Americans live in the greatest nation in the world. Our children should be dreaming big dreams. A full, well-rounded education allows all doors to be opened. Our students should be challenged to meet their full potential, whether that be a career in the medical field, the miliary, or in advanced manufacturing. Education will open doors for our students, as long as also develop a healthy work ethic, core values, and social skills.

Some students start school with a strong vocabulary and base of knowledge. Others arrive counting on the school to enrich their minds. For some, a gap of vocabulary and knowledge base exists but early on the gap is small. Closing the gap for some and increasing knowledge and vocabulary for all is essential to success in academics as well as life.

“The Making of Americans” and “The Schools We Need” both by E.D. Hirsch along with ”The 57 Most Important Words in Ed Reform” with Robert Pondisio are expectational inspirations for the work we do on a daily basis!

Consider this sentence. “Beam, under heavy pressure, stepped up in the pocket and delivered the rock to Connor for 6!” Most Americans would instantly understand that Beam was a Quarterback on a football team and threw the ball to Connor for a touchdown after evading the strong defense due to Americans’ background knowledge of Football. Most of our friends from England would understand and comprehend every word of the above sentence but would be left guessing on the meaning as American Football is not the national obsession in their country. If the needed background knowledge is left out even the most educated person will be searching for the meaning of a simple sentence.

Do you ever wonder why different classes that teach the same student do not work together? We do as well. If a 1st grade student is learning about the Declaration of Independence, why don’t they count the colonies in math class instead of plastic chips. The art drawn should be of the founding of our nation instead of cartoon characters. The music taught from the time period, maybe not the Top 40. Literature from our nation’s birth instead of the trend of the day. Our schools teach across the curriculum to reinforce every angle of education so the student has every advantage.