Answer both Part A and Part B below. Write a minimum of 500 words (about two pages) for each part of this assignment.
Part A
Social promotion is the promoting of a student from one grade to the next even if he or she is failing courses. The rationale for social promotion is that moving students to the next grade prevents them from being stigmatized because they are older and bigger than other children in their classes. A number of cities have recently passed legislation banning the practice. In these cities, all students would be required to pass proficiency tests before they would be passed on to the next grade. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of this change? Do you agree with it? Why?
Part B
Having begun a new millennium, it is timely to examine the changes that occurred during the twentieth century to prepare for the twenty-first century. In your opinion, what four changes that occurred in the past century are most important for us to understand? Why? What do you think will be the two most important challenges that our country will face in the first half of the twenty-first century?