Accountability

It is human nature to blame others for problems. People are too quick to make a scapegoat out of their neighbor, claiming they had nothing to do with the cause of the issues at hand. If there are complications within a community, most people deny that they had anything to do with them. How do we break these habits of pointing fault at others so we can begin taking responsibility for what goes on in any kind of group. Rather than pointing the finger at our neighbors, we need to embrace each other and take an active role in our communities. These communities include neighborhoods, schools systems, religious institutions, cities, and our nation as a whole. We can even put this into a global perspective. Because of increased technology and communication capabilities, the earth is becoming a more connected and international place every day. As nations, we need to claim responsibility for what goes on throughout the planet, taking an active role instead of turning a blind eye.
Part of the road towards being a responsible citizen is understanding that our individual roles make a difference. Only a little more than half of Americans vote during presidential elections. The reasons behind this do not only include that citizens are not educated on the issues but also that they feel their vote does not count. Many individuals do not vote even during presidential elections because they figure logically that if they do not vote, it has no effect on the election. However, the principal behind democracy is that each of us is equally represented and has a voice. If a small number of non-voters chose to state their opinion, it would make a difference. Together, our individual choices and actions have a long term and lasting effect.
A proposed solution to the growing apathy in the United States towards politics, education, community life, and diversity is implementing service opportunities in this country. Many other nations require their citizens to participate in the military. This mandatory form of service increases involvement in state activity, improves awareness of civil issues, and implements a sense of responsibility in citizens. It is unrealistic to demand military service of Americans. Citizens of the United States are such individualists that they do not like to be told what to do. However, other forms of service should be available and encouraged. Richard Stengel wrote the article “A Time to Serve” in Time Magazine towards the end of 2007. His ideas of service begin with volunteering opportunities for adolescents. Naturally, adolescence is a difficult and awkward time in one’s life. It is a time when young adults are in need of community the most. Service programs for our youth would allow them to come together, feel more supported in their neighborhoods, and have a better sense of their civil impact on a large scale. Most inspiring was Stengel’s proposition that the government put aside 5,000 dollars for every American baby born. This money would amount to 19,000 with interest by the time the children reach twenty. Once eighteen, these citizens would have the option to use that money, either for education or a business idea if they committed to one year of service for the United States. This service would not be militarily based and would include options of service in teaching, urban clean-up, medical assistance, and a myriad of other areas of volunteer work.
Such programs would instill a sense of community in citizens and naturally make them feel more accountable for their actions. How do we create a sense of community and accountability in our classrooms as music teachers? We must do it in the same sense we wish to do it on a societal level. A sense of community must come first. Only then will students feel like their voice and their choices matter. Teachers must inspire students to respect and understand each other’s differences, recognizing that no two people are the same. One person’s weaknesses are another person’s strengths. Together, our abilities create a cohesive and effective group.