Benjamin Franklin
For many kids today, even here in Delaware just 30 minutes from Philadelphia, the closest they will get to a founding father is when they pay for their lunch. Over the years history has been thrust aside in general to make room for new, green curriculum's and cultural awareness classes. For the younger children social studies used to include probing looks into famous historical figures from Julius Caesar to Abraham Lincoln. Today children are lucky if they hear these names at all before 5th or 6th grade. How can these children grow into pragmatic and intelligent leaders if they don't learn about our past. Todays kids should experience Plato, Caesar, Socrates, and Michaelangelo to name a few of the more distant figures. Also, the history of America isn't even being considered. Kids today know about George Washington the peanut farmer and that he chopped down a cherry tree. Of course George Washington was NOT a peanut farmer, that was George Washington Carver who was born in 1864. One of the most telling instances of the failure of our public school system to properly educate our children is when a boy asked a man who was dressed like Ben Franklin "If you're Ben Franklin, where is your wooden leg?" When the boy was told that Ben Franklin used a walking stick but did not have a wooden leg he insisted that his teacher told him different. It may sound like small potatoes but our children must be taught our history in our schools because lord knows in general they won't learn it at home in most cases.
Children are being robbed of their innocence at home with increasingly violent cartoons and teen shows like iCarly (the show features prepubescent teens becoming gradually more explicit) on Nickelodeon. These aren't the slapstick comedies of yesteryear. Instead the characters learn of the 7 dirty words and discuss adult themes that stop just short of sex. Disney movies contain even more direct references to adult themes. The Fox "Animation Domination" on Sunday nights starting at 8PM features such harmless sounding shows as "The Simpsons", "The Cleveland Show", "Family Guy" and "American Dad". These shows deal almost exclusively with adult humor and make even the nastiest of minds blush from time to time. To be clear, there is no reasons to call for these shows to be removed or to boycott them because there is a market for them and people should be able to enjoy some dirty humor if they want to. The problem is that the marketing often targets children who see images of Cleveland ( a middle aged black man) having dinner with a blow up doll or one of the cartoon wives in their lingerie.
Our children are under assault from a myriad of other places such as MTV and BET who portray some of the worst acts of violence and depravity as glamorous. MTV's 16 and Pregnant which thankfully airs at 10 PM EST (9PM Central) when most of our kids and teenagers are in bed (yea right) or at least should be, profiles young 16 yr old girls who have gotten pregnant. The show often re-airs on weekends when children could be exposed to it. MTV president Brian Graden told the New York Times in June that "MTV’s new shows would “focus less on silly hooks and more on young people proving themselves,” because “these are the themes that are consistent with the Obama generation.”" While Gina Bellafante, author of the NYT report later seems to complain that the girls in the shows never choose abortion as an option, the real outrage here is that teen girls are being glorified for their irresponsibility.
.jpg)
A Map of Boston's Freedom Trail
In a state so close to the city in which our nation was founded it is unacceptable that every class from 1st grade on, in every school does not visit places like Independence Hall, The Franklin Institute and Valley Forge. Older children in our Junior High and High School classes should be visiting Washington, D.C. and the Freedom Trail in Boston. They should know who the founding fathers (and mothers like Abigail Adams were) and should be taught the principles on which the nation was founded. They should learn that even at the birth of our nation there were differences in opinion and compromises made. They should learn that Alexander Hamilton lobbied desperately for a monarchical style government with a very elitist mentality. By contrast Thomas Jefferson was very much in favor of a limited central government with most of the power left to the people. Jefferson did not even want the federal government to have the power to tax the citizens. In the end a compromise was reached and that compromise became our Constitution.
2003 Gallup Poll of teens favorite subjects
Most kids will never learn that. In a 2003 Gallup Poll, teens ranked History in a tie for their 3rd favorite subject. Yet the pollsters also found that "According to the 2001 NAEP U.S. history assessment, just 11% of 12th graders score at or above the proficiency level" in history. We have abandoned the very subject that the Founders intended for us to hold on to, History. The Founders used a broad and deep overall knowledge of history to reach back through time and learn about the great democracies of ancient Israel, Rome and Greece. They also used history to reach back to the Magna Carta and to view the history of the Pharaohs and Kings whose fists were so tightly clenched around their subjects throats. It was through an arduous study and tremendous understanding of history that the Founders were able to create the greatest system of government as yet devised. In 1788 Noah Webster said "Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country." Perhaps if we had listened to Noah Webster we could have avoided the Fort Hood incident .
Comments
On the Net, there are many fake quotes being attributed to Founders, many of which disparage democracy.
Name one that was fake *here* ???
I for one think More journalists should be happy to have even half the courage and heart this writer does. Evan Queitsch is the strongest thing that has inspired me to go back to writing so that SOMEONE understands our true history. As he has said, it is woefully forgotten among our newest generation...as one can see from your comment above.
Another glorious coup sir. Don't be dissuaded by those whose only purpose is to undermine. Their motives are transparent.
Well should you require more proof of the validity of the quote attributed to Noah Webster, I can assure you that this particular quote is indeed Noah Websters own words. Here is some more evidence...
Epilogue: Securing the Republic - This is the particular essay written in 1788 in which Noah Webster makes this written statement
Below is the bibliographical information:
The Founders' Constitution
Volume 1, Chapter 18, Document 26
The University of Chicago Press
Webster, Noah. A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings on Moral, Historical, Political and Literary Subjects. Boston, 1790. Reprint. Delmar, N.Y.: Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints, 1977.
liked the clip from "John Adams" - didn't know that not-so-small tidbit about Alex Hamilton. hmmmm.
Oh yes, Hamilton was a debt supporter and the father of the national banking system. Until then local bankers only issued paper notes that were backed by real solid gold or other raw commodities with value like Silver and Copper. If you could not afford something you either did not buy it, you bartered for it or you paid for part of it and bartered for the other part. Once Hamilton designed the banking system to operate on perpetual debt banks began to issue paper currency as "promisory notes". They weren't exactly LEGAL TENDER but you could take it to the bank and exchange it for hard assets. Still, at that time MOST transactions took place with Gold or Silver coinage. Even Hamilton never (I don't think) could even dream of what we have today. His standard (thanks to Jeffersons demands) actually called for the debt to be reset every 20 years. By the 1860's banks were becoming regionalized and paper notes became more common. Then in 1933 we dropped the gold standard entirely.
Excellent article. I agree that our children are not learning history or pride in our great heritage. I got my grandchildren a book (I keep it for now and read from it to them) which helps supplement their education. I feel we need to do that, and there are many good books out there. I happen to like "Godly Minds, Bold Hearts." I got it from Miss Kitty's Attic but I think it's also available from Amazon.
Oh yes, Hamilton was a debt supporter and the father of the national banking system. Until then local bankers only issued paper notes that were backed by real solid gold or other raw commodities with value like Silver and Copper. If you could not afford something you either did not buy it, you bartered for it or you paid for part of it and bartered for the other part. Once Hamilton designed the banking system to operate on perpetual debt banks began to issue paper currency as "promisory notes". They weren't exactly LEGAL TENDER but you could take it to the bank and exchange it for hard assets. Still, at that time MOST transactions took place with Gold or Silver coinage. Even Hamilton never (I don't think) could even dream of what we have today. His standard (thanks to Jeffersons demands) actually called for the debt to be reset every 20 years. By the 1860's banks were becoming regionalized and paper notes became more common. Then in 1933 we dropped the gold standard entirely.
Louise,
Don't forget the local groups like Founders Values (www.foundersvalues.com) who go out and do seminars and teach lessons for children and adults. I'd urge you to consider picking up "Elementary Catechism on the Constitution of the United States" which is available through Founders Values or through Amazon.com as well. It will help to educate children directly on the subject and is designed to be taught from Elementary school up though I suspect the adults may learn something as well.
Louise,
Don't forget the local groups like Founders Values (www.foundersvalues.com) who go out and do seminars and teach lessons for children and adults. I'd urge you to consider picking up "Elementary Catechism on the Constitution of the United States" which is available through Founders Values or through Amazon.com as well. It will help to educate children directly on the subject and is designed to be taught from Elementary school up though I suspect the adults may learn something as well.
Children not being taught history and a love for America at home isn't the schools fault. A child's education is the parent's responsibility and schools should be assisting parents in this task. Now the fact that education system is undermining parents and pushing the revisionist and socialist agenda of the NEA and Democratic party is the fault of the education system. Vouchers anyone?
Children not being taught history and a love for America at home isn't the schools fault. A child's education is the parent's responsibility and schools should be assisting parents in this task. Now the fact that education system is undermining parents and pushing the revisionist and socialist agenda of the NEA and Democratic party is the fault of the education system. Vouchers anyone?
Sword,
While I agree with you (amen to vouchers) that the parents ought to be teaching their children and schools should supplement them...the problem is that with the ultra high taxes and fees for everything under the sun, parents don't have the time to devote to teaching their children anymore. We already work past tax day every year just to start at EVEN. If the government doesn't bend on taxes or the schools don't bend to the parents will I'm afraid there will be a "Man Caused Education Crisis".
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!