Lonely Louisiana

Michael Heumann
Ms. Michel
English 2000
Ever since middle school and more prevalently through high school, my teachers have stressed the issue that ‘our’ standardized test scores as a state were poor. In earlier years, I hadn’t given much thought as to why this was relevant. If I could still make A’s and B’s on my report card, then why would a national comparison of Louisiana be of great importance? With this idea in mind, and years later of worldly experience, I have begun to notice what lower standardized test scores reflect.
I chose this picture as a representation of Louisiana primarily for two reasons. I have family that lives in different parts of the world, and all have made the remark, “The people here are just fat and dumb!” These people are family and are not (I hope) ridiculing every person as being ignorant, but rather making a generalization about the population through their own experiences. They are however, very accurate in their claims, because for years Louisiana has been at the lower end of the spectrum in terms of education and health standings. Therefore my image of Louisiana is a “lonely fat kid.”
Louisiana makes great revenue through the New Orleans port industry and the many construction, chemical, and engineering job opportunities available in the state. Even today as most of the nation struggles financially, Louisiana is relatively unaffected because of the continual circulation of currency within the state. Many people here take this lifestyle for granted, not concerning themselves with the rest of Nation’s issues, much less the world’s issues. “Laissez le bon temps roule,” meaning “let the good time roll,” is the state’s motto, and is exactly what it’s citizens plan on doing. As long as the immediate Louisiana environment doesn’t pose a threat to it’s inhabitants, there is no reason to change. Ironically, with incidents such as Katrina devastating New Orleans, most residents have the ideology that Louisiana is the victim of misfortune, and the rest of the world should cater to them.
In December 2008 Louisiana was officially ranked as the unhealthiest state in terms of obesity, infant mortality, and preventable hospitalizations. I believe the fact that the state is in the bottom five out of fifty states in education is a direct cause of health problems. Schools are so behind in establishing principles such as math, science, and English, and implementing even some health education is a big task to achieve. Many public schools are even considering letting the state take control of their funding because they are so far behind the rest of the nation’s standards. I have many friends that don’t know the difference between omega-3 fatty acids and hydrogenated oils or even the difference in performing cardio or strength exercises. They are more than capable of understanding these ideas, but were never taught. Education is certainly a crutch of Louisiana, causing exponentially growing obstacles that will only become more difficult to overcome in the future. All Louisiana needs is some friends to incorporate them back into society.