The American Teacher and the Restoration of Society.

This master's thesis assumes that the argument presented in "The American Paradox: Spiritual Hunger in an Age of Plenty" (D. G. Myers) is correct. The United States presently suffers from a social recession arising from the impoverishment of the human spirit. The thesis diagnoses four underlying causes of U.S. social ills: (1) science; (2) regime; (3) cultural attitudes toward teachers; and (4) a misunderstanding of the nature and purpose of education. The cumulative effect of these factors makes it impossible for public school teachers to do their job. Among the suggestions to solve this dilemma include striking the separation of church and state clause from the First Amendment. Only then will it be possible to establish the conditions necessary for the cultivation and preservation of the ideal teacher of the future. Without ideal teachers good schools are impossible. They are important instruments for restoring society by their potential to create citizens who are not only the best on the basis of virtue but also in relation to the U.S. regime. The thesis employs the classical research method, sometimes called the "Great Books" approach, to support and clarify arguments. (Contains 40 references.) (BTU) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. VD 00 American Teacher and Restoration of Society 5 THE AMERICAN TEACHER AND THE RESTORATION OF SOCIETY by CHRISTOPHER D. MARSH 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY