The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

The American Dreamer

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

2 May 2001

The American Dreamer..... there she is:

"Miss America."

Who is she? She is Angela Perez Baraquio, 24, elementary physical education teacher, basketball coach and volleyball coach, hometown- Honolulu, Hawaii U.S.A.

Miss Baraquio, actually believes she can nationally make a difference as Miss America.

Her "dream" is to turn heads, influence people, and to teach them to change for the sake of a better America.

She actually believes that with her idealistic platform of "Character Education" she has chosen to support throughout her reign as Miss America, she will actually help prevent things such as the Columbine shooting of April 20, 1999.

She is challenging everyone within hearing distance of her microphone, to get involved - be pro-active and let the children know how much you care about them.

As I listened to her on Public Radio Thursday as she spoke before the National Press Club, she didn't lack for words to express her strong opinion on what is wrong in our society.

"Since the founding of our educational system the goal has always been not only to educate children, but to also mold them into good citizens. When we took prayer out of school," she said, "we didn't replace it with anything."

She went on to say, the biggest problems teachers faced in the1950s was -"no running in the hallways, no talking, no gum chewing, but times have definitely changed. Problems they face today are guns, violence, suicide, and substance abuse."

"Our youth face many opportunities and dangers, and are bombarded with many more things through the media and today's culture, she said. They need our help, the help of teachers, their parents, the media, government leaders, community, the President and the nation. They need good role models to encourage them.

"Character Education isn't something you do to kids, she said, it is something you do with kids. When it comes down to it, kids just want to be included."

Good character does not occur in a classroom or on the school grounds, but it is developed over time by teaching, modeling, learning, and also practicing it, she said.

Miss America said she learned respect, hard work, and appreciation for education from her parents and teachers.

Her family immigrated to Hawaii from the Philippines 31 years ago and she was the 8th of ten children.

"I am living proof that the American Dream can be achieved. My family was not financially wealthy, but we were wealthy in the sense that all my siblings and myself were taught from a very early age the value of education, respect for ourselves and others, hard work, faith in God, and the importance of being surrounded by family and friends. I also learned that making good decisions and doing the right thing even when no one was looking was important."

Miss America said we first need a basic agreement on what constitutes good character. From a reporter's point of view, she described it with the 5 Ws and an H. "It is not just the behavior you demonstrate to others, but it is the foundation of the every day decisions you make that define:

"So, if the absence of character becomes pervasive among society we are in danger of losing our nation's moral integrity."

She said as an educator, she can pass on the good values that were taught to her.

She first entered the Miss America competition solely to earn scholarship assistance so she can make a difference as a teacher.

She feels parents, the media, and society in general should hold more respect for teachers and educators by paying them better wages and by working with them to educate your children. She said it is not solely a parent's responsibility to teach character education to youth, but it is a joint effort.

When parents must work to earn support and educational funds for their families, and when children must be in day care and school six days a week, character education must be a joint effort with everyone involved.

When asked about bullying in school, she said she asks students in her classroom how many liked to be bullied. A few said they did to be funny. She asks how many like to bully others, and a few laughed and said they like to bully others.

Then she asks how many of those like to be shot at, and the laughing stops. Then she explains not only are they a target to be shot when they do that, but they are also endangering the lives of friends and many innocent people around them.

She challenged the National Press Club to make room in their newspapers for good things students do to encourage good character. Her hope is they will not wait until another shooting takes place to feature a school and its students.

There she is - the American Dreamer - just like our early forefathers - wanting to make a better America. Can she do it ? Can she enlist our help? Will we start by role modeling good character and rewarding good choices?

Can we teach our students that there is more than excelling in academics?

There is also being a good neighbor and caring individual who believes again, that American is the wealthiest nation in the world, not only in money, but especially in integrity.