As America As Public school

 The resounding theme I found from the readings as well as my collaborative work with my peers, was the concept of culture fitting into being an American. What kind of citizens is our education system hoping to mold students into? Does cultural identity have to be erased as a sacrifice to fit into American society?

Public schools play a major role in defining what it means to be “American.” From the late 19th century through the 20th, schools served as a pathway for immigrant children to learn English, American laws, and civic values. For many families, especially those arriving from non-English-speaking countries, the school system helped to deliver a path for navigating foreign territory. Learning the language and understanding the norms of American society helped children make their way through the world their parents were struggling to comprehend. In many cases, public education offered the initial steps toward societal awareness, opening doors to better jobs, deeper civic engagement, and a more comfortable life.

But while schools played a helpful role, the process of becoming “American” through public education has never been neutral. It often came with a strong demand for assimilation, the idea that success meant becoming less like “where you came from” and more like the everyone else. For many early reformers and school officials like Ellwood Cubberley, this meant encouraging students to abandon their languages, religions, and traditions. Cubberley and others saw cultural difference as a threat to unity within the nation, not a strength. The idea they supported was the “melting pot,” where all differences were melted down and erased into one identity.

That is where the problem lies. The belief that to be American you have to give up who you are is a false and harmful idea. Immigrants should not have to abandon their heritage in order to belong. America’s real strength comes not from uniformity but from diversity. It is what our country is built on. Being American  is about shared values like democracy, freedom, and opportunity. People can still be fully American while speaking another language at home, practicing different religions, or celebrating different holidays. The “melting pot” model assumes that difference is dangerous, but history has shown us that when differences are recognized and appreciated, they actually make us stronger!

Another assumption that is important to examine is the idea that all immigrants wanted to fully assimilate. That is not always the case. Many parents hoped their children would learn English and succeed in America, yes, but they also wanted to hold on to the customs, food, faith, and stories that shaped their identities. Assimilation, for them, was something they felt they had to do, not necessarily something they wanted. It was a way to survive, not a rejection of who they were. The pull between blending in and staying true to one's background created complicated feelings for many immigrant families. This isn't a process that can be generalized, as it was individual to each family's experience.

Fortunately, American identity has continued to evolve. During the Great Depression and World War II, a new vision began to take hold, that historians call civic nationalism. This version of American identity was more inclusive. It emphasized shared democratic values over shared ethnicity. During this period, some educators promoted intercultural education, which aimed to teach students not just to tolerate difference but to appreciate it. This shifted us away from the racism of earlier years. I think it is important to acknowledge, however, that the work is still not over. There are many ways still in which groups are marginalized and the school system does not adhere necessarily to those who do not fit the ideal of a pure "American". 

The kind of country I aspire to live in, is one where people are proud of their roots and still fully belong. One where schools teach not just the “American way,” but also the value of other ways of life. There is so much beauty in shared cultures. America is unique because of the immigrants who brought their cultures and traditions here. There would be no "Americanism" without the values and identities of the many people who came here from afar and planted their roots.