Why the apathy?

There are a couple of strong points that keep coming back to me as we read and discuss Schools The Story of American Public Education.  First, Jefferson and others had a vision that education was key to developing and maintaining our republic.  I doubt they could foresee all the issues that would arise in our nation, but they understood that an educated population would have the resources needed to help ensure the success of this new type of government.   We could not have a system that could create opportunities for the few elite to be in a position of power over others.  Jefferson also recognized that “intelligence/talent” was not specific to one social/economic class but found across a whole population.  Opportunities needed to be available to all. 

 Second, I am left wondering, what has created sense of apathy of some towards education or receiving an education?  I understand that I am coming at this with a biased cultural lens.  But what have we done in the past to develop these feelings, or what cultural values lead to that?  I think of cultures where education and educators are highly valued and respected.  As an example, the Singapore method of instruction with PLCs.  The communities support and expect teachers to participate in these purposeful educational reflections and practices. Ours does not.  I reflect on how significant struggles have been made to insure educational opportunities, starting with colonial times, through pre-war immigrants, 50’s – 60’s and today.  On page 41  James Anderson summarizes the perception of African Americans that education would not help them economically or socially but recognized it as a key component of freedom. At that time they used an argument that interestingly enough opponents of charter schools/vouchers use today that “separate schools cost more and do less for children.” (pg. 42)  Later, in the 50’s and 60’s the extent that people were willing to go through to ensure an equal education for all is awe inspiring.  Where did that value and appreciation of education go?  I am wondering if part of the answer lies in the Native American experience with traditional white American curriculum.   I know hardly anything about the Native American school experience, but I know that Native American culture was not valued, and a traditional white American curriculum was imposed.  It is no wonder that a white male curriculum was rejected and despised.  Did the same thing happen with the African American and Hispanic culture?  During desegregation some African Americans did not want to be desegregated, they just wanted the same quality of facilities and access to resources that the white children had. (This leads me off on another tangent – when African Americans were given the opportunity to legally participate in education they thought that separate facilities would defuse resources unnecessarily)   However, with desegregation their culture was devalued and they were strictly exposed to white American philosophies.  Is that part of why we now have such resistance and almost hatred towards being educated within some of our population?  My first year of teaching was in an inner city charter school in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  What an eye opener for a sheltered while girl that live up on the mountain and not down in the valley where I taught!  I had two significant learning experiences that on a personal level were positive and heartbreaking at the same time.  Johna (sounds like Joe Nay) is a brilliant person.  Although she was only in 1^st grade at that time that girl was fun to talk with and her insights about academics, philosophy and the reality of life were brilliant.  She truly is one of those people that is a thinker and learner.  Because of my cultural bias I was always making comments to her about going to college.  What would she like to study?  What interested her? What did she want to do when she finished school? Etc.  I really felt the need to encourage her – because I thought she could be the ticket out for her current and future family.  One day her mama came to school and let me have it.  I was not to talk to her “Jonaanaa” anymore about going to college!  She wasn’t going and I had no place to talk to her like that.  I was absolutely stunned and as you can tell still grappling with it.  Another day another little girl l was working with one on one – stop what she was doing to tell me I was white and new ‘noth’n ‘bout her.  To me I didn’t care what ethnicity she was, it had absolutely nothing to do with reading, but to her it had everything to do with it.

I truly do not want to offend or upset anyone with my next comment….I am just thinking and trying to understand: At what point is it ok to separate yourself out of our nation and at what point does that cause harm to the nation and individual.