Most and Least Educated Cities in America

Huffington Post featured a slideshow of the most educated and least educated US cities based on the percentage of bachelor’s degree holders. The research done by the Brookings Institute showed that of 100 metropolitan areas, Washington D.C. leads with 46.8% degree holders, followed by Bridgeport, CT, and the San Francisco Bay Area in California with 43% of degree holders. On the reverse side, the Central Valley area of California holds three positions as the least educated with below 20% of degree holders.

Being educated in San Francisco, one of the most educated cities, the results were shocking. I expected a much higher percentage of college degree holders. As a senior in high school, you rarely find anyone who has no plans to pursue a higher education. At the very least, they would be taking general education classes at a junior college with a prospect of transferring to a four year college.

The MOST Educated Cities In America (PHOTOS)

I ended up going to college in Stockton, CA, one of the cities listed as the least educated. It was hard adapting to an agricultural city coming from a large metro city. I had not noticed the disparity in educational attainment while I was in school. After graduation, I accepted an internship so I stayed in the Central Valley for a few more months. I made the mistake of assuming everyone I worked with was either pursuing a college degree or already has one. I was clearly mistaken. I was told that not a lot of people continue school after high school due to financial constraints and because it was not necessary.

The LEAST Educated Cities In America (PHOTOS)

On average, only 27.7% of the US population, age 25 and over, possess a bachelor’s degree. Significant disparities in educational attainment are due to differences in economic and demographic structures, as well as cultural mores. If you notice, the most educated cities are centers for professional and science/technical industries. The least educated cities, such as Stockton, Modesto, and Fresno, are widely agricultural where college education is not necessary. These “trends may be ‘locking in’ longstanding attainment differences across metropolitan areas rather than narrowing the gaps,” states the State of Metropolitan America by the Brookings Institute.

Interactive: State of Metropolitan America Indicator Map

Many studies have shown that educational attainment is the biggest predictor of success for cities and metro areas today. The more educated a city’s population, the more robust its economy will be.

To increase educational attainment, the K-12 system must be in the forefront of reformation. High schools may not be preparing students to pursue a higher education. The federal government should fund many more comparative effectiveness trials of curricula, and schools using federal funds to support the education of disadvantaged students should be required to use evidence of effectiveness in the choice of curriculum materials.

Good education outcomes for students depend on good teachers. Conditions of employment should be restructured to recruit and select more promising teachers, provide opportunities for them to realize their potential, and keep the very best teachers in the profession.

National HIV/AIDS Strategy revives public attention

The biennial XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) will be held in Vienna, Austria next week from July 18-23. In a timely fashion, President Obama unveiled the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) today.

NHAS focuses on reducing the number of new infections, increase access to care, and reducing HIV-related health disparities. The implementation of NHAS aims to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States by 25% by 2015.

Although the policy is headed in the right direction, the plan is not perfect. Several activists have also expressed criticism over the policy.

"I think the jury is out as to whether this strategy leads to the reforms we need," says Chris Collins, public policy director at The Foundation for AIDS Research or AMFAR, said in a telephone interview.

The plan explicitly point out gay and bisexual men, black men and women, Latinos and Latinas, and substance abusers as populations with the highest risk of HIV infection. “At a time of limited resources [$19 billion], we must reorient our efforts by giving much more attention and resources to geographic areas with the highest infection rates”, says the plan.

Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, criticized the administration's intention to redirect money to those groups at greatest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. "It's not good to pit one group against another and it's unnecessary," he said. "The bottom line is that we should be seeking to get all sexually active people to get an HIV test."   

Misconception about Weight Loss

Obesity-related diseases have been a growing concern over the years. But no one has really looked at the dangers of the overly underweight. There are at least 100 different diets out there. Not only are the women dieting, but the men are too. I actually know more guys than girls doing the cleansing diets and the low carb diets. There is a reason these diets are not working.

Firstly, I would like to say that the word diet has been taken out of context. Diet is defined as “the usual food and drink consumed by an organism.” Now every time the word is muttered, the immediate thought would be of weight loss. For the purpose of discussion, the latter definition will be used.

There is a misconception between weight loss and a slimmer body. Essentially, the obsession over dieting and weight loss is due to the dissatisfaction of one’s body shape. If you explore the reasons for dieting, it all leads to wanting a slimmer waistline, thighs, arms, etc.

I have never been concerned about my weight or my body, although, I’m not saying I’m perfectly happy with it; but recently, I’ve been more bothered by it. I am constantly being told to “eat more, you won’t get fat” and “you are so skinny, what is wrong with you?” These comments are starting to irritate and offend me. Here are the reasons why:

1) I am fit. People who really know skinny, would not say I am. I swim, play tennis, and practice yoga to increase strength, tone my muscles, and maintain flexibility. As tempting as it is to snap me in half like a twig, I’m more likely to bend like a straw.

2) I do eat. You just don’t see me eating a lot all in one sitting. I split my meals into two sittings and I snack all day long. I cannot live without rice and meat. In fact, that’s pretty much all I eat. Having something throughout the day keeps my blood sugar and metabolism regulated.

3) Being skinny is just how my body is structured. I would be ecstatic to add 5” more to my waist.

My point is: Weight does not equate with the perfect body. If you are a 5’4”, 110 lb female, you should not be trying to lose more weight. According to the Body Mass Index (BMI), you need to be gaining at least another 10 lbs. And what better way to gain that is to add muscle mass.

The more accurate focus of all this “weight losing” is body toning or physical exercise. Following a certain diet will NOT keep fat from accumulating in your tummy, arms, butt, or wherever it is unwanted. It only reduces the amount of intake of nutrients that eventually metabolizes into fat.

Go have a swim or go for a jog. Maintaining a total body workout will give you a more satisfying result than dieting. It will probably be a lot easier too.