1.  What is the main idea of Alicia Colon's commentary?

2.  For each of the following statements made by Mrs. Colon, write agree or disagree.  Explain your answers:

__________________ "These days, immigrants' gratitude and zeal to assimilate has largely disappeared..." (para. 1)

__________________ "What I do object to is using our public school system to segregate immigrants into separate buildings instead of adhering to what...Albert Shankar...said is the proper rationale for our public school system: to teach students what it means to be an American." (para. 6)

__________________ "Our republic is based on a superb Constitution, not tribalism or class structure." (para. 7)

__________________ "Americans are held back from success only by their individual ambitions, not their origins." (para. 7)

__________________ "Those enamored of other cultures that they deem superior to our own should ask themselves why on earth the natives of those "wonderful" cultures risk their lives to leave and come here." (para. 8)

3. Ask a grandparent or older relative if they were taught in school that "America is the greatest country in the world," and also if they were proudly taught American history in school.  (If a first generation immigrant, ask what their view of America was when they first came here.)

4.  a) Is it important to you to celebrate American culture?  Explain your answer.
b)  Ask a grandparent the same question.

5.  Mrs. Colon welcomes your comments.  Send an email to acolon@nysun.com.  Remember to name the article you are commenting on, and that you read it at StudentNewsDaily.com.  Be clear, concise and polite.

• Read additional commentaries by Alicia Colon at the NY Sun website here.