<p>Should leaders of nations place economic growth above all other priorities?</p>
<p>Thought provoking…</p>
<p>Yes - because economic growth leads to a better quality of life for the majority of people.
No - because obsession with economic growth can lead to pollution, resource depletion, greed and, sometimes, war.</p>
<p>In my opinion the NO is easier to argue… You may:</p>
<p>Use history (colonization, slave trade)
Use current events (oil wars, global warming)</p>
<p>Is this an SAT question? I find it unlikely SAT would ever ask this kind of question that could be very political. When questions are political or religious, the readers will become too biased for reliable grading. </p>
<p>My opinion: no. Look at China’s real estate bubble, for example.</p>
<p>I agree with Woandering, SAT essay prompts are supposed to be broad and shouldn’t be directly based on political or religious matters.</p>
<p>I made it up. But the October SAT test asked if values should only be taught in school - strong political/religious overtones. And then there was last may’s prompt “is it our duty to help the less fortunate”. I’d say the college board is no longer immune from politics. I find their questions are veering heavily towards an examination of our society, values. </p>
<p>Another prompt from the real SAT in the same vein:</p>
<p>Should leaders follow their own conviction and not worry about public opinion?</p>
<p>This is totally within the scope of an SAT prompt, notably since Coleman took over with an eye on shaping tomorrow’s citizenry. The College Board IS political now and the leaning is left. (I happen to agree with them, so I’m not criticizing) And since most teachers and college professors are liberals and democrats, I would urge you to lean that way in your essays. This means you should probably not take the side of social Darwinists (survival of the fittest) but rather adopt the attitude that a better future is one in which there is more tolerance, civic mindedness, equality or opportunity - in other words, a KINDER world.</p>
<p>@Woandering and @Miter94 may have been correct four or five years ago when all the prompts dealt with “creativity” “knowledge” “technology” “goals” “wisdom” and other non-political issues. But the game changed radically in October (and perhaps a little before that too) when they asked that question about values. Where else can values be taught to youngsters but in homes and churches or schools and government? Since, in America, most students attend public schools (government run) the significance is this: in a country that prides itself on "the separation of church and state ", is it right for the government to take over (via the classroom) the role of teaching morality which used to be the exclusive dominion of the church? Whose job should it be to shape the minds of tomorrow’s citizenry? There can be no more political question I can think of (at least within the scope of a teenager’s knowledge) than that.</p>
<p>Having said that, I do agree with them that the college board would have worded it more generally, more like:</p>
<p>Should we make economic growth our highest priority?</p>
<p>@grassfed - It is possible to agree with their politics but still disagree with what they are doing. It is a short walk from where they are to a point where the “right” (left) answer must be given. Your advice about leaning the way the graders lean suggests that you think we are already there! And no matter what your politics are, we can’t pretend that this is education when it is actually indoctrination. </p>
<p>@pckeller
@grassfed </p>
<p>Sounds like you too are starting a debate</p>
<p>Well, maybe a discussion. My hunch is that we agree on the politics. And after I posted, I wondered if this is the proper forum. Maybe in addition to the “Parent Café”, there needs to be a “Teacher’s Lounge” section where all of the many teachers, SAT tutors, authors, etc. could go to debate and hash out these issues that are not immediately relevant for a student who just comes to the forum looking for tips to raise their scores.</p>
<p>Teacher’s Lounge sounds perfect! I will start the thread. Hope to see you there czeska, pckeller and anyone else who cares to join.</p>