I would think eating insects would be worse for the environment because of how they benefit the environment. Also, how many people would be willing to eat insects to help the environment?

Insects are a good source of protein but how would it be accepted to eat insects as a regular meal? Would it be okay in our society to buy bags of roaches to cook for dinner? What would others think?

It is interesting how in western culture, this is seen as disgusting but a large amount of the population do do this. Westerners should be more open to eating new things that are actually better for you

Although there are many benefits to eating insects, I think most people including myself would never be able to eat bugs. It probably isn't that bad since 2 billion people around the world do it, but since we are not used to eating bugs from an early age, our fear will probably only increase as the years go by. If we were introduced to this earlier, eating bugs would be normal.

Insects are a better source of food than cows are because they don't produce CO2 like Cows do that can destroy the environment. In addition they have more protein than beef.

I did not know all the benefits that came along with increasing our insect intake like decreasing food prices and eliminating a decent percentage of greenhouse gas emissions.

Based on the infographic, it shows how much healthier insects are than regular meat or animals that we would normally eat. Insects have more protein and less carbon dioxide is produced.

Honesty i find this really intresting because it shows how we can help save money while getting the same or better nutrition.

Insect consumption will reduce the amount of animal farming across the world. This would be bad for farmers; they would earn less money. Besides, how many people in this country, let alone the world, would voluntarily step up to eating insects for nutrition and less animal farming?

I think that this would be hard to convert many countries to this because of the stigma against bugs. I don't think the issue would be the way the bugs taste but how they are viewed by society.

I found these facts really intresting. It is crazy that 1900 species of food are edible. while 31% are beetles that is crazy.

Although it says here that incorporating insects in you diet is healthier and better for everyone, I still think it is gross. Personally I think insects are disgusting, but if other people think otherwise, I am fine with that.

Bugs are not only more nutritious than regular meat, but are more cost and energy efficient. They produce less wastes and are better overall, why don't we eat them already?

I honestly did not know that a diet including a variety of bugs would benefit the environment. I feel as if more of society were to know this, they would be more open-minded to "widening" their cuisine.

I don't like flies, but grasshoppers are yummy.

This will help people in the future because if we run out of food sources it might hep us humans as a source of proteins

I think bugs are a good solution for a supply of nutrition. Bugs are not high in demand right now while traditional meats are. We are running out of resources and space for our growing population

Though this is extremely efficient, its just grooooss. I think that it does have something to do with psychology but, I just can't bring myself to eat anything that squirms.

Personally I have eaten bugs before in my life and I don't find a problem in eating them. I am not squeamish around bugs so i am comfortable eating them. I have tried cricket and ants before, and they tasted great.

This is also significant because I would never eat a bug but 80 percent of the population already eats it. Also, insects are related to shrimp, which I have eaten before.

This quote is significant because the article says that meat will run out because we are consuming it all. And a solution is to eat bugs.

This video was quite interesting, nonetheless. I feel as if this video will turn some people away from the bug eating community.

The California drought actually has 2 parts of the conflict to it. 1 part is the addressing the actually drought itself. However, the 2nd part is always emphasized more than the essential conflict, the drought, which is how to deal with the current situation, dividing up the water so it could please everyone, rather than how to fix the current essential conflict.

Money should not even come up when talking about the most sacred resource in Earth. People should not legal access to bodies of water; these bodies of water were meant to be shared by everyone.

I think that California's water restrictions will help limit the water supply people get, but won't exactly fix the problem. The problem is that California doesn't have enough water. While putting limits on the water supply will help, it won't get to the root of the problem.

This is really sad. Because of the drought, people can't drink from public water fountains. It's causing a lot of water shortage, and the extra water being used in things like the water fountains is being taken away. This is proof on how California needs water badly.

This photo shows what danger California is and since this is already the fourth year than they are in for a lot more trouble. The little amounts of rainfall and the snow they are receiving show that they are in trouble and should try to conserve water. Most likely many of the Californians are recognizing this problem and are trying to conserve water, however they should put more effort into it because they are still having problems with their drought.

This is just unbelievable. I can’t imagine what those people are going through right now. This drought has caused so many more problems than needed. Since I have never experienced a drought I really can’t relate to these people, but I do feel sympathy for them.

Wow! This drought seems to be pretty extreme! I never really knew that it effected California so much! They have to really conserve the water! You can even see the impact of this drought today even if you don't live in California. The fruits and vegetables that New York gets have a higher price now since we rely on California for fresh produce. I hope this will end.

This comes to show how extreme this drought really is. There are dry patches of ground in a skiing place, and this drought has been going on for a while now! Can we help? Will this end?

Even as humans and animals are being harmed from the drought, it is doing a significant amount of damage to the economy as well. Docks are collapsing because the water isn't there to support it anymore. Like the previous picture, swimming pools have to be drained for the water, showing just how bad the drought is getting.

California's current water drought is a huge problem to many and not just its residents, since a lot of our produce come from California. This can affect our daily lives by increasing prices for purchasing food, while it also limits their citizens to be as conservative about their water as possible.

California's current water drought is a drastic natural disaster. It's water sources are reducing rapidly due to massive demand, as it's water percentage compared to last year is just 20 percent. Californian citizens have to expand their reservoir system and be more aware about the problem to make a better effort to restrict water use in their everyday lives.

Seeing that they have only reduced water usage by 5% instead of 20% as planned shows that people aren't doing much to try and conserve water. It would be better if people learned to use less water when brushing their teeth, showering, etc. instead of just saying they will reduce the usage.

Droughts in California not only affect that state itself, but also us and other states. It was said that some farmers weren't being supplied with water at all. These farmers make money by selling produce and having less of it could destroy their business. Not only that, there would be less fresh fruits and vegetables for us to buy.

This drought is the wort one ever seen in California, causing many residents to struggle with it. They need to fix this problem, for as you could see the once very large water reserve had already diminished in size by at least half. This loss of water will affect the whole nation, making this a problem we all need to try and help solve. Even by doing little deeds, because every deed counts.

Perhaps many people living outside California overlook this issue because they may think that this particular drought won't affect them because they don't live in California, but the reality of the situation is that it will. A good majority of Americans depend on the Californian agricultural industry for high quality food, however without water, that industry can not produce too many products to sell. This means that produce prices will drastically increase, and the quality of your food may or may not decrease as well.

All across California, there is extreme drought, while most other parts of the United States are drought free. Not only is it bad as is because it is affecting the world economy, it also is detrimental to the future of agriculture and perhaps even living in California! If you can't control the usage of water, yet you are still using it on the other end, something should be done immediately. As stated in the video, the Californian agricultural business is very vital as people around the nation depend on Californian produce. However, if these vegetables and fruits cannot be grown to the demand because of a shortage of water, this raises a major concern. Somehow, the other forty-nine states can and should help out the water crisis in some way. Perhaps there can be a large scale way to transfer salty sea water into fresh water?

The situation isn't helpful (at all) and pretty much is just going to get worse until the drought is over.

I think that Californians should do more than a 5% reduction of the usage of water, however reducing water usage by 20% is far too much. They should be aware of their problem and try to conserve water or do their best not to use up all of it. If they do not do this the problem would continue to grow.

In the beginning of the video, when it shows the San Louis Reservoir, it is 1/2 full of what it normally should look like. After looking at the water lines from before and during the drought, it helps me see how desperately we need this drought to end if we a) want to get the food that is grown there and b) if we want California and its waters to come back to their full potential.

Changing people's behaviors and attitudes is more effective. Government action will only make little changes that probably won't last long, while changing attitudes will ensure more long term changes in people's habits towards the environment.

While this is a decent amount of increase, it is still way too low. This school, along with many others, need a lot of help with their graduation rates.

City halls are one of our most prized locations, that we treat almost like a palace. They have these magnificent fountains turned on in front of it, sculptures that shoot out the water, and on a lucky day, occasionally a rainbow might show. Not so much here. Fountains are shut down, even in government buildings just to conserve water. This just goes to show how bad the drought is. After all, California has the most amount of people, and therefore the most amount of people governing it. They have to look up to the part, but the drought is affecting them so much that they are sacrificing their appearance just for the cause of saving on the drought.

I'm not the expert of water level, but it seems as though the water height was at first all the way up to nearly the height of the mountain (I'm assuming this due to how it looks like there is sea life on the mountain). If that's the case, then my reaction would be to ask: is this real life? The entire situation here seems to be something that'll only happen in a book, but never in real life. I'm amazed that we are even getting food at all, because, assuming that my previous hypothesis was right, they practically lost (I'm estimating) water for about a mile deep! I've read stories about droughts, but they talked about the water going down a couple of feet, but in this case, it's already seemingly a mile! How will this end up becoming?

If this drought can have enough impact to the citizens and the economy of California, in a year, how will the conditions of California look like? California is a very popular state especially known for the produce they harvest throughout the year. Many people in America are relying on California for their fruit and vegetables supply showing that if this drought gets worse, it can effect a whole lot more people. California should have watched out for this drought and tried to find solutions to it in its early stages, now that it got worse, it will be harder to find this solution, and from here everything can go downhill.

Fourth year? How and what skills did California come up with to 'harvest' enough water to keep everyone alright? The ongoing drought is even more significant due to the large population of California, and imagining how much water is used frequently everyday. I can't imagine trying to organize the state and instructing everyone to follow the new frequencies in which they use water under the circumstances.

The water level has significantly dropped, as seen in the picture. Has this been a detrimental affect on California's population? If this drought continues, how will California manage to "stay alive" in both economy and in population? After viewing these pictures, it is clear that the drought is paying a large toll on the state and its citizens and wildlife.

I wouldn't have imagined the drought to be this extreme that even public pools are being shut down. I've never experienced a drought, and it's hard to believe it can be this bad. I can't imagine how many businesses are being shut down due to the drought. Especially businesses such as public swimming facilities, such as this one. This drought seems horrific or those living in California.

I don't think a lot of people have realized how important it is that not only are our plant supplies running out but soon we won't have a lot of fish because they would have all died because of the drought. We will soon run out of food. It's not just the water that will run out.

This drought is extreme, look at how much water is left! The water mark is huge. How could it lead to this. It's horrible. I hope it gets better, for California.

Is governor Jerry Brown really doing the right thing? From reading several articles it seems like the farmers are really on the downside of this water usage cut. Last year, they only received 5% of the water they would normally receive. Maybe this cut will benefit everyone, but at the same time, it doesn't! It kind of makes no sense...you're cutting your water usage...to get more water. I don't get it. However, I do feel that people should not abuse their water rights. But is this really the right way to do it?

I wonder how much impact the drought has on the economy to the people in the agricultural industry. Because their occupations rely on water, there must be a huge compromise they must make in order to save the water, yet continue their lifestyle/jobs. All citizens have to cooperate in order to defeat the drought, and the fact that California does produce many agricultural foods (fruits and vegetables) for many other places means that other places will be affected as well.

If this drought doesn't end pretty soon, people are going to most likely leave California, and possibly head towards states with an incredible water supply. California would practically be abandoned due to the lack and restriction.

This image really shows that the drought won't only be effecting farmers and people who live there, but also possibly importing goods. The drought is not only destructive to farmers but also to everyone else, and even people throughout USA since it is imported. This is even horrible for the economy, because many fruits and vegetables as well as other food and gods are coming from California, and if they can't supply that, then prices will go up, there will be less fruit and vegetables, not as many people will buy then since there is less expensive food, and the production will go down. It is effecting everyone, but the worst of it is in California. The economy will go down when it comes to buying fruits and vegetables and importing them to other places, which, in turn, would lose California a lot of money and prices will go up even higher, and California may not be able to recover for a while. It is not a good thing for anyone no matter where they are.

They just started the water reduction on the state's local water supply! This drought has been around for 4 years and they just started trying to do something about it? What if their plan for water reduction doesn't work? We just have to hope for the best in California, or else we are all in trouble.

Juvenile salmon are suffering because of this drought! This is a monstrosity! The aquatic ecosystem surrounding California might as well die if this drought keeps up for another year perhaps or maybe less.

Even if you states out there hate Californian's, do it for the animals. They are important and if they die out we might as well run out of food to eat. The aquatic ecosystem is important to everyone! Chip in and do something about it. States that are easily flooded, give some of your water to California. You don't need that much to keep you alive, California is suffering!

This is more intense than I thought it would be. I mean, dry patches of ground where there should be snow? I would have never thought that it was this impactful. I wouldn't be surprised if they agreed to collect the snow and filter the water.

This makes me wonder what would happen if other parts of the world would also receive droughts. It is clearly a big issue and can even effect regular people who are skiing, or trying to fill up a public swimming pool, or even an every day dock. Even though the State of California's water conservation is trying to limit the amount of water use regularly, such as in a water fountain, the water stored won't last long. Larger cautions should be taken so California will not have any future droughts, affecting them in this way or any other states as well.

When did the drought begin, and what was the cause of it? Perhaps if we find the source of the drought, we will have a better way of how to deal with in a more manageable way than restricting water from farms (as most of our fruit and vegetables comes from there). Furthermore, will water be only restricted from the farmers, or the people as well?

Also, has the ecosystem been affected by it? Have people noticed a dip in wildlife? We must not only think of ourselves, but the animals who feed us as well (and their lives)...how much has the drought disrupted their food chain? Also, is the drought getting worse?

How did the drought form? It seems as if the Drought just happened and all the water is diminishing. The Docks in this picture make it seem as if the water has decreased significantly.

This nearly dry Almaden Reservoir doesn't look like it had been full of water. Looking at this picture really shows you the full, drastic effects of this drought. It seems endlessly brutal. Will it ever end?

Water seems like such a precious resource in these photos. Hard to believe for someone who hasn't experienced a drought before. I can't believe even public swimming pools are being forced to be emptied simply because of how valuable water has grown in California. This drought must be devastating. I can't imagine how many businesses such as pools are being forced to shut down simply because of this drought. I wonder, what's the cost of just one water bottle?

How has the population of California been affected? Have more people chose to move somewhere else? Furthermore, has the drought spread to other places other than California? If not, does it have a high chance of spreading?

I believe that other states should try to chip i to help California out of this drought (as we are the UNITED States of America, right?). Perhaps every month a different state can donate a portion of their water to California.

The drought is causing a lot of water shortage. Even this fountain outside City Hall wont burst open with water. Can't people drink the water that comes outside this fountain. And where does the water go after the fountain is turned on? Can't it just be recycled and used again for the fountain. This a memorial for Frank Putnam Flint, what kind of joke is this!

I feel that this makes the state almost a survival of the fittest, and that the people who can't get water themselves won't survive. It makes people have to survive by themselves, especially since there is not much water. Where will the water supply go? What about people who can't find water or are not rich enough to find or afford water in the drought? The farmers won't be able to create fruits and vegetables and prices would go up, so it's generally bad in the economy too. Even for people who don't live in California or have relatives there, the drought would still effect them.

This picture depicting a dry and cracked riverbed shows the effect of the drought on water sources and the severity of it. How did the drought begin?

Is there any way for the drought to get better? These pictures seem as if California is at it's worst state. If the state really has to impose a 25 percent reduction on most of the state's local water supply, then does that mean that it's getting worse? If so, will really cutting down on water usage help?

The water level has sunken that low in some areas that actual docks are collapsing? That's pretty extreme. I would have never guessed that the drought was so severe that even docks were collapsing simply from the receding water level.

People have different points of view but it comes to one particular conclusion that everyone will struggle and farmers will lose a lot of money. How will it be solved though?

I think that the restrictions will help with giving people the water they need. It tells the people that there is an issue and that they need to conserve water. If people turn of the faucet while they are brushing their teeth or take shorter showers, it will save lots of water. By imposing restrictions, it will force Californians to use the water they have wisely.

I think that it is very important that CBS is sending people out to learn about the problem at the source and then explain the issue to everyone. By learning about the problem where it is the worst, the reporter can come and explain the problem to the public.

California is facing a huge drought, and they need to save every drop of water they can to make sure farmers and ordinary people don't run out. People have stopped watering their lawns and are trying to not use water for anything that isn't absolutely necessary.

I believe the Californian government is taking proper measures to preserve the fluid of life. 80 percent of fruits and vegetables come from California. This vegetation needs water to live, like all other living things. With the water drawback, the vegetation will have enough water to survive the drought, while they wait it out and finally have enough water. This will only affect minor things, such as shorter showers, browner grass, and other things that will not majorly affect the Californians lifestyle.

California is in a serious drought that is affecting people throughout the United States. Many reservoirs contain less water than in previous years. This means that the people of California cannot continue their daily activities or else they will use up all their water. This may not sound like an issue for anyone else, but many vegetables come from there.If they lose all their water, a lot of vegetables will be expensive.

It it interesting how the water usage is apart of our everyday lives without us realizing it. However, why if the governor called for a 25% is there only a 5% reduction?

California is a major producer of fruits and vegetables here in the US. It is important to remember that 80% of our fruit/vegetables come from California. Other produce such as almonds and tomatoes are 90-99% Californian. The Californian drought is very significant, even if we live far away, somewhere like NYC.

I believe that it is wrong to say that they are going to reduce usage by 20% and then reduce it by 5%. California needs this water desperately and need to draw back as much as they can without killing vegetation.

California's drought has caused the state to make restrictions upon water use ,especially towards farmers. One farmer in the video said that in one area of his farm his trees have not been watered for a long time causing them to die

People in California will not be able to continue to do the everyday things they used to do. For example, Californians wouldn't be able to use the bathroom as much as they could. They wouldn't be able to brush their teeth due to the water shortage. The Californians, mostly the farmers, need to save as much water as they could in order to continue their life of farming. Farmers need as much water as they need, so people should give water to the farmers. The people in California also rely on farmers for food, so they should save water and give it to the farmers.

This video explains the effects and the reasons for what has happened to California during this drought. Every part of California has a hard time accessing water. As one man said during the video" How are we going to flush the toilet,take a shower,brush our teeth." This shows the effects this drought has upon the people

This is harsh towards the farmers. The farmers are the people in California who need the water the most, and they are doing everything they can to be able to water the crops, but they aren't being provided water at all while others have have only reduced their water usage by 5%. Californians should use as little water as they possibly can so that the farmers can make use of it.

Because most fruits and vegetables are from California, and the drought is going to make prices higher, it's going to be tough for people not only in California, but people throughout the nation. Americans rely on California for majority of their food. However, if the prices sky rocket, then people might not be able to afford it. Those who can't afford it would have to starve. Many people would refuse to buy these expensive fruits and vegetables, so farmers in California that are farming wouldn't be able to have enough money to keep on farming. The drought in California is going to affect not only farmers in California, but consumers all around the nation.

Many Californian citizens are having trouble trying to understand the significance of their drought. There should be severe and strict water restrictions. What these Californian residents choose to do with their water effects them, their environment, and the nation.

What history? I know that the article further explained it but I still don't understand what they mean by "history"

This shows that the health and safety of people should always be the most important. Then the rest of the water can be used to irrigate any crops and such, but focusing on the more important ones first.

The California drought is limiting the water availible to farmers and many farmers will stop growing certain crops this year. This particular farmer is recieving less than half of the water he will normally get for tending his crops. He is considered a lucky farmer, displaying how bad the situation really is. Many farmers will have no water and won't be able to grow their crops. The drought in California will cause people everywhere to lack the fruits and vegetables they need and possibly increase their health problems.

This is a very serious concern that government officials in California should be trying to find a solution to. Without making any changes, they are telling the public that they don't care if California is not able to supply fruits and vegetables to other cities. This is a serious concern that everyone in California should be raising awareness about. Although the officials aren't making changes, the general public should be trying to save water because it will allow more crops and jobs to be available to everyone.

The drought in California has a big impact on the agriculture of the place and it is where most fruits and vegetables come from. It will have a great effect on the amount of fruits and vegtables are avalible and therefore the price of fruits and vegetables will increases everywhere. The drought ion California will have an effect on everyone. If prices of these healthy fruits and vegetables goes up, people will not buy them as often, causing health to also become an issue involved in this. This drought is a very big deal and needs to be taken seriously.

This is a very significant quote because this drought will cause many people to be unemployed. Jobs on the farms are a very big part of California's economy. With the drought, many people will be unemployed and will struggle to live with the high prices in California. Farmers should quickly come up with a solution because it will be very difficult for a family to prosper in California without a job.

What is so good about California that most of the food we eat come from that state? Other states that aren't in a drought should help and raise their own crops or allow other states to raise crops instead of California doing everything. California should also try to cut down on the crops they produce for others. Others should be knowing about the extreme drought and helping them; not just sitting back and taking California's crops for money. Soon, i don't think money will even be a problem because droughts are controlled by nature not by money. This is unfair!

"West Side", I hear in a lot of songs these days. Yes places like Los Angeles and Anaheim are great places in the country, but many don't know the great bad things to come. Farmers need water, but so do the normal residents. Scary things can happen as time progresses. More and more droughts can cause less and less water. It's going to be the 1930 Dust Bowl again. Water is the man's most important resource, and if this is going to go on, California isn't going to be the Hollywood, we think of.

It's scary to hear what is going to happen in the future. Is it going to get better or worse? If the drought gets worse as the years go by, what will California become? We will be unable to eat most of the fruits and vegetables we eat today...If Governor Jerry Brown mandated a 25% reduction in urban water use, wouldn't other families and friends other than farmers be in danger? Their lives wouldn't be the same as before. However, I disagree with the fact that people outside of California are lacking attention to their problems of drought. The attention THEY THINK they aren't receiving is actually THERE...

To avoid these mass shootings, it is best to completely take guns out of the situation, not add more!

Most school teachers don't have experience shooting guns and will probably miss their target when they shoot. This will just make things worse. It is best to leave the guns to the police.

Schools don't need their staff to carry weapons to school. It would really frighten the children. Also, many teachers can be untrustworthy as they can take advantage of the weapon, and maybe threaten the kids. Why would you need guns anyways? There were only shootings in schools because of the fact that the security isn't elite. Just get more security guards at the school, and nothing bad won't happen. Purhcase metal detectors if you have to!

Teachers shouldn't carry weapons because there are already emergency procedures in place. For example, when there is fire in the school, teachers will hastily get their students out of the building. Additionally, emergency procedures are practiced. For instance, there will be a fire drill once in a while, where teachers and students treat it as a real fire in the school.

Teachers shouldn't carry weapons because it makes the learning environment for students intimidating. Instead of focusing on their school work, they will worry about the possibility of an emergency-which defeats the purpose of a school.

No, teachers should not carry weapons. We already have security guards for things like that. Lets say there is an emergency. chances are that the teacher will be hesitant to shoot!

I believe that receiving a high school diploma is extremely important in order to be as successful as possible in the future. Without a high school diploma, people aren't able to go to college. College is what possible employers focus on, and therefore the best job able to get without a high school diploma is extremely low paying while the opposite applies to someone who graduates from high school and college.

the fact that only 4 OUT OF 5 KIDS ARE GRADUATING IS KIND OF CRAZY!!! KIDS AREN'T REALIZING THAT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS SUUUUUUPER IMPORTANT! IF YOU DON'T GRADUATE YOUR'E GONNA GET A BAD JOB!!!!

All the hard work for these students payed off. The only way these students could have gotten into such elite colleges is by doing great in high school and by getting amazing SAT or ACT scores which was the cause of getting into such a college. Even though it might be tough for them, they will get used to it because they were able to get over the difficulties faced in high school to reach to this point

According to student Stanley Stewart he says,"For me, a first generation college student is…Sort of like a blessing and a curse." I would like to agree with her even though I am far off from college, but there were similar instances where I was put in an advanced program and just like him I was blessed with such an opportunity, but it had a lot of work to it. Thats why I want him to know that he is not alone in this because even till today I remember all the stress that I had just because of it..but I guess it was for the best.

The fact that a kid with so many obstacles in his way can reach success is really inspirational. Many kids in this world are facing challenges such as finding enough shelter and nourishment. However, by knowing that it is possible to become a triumphant by demolishing the obstacles in one's way, it gives hope to the kids that are putting hard work into reaching success.

The fact that states have the ability to help more people graduate high school and give them a chance to be successful is great. I mean it really means a lot to make a difference in someone's life especially if they're a person who really needs help and guidance to do the right thing for themselves.

does that mean that now even less than 4/5 people are graduating? that could be an issue.

These roadblocks are usually imposed by home problems, that pertain with parents. There should be no way that parents hurt their kids at a good future, and the 2 parties should be separated.

It's important. Without one you can't get a good job.

That number of graduating high school is pretty awesome, but don't you think that is a bit low? Also it only increased 1 PERCENT??!! I guess it is still an a achievement.

I think that a high school diploma is extremely valuable, because without a diploma, you won't be able to get into college, which is a major part of someone's life. This is because, college decides how successful someone will be in the future and also determines, what type of job they can attain.

I think that Rashema Melson is a very smart and intelligent girl who has worked hard and earned to go to Georgetown. She doesn't let her homelessness get in the way of her path to success and she even became valedictorian of her high school.

This is a very significant because throughout the article, the idea that high school diplomas are immensely important for one's success is stressed greatly. This sentence serves to show that although many would want to recieve their diploma, they may see no possible use to this diploma if they already experience financial problems. Even with a diploma, the article seems to imply that there is a small use in a high school diploma if one does not also go to college. I also agree with this, although high school diplomas are the first step towards attending college.

Thats pretty disgusting because if you consider it, 1 out of every 5 people will not graduate high school. People these days do not understand how important a high school diploma is in this day and age.

I think that the value of a high school diploma is extremely important in a young adult's life because without it, you can't go to college. College is important because employers judge you based on the ranking of the college you went to and you can get a better job that gives more pay with a higher value of a diploma.

A high school diploma means a lot. It symbolizes a destination of success. It is the reward of the perseverance and hard work you put into education and how much you care for your future. A high school diploma represents a point in your journey that shines the most. It makes you very content.

The value of a high school diploma is increasing at a faster rate than ever. When students are left degree-less and have no options to get to college without a GED, many are hurt and can seriously effect your paycheck in the future.

I think that the value of a High School Diploma is very important in the sense that it is how you can get into a college. However, only having a High School Diploma is not as important as before considering that jobs that require a high school diploma dont pay as much as one that requires some form of a degree

This article has a pretty straight forward answer, priceless. But then again today there are more jobs that don't require a High school Diploma, does that mean students will drop out of high school more?

I think that the value of a High School Diploma isn't as much as it was before. Nowadays, a High School Diploma doesn't offer much more jobs than having no diploma.

This thing is extremely necessary because if students don't care abut their education they're not going to work hard in order to achieve a high-school diploma. Hard work is the key to success, and is the key to graduating high school and going on the right track to the future.

I would totally agree with all of these tips to make the students, teachers, and parents more involved in the process. If people are more involved, everyone could collaborate and solve the student's problem holistically. Sometimes, there's a problem on one end, but mostly it's on multiple fronts. Also the fact that the teachers could be more experienced and could incorporate more ways of learning by going to professional development would eventually trickle down to the student, and make a student more activated in learning. Finally, the idea of project based learning is another way to get students more excited about learning and makes them explore many fields that would enable them to explore different career options that they would've never known about. I would agree with all of these ideas, for they all make practical sense in the real world and would definitely make students more interested and involved in the process of learning.

I think that it is kind of evident that students from low-income families, or are minorities, are not graduating. It is most likely because of the trouble they are in, having to find money, or not being recognized because of them being minorities.

It is important to involve the families and communities of the students involved in the students' education. It is their surroundings, and their parents who can guide them when they are not in school, where teachers cannot look over them. They then can have guidance when they are outside of school as well.

The fact that the education department did not release a breakdown by race, gender and other factors is something that I disagree with. If we don't know what factors have caused graduation rates for specific groups of children to decrease then it won't help us progress in following years. After all education is important to all students because it is what causes them to succeed in life.

I feel so proud about our country at this moment since we are ranked like last in the entire world according to the subject of graduation. Since the graduation rate in 2013 increased we can have a greater possibility of being #1 in education. this shows us that our country is becoming better day by day in education. And we should all take pride in that and hope that in coming years we gain favorable gains like the one in 2013.

There should be something done about this, everyone deserves a good education and graduate with an high school diploma. But if the DOE didn't release graduation rates in different breakdowns how do they know this though? Never mind the DOE should work on helping the less fortunate students graduate too. They can hold more after school programs and weekend programs as well. I do hope that in the very far or near future everyone in the nation would graduate, is this impossible? I hope it isn't!

This amazing at this rate everyone may graduate in the future. It would also affect the nation's future greatly, the increase economic rate, decrease unemployment population and so forth. Lives would be greatly improved.

I think the fact that the percentage points of students graduating is great because it means students are being more successful. However, if I was in control of this data I would be trying to analyze and look for information that shows things that might help the graduation of high school students so it can be positively used for other people so that they can graduate as well.

I highly agree with this sentence. People should realize the importance of their Bachelor's Degree, if they don't, they won't work as hard as they should. However, when it mentions "...just as the lack of one doesn't say you're a failure!" I can't argue that you aren't a failure, but not getting a degree isn't simple as that. It kinda brings you down sometimes and can discourage you. Some need to realize that because they didn't get what they didn't work hard enough for, they need to work harder in the future. I believe that fact should have been mentioned in addition to this section.

Most teachers want the best for their students, and give false hope that they will do great in life, in order to encourage the student. I don't see how that helps anyone, all it will do is make the student disapointed when their life "fails." College is something that everyone wants to go to, all students want to be able to get that degree. As stated in the article, its mainly about the courage of the teachers. Some are just to kind and don't want to "hurt the child's feelings." But being harsh with the student and giving them critcism that will help them in life, is one of the best things a teacher can do. The only thing that will happen is that the student goes to college later in the future, or the student takes extra classes to better prepare themselves.

College isn't always the right way to go, but rather what fits in with student. Bachelor's degree simply states that you acquried a certain level of education. I believe that you don't always need to get a degree to succeed in life. There are plenty of people without a degree who have succeed, such as Steve Jobs. There are also plenty of people who have a degree and have succeeded, such as Barack Obama. It all depends on what fits in with someone's plans. Teachers shouldn't always encourage kids to go to college, not unless it is the thing they exactly need. I don't see why teachers pretend college is life itself, when it sometimes leaves you in a position you never planned to be in.

I think that it may be true that a four year degree is not always be the best choice, because of all the debts mentioned in the article. There are ways that you can agree with the author of the article, but when it comes to educational reputation, and trying to find a job, it might be best to have the four-year degree, even if there might be a possible high student loan debt.

While this article does show a different point of viw on going to college, I must disagree with the fact that 44% of graduates are unemployed. While this is true, it is important to consider other facts, one such being the fact that people may have attempted to get jobs that they had not majored in. This would seriously affect the number of people that went to college because you have a less likely chance of getting into college. Another important factor would have to be the fact that many people would not be ready for jobs as soon as they left college. Some people may not go for jobs right away or might more likely not be mentally ready for them. This would seriously affect the number of people with jobs as well. These are just a few factors to think about.

"A few years ago, I worked closely with a student who very much wanted to be a reporter. She was passionate about it, and spoke about her dreams with wide eyes and a contagious smile. The issue? This student’s writing was subpar at best, and her talents, while immense, were not shown through her academic ability. She simply did not have the grades to make it through four more years of college.

Guilty of it myself, I watched as all of her teachers smiled at her and encouraged her to follow her dreams, no one having the courage to push in her a direction that was more logical for her to take. We smiled and watched as she dropped out of college and moved back home with no back-up plan in place. I had to learn the hard way that sometimes it’s our jobs as teachers to tell students no, otherwise life will do it for them — and life is rarely ready to catch them when they fall."

  The teachers should have informed her of how she was doing and that she needs to work harder. Just because she wasn't doing well does not mean that she could never become a reporter. She needed a push and that is exactly what her teachers did not give her. 

that mean college isn't worth it. if only about 50% get jobs then college is just something to bankrupt you. it doesn't help you with your life at all. getting a degree today means that it is just another degree to put on your bedroom wall. the degree isn't everything. it is your skill that matters. college grads have no insight for the future and think the degree would do everything. the conclusion of this is that it is natural why all these people would be unemployed up to today since of their debts to various colleges.

Nowadays, a Bachelor's Degree is the same as a High School Degree was in the past. Most employers look for a College Degree. Be realistic, most jobs that don't require a college degree are those that don't pay much and are unstable. Although a College Degree may not be for everyone, it is for most people. It teaches students to work hard and gives chances at a better life. By telling a student not to go to college is the same as telling them that they are not smart enough, they do not work hard enough, and that they wouldn't get a good job anyways, so just give up. Instead, it is a teacher's job to encourage their students to work as hard as they can to achieve their dreams. Not tell them that they cannot do something and not to just smile at a failing student.

I think this is important for teachers, as well as students to understand. It seems only right that students don't need college to succeed in life, since society says that people need college to be a worthy student. I find it unnecessary in some cases for people to go to college if it doesn't affect their future career. Some people find successful jobs and have a good future, despite their lack of a college education.

These lines really drew my attention. It's true, and completely relatable. As summer nears, most students and teachers would probably start feeling less stressed. However, high school seniors are facing one of the biggest and toughest decisions of their lives. Education is really a hard choice, and a "simple" decision of college can easily change a person's life.

I don't think students should skip college even if they have to pay a fee for their loans for their tuition at the college. Getting a good job requires a college degree, students that go to colleges are usually the most successful in life, you don't have to go to universities in order to be able to get a good job, just go to a regular college and do the best you can in life after that. The better the college is the more likely of a chance you have of getting a good job.

When I first read the title of this article, I was a bit skeptical. It seems unheard of that a teacher wouldn't be so open to encouraging their students to go to college. I found it interesting that Jillian Gordon had a different opinion than so many other teachers, and found it unnecessary for students to have to go college. Most students have been surrounded with teachers that strongly encourage them to go to college. This teacher had such a different point of view that it surprised me and would probably surprise others too.

This is a really important statement. Many people view a bachelor's degree as a sign that they're a success in life, and without it, it shows that they're a failure. However, it really isn't. If you think about it, a bachelor's degree is just a piece of paper, and one can succeed without that piece of paper.

I agree with 20unir it is a blessing and a curse because with the priveledge of being able to work with such smart people. There also comes the curse of having to work hard and be perfect because it is what people expect of you

According to student Stanley Stewart he says,"For me, a first generation college student is…Sort of like a blessing and a curse." I would like to agree with her even though I am far off from college, but there were similar instances where I was put in an advanced program and just like him I was blessed with such an opportunity, but it had a lot of work to it. Thats why I want him to know that he is not alone in this because even till today I remember all the stress that I had just because of it..but I guess it was for the best.