ABSTRACT

The school was set up for children with mild mental retardation and cognitive deficits. It was the equivalent of a high school and in addition to mastering the needed academics, each student had to demonstrate an ability to, as the principal kept saying, "make it on their own without supervision". The principal then made it clear that the country's cultural belief that all citizens have value extends beyond the classroom. We learned that each student had a job waiting for them at a fast food restaurant or a grocery store once they graduated. Industrialized nations understand that the process of learning extends beyond a school day or formal education. Learning should be viewed as a lifelong endeavor. An obsession centered on personal and national pride in learning and educational growth. In essence, our charge is to inspire America to take national and personal pride in learning.