Education and the American Dream

The American dream is alive and well, as long as, in Oz-like fashion, we pay no attention to the life support machines preventing it’s demise. For the first time in our history we have a generation of high school and college students who don’t expect their lives to be better than their parents’. The phenomenon of coming home from college isn’t something students do during breaks and holidays, it’s what many do after graduation because housing is unaffordable. College graduates in recent years have found themselves competing for jobs not only with their peers in the US, but with well educated graduates from places like India, China and Latin America. As the world gets smaller and flatter, education takes on a critical role for the nation’s future. At the same time, teachers face a mountain of challenges.

When teachers step into the classroom they face students of varying abilities, skills and preparedness. There are students of various language backgrounds and at various stages of language acquisition. Teachers face students with special needs and those that require special accommodations. We face a culture of entitlement and a push-button instant gratification mentality. And as if the challenges inside the classroom walls weren’t enough, those from outside are particularly daunting. Underfunded mandates from Washington, budget cuts, legislation, litigation and political obfuscation. How we deal with these challenges will determine the future of education both in our state and the rest of the nation.

It’s important to remember that in public education, nobody is turned away. No matter their abilities, their previous education or their socio-econoimc background, there is a desk in every classroom for any child that comes through the schoolhouse doors. And as a former principal of mine was fond of saying “Parent’s don’t keep the good one’s home.” For teachers, that is an awesome responsibility. It’s the ultimate trust. In twenty years of teaching I have yet to meet a teacher that takes that lightly.

As a matter of full disclosure I’ll say that as I mentioned above, I’m a 20 year high school teacher. I’ve taught Spanish and most of the Social Sciences. Recently I’ve taught AP Macroeconomics, AP Government and World Religions. Yes, I am an active member of the California Teacher’s Association (CTA) however in this blog I do not speak for that organization. All ideas and opinions expressed here are my own. Join the conversation!