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Andrew Willard
Jaime Wood
Writing 121.10
21 April 2012


Americas School

During my college education, Ive noticed many students in my classes have no idea
about America or what our history is, particularly the kids just out of high school. I remember
when I was growing up the pledge of allegiance was said every day and each year we were given
little books of the U.S. Constitution. Now there are fights about the word God and about
students wearing shirts in support of our U.S. Military.
In thinking about my dream school, I refuse to conform to what society thinks is right for
the moment or what is the cool thing to do; this is our country and when there are arguments in
favor of putting a Mexican flag on a public school flag pole in the United States of America, as
has happened in Colorado, I knew our nation had gone from great to questionable!
With this in mind, I sat down and thought about the best way to keep our American
heritage in schools and still teach our younger generation all the necessary things in order to
graduate. What I came up with was Americas School.
Americas School is a school like no other. It is a privately funded school from tuition
and outside support from local and national nonprofit organizations and is available to 7th-12th
graders. Americas School will teach all required education to get a high school diploma, but will
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mainly focus on traditions of America and the importance of keeping students aware of what
made America what it is today.
The only requirements to enroll in Americas School are the student must be a legal
resident of the United States and in 7th grade. A typical day in Americas School would start out
with the raising of the American Flag on the flag pole with all students outside lined up with
their hands over their hearts. The privilege of raising the American Flag will always be done by
seniors as part of their rite of passage before graduating and leaving for college.
Once the flag is raised, the students will return to their classrooms and recite the Pledge
of Allegiance, before official teaching began. The grade level of each student would dictate the
necessary learning requirements.
The way to address a teacher will be the way it always has been Mr./Ms./Mrs./Miss
followed by their last name. By doing this, each student builds respect, not only those who are
teaching them, but those around them outside of school. There would also be a huge focus on
showing respect to your teachers and fellow students by using sir or maam. The walls of the
school will be lined with only patriotic symbols such as the American Flag, Bald Eagles, colors
of America (i.e.: red white and blue), etc. By learning why our national colors are important and
what the colors stand for, it would help the students have a sense of pride four the country they
were lucky enough to be born in. The only flags allowed on school grounds would be the
American Flag and each states flag respectively.
By the time every student completes 7th grade he/she will not only know the national
anthem by heart, they will also be able to explain what the American Flag represents, what the
stars and stripes mean, the proper protocol for retiring an American Flag and what should be
placed on top of every flag pole.
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As every student continues in their education, they will start to get a better understanding
of American History and what has gone on in our country, good or bad, which led us to who we
are today. This will include understanding the revolutionary war and each subsequent war. Each
student will also be able to cite the Bill of Rights and understand the importance of the U.S.
Constitution.
Americas School will not only focus on education of our nation, it will also provide
multiple field trips to American History Museums, War Memorials and as a senior, an all-
expense paid week long trip to Washington D.C. and the surrounding area.
While in Washington D.C. the students will get a hands-on look at how America came to
be and at what cost. The highlights of the trip will include a sit in at both the U.S. Senate and the
U.S. House of Representatives. The students will also visit the White House, National Museums,
National War Memorials, to include Arlington National Cemetery and the rest of our National
Monuments. With this trip, every senior will have hands on experience on what it takes to run
our great country. It will also give them a firsthand experience on those who sacrificed so we
could live free
At the end of each school day, all students will reconvene back at the flag pole and lower
the American Flag, fold it under official regulations set forth by law and it would be turned over
to the principal prior to school being dismissed.
In reading about my dream school, its important to really think about what we have in
our country and what our nation went through to get where we are. All too often people sleep
under the blanket of freedom and never think about where that freedom came from. Then those
same people will question the way in which our nation provides that freedom!