Transcript American Except. and Population Week 5-1

American Exceptionalism
Is it Ethnocentrism or Reality?
BME 210, Week 5
Jon Reyhner, Professor of Education
7
2016 Republican Platform
We believe in American exceptionalism.
We believe the United States of America is
unlike any other nation on earth.
We believe America is exceptional because of
our historic role — first as refuge, then as
defender, and now as exemplar of liberty for the
world to see.
The Washington Post explains “America
Exceptionalism” as an ideology based on five
ideas: Liberty, individualism, the belief in
equality of all men, the philosophy that appeals
to the common man rather appealing to a
traditional party or partisan ideologies, and an
attitude of letting things take their own course,
without interfering [laissez faire].
In 2014, the Republican National Committee
condemned the new AP US History framework as “a
radically revisionist view of American history that
emphasizes negative aspects of our nation’s history
while omitting or minimizing positive aspects.”
The framework is about “teaching kids to see
complexity and draw their own conclusions,” says
Fritz Fischer, a history professor at the University of
Colorado and author of “The Memory Hole: The
U.S. History Curriculum Under Siege.”
The problem with people pushing “American
exceptionalism” in the curriculum, Professor Fischer says, is
that they want to teach “that America was always right.…
They believe the US is the best country now and therefore
it has always been the best country.”
Fischer agrees there are many examples of shining
moments for the nation, but worries that some backers of
exceptionalism don’t want students to be exposed to
anything negative. Some have objected to letting students
know about some founders of the country being
slaveholders, while others have said America’s expansion
westward can only be called expansionism, not imperialism.
“It’s much too simplistic for the classroom, where you
want to teach critical thinking,” according to Fischer.
13
14
Global Trends: Economic
Percentage of World GDP
2004
2025
2050
India
2%
Other
India
4%
20%
India
China
Japan
Other
5%
China
12%
21%
15%
7%
28%
34%
US
Other
27%
EU
25%
Japan
17%
10%
28%
26%
US
15%
China
4%
US
EU
Japan
EU
China, India, Japan are expected to be 50% of world
GDP within 30 years -- up from 18% in 2006.
Source: Keystone India
17
US Population by
Race
US Prison
Population
by Race
Prison Population by Country
Current U.S. Senate
Representation
Red= 2 Republicans
Purple= 1 Each
Blue= Democrat
Green=Independent
Federal Spending 2005
AZ General Fund Spending FY ‘11,
total= $9,524.3 million
Time Magazine
11/14/11
Time Magazine 11/14/11
A Pew survey of U.S. and
Western European
societal values found that
fewer people in the U.S.
Are now convinced of
their nation’s
exceptionalism. The
percentage of Americans
who agreed with the
statement “Our people
are not perfect, but our
culture is superior to
others” has dropped from
60% in 2002.
Time Magazine 12/5/2011
Resident
population
of the
United
States, by
race/ethni
city and
sex: 2008
Figure
Updated:
February
2011
Racial and
Ethnic
Composition of the
Poor, 2010
Data from
DeNavasWalt, C.,
Proctor, B.
D., &
Smith, J. C.
(2011).
Washington, DC: US
Census
Bureau.
Arizona Demographics
2016 Arizona Total Population
2014-2015 Arizona Student Population
0% 2%
3%
Asian
5%
5%
White
American Indian/Alaska Native
32%
Black
Black/African American
40%
Asian
Hispanic/Latino
Native American
White
55%
2%
45%
3%
4%
Other
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
4%
Hispanic
Multi-race/non-Hispanic
2015 Arizona Teacher
Demographics
0%
2% 2%
2%
10%
0%
American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
Black/African American
Hispanic/Latino of any race
84%
Two or more races
White
Impact of AZ Teacher Demographics
• Building relationships is foundational for providing an education
that is culturally responsive and relevant for increased student
engagement leading to increased achievement. Knowing and
understanding the intricacies of our students’ communities is an
essential for our teachers.
• Our teachers are role models for our students at various levels.
Students from all races and backgrounds should view the education
profession as a viable career choice. Seeing someone from a similar
cultural background and experience will positively impact our
state’s ability to build a strong teaching cadre.
• Students in rural areas, especially those in tribal lands, are at an
educational resource disadvantage as teacher turnover is high and
leads to inconsistency in learning for students.
Global Trends: Economic
Percentage of World GDP
2004
2025
2050
India
2%
Other
India
4%
20%
India
China
Japan
Other
5%
China
12%
21%
15%
7%
28%
34%
US
Other
27%
EU
25%
Japan
17%
10%
28%
26%
US
15%
China
4%
US
EU
Japan
EU
China, India, Japan are expected to be 50% of world
GDP within 30 years -- up from 18% in 2006.
Source: Keystone India
49