Poetry is not practical in the slightest sense. In fact, it could be called an economic drain, as the only people who are required to have extensive knowledge of poetry are lit majors. (And even lit majors themselves could be called an economic drain, which makes you wonder why they don’t just skip the degree altogether.)

                Yes, poetry is not practical, however, that does not mean it is unimportant. If school systems taught only crucial information, we would have classes on self defense, how to understand legal documents and politician’s cipher; there would be in-depth health classes and courses that properly explained wage discrimination. There would be classes on how to read human body language and on how to keep your cool in front of your boss. But we have none of those. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is not practical. Gym is a required course, but there has yet to be an instance where tennis players were needed in the workforce. One would think, in a world where the workforce is so vital, that our classes would focus more on the acquisition of jobs, but they do not. Instead, in our very school, we have filmmaking classes, fashion classes, and arts of every kind. Some people would be unable to get through the day without a physical education class. These things have no other purpose than to bring us joy and they should not be ignored. If any particular sport is chosen to be taught in gym class, then poetry deserves an equal slot in the English room. It is true that poets rarely garner fame or money, but there are more important factors to consider when regarding a livelihood, like the fulfillment gained from that occupation.

                Poetry, often considered a bridge between the arts and literature, is important to education. Not only does it encourage creativity and improves comprehension, but it is an art. Is it any coincidence that arts were learned before irrigation systems were invented, even though the latter would have been much more helpful in developing the world? Practical skills advance civilization, but it is the arts that sustain the people. When learning, we often are doing so only to prepare ourselves for other opportunities, but knowledge is power for so many other reasons. A six figure career can wait. Your life can’t. Food needs to be put on the table, but there are other parts of you that need feeding. Poetry is one of many ways to do just that.

In America, change is a synonym for "more." More money, more power, more fame. It is rarely discussed when change pertains to the altering of mindsets, opinions, or traditions. The American Dream is expansion, or, enlargement of the ideal condition without internal growth. A friendlier way to state this is "moving forward while retaining old ethics and traditions." This dogma saturates the history of America. Even now, in an age where  technology has filled the nation's seams to bursting, people young and old are nostalgic for the "golden years." Americans dream of reliving their glory days while at the same time increasing the wealth acquired recently. Unfortunately, because the Dream is so focused on old traditions, it is usually only applicable to those who resemble America's founders: white men. However, other dreams- freedom, happiness, a better future- do exist and may be even more important than the American Dream when defining the American condition. Originally penned into the Declaration of Independence as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, these dreams are highly valued in American culture. They live inside every American regardless of their race, socioeconomic class, or any other factor that the proverbial Dream disregards. Though within America, these are not American dreams, but human ones. How a citizen reacts to the interaction between the dreams and the Dream defines what it truly means to be an American for that individual.