Because they are funded by the government, one of the primary goals of the American public schools is to enforce the American principles of democracy. Teachers are expected to treat every student the same way regardless of gender, race, religion, or social class. Children are taught that anyone can grow up to be anyone they want to be. From a young age, they are told that any one of them could be the president. This opportunity that everyone has is one of the main principles of American democracy. The country was founded by immigrants who were seeking new opportunities without having to face persecution of the government and those democratic principles are still in place today.
The purpose of education in American democracy is to prepare students to fill the jobs of people who will retire. Students are trained to work hard, respect other people enough to work with them, and have goals and priorities. These things will prepare them to be in a work environment as adults.
Schools promote freedom of speech. This encouages students to voice their own opionions and share what they believe in. Freedom of speech is one of the main principles of American democracy. Freedom of speech promotes individuality. Individuality is what separates American from countries who are not democratic.
Over the years of being in the public school system, I have had a lot of teachers who like to have debates in class. I can remember doing debates from first grade all through sophomore year. In first grade, we took a field trip to the court house and participated in case about a teddy bear. In seventh grade, I remember doing a debate about one of the books we read. In history class last year, we had debates every friday about some of the most debated topics in the country. Debates are a part of the public school system that stay with you from elementary to high school. The debates are meant for students to voice their opionions and challenge other opionions. This enforces the principles of freedom of speech and individuality.
Alanna, you have written another very strong post. Your writing is flawless, and your logic is sound. I have told many of your peers, who also write very well, that their responses read too much like lists of democratic attributes and not focused arguments about the relationship between democracy and education. You come close to the same issue here. One might interpret your response as just a list. And, next time you write a response, I do recommend that you spend more time embellishing one of the "principles" you address.
ReplyDeleteHowever, your post does not read as list-like as some of your peers. This is because you extend that idea of "principles" throughout your response. You even conclude your post with this idea. Because you do this, you give your reader the sense that you are constructing a logical argument with multiple examples, rather than just listing a bunch of principles. Does this make sense? Bottom line: you are able to make work a method that many of your classmates do not. Good job.
By the way, I love the sentence about teaching each kid that he/she can grow up to be the president. This is a very American thing.