Sociology @ WIC

It turns out that there is much evidence that supports the positive effects of music on one's ability to do math. Most research shows that when children are trained in music at a young age, they tend to improve in their math skills. The surprising thing in this research is not that music as a whole is enhancing math skills. It is certain aspects of music that are affecting mathematics ability in a big way. Studies done mostly in children of young age show that their academic performance increases after a certain period of music education and training.

The effect of music on math sometimes termed the Mozart effect. The Mozart effect gain its name after the discovery that listening to Mozart's compositions, which is very sequential, produces a short-termed enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning. Some key reasoning features used in spatial temporal reasoning are 1. The transformation and relating of mental images in space and time 2. Symmetries of the inherent cortical firing patterns used to compare physical and mental images and 3. Natural temporal sequences of those inherent cortical patterns

In conclusion, my research into math and music does seem to suggest that music enhances mathematics skills. Music targets one specific area of the brain to stimulate the use of spatial-temporal reasoning, which is useful in mathematical thinking. However, as to the question of whether or not music is the magical portion that will elevate anyone's ability to do math, the answer unfortunately . . .would be no. Just because most mathematicians are fond of music, dosen't mean that all musicians are fond of mathematics.

African American and Hispanic cell phone users are more intense and frequent users of all of the phone's capabilities than whites. Minorities send more text messages and make more calls on average than their white counterparts.

The reaction to this, where there was a reaction at all, was to tut over the insularity of our teenagers

The finding seemed to be reinforced by another survey, which showed that a third of British respondents believed that Mount Everest was in Europe. This is not the kind of thing we're meant to be bad at.

The benefits of being socially aware are endless. Everything from becoming an informed voter to donating to a needy cause is influenced by one's consciousness of current affairs

Joseph Miceli, a high school religion teacher, says that discussing current events within the standard school curriculum is "a very practical and effective way of making learning more interesting and real." Although many teachers do an excellent job of making current events relevant in the classroom, Miceli questions whether or not it is consistently used within all subject areas.

Boys who received a game system at the beginning of the study showed an immediate increase in how much time they spent playing video games and a decrease in the after-school academic activities.  They also had significantly lower reading and writing scores than the group of boys that were promised a game system at the end of the study.  Parents reported no behavioral changes, but there was an immediate increase in teacher-reported learning problems for boys that received a game system at the beginning of the study (Science Daily).

One cannot deny the power of music. High school students who study music have higher grade point averages that those who don't. These students also develop faster physically. Student listening skills are also improved through music education. The top three schools in America all place a great emphasis on music and the arts. Hungary, Japan, and the Netherlands, the top three academic countries in the world, all place a great emphasis on music education and participation in music. The top engineers from Silicon Valley are all musicians. Napoleon understood the enormous power of music. He summed it up by saying, "Give me control over he who shapes the music of a nation, and I care not who makes the laws" .

While a number of studies have associated lower grades with students who listen to rap or heavy metal music, one study found that white students actually improved their academic abilities after watching rap videos, as well as expressing more progressive attitudes—after watching politically focused rap videos, they were more inclined to support a liberal black political candidate. Unfortunately, there was no indication of similar research being conducted with black students.

We can't let apathy and ignorance become the status quo

The report found that younger people "do not understand the ideals of citizenship, they are disengaged from the political process, they lack the knowledge necessary for effective self-government, and their appreciation and support of American democracy is limited."

The baby boomers, the World War II generation and our schools have failed to teach the ideals of citizenship to young people."

illions are living without even the basic necessities. We have to do something, right? Well, apparently not.

Not all teens mean to be ungracious - they are just unaware

According to Harris, children are most influenced by their peers.  They adopt many behaviors of their peers in social settings in order to be accepted by their peers.

She goes on to say that children's interaction with their peers permanently modifies their inborn psychological characteristics

They adopt many behaviors of their peers in social settings in order to be accepted by

Peer pressure affects adolescents, teens and some adults. Peer pressure can cause a lack of self-esteem when a person does something that conflicts with personal values. Repeatedly giving in to the group can damage a teen's sense of self and cause emotional damage. It also reduces a teen's belief in her ability to make good choices. Peer pressure can lead to early drug use, smoking, sexual behavior and alcohol abuse. Parents, not peers, have the strongest influence over most teens

Classical music has been widely touted as favorable to intelligence. According to Sylvan Learning centers, studies indicate that soft, classical musical aids in concentration, and, according to Scholastic, studies also indicate that classical music stimulates the section of the brain used in math.

Loud music with words can often be more distracting than beneficial if you are trying to study.

First of all, a child need not get pressurized by their peers. If they are cool, if they are confident and if they are sure of themselves, they will not break and crack under pressure. This comes only from healthy upbringing. A child starts to think that their friends are better if they were constantly compared to others by their own parents. Also, children with older siblings, who are bullies, can fall under peer pressure.

A child's low self confidence and low self esteem are the biggest reasons for coming under peer pressure. Another common reason is if the parent is extremely strict, then the child may find the constant urge to do something wrong. However, all roads lead to the parents' way of upbringing. The environment at home has a big impact on children. Though for a teenager their friends have a bigger impact on them than the parents, it is the parents who have set the foundation.

the fundamental task of adolescence is 'ego identity' or 'self-definition.'" (1969, p73) This does not suggest that a child entering adolescence has no concept of self, but it becomes the critical need of the teenager.

three stages of adolescent development: Early adolescence (ages 12 to 14), Mid-adolescence (ages 15 to 16), and Late adolescence (ages 17 to 21)." (1987, p20)

The brain is bombarded with questions about what to do about all of these feelings so new and so demanding