1 american exceptionalism bme 210, week 4 jon reyhner, professor of education northern arizona...

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American Exceptionalism

BME 210, Week 4

Jon Reyhner, Professor of EducationNorthern Arizona University

The Washington Post explains “America Exceptionalism” as an ideology based on five ideas: Liberty, individualism, the belief in equality of all men, the philosophy that appeals to the common man rather appealing to a traditional party or partisan ideologies, and an attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering [laissez faire].

In 2014, the Republican National Committee condemned the new AP US History framework as “a radically revisionist view of American history that emphasizes negative aspects of our nation’s history while omitting or minimizing positive aspects.”

The framework is about “teaching kids to see complexity and draw their own conclusions,” says Fritz Fischer, a history professor at the University of Colorado and author of “The Memory Hole: The U.S. History Curriculum Under Siege.”

The problem with people pushing “American exceptionalism” in the curriculum, Professor Fischer says, is that they want to teach “that America was always right.… They believe the US is the best country now and therefore it has always been the best country.”

Fischer agrees there are many examples of shining moments for the nation, but worries that some backers of exceptionalism don’t want students to be exposed to anything negative. Some have objected to letting students know about some founders of the country being slaveholders, while others have said America’s expansion westward can only be called expansionism, not imperialism.

“It’s much too simplistic for the classroom, where you want to teach critical thinking,” he says.

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Global Trends: Economic

Source: Keystone IndiaSource: Keystone India

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20042004 20252025 20502050

Percentage of World GDPPercentage of World GDP

China, India, Japan are expected to be 50% of world China, India, Japan are expected to be 50% of world GDP within 30 years -- up from 18% in 2006.GDP within 30 years -- up from 18% in 2006.

US Population by Race

US Prison Populationby Race

Prison Population by Country

Current U.S. SenateRepresentation

Red= 2 RepublicansPurple= 1 EachBlue= DemocratGreen=Independent

Federal Spending 2005

AZ General Fund Spending FY ‘11, total= $9,524.3 million

Time Magazine

11/14/11

Time Magazine 11/14/11

A Pew survey of U.S. and Western European societal values found that fewer people in the U.S. Are now convinced of their nation’s exceptionalism. The percentage of Americans who agreed with the statement “Our people are not perfect, but our culture is superior to others” has dropped from 60% in 2002.

Time Magazine 12/5/2011