Should US public schools demonstrate more American patriotism?
As you drive by any public school in America, you should see the American flag being proudly displayed in a prominent location on the school grounds. If you drive by at the right time, you should be able to watch as the American flag is raised or lowered in a ceremonial presentation. The folding of the American flag should be done with care, and understanding, and the posture of the ones involved in these ceremonial demonstrations should shout with pride.
As you walk through the halls of American public schools, your eyes should be drawn to wall displays of the Declaration of Independence, paintings of the Presidents, and other articles that express an American pride that is contagious. In the classrooms there should be a wall display of the pledge to the American flag. Something in every room should clearly proclaim just how wonderful this country really is.
If professional educators, teachers and school staff would stir up enough patriotic pride within themselves, the things mentioned above would certainly be a reality. However, sadly, in most schools in America you will not find any of these displays of American pride.
There is diversity training, training about political correctness, implied demands to keep religion out of the schools, and threats of discipline if anyone offends another by violating any of the above. There is curriculum about other National Heritage Months, and numerous race related days and celebrations. Where is the national training to lead teachers and Administration to demonstrate National Pride? If there was an all out effort to begin this kind of training, and promote this kind of spirit, schools would slowly begin to catch it. Rather than just wanting to get out of school and make a buck, many students would be inspired to do something for the country. Many have no idea what President Kennedy meant when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country."
Pride, hope, and an enthusiastic spirit are what drive academic growth. They create a desire and a dream for the future. It is in this kind of enthusiasm and drive that our American heroes were born. What is an American Hero today? Can we look clearly at anyone since WW II who is a patriotic hero? Yes, our American military personal might be called heroes. Those who have died in wars, certainly we want to call them heroes. However, I doubt any of them would agree. Most of them don't see themselves as giving up anything for America. Most of them are there because it is their job, there was nothing else to do, they find stability in the income and benefits, or they are there so they can get their education paid for. I am sure there was partiotism in them too, but joining the military was likely not done because of partiotism.
There are a few who believe America is worth their lives, but very few. Most of them really cannot see why they are in such a war as Iraq. Most of them don't have a clue what they are fighting for. It is true that, in a given situation, some of them would certainly lay down their lives for their buddies who stand there with them.
The point is, in most cases joining the military is not about patriotism, or American pride. They did not learn about that in school. They did not see it in their parents and teachers, and communities. They have not seen it is the news. All they have grown up with is fighting, and cold wars, hatred and mistrust.
It is time to put American Pride back into the public schools of America. Let our children know what this Nation has really gone through to obtain and maintain the freedom that we have. Schools should take an active role in clearly demonstrating American pride and patriotism. Maybe our educational professionals need to be re-educated, or maybe they need to be taught for the first time exactly what our founding fathers were literally fighting for to create freedom in the United States of America.
As you drive by any public school in America, you should see the American flag being proudly displayed in a prominent location on the school grounds. If you drive by at the right time, you should be able to watch as the American flag is raised or lowered in a ceremonial presentation. The folding of the American flag should be done with care, and understanding, and the posture of the ones involved in these ceremonial demonstrations should shout with pride.
As you walk through the halls of American public schools, your eyes should be drawn to wall displays of the Declaration of Independence, paintings of the Presidents, and other articles that express an American pride that is contagious. In the classrooms there should be a wall display of the pledge to the American flag. Something in every room should clearly proclaim just how wonderful this country really is.
If professional educators, teachers and school staff would stir up enough patriotic pride within themselves, the things mentioned above would certainly be a reality. However, sadly, in most schools in America you will not find any of these displays of American pride.
There is diversity training, training about political correctness, implied demands to keep religion out of the schools, and threats of discipline if anyone offends another by violating any of the above. There is curriculum about other National Heritage Months, and numerous race related days and celebrations. Where is the national training to lead teachers and Administration to demonstrate National Pride? If there was an all out effort to begin this kind of training, and promote this kind of spirit, schools would slowly begin to catch it. Rather than just wanting to get out of school and make a buck, many students would be inspired to do something for the country. Many have no idea what President Kennedy meant when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country."
Pride, hope, and an enthusiastic spirit are what drive academic growth. They create a desire and a dream for the future. It is in this kind of enthusiasm and drive that our American heroes were born. What is an American Hero today? Can we look clearly at anyone since WW II who is a patriotic hero? Yes, our American military personal might be called heroes. Those who have died in wars, certainly we want to call them heroes. However, I doubt any of them would agree. Most of them don't see themselves as giving up anything for America. Most of them are there because it is their job, there was nothing else to do, they find stability in the income and benefits, or they are there so they can get their education paid for. I am sure there was partiotism in them too, but joining the military was likely not done because of partiotism.
There are a few who believe America is worth their lives, but very few. Most of them really cannot see why they are in such a war as Iraq. Most of them don't have a clue what they are fighting for. It is true that, in a given situation, some of them would certainly lay down their lives for their buddies who stand there with them.
The point is, in most cases joining the military is not about patriotism, or American pride. They did not learn about that in school. They did not see it in their parents and teachers, and communities. They have not seen it is the news. All they have grown up with is fighting, and cold wars, hatred and mistrust.
It is time to put American Pride back into the public schools of America. Let our children know what this Nation has really gone through to obtain and maintain the freedom that we have. Schools should take an active role in clearly demonstrating American pride and patriotism. Maybe our educational professionals need to be re-educated, or maybe they need to be taught for the first time exactly what our founding fathers were literally fighting for to create freedom in the United States of America.
