Episode 2 Reflection

This episode reflects back on schools from the early 1900's to 1945. It discusses issues such as the "Gary Plan" which was implemented back in the early 1900's, and taught students hands on learning, and you work before you play. These students were trained to go out into the industrial world and get a job, such as an oil mechanic, as well as how to have good hygiene and manners; all the necessary things to life. These times are better known for the americanization of students, where students were not allowed to speak their own language, schools were mixed aged, and everyone must go to school and learn from the same curriculum, if you do not learn english that you do not make it. This type of schooling is more or less "Survival of the fittest".  After this era in the 1920's-1940's kids were being more spoon fed with information and they started testing for IQ's which automatically placed you into  an industrial route, or a college route.
There are some certain parts of this that I greatly agree with, and wish that it was still implemented now. I think that when all the immigrants came over to America, it was a crazy time to try and find jobs, and try to teach when there were such a vast array of languages and customs from before. Honestly you cannot teach to all of them... without hindering everyone else's education. These immigrants came to America because it was a better place and they LOVED this country, so they worked hard at learning english, and becoming an American was something to be so proud of. Somewhere in the mix after this, in the 50's people decided that they didn't have to become an American anymore, they could speak whatever language and that people were to conform to them. Honestly I do not believe in getting rid of other languages, but if you come to this country, or if you leave to go to another you should have to learn the native language to live and learn, and then speak your language when you can, not to completely lose it. When other people come into this country, make them learn english, but also maybe have them teach us and our kids, their native language that way everyone is winning in this situation.