Gary Soto Model Family Essay

Family and education affect the life decisions we make and leave a lifelong impact on one’s lives by establishing the foundation for our beliefs. In an effort to provide the best for their children, parents often have an ideal family and education structure they adhere to, but is there only one specific structure that will benefit the child the most? Most parents would strive to create the model family. The myth of the model family is the popularized family structure that consists of a working father as head of the household and a homemaking mother, but in modern society, the model family is rarely seen due to the LGBT movement and the advocacy for women’s rights. In addition to trying to create the model family, parents also strive to give their children the best education within their means. Most

However, well known universities fail to prioritize their students’ education and public schools nowadays fail to provide a balanced curriculum and extracurricular activities, focusing solely on raising standardized test scores. Looking closely to deviants to the model family and education proves that children can grow into successful adult in different environments.
The myth of the model family was immensely popular and virtually affected most families in some way. Television shows publicized the idea of the model family and its influence spread to both parents and children. In “Looking for Work” by Gary Soto, a young Soto tries to persuade his family to live like the family portrayed on the television shows he watches. While conversing with his siblings, Soto says, “They might not hate us so much” (23), referring to middle class families in his neighborhood. He hopes that by mimicking the life he see on television his family will more acceptable to others, displaying the typically reasoning for following the model family structure. First time parents often need