I learned facts understood these topics better. Heard different viewpoints from my classmates.

The first group presented on immigration policies. Through this presentation I learned more about the laws and rules that decide who can enter and stay in the United States. I also learned that immigration policies serve purposes, such as controlling immigration reuniting families and meeting the country’s workforce needs. One thing I found interesting was how much immigration can affect parts of society like the economy, housing and public services. Before this presentation I knew the idea of immigration policies. I did not realize how many different factors are involved in making and enforcing them.

The second group focused on the economy. Their presentation explained how the American economy has changed over time moving from a focus on agriculture to a focus on industry, technology, services and global trade. I also learned how different factors, such as government policies, financial crises and consumer habits influence the economy. One point that caught my attention was that a growing economy does not always mean that people can afford their expenses. For example when there are jobs the cost of housing, transportation and other necessities can still make it hard for people to manage their money. I found this interesting because it showed me that economic growth does not always mean that everyone benefits the way.

The third presentation, which focused on education policies was the one that stood out to me the most. Because education directly affects students I found this topic especially interesting. I learned how the education system in the United States has changed over time and how access to education used to depend on a person’s location, money and background. Today education has changed a lot through technology, better teaching methods and updated academic standards. One point that really caught my attention was the discussion about how technology and social media can affect students’ attention spans and academic performance. I also found the discussion about testing especially the idea that test scores do not always show a student’s full academic ability. I personally agree that a student’s overall performance, effort and progress throughout their journey should also be considered of judging abilities based on one test. This presentation gave me a view on some of the challenges students face in the education system today.

The final group presented on the electorate and the election process. This presentation helped me understand how presidential elections work, the role of the Electoral College. I learned that there are 538 votes in total and that a candidate needs least 270 votes to win the presidency. Although I already knew the importance of voting I did not know much about how the Electoral College actually decides the outcome of an election. The group also talked about events that challenged the election process, such as the January 6 2021 Capitol attack. I thought this was an example because it showed how serious the election process is and why a peaceful transfer of power matters. Overall this presentation helped me see why citizens should take the time to learn about elections and the voting process.

In conclusion I believe this project was a chance to learn more about issues that affect our country. Each presentation offered information. Let me see these topics from viewpoints I had not considered before. Among all the presentations education policies stood out to me the most because the topic is so close to my experiences as a student. Still I also found the topics because they helped me see how different parts of society are connected. One thing I took away from this project is that being a citizen is very important especially when making decisions that can affect our communities and our future. At the end of the day our voices matter. Understanding the issues, around us lets us make choices.