This chapter reminded me of our discussion in the previous class questioning if the U.S. has one culture and if the education system is responsible for teaching patriotism. The chapter mentions that in the early period of common school reforms,” it primarily protected a Protestant ideology against an influx of Irish Catholics, African Americans, and Native Americans.” But the book continues on to say that “in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Americanization programs for immigrants in the public schools served the same function.”
It was interesting to learn that highschools only became institution in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Isn’t this the time of the Great Depression? In the section of “The Birth of The High School” it mentions that “A high school education would lead to obedience to the law.” My question would be, to what extent is the high school institution responsible for their student’s obedience to the law? I am actually pretty curious about the steps the school system or government took to have more kids stay in school today.And regarding another supporting arguments for creating a high school, is that “high schools would promote the idea that achievement depends on individual responsibility.” To me this just shows American’s individualistic state of culture.
Lastly, it is also interesting that the chapter goes on to talk about the promise of the American life being an improved economic opportunity for all people. This has sparked the question of: How much of an improvement is there for the non-whites in America and if that promise holds true for the immigrants that continue to come here?
