Lesson
A Nation at Risk: Responsibility and the National Commission on Excellence in Education
How do the 1983 report by the National Commission on Excellence in Education and the succeeding efforts show responsibility in education reform in America?
Founding Principles
Virtues
Guiding questions
Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.
- What challenges are you facing?
- What fears or concerns might you have?
- What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
Observation Questions
- What was the Commission’s purpose?
- Why did the Commission take actions regarding American education?
Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.
- What is the historical context of the narrative?
- What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
- How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
- How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
- How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
- What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
- Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
- How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
Learning objectives
- Students will analyze the Commission’s actions to improve education.
- Students will evaluate who is best equipped to take responsibility for education in America.
- Students will apply their knowledge to determine ways to be responsible in their own lives.
