Leadership in America-Choosing the Best

During this election period, there are avalanches of media promotions seeking to entice the favor of voters. Many potential voters are confused, many are already decided and a large number are just frustrated with what they see as a lack of good options. Still, a growing number of potential voters understand that to refrain from voting is to have to deal with the hand you’re given. The big question remains, “Who are the best choices to lead us through our struggles into great achievements?”

There is a grant announcement that is offering up to $118,952,000 to up to 120 recipients with the charge to raise student achievement by improving teachers’ knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of traditional American history. It occurred to me that given the variations with which our representatives interpret American events the ability to offer objective and credible information will be quite a challenge. And after reading the criteria for selection, I was even more concerned. Among the selection criteria applicants must explain how they will address the following : How specific traditional American history content (including the significant issues, episodes, and turning points in the history of the United States; how the words and deeds of individual Americans have determined the course of our Nation; and how the principles of freedom and democracy articulated in the founding documents of this Nation have shaped America’s struggles and achievements and its social, political, and legal institutions and relations).

The use of terms such as “traditional” and “significant” are already subject to biases of both the applicants as well as the reviewers. At the same time, I am hopeful that in the years to come, we will be able to read in some text books how Americans of vast diversity have impacted and shaped America’s struggles and achievements. For more information about this grant opportunity use this link: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-1083.pdf