The Country versus the City
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The Country versus the City
One of the most important choices in life is where to live. While some prefer living in the city, others settle for the country. However, there is no doubt that each of them offers distinct living experience with its own benefits and challenges. As such, there has been endless debate globally, on which of the two places is generally better. This paper compares the advantages and disadvantages of living in the city as opposed to the country. Particularly, it argues that although cities offer better entertainment, disadvantages such as high crime rates, pollution, and limited educational opportunities make country life more preferable.
Entertainment
The cities offer more and better entertainment opportunities than in the country. In big cities, there are numerous entertainment joints such as music clubs, restaurants equipped with resources such as swimming pools, pool tables, casinos as well as foods and drinks. City residents can also watch live music, attend cinemas, visit art exhibits, and funky stores without having to travel over a long distance. On the other hand, one would have to travel miles in the country to access an entertainment spot. As such one has access to fewer entertainment amenities in the rural areas even though people in the areas are friendlier and kind compared to their city counterparts. Additionally, connection to TV, internet, and social media which offer digital entertainment is stronger around the cities compared to rural areas (Haart, 2020).
Pollution
Despite having better entertainment opportunities, cities are far more polluted than in rural areas. Being industrialization hubs, cities constantly experience endless and environment –polluting activity during both day and night. Numerous Factories running throughout the year release waste in liquid, solid, and gaseous forms which ultimately end up in the environment (Schultz, 2010). As a result, city residents are forced to endure endless pollution and noise from factory machines and vehicles. Additionally, residents in the city have to cope with the disgusting view of litter all around due to the increased activity in the city. On the contrary, there are significantly fewer machines and vehicles leading to a less contaminated environment. Similarly, an environment filled with litter all around is unheard of in the rural areas.
Crime
High pollution is not the only issue facing life in the city. On average, cities experience a greater rate of crime compared to the country. A recent survey reported that city residents are twice as likely to experience a robbery, murder, rape, and assault as country residents (Fische, 2011). Even though crime in the city has been declining, it is still significantly higher than in rural areas. According to the Brookings Institution research, the higher crime rates in the city compared to the country is due to the presence of a large population of young people deprived of money in an environment where everything is highly commercialized. The research implies that an individual is more likely to die from crime by just living in the city as compared to the country.
Education
Historically rural areas have always been disadvantaged regarding access to education. Students in urban areas enjoy short distances to schools, interact with diverse members of the school community, and get instructions from comparatively more qualified teaching staff. However, students have to fight for survival in the city given the high crime rate and cope with the constant interruption due to noise and pollution from the numerous machines in the city. Today, rural residents are increasingly gaining a vantage position in acquiring quality education as the government agencies move to eliminate educational inequalities in the areas. Additionally, the long or potentially dangerous journey, shortages of teachers, and lower quality of education that have characterized education in the rural areas have changed rapidly in the recent few years following the adoption of the “No Child Left Behind Act” (Education Writers Association, 2019). More schools have been built and criteria for selection of teachers become more equitable.
In brief, living in the country as opposed to the city is advantageous in several ways. First, there is less pollution owing to fewer machines. The second reason is that there are comparatively lower crime rates in rural areas as compared to cities. Thirdly, rural areas are increasingly becoming conducive for education. Although the city offers superb entertainment, it is the combination of less pollution, less crime, and growing education opportunities that make rural areas worth consideration.
Reference
Education Writers Association. (2019). Why It’s Time to Focus on Equity in Rural Schools – Education Writers Association. Retrieved 22 July 2020, from https://www.ewa.org/blog-educated-reporter/why-its-time-focus-equity-rural-schools
Schultz, N. (2010). City vs Country: The healing powers of rural R&R. New Scientist, 208(2785), 35-37. doi: 10.1016/s0262-4079(10)62760-1
Haart. (2020). Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Living. Retrieved 22 July 2020, from https://www.haart.co.uk/buying/buying-advice/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-rural-living/
Fische, C. (2011). City Crime; Country Crime. Retrieved 22 July 2020, from https://madeinamericathebook.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/city-crime-country-crime/