7+Lessons

A summation of ** “ ****September 11: Seven Lessons for the Schools **** ” ** by Diane Ravitch In response to the terrorist attacks, U.S. public schools must reclaim their vital role in preparing students to become informed citizens who will preserve and protect democracy. //** In light of what we have learned (or should have learned) since September 11, what should we teach our children about citizenship? Are they citizens of the United States, or citizens of the world? The question answers itself. //**
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 * 1) **It** ** ’ ****s ok to be patriotic **. //Just as we want children to feel pride in themselves, in their family, and in their local community, we want them to feel a sense of attachment to the nation that sustains our freedoms and rights.//
 * 2) **Not all cultures share our regard for equality and human rights**. //We should not tell our students that our nation's commitment to due process and the rule of law is no better than the practices of societies that abuse fundamental human rights.//
 * 3) **We must now recognize the presence of evil in the world.** //Part of our postmodern view of the world has required us as educators to assert that good and evil are old-fashioned terms and somehow obsolete. We must now acknowledge and teach the differences between them.//
 * 4) **Pluralism and divergence of opinion are valuable//.//** //What we have learned about the cultures that produced terrorism should make us appreciate the importance of pluralism and tolerance in our own society. By the same token, we recognize that our schools serve as frontline democratic institutions, where students learn to discuss, debate, and respect differences of opinion.//
 * 5) **Knowledge of United States history is important.** //Students need a solid grounding of knowledge about the history of the United States. They need to understand the origins and meaning of the U.S. Constitution, and they need to learn about the issues and events that shaped our institutions. One can't think critically about political and social issues in the absence of knowledge.//
 * 6) **Knowledge of world history and geography is important.** //Just as we must know ourselves, we must also learn about others, seeing them as they see themselves but also seeing them through our own eyes. We can no longer afford to live in ignorance of others.//
 * 7) **We must teach students to appreciate and defend our democratic institutions**. //As educators, we have a responsibility to the public, to the children in our schools, and to the future. The public expects the schools to equip students with the tools to carry on our democracy and to improve it. The public invests in education as a way of investing in a better society.//
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