Nation Building? Not in America's Schools!! (1/27/11)

By: Nickie Summers

In the State of the Union address on 1/25/2011, President Obama said that South Korea’s teachers are revered as Nation Builders and he implied that America’s teachers should be revered as such. I cringed when I heard the words ‘Nation Building’ and let me tell you why…..

First, the terminology of Nation Building is complex and is sometimes confused with state-building. President Obama used the term Nation Building and therefore, that will be my focus. Nation Building refers to the process of creating, building, or structuring a national identity using the power of the government. The goal is to fuse people within the nation so that it becomes and remains politically stable and sustainable. To succeed in Nation Building the government uses the art of propaganda or infrastructure expansion to advance social calm with the desire of achieving economic growth.

History has shown massive devastation to countries, cultures, and people when a government or dictator transforms a country under the stroke of Nation Building. In fact, during the development or transformation of Nation Building, division among people is encouraged to create unrest and sometimes war - all for the opportunity to gain control and expand government power.

So, the question is - Why did President Obama, in his address, use the example ‘Nation Builders’ as the expressive to elevate America’s teachers? Since the early 1900’s, unions and government have had their digs in the public school system. We also know that since then the art of educating has become watered down teaching to the collective instead of the individual. Drop out rates have risen, test scores have tanked, and high quality tenured teachers are rare. All the while, school budgets increase and property taxes soar.

I believe President Obama’s words were calculated and purposeful to support the transformation he seeks in the United States of America. Nation Building through children is the surest way towards transformation and teachers are the conduit; it’s up to parents and grandparents to stop it. The government has been on the path of Nation Building through our children for decades - removing our country’s founding from text books and replacing it with social propaganda. The AFT, American Federation of Teachers union, is in the thick of it promoting green jobs, Obama care, and other social collective programs - they know where their bread is buttered. But, there is hope and an alternative and her name is Michelle Rhee.

Michelle Rhee is the former Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools. In 2010 she founded www.StudentsFirst.org in response to an increased demand for a better education system in America. Their mission is to build a national movement to defend the interests of children in public education and pursue transformative reform, so that America has the best education system in the world. Their focus is not to serve the will of unions and the government, but work with the private sector as a grassroots effort to put the focus on students and foster great teachers who teach basic/advance skills to inspire creative thinking students. You won’t find any mention of Nation Building at Students First!

Just as disturbing to hear President Obama refer to teachers as Nation Builders, it was just as disturbing to see on facebook young teachers relish the thought that they too could be revered as Nation Builders. I believe their excitement comes from a desire for teachers to be more valued in our society in general and for that I agree, they should. But please don’t jump on the Nation Building band wagon without understanding the context of the term, it’s misguided. Nation Building in the context of President Obama’s agenda is NOT a good thing ……

Transforming our great country through Nation Builders is a scary proposition and contrary to the foundation of the United States of America - free markets, free thinking, individualism. A free thinking society comes with risk, volatility and uncertainty. It also produces great wisdom, ingenuity, and wealth - it’s up to the individual. In my book, The 4th of July A Celebration of Independence, I state “the spirit of American exceptionalism comes from individual liberties that make it possible for every American to pursue happiness to the extent that they want to; not limited to what the government orders them to.” Nation Building and collective teaching has no place in America’s schools.

Nickie Summers is the creator of Stand Up Be Read™, author of the Children’s Book The 4th of July A Celebration of Independence, and regular contributor on Conservative Network Broadcasting.

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