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The topic is what two courses one must take to be considered educated

When you are considered “educated” in today’s society, that title is usually derived from one having a college education, an advanced grammar, and a mind that is quick to deduce. To achieve these traits, I believe someone should have taken advanced courses in both English and Math, which teach you life-long lessons that are essential in becoming successful in the working world.
The study of Reading, Writing, and Grammar, which are all included in English classes, should be the main focus of a young person’s education. If you can’t understand, speak, or write English, you can’t do anything in this world. Without English, you can’t write a resume or fill out an application, and a potential employer would never hire you if you can’t communicate properly to their customers. Basic functions in life would be almost impossible; reading a book, writing a letter to a friend, making a grocery list, all of life’s simple joys are out of reach.
Although one will become practiced in the basics of the English language through verbal teaching from our parents, one must still continue learning the grammar and writing aspect through schooling. I believe one can be a college graduate and have a successful job, but if they can’t fashion a proper essay, or spell properly, then they don’t fall under the “educated” category. Unfortunately, American education has steadily declined, many teachers not teaching the logic behind the subject, and cramming facts into their students’ heads-hoping somehow it will stick to their young, sponge-like mind. Michael Moore wrote of the moribund American school system in his essay “Idiot Nation”. “The halls are packed with burned-out teenagers shuffling from class to class, dazed and confused, wondering what the hell they’re doing there. They learn how to regurgitate answers the state wants them to give, and any attempt to be an individual is now grounds for being suspected to be a member of the trench coat mafia” (Moore 147). Elementary, through High School is a perfect example of this, under paid teachers teaching the basics of English; just enough to get a job right after high school, but not enough to be qualified as “educated”. This is why one must continue on to College, learning how to be truly educated in English.
Math is the same way, without basic math skills you can’t handle money, for your personal finances or for an employer. How many people do you think could run the cash register even at McDonalds if they couldn’t do basic math? Without basic education in Math, one would be not be able to use basic measurements, conversions, or work in any position that required counting; thus rendering you useless to society. The math classes students should take in school are Algebra, which teaches all the essential math functions for life; but statistics is also a necessity-teaching you to collect and analyze information, which is something we need and do on a daily basis.
Playing into my theory of the declining state of education, many teachers are, like English, cramming the facts and theories of Math into their students’ heads, leaving little chance for them to figure out the problem themselves. In Jean Anyon’s essay “Social Class”, she monitored the lessons taught by different teachers in varying social classes. One teacher uses the “cramming” method of teaching division to a class of young children; “‘Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring Down.’ The children often did examples of two-digit division. When the teacher went over the examples with them, he told them what the procedure was for each problem, rarely asking them to conceptualize or explain it themselves” (Anyon 177). How is one supposed to learn when all the answers are being handed to them throughout those 13 years of schooling? To truly become educated in Math, you need to go to college, continue your education, and become well-versed in the theories and functions of varying topics in Mathematics.
Even though I am in college, and I have taken many years of English and Mathematics courses, am I considered educated? I believe I have been educated, but not to the fullest extent. Not till I have that college degree in my hand will I even begin to deem myself educated. If I can live up to my standards of the term “educated”-having a refined vocabulary, excellent logic and math skills, and having established a rewarding career-then I will consider myself erudite.
In conclusion, as long as a person has a basic knowledge of these two subjects they can survive in the world, but can they be considered educated? After the standard 13 years of schooling, I believe one will be learned, but not truly educated to the fullest. One must go on to college to even deserve the title because those four years of continued education are when they will truly learn the advanced education the need to become scholarly people. English and Mathematics are the foundation of life, lea
rning these render one useful to society; preparing them to enter the working field. Four more years, and more advanced classes in logic, research, and formulation are key to becoming educated. Certainly, people will need to take other courses in school to prosper, but without these two basics, then they will constantly have to rely on society.

You have a really great essay there.

One suggestion I have is you really should avoid contractions like I’ve and can’t, write them out instead, it makes it more formal.

Another suggestion is in your quote from Moore, some teachers will frown upon the use of profanity even as a quote. In the spot where he says "what the hell they’re" write it like "what…they’re." This is how you symbolize there are other words he said, but will alleviate you from having to put profanity into your paper.

Where you say "Elementary, through High School" you should leave the comma out from behind Elementary.

These two are probably typos, but I wanted to mention them just in case:

"Without basic education in Math, one would be not be able to use basic" – be not be, remove the first be

"English and Mathematics are the foundation of life" – foundation should be foundations

Other than that, I think it’s perfectly fine. A few others may have additional suggestions, but that is what I see. Overall though, I think you have developed a really good essay.

BTW, thanks for taking my advice from before, seems like it turned out really well. Good luck.