Teachers more than any other professional want to change a child's life, but so often the child changes the teacher's life. Lyndon B. Johnson struggled in his early years becoming a drifter of sorts, but buckled down and became a teacher. I Johnson taught 5th, 6th and 7th grade in Cotulla Texas, an impoverished community struggling during the depression. Johnson reminisced, "In that year, I think I learned far more than I taught. And the greatest lesson was this one: Nothing--nothing at all--matters more than trained intelligence. It is the key not only to success in life, but it is the key to meaning in life." Johnson was profoundly touched by those children, and profoundly moved by the depression era. As president, he drew on these experiences as he battled his War on Poverty.
In April of 1964, President Johnson embarked on a series of 'Poverty Tours' visiting impoverished areas of the country and delivery a message of hope.. He used these tours to rally support for his 'War on Poverty' All around the country he met with families on their door steps and in large crowds. In 1965, as part of his 'Great Society', he wanted to fundamentally change the country and remove the causes of poverty. In that year, he championed several initiatives including the Social Security Act (Medicare and Medicaid), Food Stamp Act, Economic Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The 'War on Poverty' had mixed results, in the late 1960's, the percentage of individuals who were poor quickly declined as funding increased, but in the mid 1970's as funding continued to climb almost exponentially, poverty rates stagnated. Today, almost one trillion dollars is pent on welfare, yet the poverty rate is around 15%.
In 1965, President Johnson announced his initiatives during his State of the Union Address. Regarding 'Opportunity for All', he said many "far too many are still trapped in poverty and idleness and fear", and promised:
"--to the elderly, by providing hospital care under social security and by raising benefit payments to those struggling to maintain the dignity of their later years;
--to the poor and the unfortunate, through doubling the war against poverty this year;
--to Negro Americans, through enforcement of the civil rights law and elimination of barriers to the right to vote;
--to those in other lands that are seeking the promise of America, through an immigration law based on the work a man can do and not where he was born or how he spells his name"
President Johnson, spoke from his heart. He believed the hardest task a president has "is not to do what is right, but to know what is right". It was in that classroom back in Cotulla teaching Mexican-immigrants during the depression that taught hin what he believed was right.
"And somehow you never forget what poverty and hatred can do when you see its scars on the hopeful face of a young child"
References
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2018). Lyndon B. Johnson: Annual Message to the Congress on the State of the Union. [online] Available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=26907 [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2018). Lyndon B. Johnson: Remarks at the Welhausen Elementary School, Cotulla, Texas.. [online] Available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=28003 [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].
Sheffield, R. (2018). The War on Poverty After 50 Years. [online] The Heritage Foundation. Available at: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/09/the-war-on-poverty-after-50-years [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].
Texas Archive of the Moving Image. (2018). The Poverty Tours (1964). [online] Available at: http://www.texasarchive.org/library/index.php/2010_00054 [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/President_Johnson_poverty_tour.jpg
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