Assignment #1 Group C Reflection 2 Post

Jenna Haselwood
EDUC 401
Assignment #1 Group C, Reflection #2
March 4, 2010
Education has always been an important aspect in America’s history; however our
country’s current economic status always seems to play an integral part in how strongly
education is stressed among our youth. Despite this aspect, although it is understandable, I feel
it is unfortunate. In a perfect world, education would be strongly encouraged and pursued
despite any outside factors. However, I feel each and every one of us have a responsibility to
continuously pursue our own education and encourage others to follow suit. One way this can be
done is by taking our country’s history as an example both for the positive and negative.
Massachusetts was a great leader for the educational push during our country’s beginning. My
hope is that education will always be of the utmost importance for all generations to come.
From the very beginning of our country’s establishment education was put into place. “In
1647, Massachusetts required all towns with at least 50 families to hire a school master to teach
reading and writing.” (Oakes, 37) This educational drive continued into the 1800’s when again
Massachusetts passed their first law requiring mandatory attendance by all students. This was
the first of its kind and it is still utilized in a similar form today. Without the attendance law in
place today, I do not think we would have the turnout in our school today. I am pleased to say it
seems as time goes on the importance of education appears to be increasing. During the 1950’s
when the Russians launched the first space satellite, Sputnik, American politicians and the Press
were in fear of falling behind the Russians so the educational push became even more intense
(Oakes, 47). Even though this push was not carried out in the proper manner it brought the
needed attention to the neglected educational system of the time.
Around this time period, of the 1900’s, public schools and their teachers were held to high
expectations of various aspects, one of which was high academics. The American society’s push
of this expectation was in the hope we would not fall behind other countries progression. Another
was “the expectation of the public schools to solve social problems associated with poverty,
racism, inequality and the cultural unrest these conditions often brought with them” (Oakes,
47). During this time our country was dealing with the Great depression and its aftermath; also
racism was an ever-growing issue. Prior to the Civil War African American students if allowed to
attend the same school as white students were kept separate from them and often not taught
the same material. Slowly after the Civil War these conditions began to improve for African
American students. Unfortunately, the problem would move to different racial groups but slowly
the entire racial issue in school would be resolved.
One would think the main purpose of schools and teachers was to educate; however, there
were many additional responsibilities given to the schools and subsequently, the teachers.
Teachers were expected to keep students off the streets, out of trouble and occupied while a
majority of their parents worked long, tiring hours in the factories. At this time no one realized how these expectations would increase to what current educators are expected to accomplish today. The passing of No Child Left Behind in 2001 has been to date the most notorious law teachers have had to conquer despite our country’s struggling economy, lack of assistance and declining work conditions.
Today, teachers are expected to maintain standards despite parental or guardian support. Essentially teachers are expected to raise our students. I think this is an unfair expectation. Raising children is a responsibility for all the adults around each and every child, not one person in particular. Adults need to show by example the importance of having an education. One cannot expect a child to get an education when his/her parent or guardian did not. We all need to lead by example not only by going as far as possible within our own education progression but also in our expectations of those who take on the responsibility of teaching. Teacher’s conditions should not fluctuate depending on the current economy if our country is to continue to properly educate our youth. Rather let us give them praise and thanks for their willingness to take on this necessity. I am not saying we cannot give constructive criticism; but let us do so to improve the system not bring down those simply trying to do their job.











Jenna Haselwood
Citation Page
Oakes, Jeannie., & Lipton, Martin (2007). Teaching To Change the World. Boston, MA.: McGraw Hill.