Reflection On The American Dream At The International High School

The American Dream is a set of ideas in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and is achieved only through hard work and perseverance. This books main topic is how the children at Prospects High can achieve the “American Dream.” I feel like for some people, the American Dream is more easily attainable. For example, if one is an American citizen, it isn’t a matter of how it will be achieved, it is a matter of when it will be achieved. The whole belief system behind the United States of America is equality, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be equity between the races as well. The job of a teacher is not to set equality and equity apart, but teach the students to incorporate both within themselves. …show more content…
By expecting my students to do this, I too need to become aware of my assumptions so as they won’t impede me from teaching my students or the expectations I will have for them. In New Kids, the teachers at the international high school do not make assumptions or stereotypes based on where a child is from. The teachers at prospects high have one goal and that is to help achieve the American Dream for their students, whatever it may be. They are open-eyed, and well aware that each student comes from a different background, but that doesn’t hinder their ability to see each child as an individual with their own experiences. They believe each child is capable of accomplishing the American Dream no matter their background or stereotypes that may hinder …show more content…
This didn’t happen to be the expectations for an American boy or an American girl, it was different depending on which country the student came from. For example, in New Kids there are many Muslim girls whom are supposed to get married young, and without a choice they get an arranged marriage. This happened within the book to one particular student. She had just lost both her parents and had siblings to take care of, and her aunt set up the arranged marriage to take care of that family. Depending on where a student may come from, cultural expectations vary. However, although there are cultural expectations throughout the book that may hinder a student from fulfilling their American Dream, they don’t let that stop them from succeeding. The Muslim girl that got married while still in high school went on to go to college, that was her American dream, and although there was a set back, she didn’t let that stop