Myth of the Melting Pot

For your last blog post you need to consider the myth of the melting pot, which has long been used to describe America.  It would be helpful for you to use your blog post and responses to help develop the metaphor that you think best represents the America of your experience.  You might want to consider:

• Has America ever been a melting pot?
• Are there aspects of our cultural heritage that have become part of American culture?
• Do our prejudices and stereotypes prevent us from becoming unified?
• Is it important to our individual identities to hold on to our cultural heritage?
• Is assimilation a good thing, or bad?

While the focus of your essay will be on building a resemblance argument, the above questions are designed to help you think about the underlying issues that might be implicit in your argument.

Myth of Education and Empowerment Week 3

This week there are no readings, but the film Waiting for Superman, directed by Davis Guggenheim, is a powerful indictment of America's public education system.  I hope you have plenty to say in your blog about this film, but in case you need help getting started, you might consider the following:

• Does Guggenheim's film take a particular bias?  Should teachers and/or administrators be offended?
• Since the film deals with urban and suburban, not rural, schools, do these schools create (cause) empowerment in today's world?
• How to we think about Bill Gates' affirmation that we need better education to fulfill the future needs in our country?
• Are charter and magnet schools a good idea?
• Who is harmed by the public education tenure system?

While not exhaustive, hopefully the above questions will prompt you to pursue your own argument.  Remember that the paper at the end of this unit is to be a causal argument about education and empowerment.  You can use the film as one of your source texts.

Myth of Education & Empowerment Week Two

This week you will blog on readings by Rodriguez, Kozol, Malcolm X and Professor X.  Keep in mind that you are  responding to the readings and that the unit pertains to the myth of education and empowerment.  You also should be thinking about how these readings can be used in your causal argument paper, which is due on Nov. 13 in draft form.  If you need help starting your blog post, you might consider the following:

• Rodriguez quotes Hoggart in his argument about education giving the ability to think about and articulate a simple, passionate life.  Do you think he would say that education has had a positive or negative impact on his life?
• Kozol points out the inequality of public education, especially in inner-city schools.  How does this relate to Anyon's observations from last week's reading?  What are some causes of such inequality, and is there anything that can be done about it?  
• For whom is education a source of empowerment?
• Malcolm X explains the source of his empowerment as self-education attained through books, not formal education.  What was the cause of his desire to learn?  
• Do you think that Professor X is accurate in his assessment that education is NOT accessible to all Americans?  
• Is "reading literature at a college level" really of value to anyone?  Is it a source of empowerment?  How?

Myth of Education and Empowerment Week 1

In this unit we will discuss the myth of education and empowerment.  You might want to keep in mind that the paper assignment for this unit is a causal argument, so you could use your blog posts to begin formulating the ideas you want to develop for your paper.  If you need some help getting started with your post, you might consider the following:

• Why did the early education theorists in America think that a good education made better citizens or lawmakers?
• According to Michael Moore, public figures should have a liberal education.  Does the lack of knowledge in the humanities affect one's ability to make good decisions?
• We acknowledge that money creates power, but does education also empower one?  In what respect? Is education the great equalizer, as has been claimed?  Why or why not?
• Gatto argues that public school exists for the purpose of prolonging childhood and turning out workers who do not think critically.  Do you accept his position?  How does your experience relate to this argument?
• Anyon describes observations of several schools in different neighborhoods.  Do you think the variances in education for different socioeconomic classes are acceptable?  Does this compound the problem of class in America?

Week Three: Myth of Individual Opportunity

This week we shift to gender issues as they relate to opportunity.  Your paper for this unit can relate to class, race or gender, but should make a proposal argument about opportunity, so you might want to start thinking about how you want to formulate a proposal based on this issue.  Blogging a preliminary proposal might be helpful in your quest to establish your paper thesis.

The essays you will blog about this week are by Tocqueville, Kincaid, Devor and Rosin.  You need to make reference to at least one of these.  If you are at a loss about where to start, you might consider:

• Do the sexes have set gender roles, or are they learned/conditioned?
• How open are we to those who do not remain in their "proper" role?
• Kincaid presents a traditional prescription for female behavior within her culture.  Do we have similar prescriptions in American culture?  Are there ways in which boys should act to become respected men?
•  How do Devor's claims correspond with your own observations?
• Do gender expectations limit opportunities to achieve one's dreams?

Week Two: Myth of Opportunity

This week's readings include essays by Mantsios, Kendall, Beech, and Newman and Chen.  You need to post your usual blog of about 250 words, referencing AT LEAST one of the essays, and respond to two posts written by classmates.  Keep in mind that the topic is individual opportunity, and you might want to ask yourself:

• Do I have a moral obligation to try to change the uneven distribution of wealth in America?
• How are my perceptions of social class affected by media representation?  
• Are NASCAR fans of a different class than Opera fans?  What are they like? Why do I have that view?
• Does America have a class problem?  Is the "missing class" that Newman and Chen write about truly invisible?
• How to I perceive rednecks?  What does the term mean to me?  Where is the greatest risk of social injustice, race or class?  How does labeling people alter general perceptions of them?

Week One: Myth of Individual Opportunity

This week we're reading Alger, Bambara and Dalton.  Keep in mind that they all pertain to the myth of individual opportunity.  These prompts are only suggestions; you can use them or present your own ideas, but remember to reference at least one of the readings in your blog.

• Do you believe that all American's have equal opportunities?
• Is prosperity through integrity and hard work as illustrated in Alger's story still possible in today's society?
• What part of Ragged Dick's opportunity is based on chance, and do you believe the same relationship exists?
• In Bambara's story, Sugar claims that, "Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough" (270).  And the evident inequality gives Sylvia something to think about.  What do you think about Bambara's portrayal of inequality as a matter of race?  Is she being (un)fair?  How do you view Miss Moore's educational trips with the kids?  Are they making a difference?
• Dalton states that, "Alger's myth is socially destructive" (272).  Do  you agree?  Can you live with the dissonance between myth and reality that he argues is a part of Black consciousness, or do you feel a need to resolve this dissonance? (cf 277)