【正文】 nally, at the global level, two nations with opposingpolitical or economic interests can reach mutually beneficial agreements by striving tounderstand the other39。s knowledge about an ancient civilization isenhanced not only by the expertise of the archeologistwho unearths the evidencebutultimately by the expertise of biochemists, geologists, linguists, and even astronomers. Byanalyzing the hair, nails, blood and bones of mummified bodies, biochemists and forensicscientists can determine the life expectancy, general wellbeing, and mon causes of deathof the population. These experts can also ensure the proper preservation of evidence found atthe archeological site. A geologist can help identify the source and age of the materials usedfor tools, weapons, and structuresthereby enabling the anthropologist to extrapolate aboutthe civilization39。s scientists andgovernments. And ultimately it is our philosophers whose expertise helps provide meaning towhat we learn about our universe.In sum, no area ofinteUectual inquiry operates in a vacuum. Because the sciences areinextricably related, to advance our knowledge in any one area we must understand theinterplay among them all. Moreover, it is our nonscienfists who make possible the science,4and who bring meaning to what we learn from it.Issue 3A nation should require all its students to study the same national curriculum until they entercollege rather than allow schools in different parts of the nation to determine which academiccourses to offer.The speaker would prefer a national curriculum for all children up until college instead ofallowing schools in different regions the freedom to decide on their own curricula. I agreeinsofar as some mon core curriculum would serve useful purposes for any nation. At thesame time, however, individual states and munities should have some freedom toaugment any such curriculum as they see fit。s educational system mightdefeat its own purposes in the long tenn.A national core curriculum would be beneficial to a nation in a number of respects. First of all,by providing all children with fundamental skills and knowledge, a mon core curriculumwould help ensure that our children grow up to bee reasonably informed, productivemembers of society. In addition, a mon core curriculum would provide a predictablefoundation upon which college administrators and faculty could more easily build curricula andselect course materials for freshmen that are neither below nor above their level of educationalexperience. Finally, a core curriculum would ensure that all schoolchildren are taught corevalues upon which any democratic society depends to thrive, and even survivevalues suchas tolerance of others with different viewpoints, and respect for others.However, a mon curriculum that is also an exdusive one would pose certain problems,which might outweigh the benefits, noted above. First of all, on what basis would certaincourse work be included or excluded, and who would be the final decision maker? In alllikelihood these decisions would be in the hands of federal legislators and regulators, who arelikely to have their own quirky notions of what should and should not be taught tochildrennotions that may or may not reflect those of most munities, schools, or parents.Besides, government officials are notoriously susceptible to influencepeddling by lobbyistswho do not have the best interests of society39。s diverse population. A national curriculummight not allow for this feature, and California39。s spatial aspects, there is far more to document ha life than what we see and hear. Thusthe speaker overstates the parative significance of video as a documentary tool.For the purpose of documenting temporal, spatial events and experiences, I agree that avideo record is usually more accurate and more convincing than a written record. It isimpossible for anyone, no matter how keen an observer and skilled a journalist, to recount haplete and objective detail such events as the winning touchdown at the Super Bowl, aBallanchine ballet, the Tournament of Roses Parade, or the scene at the intersection ofFlorence and Normandy streets during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Yet these are importantevents in contemporary life the sort of events we might put ha a time capsule for the purposeof capturing our life and times at the turn of this millennium.The growing documentary role of video is not limited to seminal events like those describedabove. Video surveillance cameras are objective witnesses with perfect memories. Thus theycan play a vital evidentiary role in legal proceedingssuch as those involving robbery, drugtrafficking, police misconduct, motor vehicle violations, and even malpractice in a hospitaloperating room. Indeed, whenever moving images are central to an event the video camera issuperior to the written word. A written description of a hurricane, tornado, or volcanic eruptioncannot convey its immediate power and awesome nature like a video record. A diary entrycannot replay that wedding reception, dance recital, or surprise birthday party as accuratelyor objectively as a video record. And a real estate brochure cannot inform about the lighting,spaciousness, or general ambiance of a featured property nearly as effectively as a video.Nonetheless, for certain other purposes written records are advantageous to and moreappropriate than video records. For example, certain legal matters are best left to written6documentation: video is of no practical use ha documenting the terms of a plex contractualagreement, an incorporation, or the establishment of a trust. And video is of little use when ites to documenting a person39。s claim overstates the importance of video records, at least to someextent. When it es to capturing, storing, and recalling temporal, spatial events, videorecords are inherently more o