The
American Dream. . .
As
we celebrate our nation's "birthday" on the 4th of July it is
important that we do more than just enjoy fireworks, don a patriotic t-shirt
and pontificate about the greatness of our nation. Birthdays are times to reflect on another
year's worth of achievements as well as to look back at the overall history of
an individual, group or in this case, nation.
As a country there is a lot to like about America, and of course there is a
lot of work that we need to do if we are to achieve the potential that we as a
society have.
As
we look at our nation's history, and its present day status, it is clear that
there is something special about America. Over time, the United States has been a place that
has drawn immigrants from all over the world.
People come here for economic advancement and to seek refuge from the
daily violence and troubles that plague a significant portion of the world we
live in. America's streets might not be
"paved with gold" and there are certainly many problems here, but on
the whole Americans enjoy a standard of living, social services and safety that
is above that of the majority of other nations around the globe.
What
is it that makes America
such a desirable place? We hear many
differing answers to this question depending on who is asked. Is it our economic philosophy and
capitalism? Is it the democratic
institutions that are long established?
Is it the moral character of our people?
Is it the political philosophies that seek to put citizens at the center
of power? All of these ideas are put
forward being the core of "American Exceptionalism" yet I believe
that they all miss the mark and fail to answer the original question.
In
fact, it isn't too difficult to make counter arguments that paint a very
different picture of America
as a nation. We haven't always lived up
to the potential that our espoused philosophy, resources and status merit. Too often, we have used our economic and
military power to dominate others and seek advantages for profit and not social
justice. We have subjugated many
different populations and engaged in acts of racism, sexism and classism. We are not always as tolerant of a nation as
one would hope, given the strong language of equality in our founding documents
and rhetoric. Our freedoms and democracy
are too often threatened and limited by a minority of elite citizens. As citizens we too often fail to be engaged
and to utilize the power that is available to us because of our laws,
Constitution and democratic traditions.
Given
the discrimination, the inequities and even outright hostility that exists in
our culture towards the working poor, new immigrants and those who live as a
perpetual underclass, why have we seen, and continue to see, people flocking to
our shores seeking what has become known as "The American
Dream?" What is it that draws
people, and keeps people here, even when times are difficult and significant
challenges exist? What exactly is this
"Dream" that motivates, engages and drives the people of America?
Cynics
might say that the American Dream is simple greed and consumerism. That we are defined by our constant striving
for the newest, most expensive and best possible goods we can purchase. To a certain degree they are right, success
in America
is defined by wealth and "stuff."
We may not respect those who have great wealth, but we emulate them and
hold them up at status symbols. However,
if we simply define the Dream in economic and class terms we miss another
aspect of our society that is of great importance.
Economic
success is one measurement of the American Dream, but it can't quantify the
true spirit of our national identity.
When we look beyond simple economic terms we can see that the real
nature of the American Dream is found in the daily struggles of its
people. Opportunity
and hope are what drive our citizens to strive and achieve and they are what
will provide the sparks that will move us towards a more progressive and
socially just society. We see glimmers of
the real Dream of America across the nation in the Occupy movement, the
Wisconsin Uprising, and in countless other movements and acts that seek to
promote equality and justice for all citizens.
The
American Dream promotes the idea that anyone can achieve success and that we
are able to define success for ourselves.
We aren't limited by the constraints that others, or that those in
power, would put on us. It is found embedded
in our democratic traditions and our ability to have a voice in our government
and other important institutions. As FDR
said, "Let us never forget that government is
ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy
are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but
the voters of this country." I
would add to this that the ultimate rulers of our nation are not the heads of
corporations, or those who seek to control our nation through wealth and
influence.
The
rights and privileges of a free society are supposedly guaranteed to us, but we
know that this guarantee doesn't come without a price. Freedom isn't free and must be protected,
cultivated and defended. This defense
doesn't have to be done in big, obvious ways.
We may focus on examples of wars, huge movements and other historical
examples of people defending freedom, but the major defense of the American
Dream occurs in our daily, mundane lives.
Each of us, through our daily actions and words shapes what America is, and what America will become. FDR spoke of politics and elections when he
said, "Democracy cannot succeed
unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real
safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education." However, these words hold true in all aspects
of our society. A truly educated
population will make wise political, economic and social choices based on the
bigger picture and not individual self-interest.
Education
then is the cornerstone of our democracy and our way of life. Without a quality education we are vulnerable
to the control of others and we limit the potential achievement of ourselves
and our society. Unfortunately, America has a
history of avoiding education and the work and responsibility that it
entails.
"There is a cult of
ignorance in the United
States, and there has always...
huffingtonpost.com
We
live in dangerous times for American education, and subsequently the American
Dream itself. Too many people are
abdicating their responsibilities to be informed citizens and are allowing a
small number of people to control our democratic systems like education. We are allowing, and even supporting efforts
that allow our schools to be segregated and privatized. Our discourse around education focuses on
economics, not knowledge. We forget that
when we talk about cutting programs, privatizing schools and making education
more efficient, we are eliminating hope and opportunity for students and entire
communities.
Charter schools have made
inroads, despite lack of better educational...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
schoolsmatter.info
A new report says many
schools are struggling with funding.
www.washingtonpost.com
We are seeing efforts to
silence and vilify educators who seek to promote opportunity and quality
education for all students. The
anti-union movement in our nation is a clear effort to silence the voices of
those who dissent from the agenda promoted by the elite who seek to dominate
our society.
Ignored by our current
education policies are the facts that one in four...
huffingtonpost.com
Mexico is doing better than us on poverty in schools.
Seriously... Mexico...
And there's so much more here:
bluenationreview.com
Ever wonder why more public
classroom teachers don’t speak out against...
arizonadailyindependent.com
While it is not surprising
that those who worked for a corporate Democrat like President Barack Obama have
moved on to shilling for Big Business after they
news.firedoglake.com
Two former top Obama
administration officials are joining a nationwide legal fight against teacher
unions over tenure, seniority and other job protections. The Incite Agency,
founded by former White House press secretary Robert...
POLITICO|By
Stephanie Simon
In February, Agustin Morales
spoke out against "data walls" on which...
Daily Kos
At the Vergara trial, a
student identified one of her teachers as...
dianeravitch.net
Instead of listening to
experience, knowledgeable educators who are embedded in communities and
classrooms across the nation, we listen to "talking heads" and
"reformers" who seek to profit from our schools and students. Rhetoric and misleading data instead of the
words and actions of educators guides our educational policy.
If the pass rates on Common
Core tests and the new Common Core-aligned...
blogs.edweek.org
'Let’s take a look at the
tests, as well as the cut scores, in order to better understand the continuing
march of New York’s reformist lemmings right over the cliff of reason.'
washingtonpost.com
Considering a perspective for
educators to view children as more than the...
huffingtonpost.com|By Arnold Dodge
Under new criteria, no. of
states meeting federal law drops from 41 to 18;...
Washington Post
How social emotional learning
is being co-opted by 'reformers.'
Washington Post
Just like democracy
itself, education is messy, confusing and rarely demonstrates linear growth and
progression. Instead of clear, easily
defined answers we see a myriad of choices, and a need to personalize the
process for individual students, families and communities. The answers are found in discussion, freedom
to innovate and a climate that is supportive of the efforts of educators.
Should schools use the
student-centered balanced literacy program to teach reading, or require...
nytimes.com
It is also important to
remember that we are talking about our children, not some impersonal resource
to be exploited. Children need to be
nurtured, cared for and exposed to a variety of opportunities as they grow up. These opportunities are what will help guide
them towards successful, productive adult lives.
An American teacher in
Helsinki questions the national practice of giving 15 minute breaks each
hour—until he sees the difference it makes in his classroom.
m.theatlantic.com|By Tim Walker
Reading to infants in the first 1,000 days of their lives is
crucial for...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
In the stuffy, little
gymnasium at Richard Kluge Elementary in...
Wisconsin Public Radio
My son’s teacher said to me,
and I’m paraphrasing here, “His writing needs work.” My head swirled with panic
and planning and finger pointing (at myself) for having failed at something as
important as making sure my...
momastery.com
What is frustrating is
that it is relatively obvious what needs to happen if we are to improve
education in America,
and we are currently moving in the exact opposite direction from where we need
to go. No matter what political
affiliation, economic ideology or spiritual philosophy one subscribes to, the
end goal of education is for students to emerge from a system ready to engage
in advancing our society and prepared to be successful on a personal
level. How we define success and what
route we want our society to take may differ, but an educated person is able to
engage in thoughtful, productive and democratic dialog about important
issues. An educated person is able to
find ways to satisfy their own needs and still be a part of society as a whole.
#1: Privatized education
steals from the poor and gives to the rich.
www.alternet.org
If we are ever really
going to improve our schools we need to listen to those who work and learn in
our schools. We may agree with what is
said, we may disagree, but the important fact is that real conversations are
happening. Conversations where
prejudices and biases are set aside and we truly look for solutions that are in
the best interests of each student.
When kids misbehave at the
Mathematics and Science Leadership Academy
in Denver, they
don't get sent to the principal’s office because there is no principal. At this
public school, every...
blogs.seattletimes.com
CHICAGO — Few issues in education are more important than
the...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
There has to be a push-back and a response to the privatization efforts
of corporate education. This is
happening around the nation and will continue as educators seek to reclaim
their profession and do what's right for their students. As we celebrate this 4th of July, take some
time to reflect on what we are really honoring and what we can all do to
promote true American values.
curmudgucation.blogspot.com
In a surprising vote at the
Representative Assembly on July 4, delegates passed a new business item calling
for U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to resign.
blogs.edweek.org
The
Good, The Bad and
The
Ugly. . .
The Good . . . Things do change for the better.
This type of change gives us hope for the future.
Support for a same-sex
marriage ban was so broad in Wisconsin eight
years...
jsonline.com|By
Craig Gilbert
With all the negative
press about worker/management relations currently circulating, it is good to
hear some positive news for a change.
RISING FROM THE ASHES
A Culver's in Platteville destroyed by fire rebuilds and reopens.
Find out how the owner took care of employees even when the restaurant was closed, TONIGHT on 27 NEWS at 10.
http://bit.ly/VfhH0w
A Culver's in Platteville destroyed by fire rebuilds and reopens.
Find out how the owner took care of employees even when the restaurant was closed, TONIGHT on 27 NEWS at 10.
http://bit.ly/VfhH0w
The Bad . . . People should know that they are being studied and manipulated. It certainly gives us reason to wonder just
how far the control of our society could go if unmonitored and unchecked.
Let the Upworthy revolution
begin!
motherjones.com
While our state's fiscal
situation is based on many complex, interconnected parts, the fact remains that
Walker will
have a lot of explaining to do. A
governor, an administration and a legislature isn't solely responsible for the
health of an economy, but the policies that have been enacted over the past 3.5
years certainly don't appear to have helped our situation much and probably
have harmed our economic growth.
Revenue Collections Continue
to Fall, While Medicaid Deficit Takes Large Jump The state’s
fiscal situation has gradually deteriorated in 2014, and new tax
collection figures released...
wisconsinbudgetproject.org
These policies negatively
impact our schools as well as the general economy.
Madison is expected to see a $2.6 million increase in state
aid next school...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
The Ugly . . . America is quickly becoming a nation that has forgotten
the vision on which it was founded. Our
Constitution wasn't created to promote extremism and monolithic thought. Our nation's social and political history has
been one based on compromise and gradual change. We may not always be on the right side of
history, but (as the Marriage Equality movement is showing) with time and
freedom to think we tend to find a better path.
Our current climate of political extremism blocks our ability to
compromise and reason our way through the challenges we face.
Eliminating unions, public
or private sector, will only serve to subjugate a majority of citizens. This is true whether on a national, state or
local level.
The administration said
repeatedly it was not looking at changing the civil service system. Now, it
admits taking early steps.
jsonline.com|By
Jason Stein
A 2011 state law that ended
most collective bargaining for most state employees went a step further at UW
Hospital, where the law known as Act 10 is eliminating union
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
Religious
extremism will only divide our nation further and eliminate rational dialogue
from our social, political and economic discourse. The 1st Amendment wasn't written to allow for
a overzealous religious minority to dominate and control the lives of other
citizens. In fact, this type of
religious intolerance threatened the stability of our nation from the very
beginning and was a significant concern for the original leaders of America.
So while a business
corporation can't go to church, fast on Yom Kippur, or...
huffingtonpost.com
Meet the companies battling
Obamacare's contraceptive mandate.
m.motherjones.com
WASHINGTON -- The equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment
to the U.S.
Constitution...
huffingtonpost.com|By Amanda Terkel
To sell art with the
phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei" in modern America is simply intolerable. No one should ever try to profit from the
suffering of millions of people in Nazi Death Camps.
Are you inspired by Nazi's?
Does the thought of an image from a Nazi...
addictinginfo.org
Wisconsin, where we eliminate unions, weaken civil service
laws and replace them with good old fashioned cronyism.
Cindy Archer didn’t apply
for, nor was she a finalist, for the job.
sheboyganpress.com
That is, if we even
attempt to employ people in the public sector.
Aside from the oddity that
the numbers are being released on a Thursday,...
epi.org
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