All Americans have rights that are given to them for being American citizens. Children must learn about citizenship to be successful when they are older. Learning about others and their needs broadens one’s view point. The US Constitution was put in place to give everyone equality regardless of race, gender, disability, or social status. The most pressing responsibility that is lacking is sacrifice. Many Americans expect to be given rights but are not willing to make a personal sacrifice for them. In order to maintain rights and liberties, American citizens have three main responsibilities: education, equality and selfless service.
The first responsibility is education. Many parents begin this process when the child is very young. Children learn values even before they know what values are. As a child grows he or she becomes more aware of what is expected of him. Learning she is in control of her words and her actions and that her words and actions affects others. When he lies there are consequences that follow. Sharing is taught as a way to show respect to others. Not getting what she wants when she wants it teaches her self-control. Children learn responsibility if they know what is expected of them. The most basic education begins the building blocks for successful young citizens.
Free formal education is provided as the child continues to grow and expand her mind. In America, there is an increasing separation in the way children receive their education. In “A Tale of Two Schools: How Poor Children Are Lost to the World”, many schools do not have the resources to meet national standards. Mainly inner city schools have classrooms with outdated technology and too many children in the classroom. The teachers are also n...
... middle of paper ...
... not want to assume the responsibilities there would not be any. People have laid down their lives to protect the freedoms of this nation. Citizens need to realize and understand that rights and freedoms of this country are maintained and upheld by fulfilling three responsibilities: education, equality, and personal sacrifices.
Works Cited
Adams, John and Abigail Adams. "Letters." Selzer. 253-55. Print.
Douglass, Frederick. "What, to the Slave, Is the Fourth of July?" Selzer. 229-48. Print.
Kozol, Jonathan. "A Tale of Two Schools: How Poor Children Are Lost to the World." Selzer. 142-45. Print.
Selzer, Jack, ed. Argument in America: Essential Issues, Essential Texts. NY: Longman, 2004. Print.
Stanton, Elizabeth C. "The Seneca Falls Declaration." Selzer. 262-67. Print.
Where We Stand In America: Schools in the 21st Century. PBS, 2008. Web. 6 Feb. 2011.
Kozol’s descriptions of the schools help to instill the feeling of hopelessness and destitution that the children in these areas not only feel in their education but in their everyday lives as well. By describing the deteriorating conditions of the schools in the selected areas against those in the more affluent districts, he implies that money is the short-term fix to the problem. Money may fix the roof or the walls but more then just money needs to be put into these schools. Kozol writes with the intention to shock his readers with graphic details, and push them towards change.
Tozer, Steve, and Guy Senese. School and Society: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. Print.
A child’s first day of school is often viewed as a rite of passage; the first step on the road to a happy and successful life. This is true for most children from affluent families who live in the best school districts or can afford expensive private schools. But what if a child’s first day of school is nothing more than the first step on the road to poverty and possibly even illiteracy? The documentary Waiting for “Superman” addresses many issues in a failing school system and the innocent children that system leaves behind. Although the documentary spends little time suggesting parents’ roles in their children’s education, it clearly shows that we must make changes to help children from low-income families and improve the teacher’s unions.
...responsibilities as a citizen of the United States? The Free Library. (2005). Retrieved March 03, 2008 from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Are you a good citizen? What are your rights and responsibilities as...-a0137097600
Ripley, Amanda. "A Call To Action For Public Schools. (Cover Story)."Time 176.12 (2010): 32. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
The idea of freedom, that America, founded its principles on, has not always successfully held up. Undoubtedly when our country first started, we had the idea in mind, that our constitution would protect the needs of its people, even as those needs alter; therefore it’s wording needed to be, ductile and interpretive. In recent years, this plasticity has become functional and fair, yet in the past, politicians used it to give and revoke, power, to and from people. Prior to the civil war, though it helped spark many of the social/civil revolution we know today, liberty and freedom were a luxury enjoyed by a few people. Woman, non-whites, and low-income people had their liberties denied, questioned or altogether abolished. However these same groups
Only now is evidence emerging testifying to the fact that much of the criticism leveled at public schools is exaggerated and misplaced. It is easy to forget that schools reflect what is happening in society, not cause it. Schools of today have recently shown that they are performing better than ever. Unfortunately, the traditional challenges confronting schools have increased dramatically and broadly as the world and students have changed. Now schools are facing drastic change -- necessary change that must take place quickly so students are able to cope in a dramatically changing world of the future. All of the criticism creates fear in teachers and administrators rather than a desire to embrace change.
2. respect the constitutional rights of all men to liberty: Our constitutional rights are very important, and it is important to say that if we do not have our rights we might as well not have anything. Without these rights no one is equal.
State School. (2013, 31 August). Retrieved September 6, 2013, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org?wiki?Public_education
After reading Joel Spring?s book, and reflecting on some of the issues facing our schools, it is apparent that our educational system requires much attention among our nation?s leaders. While the system has transformed in many beneficial ways, we are still plagued by the growing problems of society. I look forward to reading another book by Joel Spring, and developing my evolving understanding of the educational system within the United States.
The question then becomes at what price such sacrifices were made. Human rights should be exercised whenever injustice is witnessed, not only as protest when it is to one’s benefit. Acting to unite the people of the United States of America as one regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual preference despite belief over whether individual issues are important enough to defend.
I, like many Americans, thought that by virtue of living in the United States, one was entitled to a free education that would set them up for future success. Unfortunately, I have found out that that is far from the truth. The issue of education inequality is a prevalent and significant issue in our society, and it took my being exposed to it first-hand to raise my awareness.
In addition, those responsibilities are from the personality of their actions. Responsibilities come from growing older and learning. Similarly, children and adults would admit when wrong and take responsibilities for their actions. In adults, they are more responsible for helping a child understand things. Children are so different and unique, and so it is our job as adults to help them be successful. One main cause of differences in responsibilities is regrets when something is done wrong. In children, there are many lessons to learn in taking responsibilities. Parents give children jobs such as saying “yes maam” and “no maam” when talking to someone of high authority of them. Children often have to learn that school is very important and so is their schoolwork. Children often regret not knowing how something is done. Children should understand that every action they are going make in life often results in learning from those actions. In addition, independence comes from completely different types of views at childhood and adult ages as they grow
The first responsibility that I think is very important is being a good example for your kids. Parents are examples for their kids whether they like it or not. My boys watch and copy everything that I do, and even if I don’t think their listening they are listening. If they see me finishing school and working a good job that’s what they will expect to do themselves because that is all that they know. Children are like sponges. I want to show my kids how to be a good person by being a good person myself. As a parent I want my children to know that they can be anything they want to be, but at the same time I am controlling their physical and moral environment so that they can be good people. I want them to be in an environment where they can develop habits of honesty, generosity, and responsibility.
As citizens of the United States, and as people living under a democracy, the government has certain responsibilities to us. We are guaranteed union, justice, tranquility, defense, welfare, and liberty. These rights are all very important to the well being of our country and the states that exist in it. I feel that there are three that are a little more important than the others.