The American Dream means different things to different people. However, everybody needs to allow themselves to pursue their own dream and this story shows how important pursuing the American Dream is. This story educates us on how people from every walk of life need to strive to make their lives better. These lives can become better by motivating themselves to become financially stable, while at the same time overcoming problems such as poverty and suffering. In "The Lesson," we learn that this education comes in all forms; a major theme of this story is that the most valuable lessons in life are those not learned in the classroom.
             This is a story from the past, when Harlem children didn't have good education or the money to spring for it. The teacher, Miss Moore tries to teach her class whose whole life is within the poverty stricken area and don't see why they must try hard. Throughout the short story Miss Moore tries to influence kids such as Sugar, Flyboy, Fat Butt, Junebug, Q.T., and Rosie Giraffe. However, it is very difficult for Miss Moore to influence these children because of their current social standing and attitudes. The first thing learned is that poverty is a way of life for these children. Although they know they are poor, it doesn't bother them because everyone there is poor. It's okay to be without motivation when there isn't any competition. The children are proud of themselves and of their life. However, Miss Moore wanted to show the children that having ambition in their lives was important. She thought of a way to relate to the children and leads the kids to the toy store, one in which a single toy costs more than year's supply of food. They are immediately dazzled by the toys in the windows; even declaring which ones they were going to buy. The children seemed to know they couldn't afford the toys, but they didn't think they would be off by much. The once brave and proud and strong children w...