History Topic

I'm still rather confused over what exactly to do for my inquiry project. Today in class I will ask for examples and hopefully figure out what exactly we are supposed to do. I am excited to go and watch a class room, and I was just offered to shadow 3 history teachers in the Clifton school district. Now all I need is to start my paper.

The Big Paper

So thoughts of my term paper have led me nowhere. Obviously being a history major I want to do history involving education but I am still not sure what aspect. Hopefully form our class tomorrow there will be some help to figure out what exactly I want to do.

Rewrite

The importance of teaching Democracy in US schools should be apparent, considering that we as a nation are a Democracy. Yet there is an underlying tone which we also need to understand about this form of government which we, as teachers, need to teach our students. As Alexis de Tocqueville said, “…the more they look after what they call their own business, they neglect their chief business, which is to remain their own masters (Parker 2).” It is easily understood that it is essential to have a role in our society as a citizen, and also important to take care of ourselves. A student can easily get caught up in promises of our leaders and their general improvement of our country, but they need to understand that if the candidate says that they will cut property taxes for those who make millions of dollars a year, and if the student does not make that much, then why would they want to vote for that mayor.

While making sure that our individual needs are met, there must also be some want to improve the community, which ultimately will improve us. As Parker says, “the paradigm case is the Mafia- a family that looks inward intensely and solely. A thick moral code glues the insiders together, but in dealing with outsiders whose are beyond the galaxy of one’s obligations and duties, anything goes (Parker 2).” In being selfish a person may not realize that by helping the community they are also helping themselves. By example of Jane Addams, you can clear your table of the trash, and bring it outside to make sure your family does not get sick, yet if the trash does not get taken away from your front yard, as per responsibility of the government, then it will pile up and sickness will soon enter your house (Parker 2).

Democracy is one voice, one vote. You must look after yourself to make sure that your needs are met, but also know the balance that your community is doing well at the same time, so that individuals can live a healthy and long life.

The importance of self and community

The importance of teaching Democracy in US schools should be apparent, considering that we as a nation are a Democracy. Yet there is an underlying tone which we also need to understand about this form of government which we as teachers need to inform our students. As Alexis de Tocqueville said, “…the more they look after what they call their own business, they neglect their chief business, which is to remain their own masters.” This is easily understood that it is important to play a role in our society as a citizen of a Democracy, but it is equally important that we make sure that we are taken care of, such as when we vote we need to make sure that our one voice, one vote is toward the betterment of ourselves and our family. A student can easily get caught up in promises of our leaders and their general improvement of our country, but they need to understand that if the mayor proclaims that he will cut property taxes for those who make millions of dollars a year, and the student does not make nearly that much, why then would he want to vote for that mayor.

Yet also in making sure that your needs and wants are taken care of there must also be some want to improve the community, which ultimately will improve themselves. As Parker says, “the paradigm case is the Mafia- a family that looks inward intensely and solely. A thick moral code glues the insiders together, but in dealing with outsiders whose are beyond the galaxy of one’s obligations and duties, anything goes.” If a student were to become enthralled by bettering only himself he may become lost in the fact that if he helps out another he may be able to help out himself. By example of Jane Addams, you can clear your table of the trash, and bring it outside to make sure your family does not get sick, yet if the trash does not get taken away from your front yard, as per responsibility of the government, then it will pile up and sickness will soon enter your house.

Democracy is one voice, one vote. You must look after yourself to be sure that your needs are met, but also know the balance that your community must have its needs met also, so that you can live a healthy and long life.

Its a little longer than it was supposed to be but I got on an idea and couldn't stop.