“Summer of Love”

Forty years later, the ripples from the Summer of Love in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury are still felt in U.S. culture — although the events of that famous summer went bad very quickly. However, the mythology of 1967 has never disappeared. The San Francisco hippie, dancing in Golden Gate Park with flowing long hair, has become an enduring American archetype. More importantly, the rise of '60scounterculture has had a significant impact on American culture today.

Summer Vacation & Summer Reading

Many nations do not give school children an American-style summer vacation. They offer no more than seven consecutive weeks of vacation while most American school districts offer up to 13 weeks. However, lately the traditional three-month school vacation has shrunk to two as many school boards extend classes deeper into June and reopen earlier in August.

While summer is an important time for school children all over the world, to play, and spend time with their friends and family; summer reading is highly recommended to avoid summer learning setbacks. Research shows that students who read during the summer do better on reading tests when they go back to school in the fall than students who did not read over the vacation. Summer reading reinforces essential language skills. If children read over the summer, they will improve their reading speed, comprehension, vocabulary and even their spelling.

Freedom of Expression on the Internet

The world community, worried that censorship will change the face of the internet, is beginning to address the complex issue of free access to the Internet. Amnesty International has warned that the internet "could change beyond all recognition" unless action is taken against the erosion of online freedoms.

Teaching Literature: Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake

The Namesake is “the cross-cultural, multigenerational story of a Hindu Bengali family’s journey to self-acceptance in Boston. Jhumpa masterfully explores the themes of the complexities of the immigrant experience and foreignness, the clash of lifestyles, cultural disorientation, the conflicts of assimilation, the tangled ties between generations... and paints a portrait of an Indian family torn between the pull of respecting family traditions, and the American way of life.

This Month: Independence Day

The United States celebrates its Independence Day on July 4, a day of patriotic celebration and family events throughout the country. In the words of John Adams, one of America’s ‘founding fathers’: “The holiday would be “the great anniversary festival, […] commemorated as the day of deliverance, […] solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports …”

This Month: World Population Day

World Population Day aims to raise awareness about important population and development issues. This year’s theme is “Men at Work.” It highlights how men's involvement and participation can make all the difference in women's live.

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Talking About Media: The Movie Business Today

The most recent issue of eJournal USA presents a fresh look at American movies and what they say about American society and values. The authors show that American movies are far richer and more varied than the blockbuster stereotype would suggest.