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The Bottom Line - A Nation at Risk?

I was sharing with my classmates in a discussion forum how chapter four from School explains in detail the “whys” of the American system. This chapter is telling us “Just that so you know…” to which one would respond: “Aahh!” and it is all due to the fact of how our American system is designed to create, prepare, build. But to what extent does this system is willing to achieve these goals and objectives? It is as simple as explaining its beginning and how it has evolved from the start. The American system as we know it today starts with one question: How will a nation strive with competitiveness against its competitors? Ah! With education! That is how government leaders decided that they needed to reform the educational system. Leaders decided that they needed to create a strong and competitive workforce by education the students to do so. However, the students were not the only ones that would be affected by these reforms, also administrators, families and communities will be invol...
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"Why don't you go to school with us?"

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  One of my favorite characters of Part III of School was ex-president Lyndon B. Johnson. As a Hispanic that moved to the United States few years ago, I learn that Johnson declared September 15 the official day of Hispanic Heritage celebration. Reading Part III taught me the formation of this man and I could understand why he gave so much importance to Hispanic population in the United States. Lyndon was raised in Texas and went to a public school where the majority of students were Mexican or Chicanos. The book tells how his first friendship, teachers, and childhood memories included Hispanic characters. Later on, after receiving a higher education he went back to work at the school where he studied and noticed that although year have passed, nothing never changed. It is then when he realized that segregation and inequality needed to stop. After few years Lyndon B. Johnson became the president who will make federal law to work in favor of minority group students. He noticed that...
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  AS AMERICAN AS PUBLIC SCHOOL / “YOU ARE AN AMERICAN” History is always beautiful because it teaches us the glories and mistakes from the past. History helps us to value and understand how things used to be and how they have evolved, although sometimes humanity tends to start all over with the same cycle. Such as the educational system. While reading “Part-Two” of School , I contemplated the beginnings of education in America and its progress along the time. This part of the book focuses on how immigrant children were impacted by the American school system and how they also impacted the system. Through decades school has progressed hand to hand with the economy which means that students need to accommodate their education based on the nations needs. Diane Ravitch says: “As economy became more complex, students stayed in school longer to gain additional skills and knowledge.” Over time theories of how education should be implemented came back and forward sharing different ideas...
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The Common School and The Educated Citizen

The Common School was an initiative that started to bring education only to certain children.  At first, education was only provided to white children mainly boys. The good think is that education was fee and was only at its beginnings. It is true that this initiative might sound very selective, but it was the beginning of an institution that will build future citizens able to use critical thinking and other skills in order for the nation to become what it is today.  n her article "A Relevant History of Public Education in the United States", Grace Chen, mentions how important it is to know the history of the beginnings of public schools in the united states to appreciate the "evolving process" the institution has been through.  Grace Chen says:  "Most Americans take the public education system in this country for granted, assuming that education for all American citizens is a right that has always been provided. However, the history of public education in ...
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My Literacy History. My Legacy.

     It might be a total cliché to say that my first literacy memory is with my mom, but it is true. When I was in pre-K I was having a challenging time learning how to read. My mom was an Early Childhood Education teacher so she would sit next to me and spend hours trying to find the best approach for me. I do not exactly remember which approach she used, but what I do remember is her being so patient, unstoppable, and resolute. One day I was just ready to read and thanks to her dedication I was always one of the best readers in class and church. About my writing skills, my father inspired me. He enjoyed watching me writing on my notebook because he was so impressed of my fast writing. Back in my country I enrolled in a commerce/business High School. At first, I struggled with technology because we did not have computers at home in my early years. My dad worked so hard that year to get a desktop, a printer, and internet connection. I remember my teachers showing me ste...
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