Myths: Education and Family

Interpreting and understanding falsehoods depend on an individuals personal views, beliefs, and beliefs. With that in mind, the invention regarding the nuclear family and the romance of facts of life and em indicatorment argon all interpreted differently and argued, for and against, in military personnely another(prenominal) counsellings. Both induce been perceived negatively by troupe, yet they acquire got not of all time been a harmful folktale. Rather, the myth that cultivation can improve persons life has been used, year after year, to motivate the youth in order to improve their own personal lifestyle.The myth of the nuclear family has similarly been used over and over again by the media as a prospective goal for everyone who wants to start a family. Although the passing of time has changed the apprehension of both myths throughout our clubhouse, to many, including myself, these myths continue to provide hope for a give way life and a traditional family. Imposin g the myth of the appraisall family, which the media depicts as egg white, semi-rich and happy with no rifts (Soto 29) is what negatively impacts society because no one should plant a standard on what a family should be like.As a end point of this misconception, the ideal family has become the ultimate goal for duads who want the trump out for their children. espouse Gary Sotos Looking for Work, and picture an eight year old Mexican-the Statesn boy, who matte up the need to change his family because he wanted them to act like the white families portrayed in television shows, like Leave it to Beaver. Why do these individuals film the need to create the perfect family portrayed by the media? tally to Soto, as a child, he tried to convince his family that if they improved the way they looked they might get along go bad in life etiolate people would like them more White people might not hate them so much (30). Although the myth of the family has been attributed negative quali ties because it creates a false sense of reality, it has, for many years, been the underlying reason why couples start a family of their own.For instance, if a couple could not decide on the number of children, they could turn to the myth and cover starting with two because the myth implies that an ideal family consists of Dad, Mom, a couple of kids, possibly a dog, living in a spacious suburban home (Colombo et al. 18). stock-still though society has accepted the meaning of family to be between a man and a woman, moreover, it is straightforward that in the the States of today there argon families composed of same-sex couples. The myth however, was not created to incorporate same-sex couples as part of the efinition, as it is explicitly described in page 18 of Harmony at Home the traditional vision of the ideal nuclear family-Dad, Mom carcass surprisingly strong. This myth has become so ingrained in society that even after the idea of the nuclear family still receives extensive support. Even the famous archaeologist, Marg art Mead, commented on the belief of the ideal nuclear family As far back as our fuckledge takes us, human beings have lived in families. We know of no period where this was not so.We know of no people who have succeeded for long in dissolving the family or displacing it (New demesne Encyclopedia). Similar to the myth of the nuclear family, the myth of command and empowerment introduces two different sides of the spectrum- the idea that education is not for everyone, as seen by basin Taylor Gatto in Against School, and the idea that education does improve someones life, as seen by Malcolm X in Learning to Read. The literal variation of the myth shows education as a symbol of success and as the gateway to fulfill the American dream (Colombo et al. 11). Education, moreover, has not ever been perceived negatively by society because to many people education represents social mobility and a shot for a better life. While there may be som e foiling with the educational system, education, according to the myth, will always serve those who seek to better their lives and who want to be someone in life, as long they atomic number 18 not limited to the quality of education offered. However, the reality is that minorities have always faced obstacles that impeded them from receiving a high-quality education.For instance, if an individual comes from an affluent household, then as students they are more likely to receive a better educational foundation than an individual who goes to a lower or middle screen school (Anyon 173). As a result of Jean Anyons findings, it is evident that social class plays a prominent role to the type of education that a student receives especially if knowledge of skills leading to social power and regard (medical, legal, managerial) are made available to the advantaged social groups but are withheld from working classes, to whom a more practical curriculum is offered (manual skills, clerical k nowledge) (170).But what if we, as a society, had followed what President John F. Kennedy mentioned in his 1960 senatorial speech that we need to give ourselves to the principle of equal educational opportunity for all regardless of race, butt of birth, or wealth. Our society would be improved greatly, and the educational knowledge would be dispersed equally amongst all of the citizens no one would be give a better education because everyone would receive the same quality.The significance that the education and empowerment myth has in society is that one people who intrust in education are more likely to finish their education because it symbolizes an achievement and because it emphasizes the credibility of what the United States represents-freedom, happiness, and success. Secondly, if an individual like Gatto believes that education is a waste of time (148), then people will become reject and therefore there is a higher probability that these individuals will betray to ful fill the American Dream.The reason I am generalizing this concept and associating nonstarter with not finishing high school or college, is because of the way that I grew up and the sacrifices that my parents had to endure in order for all their children to have the best education possible to my parents, not finishing school is like give up in life, and throwing all their sacrifices down the trash chute.Lastly, the belief that education brings you power and offers you an open door for a better life, has impacted society, because as the country progressed into the new era way before the revolutions that this country had to endure, such(prenominal) as the Civil Rights Movement and womens suffrage, education was not open up to everyone. As time went by and people fought for their liberties, education became a usual liberty, rather than a right given to selected individuals. All in all, the myth of the nuclear family and the myth of education and empowerment have not always been inte rpreted as negative ideas by society.They may have been by a few people, but the feeling was not mutually share by everyone. Both myths served as motivational ideas that influenced people like Gary Soto and Malcolm X, to have the desire to try new things, even if what Soto wanted to try could have change his family completely and the things Malcolm X wanted to experience, improved his capacity to ingest and educate himself. Although, the myth of the nuclear family has not changed because it has not accepted same-sex couples, the myth of education and empowerment has changed with respect to who it is being applied to.In other words, the interpretation of the myth will vary with people from different backgrounds. For instance, to a Mexican like me, education is a gateway to a better life. To a Chinese person, education represents honor and recognition from his or her family. Lastly, the myths of education and the nuclear family gives us, the citizens of the United States, hope for a better life or a perfect family, depending on ones respective point of view. works Cited Anyon, Jean. Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work. 1980. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for minute Thinking and Writing. By Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and reasonable Lisle. Vol. 162. capital of Massachusetts Bedford of St. Martins, 2010. 169-85. Print. First appeared in the daybook of Education. Colombo, Gary, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Harmony at Home The Myth of the Model Family. Introduction. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Boston Bedford of St. Martins, 2010. 17-21. Print. Colombo, Gary, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Learning force The Myth of Education and Empowerment. Introduction. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Boston Bedford of St. Martins, 2010. 109-15. Print. Colombo, Gary, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing . Boston Bedford of St. Martins, 2010. Print. Gatto, John Taylor. Against School. 2003. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. By Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle.Boston Bedford of St. Martins, 2010. 148-55. Print. This option originally appeared in Harpers magazine. John F. KennedySpeech by Senator John F. Kennedy, Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, CA (Advance Release Text), November 2, 1960. Web. 22 Oct 2012. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley,The American Presidency Project. http//www. presidency. ucsb. edu/ws/? pelvic inflammatory disease=25930. Marriage Equality USA. Prop 8 Hurt My Family Ask Me How. 2009. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing.By Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Boston Bedford of St. Martins, 2010. 84-88. Print. New World Encyclopedia. Margaret Mead. New World Encyclopedia. New World Encyclopedia, 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. http//www. newworldencyclope dia. org/ debut/Margaret_Mead. Soto, Gary. Looking for Work. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. By Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Boston Bedford of St. Martins, 2010. 26-31. Print.