Public education in the United States is broken.
American children spend less time in class covering fewer topics with less depth than children in many other nations.
American students are consistently outperformed by students from other nations in math and science, according to both the PISA and TIMMS assessments. American companies no longer look in America to find the best and brightest engineers and math minds. Fewer and fewer Americans are obtaining degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM).
American student literacy rates don’t even rank among the top 20 nations according to PISA. The US ranks 17th in adult literacy rates. According to the Fordham Foundation, “two-thirds of US children attend schools in states with mediocre standards, or worse.”
Yet, despite being routinely stomped by students from other countries on international assessments like the TIMMS and the PISA, student performance on state assessments and on The National Report Card show remarkable progress.
Public education in America is broken and failing our children.
If you were President and you were in a position to change that, what would you do? Would you convene a panel of the best and brightest minds in the nation to draft standards of academic quality each state should strive to achieve? Would you ensure that the identities of those on the panel and their qualifications were known to the public, that the panel’s deliberations were taped and open to the public so that citizens could express their concerns before any recommendations were set? Would you encourage states to consider incorporating the panel’s recommendations into their state academic standards?
Or would you launch an initiative to draft national academic standards, refuse to disclose the identities of those involved in the initiative and their qualifications, ensure that the deliberations of those involved were classified, and then make federal funding for public schools hinge on whether the states adopt the standards the initiative develops? Would you then extend the initiative’s efforts beyond merely drafting academic standards to include developing national assessments and allocate $350 million in federal funds to support the assessments development effort ?
Which approach do you think the US is following now?
On June 1st the Common Core Initiative was announced. It’s goal - to draft national academic standards which states could “voluntarily” adopt if they want to continue to receive federal funding for public education. The names and qualifications of those involved in drafting these so called “voluntary” standards are being kept secret. The first set of standards developed as a result of this initiative are set to be released on July 9th and the second batch is due several months later.
There are those who say that in the school’s, content is king. Once the Common Core Initiative has completed it’s work, that content will be dictated and controlled by the federal government. Textbook publishers will develop instructional materials which meet the federal standards and state’s will be allowed to select from the federally approved programs if they want to receive federal funding for their public schools. Student performance and accomplishments will be gauged based on the federal assessment.
Our public schools will be nationalized.
You may think that that’s not such a bad thing, considering the relatively poor job the states are doing at teaching our nation’s children. That those developing the standards must be wise and gifted in their respective fields. Thus far only one name has been leaked. The individual is supposed to be leading the effort to draft mathematics standards and he’s an English Major.
Why does the fact that that the person charged with drafting math standards for every public school in the United States is an English major, and not a mathematician, make me sick to my stomach? How am I supposed to believe in and take comfort in what the Common Core Initiative will be mandating for my children and for every child enrolled in public school in the United States when they conduct their work in secret and when the only person rumored to be affiliated with the math Initiative isn’t a mathematician?
Unfortunately there’s very little we can do to stop the federal government from nationalizing our public schools.
But we can demand, from our elected officials and leaders of the Common Core Initiative, that they stop operating in secrecy, that the names and qualifications of those involved in drafting the standards be released to the public for vetting now, that transcripts of the initiatives past deliberations be open for public review, and that future deliberations be open to the public. We need to demand that mathematicians be included in writing math standards, that Chemists be involved in writing Chemistry standards, that Revolutionary War Historians be involved in writing Revolutionary War standards.
Here is a link to the leadership team in the organization leading the effort to draft national academic standards.
I'd rather abolish the Dept of Education
icbm Monday, June 15th at 6:18PM EDT (link)since its existence has no basis in the Constitution.
Your suggestions are good, as far as they go. The trouble is that if our argument is only for different Dept of Education policy, we will make it even less likely that conservatives will ever succeed in returning power of education to the states and localities (where it was until 1953, and where it still should be).
After that
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 6:26PM EDT (link)Can we repeal the compulsory attendance laws?
The Constitution is just an old moldy parchment
monstermom Monday, June 15th at 6:27PM EDT (link)At least that’s what I’ve begun to think the federal government believes.
I agree with you that there is no basis for this in the Constitution, but right now the Constitution seems to be irrelevant. I wish I knew how to stop this, but I’m at a loss.
From what I can tell, the bare minimum we can do is demand transparency and accountability from those involved in the process.
I don’t know if it’ll change anything, but drafting the standards that dictate what every child will learn in secrecy is a very frightening thing to me ……….
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I'm all for demanding transparency and accountability
icbm Monday, June 15th at 7:02PM EDT (link)just so long as we don’t follow Pres. Bush in his endorsement of the Dept of Ed’s mission.
You’re absolutely right to draw attention to yet another example of the shady tactics of the Obama administration. Obama has already shown himself 20 times more arrogant than his allegedly arrogant predecessor.
The US Dept. of Ed will expand exponentially
monstermom Monday, June 15th at 7:16PM EDT (link)Forget endorsing the US Dept of Ed will in control under this initiative.
The US Dept of Ed will set the curriculum for every public school in the country for every subject, will define what instructional materials school districts can select and use, will develop and administer the assessments used to gauge student accomplishment, and will report on the success and failures of it’s program to the American people.
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I'm all for demanding transparency and accountability
icbm Monday, June 15th at 7:02PM EDT (link)just so long as we don’t follow Pres. Bush in his endorsement of the Dept of Ed’s mission.
You’re absolutely right to draw attention to yet another example of the shady tactics of the Obama administration. Obama has already shown himself 20 times more arrogant than his allegedly arrogant predecessor.
I am now against NCLB and national standards - LINK re cheating by teachers on the national standards
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, June 15th at 10:48PM EDT (link)http://www.examiner.com/x-7382-Atlanta-Democrats-Examiner~y2009m6d15-Cheating-in-Georgia-exam-extortion-and-our-future
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
fyi, I am following the link-nt
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 10:49PM EDT (link)“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
I disagree about standards
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 11:15PM EDT (link)There has to be standards. In 1999 or so, there was absolutely zero accountability for the education of students. We were graduating illiterates mixed in with our best and brightest. A few years later, right before VA implementation of NCLB, our sons graduated from high school. Off the top of their heads, they could name 16 of their classmates they knew could not read.
The NCLB began as an idea to hold those accountable for the education of our young and to ensure that there were standards. Unfortunately, leave it to the bureaucrats at DOE to screw up a decent idea. The red tape that came with the program is quite significant.
That being said, Virginia implemented the standards of learning (SOL) testing to comply with NCLB. Those tests are geared for the lowest possible educational rung for the grade and subject. I have heard teachers lament about having to teach to a test and how unfair it is but NO ONE has ever answered that if it is the lowest possible level for that subject, exactly what are they teaching during that time in the classroom?
There are questionnable issues with those tests, much of it sanctioned by the state level education departments. For example, if a high school student fails an SOL he is allowed to retake it as many times as needed to pass but the only attempt and grade that ever is reflected in the school’s history is the final passing score. This does not accurately reflect exactly how our schools are performing.
Some administrators and teachers eager to perform/get funding/whatever it is are cheating. Does this flaw the concept of holding the school system accountable, no. But we are quick to blame it on anything but the system itself.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
agreed that if we are going to have federal dollars flow
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, June 15th at 11:19PM EDT (link)that there should be standards, I just think that the main problem with education is primarily related to a lack of fathers in the home and the scared of their shadows education establishment that is into self esteem and pc bs agendas. And am tired of mandates on high from an all powerful fed govt.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
5-nt
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 11:21PM EDT (link)“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
Like DTOM, also a 5 nt
TNJim Monday, June 15th at 11:27PM EDT (link)“No. You can’t” -Moe Lane
Actually, you need to look at the local and state dollars that flow into your school system.
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 11:33PM EDT (link)In Stafford County, 69% or 70% of the county’s total revenue stream is allocated to the schools. The Federal funding didn’t hold a candle to these $$$ the local economy was pumping into the schools.
The last budget I looked at for Stafford was a horrific mismash of charges and no site based (school) budgeting or accounting was in place. In fact, the county - although rated as the 13th most affluent county in the nation - was compiled its budget using Lotus123 and Word. Lots and lots and lots of errors.
The revenue stream, including capital projects was a quarter of a billion dollars yet the district was begging for money. Unnecessary and frivolous purchases abounded. One high school purchased three LARGE flat screen televisions placed in the lunch room for the kids to watch tv during their lunch hours.
If you want an interesting read (albeit dry) pick up a copy of your district’s budget and read it - it is an eye opener.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
well of course the fed dollars are but a fraction - hence another reason
Mike gamecock DeVine Tuesday, June 16th at 12:06PM EDT (link)for my aversion to national, top down, one size fits all, monopoly standards.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
But, GC, look at what that "fraction" does to local politics.
Achance Tuesday, June 16th at 12:11PM EDT (link)The stimulus money is chump change for most states and for a Republican state, most of it goes to feed the hand that bites us. Yet, look at what happened to Republican governors and other political leaders who even went so far as to express reservations about taking it. Likewise, these “National” standards. Gov. Palin has said no and is catching Hell from the usual suspects here over it. Yet those same Democrats raised Holy Hell about NCLB standards because they were one size fits all and weren’t adapted to Alaska’s unique cultures and circumstances. ‘Course, in Alaska whenever someone says “unique,” you’re well advised to cross your legs and put your hand over your wallet.
In Vino Veritas
exactly, I agree and also have reservations myself
Mike gamecock DeVine Tuesday, June 16th at 12:58PM EDT (link)about my home state of SC rejecting fed $$ on matters that don’t mean future tax hikes for business (like Sanford and Jindal et al on the unemployment ins) when all taxpayers pay for the stimulus etc and when other states will get our dollars
so that, I much more favor and think it only likely to be successful in an effort to end all fed $$$ for all states in education and other areas.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
SC & AK also rejected national math & E standards nt
mom2oneson Tuesday, June 16th at 1:02PM EDT (link)National math standard: a budget "cut" is when it rises less than inflation - English standard:
Mike gamecock DeVine Tuesday, June 16th at 4:28PM EDT (link)Republican use if the term “honorable friend” about a democrat is synonym for son of a bitchin’ unpatriotic liar
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
lol Achance!!!!!
mom2oneson Tuesday, June 16th at 1:03PM EDT (link)you make me blush so much but you are right!
Shakespeare was only half right.
mbecker908 Monday, June 15th at 11:19PM EDT (link)He should have added to his famous quote: and second we’ll kill all the educators.
amen 'beck - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, June 15th at 11:20PM EDT (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
that's in a speech about how to destroy civil society
icbm Tuesday, June 16th at 10:50AM EDT (link)it’s not celebrating the idea of doing away with lawyers. on the contrary.
of course, it might be written differently if Shakespeare were American and living today…
exactly right icbm, although the role of lawyers in England
Mike gamecock DeVine Tuesday, June 16th at 12:08PM EDT (link)at that time were not quite the same as our best versions today, and there is some evidence that the lawyers to be killed were corrupt in that play.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
The bottom line is simple. Both the legal profession and educators
mbecker908 Tuesday, June 16th at 4:23PM EDT (link)(note: not necessarily teachers) are a net drag on our society. We’d be better off without the vast majority of both.
much agreed.
icbm Tuesday, June 16th at 5:18PM EDT (link)n/t
the pattern emerges
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 11:30PM EDT (link)David Hinz got this rolling by bringing up the Cloward-Piven strategy. Never knew of that one before. It warrants extra mention.
http://www.redstate.com/david_hinz/2009/06/15/overwhelmed-and-feeling-like-giving-up-that-is-what-the-left-wants-you-to-do/
By creating a permanent underclass in order to force government to grow larger and do more, the strategy succeeded beyond their wildest fantasies–enough to launch the Great Society programs–in order to perpetuate a system of renewable poverty, and the sustainable army of social workers who exist only to serve them(selves).
Bill Ayers is involved in this somehow..... guaranteed.
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 6:23PM EDT (link)This thing MUST be investigated by someone honest….. someone who won’t hold back anything……even though whoever tries to blow the lid off this may become the next Vince Foster…………………….
Jake Tapper, where are you ?!?
I know you can do it….. I’m here to help…. I think a few others will sand right with you as well.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Home schooling
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 6:31PM EDT (link)avoids the entire thing.
Entice people to get married, stay together and raise their own children. Make it sound like a way to save the planet, or something. Scientists approved.
Until then, charter schools.
and it defunds
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 6:39PM EDT (link)extra money from the fed gov due to income (no school lunch forms) and attendance based funding to the districts.
LOL Make it sound like a way to save the planet that was great!
Can we add up all the gasoline school buses use?
With this initiative, home schooling becomes illegal - a felony.
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 6:39PM EDT (link)I know you think I’m kidding.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Kenny what about private schools? nt
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 6:45PM EDT (link)Didn't get that far into it yet....... on the private schools.
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 7:03PM EDT (link)You can bet the NEA and SEIU are deeply into it as well.
This thing is beyond massive.
Thought control from Pre-K through end of schooling.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Not sure about SEIU, but NEA and NCTM
monstermom Monday, June 15th at 7:28PM EDT (link)and other such organizations are reportedly heavily involved.
What’s missing, apparently, are the actual subject matter experts - in math and science it’s the scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and designers who haven’t been invited to play (as far as I can tell because many of them are expressing their concerns with the qualifications of the secret candidates).
Dr Sandra Strotsky, who served on the National Math Advisory Panel, said the following about the initiative, “… instead of choosing nationally known scholars to chair and staff these committees–to assure us of the integrity and quality of the product–the NGA and the CCSSO have, for reasons best known to themselves, treated the initiative as a private game of their own. The NGA and the CCSSO haven’t even bothered to inform the public who is chairing these committees, who is on them, why they were chosen, what their credentials are, and why we should have any confidence whatsoever in what they come up with. ”
Those are pretty forceful words for a mathematician and an academic.
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I asked because
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 7:10PM EDT (link)many homeschoolers are legally private schoolers, it depends on the state.
In the sunshine state students can register with the district or they can go under an “umbrella” private school.
In CA there is no official homeschooling, only private schooling. So homeschoolers either don’t register, register under a private school, or register as a private school.
here's where I could go off the grid
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 6:53PM EDT (link)Compulsory education on topics selected by Ayres and his cronies. No thanks.
Might have to go join the Amish. For the devil that is electricity seems to be all this government requires to take complete control over a person and his descendants.
molbydanthan
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 7:06PM EDT (link)Raymond Moore did soo much good for the homeschooling movement but his legal advice was just beyond horrible. The hippies were way more savvy than the evangelical Christians as far as how to deal with the system, they just didn’t register them (and they were truant.) I ***still*** see this today, when there are multiple options to meet the compulsory attendance law, the Christians for the most part pick the most intrusive dealing with the school district or state option and the more liberal/pagan pick the least one. It makes no sense to me at all.
free love cost them dearly
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 7:25PM EDT (link)random hazy hook ups, open relationships, abortion on demand. These all took a toll on the Boomers that tuned in/turned on. It hasn’t seemed to work well in most cases.
And, these people are the leading educators today. What can crazy people do except teach crazy. Meanwhile, those who can’t teach, legislate.
I was trying to say
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 7:48PM EDT (link)you don’t have to go Amish!
oh sorry
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 7:49PM EDT (link)That sounded awful, I think Amish is great, I didn’t mean how it sounded. I meant you don’t have to join the Amish out of fear of the school disrict. I think it’s great if you want to be Amish to be Amish though.
Wouldn't know where to begin
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 8:07PM EDT (link)Besides, it’s probably not as simple as that. Otherwise, I think people would be going a’churning in droves. Better to follow Plan A than O, so to speak. I would like to do some kind of techno-Amish thing, but that would only end with heretical blasphemy.
All I know is if I had kids, this issue would really get me going. What’s the deal with parents these days?
homesteading
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 8:16PM EDT (link)and survival skill things are becoming more popular.
why do you think they call it power
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 7:14PM EDT (link)See if anyone can guess, or knows who said this:
“The ‘New Deal’ is a perpetual motion scheme which can never work but is given a semblance of operativeness by unceasing supply of the people’s capital. Most of the measured attempted are a bid for votes and some are destructive to established industries, and decidedly socialistic. The next step might be the distribution of wealth by excessive taxing, if not conscription.”
should read 'measures attempted'
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 8:29PM EDT (link)mess up a good quote why don’t you.
No takers on the quote?
molybdanthan Tuesday, June 16th at 7:00PM EDT (link)I’ll give you a hint. It wasn’t FDR.
Oh, and since Kowalski’s back, does that mean we still use his name in future comments to comments? Don’t want you to think I’m singling you out, Kowalski.
Nikola Tesla said that
molybdanthan Monday, July 13th at 6:08PM EDT (link)I know someone here wanted to know the answer.
a kowalski
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 6:54PM EDT (link)How could it make homeschooling a felony when the laws for private school and if there are homeschool laws they are all state based?
This damn thing looks like it eliminates State's rights.....
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 7:05PM EDT (link)10th Amendment goes bye-bye.
Does anybody care ?
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Again, I care Kenny -nt-
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 7:46PM EDT (link)the 10th Amendment went bye bye long ago
icbm Tuesday, June 16th at 5:22PM EDT (link)as did most of federalism
we’re just fighting over scraps now
of course, i still think the scraps are worth fighting for
Two key cases are Garcia and Dole
icbm Tuesday, June 16th at 5:26PM EDT (link)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcia_v._San_Antonio_Metropolitan_Transit_Authority
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota_v._Dole
Garcia was particularly bad, but both were very damaging
States were making good progress in the Circuits
Achance Tuesday, June 16th at 6:12PM EDT (link)against the over-reach of Garcia late in Bush I. Clinton brought all adjudication on FLSA to a screeching halt and nothing ever got going again in Bush II. There’s good precedent to remove the core functions and services of states and their polisubs from federal jurisdiction; all it takes is a Republican State AG with a pair and the litigation has to start early in the term so the unions can’t string out the case to buy a new governor or AG in the next election and stop the appeals.
In Vino Veritas
so long as the 5-4 majority holds...
icbm Tuesday, June 16th at 6:43PM EDT (link)and so long as we get another conservative president sometime before the republic dies…
(ideally, obama is defeated in 2012 after appointing only one justice and then we get a 6-3 or better majority - but i’m not holding my breath)
Your Right, This is a Ayers Project
Swamp_Yankee Monday, June 15th at 7:34PM EDT (link)Marxists and far Left have infested high level education policy think tanks. I do hope someone digs deep here. There will be shady people all over. This is repugnant.
Not Dead Yet!
Your Right, This is a Ayers Project
Swamp_Yankee Monday, June 15th at 7:34PM EDT (link)Marxists and far Left have infested high level education policy think tanks. I do hope someone digs deep here. There will be shady people all over. This is repugnant.
Not Dead Yet!
Of the Fabian model
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 8:34PM EDT (link)I like them for this.
If you want to see exactly where most of the Weather Underground ended up
ocleverone Tuesday, June 16th at 12:37AM EDT (link)google individual members - most ended up in academia, primarily teaching.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
And where are the conservatives in this?
Xasteius Tuesday, June 16th at 5:24PM EDT (link)They all became lawyers.
Don’t leave the party, hijack it back!
Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.
When I grow up, I don’t want to be Reagan. I want to be Art Chance.
~Aaron Gardner
Hardly; Radicals Own Academia and the Legal Profession
Swamp_Yankee Tuesday, June 16th at 8:10PM EDT (link)The ABA is dominated by lawyers. Lawyers are a huge liberal voting block.
What’s dissappointing to me is that there “are no conservatives in this”. They all rely on politics as their sole means of activism and change. Liberals own litigation just like they own academia.
Influence the culture and you own the poltical landscape. That is the lesson to learn from Marxist.
Not Dead Yet!
The rest of the old SDS'ers wound up working
Achance Tuesday, June 16th at 6:13PM EDT (link)for unions, especially the big wall to wall public employee unions.
In Vino Veritas
All teachers will have to be ceertified by a national authority (NEA ?)
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 7:31PM EDT (link)That would be a given under this plan.
In your wildest dreams of continued freedom and liberty, do you think Los Federales under Dear Leader would certify ‘Jane Smith’ to teach her kids the foundations of our nation along without any supervision to their Fascist agenda ?
Wake up folks…. Life in these United States is about to get more curioser and curioser.
Change.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Teacher certification and qualification
monstermom Monday, June 15th at 7:44PM EDT (link)are certainly concerns. Far too often teachers don’t have a sufficient grasp of the topic they are tasked with teaching to teach it effectively.
The NCTQ (National Council on Teacher Quality) recently issued a report listing the 5 steps each state could take to improve the quality of it’s math and science instruction.
http://pwceducationreform.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/nctq-tackling-the-stem-crisis/
If the Administration will be dictating content, dictating what materials are acceptable, dictating how students will be assessed, and reporting on all of it, then controlling teacher licensing is just one small step further.
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What about Bush and his highly qualified language in NCLB nt
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 7:51PM EDT (link)nt
Who Cares?!
IJB Monday, June 15th at 7:54PM EDT (link)Whether Public Education is run at the local, state or federal level, it will still be *public education*, and will still be an abject failure in any case.
If you really want to do something useful - *oppose* public education, and support its elimination.
IJB Great Quote :-) 5 !
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 7:57PM EDT (link)“Whether Public Education is run at the local, state or federal level, it will still be *public education*, and will still be an abject failure in any case.”
I Should Probably Point Out...
IJB Monday, June 15th at 8:03PM EDT (link)…That I am in no way opposed to some sort of national academic testing. It could be the SAT, or the ACT, or Advanced Placement, or something akin to what Canada does in testing high school seniors in their various subjects before they leave. Basically, I don’t think that would be particularly authoritarian if it was given to kids who were basically all in private education.
But I’d oppose any kind of national curriculum coming from the Fed gov’t.
Anyway, until universal public education is abolished, it’s all just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Until conservatives get that the problem is Public Education itself, I don’t have much sympathy for them…
Eliminating the Public Schools isn't going to
monstermom Monday, June 15th at 8:12PM EDT (link)happen any time soon, I’m sorry to say.
If the government can take over private businesses and demand who runs them and how much they can pay their employees, it can take over private schools in the blink of an eye because the justification cited, using federal or state dollars, is the same. Already, some municipalities are dictating content to private schools that accept voucher dollars.
The US Dept of Education received $46 billion in 2009 and is slated to receive an additional $81 billion in Recovery Act dollars. On a state level, my state Dept of Education received almost 50% of all state tax revenue. And on a local level it’s closer to 76% of local tax revenue.
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that is a consquence of tax funded vouchers nt
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 8:25PM EDT (link)Am I the only one who is terrified by this
monstermom Monday, June 15th at 8:33PM EDT (link)and am I over reacting?
It’s next to impossible to fight and win against a local school board over inappropriate content. Imagine fighting the federal government over inappropriate content?
In my school district kids are required, yes, required, to be taught to use calculators in kindergarten. Calculators are allowed on the VA Math SOL in 4th grade.
And from what I can tell, the pro-calculator folks are the ones leading the charge here from a math standpoint.
It’s so frustrating because no one seems to give a hoot! None of the anti-big government folks like Michelle Malkin or Glenn Beck or Bill O’Reilly are talking about this and this is a huge expansion of federal control over state and local rule.
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that is why kids fail in their ability to solve problems...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 8:51PM EDT (link)I too live in VA and my children will not be using a calculator. The pro-calculator people need to be thrown in the crick (creek) because this is what is making children stupid. They become reliant on technology to solve problems, it becomes a crutch and prevents children from exercising the brain. As a 33 year old born in 1976, I was brought up with the multiplication tables and being able to do multiplication in my head like (2222*5=11110) or (22*22=484) as well as the ability to determine pecentages for tips without a calculator.
I can tell you that engineers leaving college in their early 20’s are stupefied by complex problems they expect some machine like a computer can model it for them. This kind of dumbing down of the kids has to happened in the last 20 years because I most certainly was given a better education. Then again I went to Catholic gradeschool which I guess isn’t fair to compare me to my public education counterparts.
Schooling and decisions related to the curriculum need to be made at the local level not the federal; therefore, parents and teachers at the local level has the ultimate say and we will see which curriculums work best because schools at the local level will be experimenting with the best processes rather than the blanket mandate from the state or federal Government.
My thinking is we dissolve the public education system all together or allow complete competition between the public and private. That said, private schools can be paid for by the income of the parent and they can opt out of the public school system without taxation. And the private schools could have scholarships for the poor. The public schools can still draw tax payer dollars from those that have children that attend the public school. Let us find out what happens then?
Yes, I know my proposal is simplistic, but our children are really becoming really functionally illiterate and it only took 20-30 years.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
If you want to see just how bad our kids are at math,
janis Tuesday, June 16th at 10:26AM EDT (link)try being in a Hardee’s or some other fast food joint when their computerized cash register/order taker machine goes out. The deer in the headlights look on their faces is all you need to see to know that they are panicked.
Aside from dealing with numbers all my life in business and in school, I also played a lot of cribbage and backgammon. Cribbage in particular is good for adding and subtracting practice.
If you want some sadistic fun, wait til the kid
Achance Tuesday, June 16th at 10:39AM EDT (link)rings up a sale and the machine does the sale, then if it is some sum like $2.01, or $5.10 offer, say, a $10 bill. When the machine calculates the change, then offer the penny or the dime AND the $10. The kid will just sit there and vibrate. Be prepared to tell them how much to give you back because there is no way they could do it short of voiding the sale and starting over. It’s a good life lesson for them.
In Vino Veritas
Too funny - I routinely do that
E Pluribus Unum Tuesday, June 16th at 6:14PM EDT (link)I am otherwise a pretty nice fellow, but I enjoy the heck out of watching their eyes spin clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively.
I loathe public schools these days so vehemently that I rationalize away the joy I get out of torturing their progeny.
Carthago delenda est
Some people aren't good at math
molybdanthan Tuesday, June 16th at 7:13PM EDT (link)with it’s one right answer. It would be a boon to society if we could better crunch those numbers . Part of the reason Wall ST and Penn Ave have gotten away with things is due to math.
try being on the other end
mom2oneson Tuesday, June 16th at 7:26PM EDT (link)capturing orders from people..it’s even funner if they need to know something other than their food order, like their address. (insert the banging head against the wall smiley) To make it more exciting combine that with the wacky effeciency goals we discussed in the minimum wage thread!
My higher math courses really didn't use calculators.
Xasteius Tuesday, June 16th at 5:22PM EDT (link)If you didn’t know the material, you were up a creek. Even my statistics course didn’t allow a calculator, testing your knowledge of the material rather than how fast you could punch buttons (yes these are public schools now).
Don’t leave the party, hijack it back!
Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.
When I grow up, I don’t want to be Reagan. I want to be Art Chance.
~Aaron Gardner
In VA the tyranny of the School Board means...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 9:01PM EDT (link)that they have to much control; therefore power needs to be removed from them and brought down to a lower level say the individual school level. PWC, Stafford, Arlington and Farifax have a very authoritarian school board. They are really going to hate me when I come to those meetings, because I believe most of those officials and a good portion of the teachers are very incompetent. Since, the school boards do not care what the parents think anymore we need to strip them from their authoritarian position by breaking the school board up into smaller boards closer to the community. In addition the boards need to be broken down further to deal with high school, middle, elementary and kindergarten seperately; therefore we will break down to boards associated with each of the age groups.
Ultimately, power needs to be returned to the people of the county not the bureacrats. Public schools are the taxpayers and the not the bureacrats! Viva Revolucion! I suppose they teach that Che is a wonderful man now in VA public schools, which is appalling.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
Ironically DTOM, we elect those on the Boards.
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 9:07PM EDT (link)I can’t figure it out. You elect a reasonable, intelligent person to the school board and within a few months they have been sucked into groupthink. It is maddening.
I keep helping people get elected to the school boards in the hope that eventually we will have someone who will rage against the machine.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
So, does it make sense to strip the individual from the...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 9:17PM EDT (link)group and break it down to individual school levels? I do not have a child in the fight yet, but I pray that I will in the next 5 years and then you will have an angry man at them damn bureacratic groupdumb. Rage against the machine is what they did to get us to this point. Apparently the old machine was not broke but in fixing the workng engine they replaced it with a hamster wheel while no one was looking.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
I wish I had the answers. The only thing I know for sure is that there is a violent lack of transparency
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 9:30PM EDT (link)in their dealings with the public. The numbers are public, the budget is public, the meetings are open but the way that they deal with the disgruntled public is not.
When Everyday Math was approved and introduced in 2005, I began a one woman crusade to remove Everyday Math from the curriculum in Stafford County. At one point, a district employee, baffled at my actions (my children are in private school) asked me why I was doing it since I “had no dog in this fight”.
Fortunately, as more parents saw (and still see) the idiocy of this fuzzy math program, which teaches students to “feel good” about “owning the algorithms”, more parents have joined and we now have a small army to fight.
Our fight is continuing and we have a school board election coming up. Since the numbers have grown significantly, I believe it will be a bit easier to hold their feet to the fire on this issue. I am still trying to figure out though how they can suck the individualism out of the board members and brainwash them to get on the bus to Abilene so quickly after being elected.
Our fight goes on.
PS - Tell you how bad Everyday Math is - calculators start at Kindergarten, seecond grade has been deemed “dangerous” by a group reviewing math programs and in fourth grade, it kind of skips over long division.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
I can not believe that the technical profesionals...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 9:39PM EDT (link)in NOVA have not been more condeming of this curriculum. The Math being taught does nothing for our children if they use calculators. I was specifically not allow in college to do my math course with calculators or computers specifically because computers have been known to give incomplete answers in Calculus and simply can not be utilized quickly for Diff Eq or Vector Calculus. Learning all of that process oriented mathematics in gradeschool becomes a very important brain function later in life. It is my belief that doing Math problems in your head can contribute greatly to raising your IQ 10-15 points later in life when the gray matter becomes active, especially in men when we pass that testosterone overdrive period.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
Waiting until you have a dog in the fight
monstermom Wednesday, June 17th at 8:06AM EDT (link)means you’re waiting too long. We need citizens, even grandparents and parents to be, to get involved in the fight. More than 50% of your local and state tax dollars go directly to the public schools, and the garbage they force on the kids today will be further entrenched when your kids arrive.
In PWC we’ve been fighting TERC for several years now. We kinda felt superior to all the other states fighting against remedial math programs like TERC and EDM because the school system hadn’t gone completely insane and adopted Connected math for middle school or Core plus for high school.
We were wrong. Connected math (CMP) is now used in almost every PWC Middle School, Middle School teachers have received training in nothing but CMP, and we’re powerless to stop it because the school system knows that the state and local school board don’t require them to follow state or local regulations . Gotta love it - I have to pay my taxes and mow my lawn and put my garbage cans in at night, lest I get a fine or arrested, but the school system can do whatever it wants with no regard for the law and our elected officials just grin and nod their heads.
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The National Extortion Association owns
Achance Tuesday, June 16th at 10:27AM EDT (link)practically every school board in the Country. Even in Republican states, nobody pays any attention to who is on State boards of education and boards of regents. Admittedly, there aren’t many Rs whose life ambition is to be on one of those boards, so usually you just get someone that the administrators encourage to throw their name in and the Republican governor and legislature just say, OK. That’s how you get state level curriculae that reinforce liberal orthodoxy even in Republican states.
If we paid as much attention to who is appointed to the state Board of Regents, public universities wouldn’t be communist cells operating in Red states. The “educators” have gotten even Republicans who should know better to buy off on all the academic freedom crap for public school teachers and college professors. Unless a right is conferred in statute, policy, or contract, all of which are in the government’s control, a public school teacher or college professor/instructor has no more right to freedom of speech in the course of their duties than any other public employee, which is essentially none. Speech is an individual right, your speech in a publicly financed classroom while drawing a salary from public funds is not individual speech, it is government speech and the only speech you have a “right” to make is the speech the government pays you to make.
In Vino Veritas
5 Achance! Everyone should read this nt
mom2oneson Tuesday, June 16th at 11:48AM EDT (link)Art is actually understating this
AKSteveB Tuesday, June 16th at 1:36PM EDT (link)My ex could keep you all busy for hours with her stories of blatantly forced FAR Left b.s. in her Ed. programs (as in one example “Given the discrimination that African American students in your class have suffered, come up with a lesson plan to share their stories with the rest of your class, in a MATH ED program). The only way a conservative or a moderate can get through is to hide their views.
Hell is other people - Sartre
Amen, Art
TNJim Tuesday, June 16th at 1:57PM EDT (link)Eveb here in relatively conservative NE Tennessee the kids had to watch Al Gore’s enviro-propagandist film. I don’t have kids, so I don’t know if debate was allowed after the film, I’m guessing not. But I haven’t heard of parents being made to watch the film with their kids like I have in other areas. Probably a good thing for the promoters of the film, since many parents here would be picking it apart, pointing out the discrepancies and outright lies.
“No. You can’t” -Moe Lane
We have been fighting the battle of Everyday Math since 2005.
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 9:04PM EDT (link)We are still no closer to getting them to remove the program than the day it was instituted here in Stafford County in May of 2005.
Districts are very good at keeping like minded parents isolated from each other. Do not expect anyone to join you in this fight - other than parents with similar concerns. Search those parents out and join with them.
We have an ongoing email communication with some Prince William parents regarding fuzzy math. It is crippling our children and will slam the door shut when it is time for them to learn higher math such as calculus.
We have implemented Singapore math at home to negate the effects of poorly conceived math programs concocted by the educators.
Good luck and keep fighting.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
I think you and I have discussed this fuzzy math in PWC...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 9:26PM EDT (link)before. There is no reason to eliminate the traditional math curriculum from public schools. Kids need to understand the logic behind working multiplication for one good reason, Algorithms. Look at this 12*12=144 well the pattern that gets to that is 24+120=144 do you see how I did that? Lets look at this one 133*122=16226 well that is done this way 266+2660+13300=2926+13300=16226. Using a calculator robs kids of the ability to see patterns and deteriorates the brains ability to do processes. This is what is making our kids absolutely unable to function in the competitive world. Without a computer are children can not even do the calculation of a tip at 18% of their restaurant bill.
I amaze the kids that are only 10 years younger than I when I do this stuff in my head. They always go, wow, you are really smart, and I say, No, I was taught this like everyone else my age and older.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
The traditional math curriculum in PW and Stafford schools no longer exists.
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 9:56PM EDT (link)It has been replaced by all sorts of fuzzy math programs - TERC Investigations, Math Land, Everyday Math, STEP and more.
There is no traditional math programs - it has long since gone away.
My boys go to private school and even though they use Scott Forsman math, we have been supplementing at home with Singapore Math.
I am proud to say when our 12 year old son took his full blown SATs this past year (for the John Hopkins Center) he score a 580 - which is pretty darn good considering he hadn’t seen half of the math concepts yet.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
12 years - 580 is excellent...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 10:22PM EDT (link)I never heard of all these math curriculums that you have cited. I only know the math techniques that are the basics, addition, subtraction, long division, multiplication, fractions and decimals, heck we even learned how to do square roots by hand.
I am reviewing the TERC Investigations right now and I had to laugh because it says learning Algebra operations, well doesn’t anyone remember that whole flashcard exercises in school? The empty box on the flashcard was algebra. We used to do drills in 2nd grade with flashcards like 5*_=25 or 10/_=2 well in algebra the _ is replaced with an x so 5x=25 or 10/x=2 (x=5). If you know your times tables and division tables then algebra should be easy. Sheesh it looks like someone wanted to make money with some garbage they thought up. Talk about the self confidence era never ending.
OK now that I have read about TERC and STEP it looks like they have made math and physics geared towards females and minorities. If you do not mind I am going to go off on a tirade.
Gearing science and math to woman and minorities is absolutely and utterly stupid. Math and physics have answers that do not change based on your sex or race; to assume that teaching has to be geared towards these groups is defacto alienating the tradional group that excelled at these subjects. It is a damn shame that we are alienating our caucasian men all in the name of diveristy and diveristy. This my friends is the most egregious form of teaching I have ever seen. The real world of physics does not function the way they are teaching which may explain why we have people coming up with tinpot theories about global warming and other ridiculous unsubstantiated science. This is why the electrical engineering graduates from college can not even build a feedback circuit to control a laser even if I drew it out for them. This is why NASA is a joke, it is also why our Government can not build anything reliably and within budget.
I apologize if I offended anyone, but I am sick of watching incompetence coming from the colleges these days and now I know why we have them. This kind teaching techique garbage is destroying the techniques that worked in the past. Man on the Moon, Apollo and Mercury space missions, the SR-71, Stealth Technology, Lasers and the Castle Bravo could not have been created by the kids exposed to the garbage they are teaching them today.
that is what old school education can produce. The Hydrogen Bomb that exceeded everyones expectations and whose design was stolen by the Soviets. These are the type of visionaries that I seek, not this diversity BS we are seeing in the schools today. I couldn’t find anything else to add, but everytime I watch this video I get goose bumps I wonder if anyone thought the public education system in the United States needed to be diversified back then
BTW, monstermom sorry for Castle Bravo test but that is what my brain did when I started looking at all of these stupid curriculums that are being taught to our kids. Where are our next generation Nuclear scientists to harnass the power of fusion to power our world without the nuclear waste.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
55555... Hell..... 10 10 10 10 10 !!!!! ...... nt
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 10:25PM EDT (link)Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
I new that would brighten up your day K-Solo-nt
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 10:31PM EDT (link)“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
nerd
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, June 15th at 10:43PM EDT (link)smile
I am a geek.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
ambulance chaser...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 10:48PM EDT (link)I am just kidding, you already stole my thunder with calling yourself a geek.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
we only need to be able to divide by 3 - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, June 15th at 10:50PM EDT (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
that title was like Indy 500 for me...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 10:55PM EDT (link)just zipped on by without me remotely getting the divide by 3 joke?
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
5^pi
aesthete Monday, June 15th at 11:15PM EDT (link)I hate to go on a “kids these days” tirade myself, especially considering that, age-wise, I could qualify as one of those “kids”, but the public school system is horribly broken. The primary problem in my mind is that the system(s) is not designed to be easy for a parent to either understand or change if they are dissatisfied. Rather, the schools are beholden to and rewarded by various special interests, almost none of which have the interests of the parent (or the student, for that matter) in mind. In such an environment, it is no wonder that parents and student development are thrown under the bus in favor of those constituencies. The various forms of “diversity” curricula are just another iteration of this, and have the added benefit of masquerading failure (i.e.,”We won’t get it right the first time when we’re developing and using an untested curricula!”). As a minority, I can tell you that those programs helped not a bit in my understanding of the material, and in fact were inferior to the ostensibly “non-diverse” materials that I had learned with.
Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand
“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC
aesthete
mom2oneson Tuesday, June 16th at 12:06AM EDT (link)Promise me you will remember us here at RS!
15.708, I am an engineer so I rounded up...
DONTREADONME Tuesday, June 16th at 12:25AM EDT (link)I am glad you are an example of how it does not matter the minority status, class or sex when it comes to the material taught. Thanks for commenting. May I comment further by saying, and correct me if I am wrong, that teaching a “diverse” and sex-neutral curriculum in math and physics is an insult to Americans (including minorities and females) by assuming their aptitude to learn is somehow inferior to the caucasian male; therefore, it is my contention that all humans (male or female) can learn any subject and be excellent at it if given the chance and have the desire to learn. 2+2=4 should look the same to all of us, that is Math and Physics is not dependent on the race, sex or sexual preference it is truly colorblind.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
Good point there, and one that I make often
aesthete Tuesday, June 16th at 12:52AM EDT (link)Though I understand the idea that different cultures, peoples, and personalities have different learning and teaching styles, and am not averse to using techniques that fit people, that’s not what is really being done here (in my experience, anyways). Rather, the curricula is generally dumbed down, calculators for all!-style “teaching”, which means that schools isn’t really using alternate teaching methods, but instead are selling an inferior product and hoping to God that minority and women scores improve at the expense of efveryone else’s, something that I do have a problem with. In my view, this is just another example of leftists giving up on anything aside from maintaining the lower caste of blacks (and now Hispanics) which was solidified in the 60’s after LBJ’s anti-poverty acts. At any rate, I find it fascinating that private schools and homeschooling in particular not only achieve better results in general than public schools, but also have less disparities between minority and women scores relative to public schools. Homeschooling, in particular, shows virtually no difference between minority and women scores, and the scores of white males. But of course, allowing the free market to do its job and fix a social problem at the same time wouldn’t allow politicians to “sympathize” with their constituencies and keep them under their thumbs, and we can’t have that, now can we
It’s pretty ironic to me that the same minorities that are currently being condescended to are the same ones who, in centuries past, had the most exposure to advanced mathematics and sciences, and who were apparently able to learn them (Hispanics from the Iberian peninsula, North Africans and African slaves, and Muslims were all exposed to more advanced math through exposure in the Islamic world than Western Europe, and don’t even get me started on Far Eastern populations
).
Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand
“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC
Aw dang, lots of typos in my post :(
aesthete Tuesday, June 16th at 12:59AM EDT (link)nt
Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand
“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC
Good point there, and one that I make often
aesthete Tuesday, June 16th at 12:52AM EDT (link)Though I understand the idea that different cultures, peoples, and personalities have different learning and teaching styles, and am not averse to using techniques that fit people, that’s not what is really being done here (in my experience, anyways). Rather, the curricula is generally dumbed down, calculators for all!-style “teaching”, which means that schools isn’t really using alternate teaching methods, but instead are selling an inferior product and hoping to God that minority and women scores improve at the expense of efveryone else’s, something that I do have a problem with. In my view, this is just another example of leftists giving up on anything aside from maintaining the lower caste of blacks (and now Hispanics) which was solidified in the 60’s after LBJ’s anti-poverty acts. At any rate, I find it fascinating that private schools and homeschooling in particular not only achieve better results in general than public schools, but also have less disparities between minority and women scores relative to public schools. Homeschooling, in particular, shows virtually no difference between minority and women scores, and the scores of white males. But of course, allowing the free market to do its job and fix a social problem at the same time wouldn’t allow politicians to “sympathize” with their constituencies and keep them under their thumbs, and we can’t have that, now can we
It’s pretty ironic to me that the same minorities that are currently being condescended to are the same ones who, in centuries past, had the most exposure to advanced mathematics and sciences, and who were apparently able to learn them (Hispanics from the Iberian peninsula, North Africans and African slaves, and Muslims were all exposed to more advanced math through exposure in the Islamic world than Western Europe, and don’t even get me started on Far Eastern populations
).
Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand
“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC
Welcome to the world of new and fuzzy math.
ocleverone Tuesday, June 16th at 12:39AM EDT (link)It’s mind boggling, isn’t it?
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
Can you imagine anyone who graduated
Achance Tuesday, June 16th at 9:33AM EDT (link)from a US school in the last 20 or 30 years having to repeat that scene in “Apollo 13″ where the astronauts are calculating their retro burn with pencil, paper, and slide rule? My stepkids were being required to have programmable calculator by middle school. Of course, they could neither understand the directions to the calculators or the underlying mathmatics and I got lots of lectures on how “dumb’ and “BO-ring” math was for trying to help them understand. Frankly, I struggled with their math as well because the texts were so badly written and problems were an amalgam of concepts from arithmetic, algebra, and geometry almost from the earliest grades. They try to teach them all this math concept stuff, I assume to try to make the math more relevant to their lives, but they won’t teach them math fundamentals because of the “drill and kill” ideology they all subscribe to. They wouldn’t think of doing that flash card in class because if someone got one wrong, it would damage their self-esteem. In most places now you’ll find that almost no kid has ever had to answer a question in class or stand before the class and read or recite something because it is one of those things that some people do better than others so they don’t want to damage the self esteem of those who do it less well.
In Vino Veritas
the system rewards
mom2oneson Tuesday, June 16th at 10:07AM EDT (link)districts that have children with learning disability or needing remediation with more money and jobs. We can’t blame the democrats for this either. This part of the reason why I’m sure they do soooo much testing on kids on subsidized daycare to get a label on them in time for k..
Public colleges should be able to charge the high school
Achance Tuesday, June 16th at 10:13AM EDT (link)for the remedial classes they have to provide to students that graduated from that high school. I like the idea of open admission public colleges; not everyone gets it in high school and people who were poor students in HS often grow up and become excellent students in college. That said, the kid with the 2.0 GPA who has to take remedial courses and struggles isn’t the real problem. The problem is the kid who graduated HS with a 3.8 who is functionally illiterate.
In Vino Veritas
With these programs, our next gen will be
monstermom Wednesday, June 17th at 8:11AM EDT (link)the nuclear waste!
Thanks for looking into the subject in more detail.
Ocleverone - contact Delegate Bob Marshall about the situation in Stafford regarding textbook adoption. We contacted him about PWC and he agreed with us and sent the issue to the AG. Perhaps the AG would be more likely to conduct a formal investigation if he knows that the problem isn’t isolated to PWC.
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Monstermom..... Don't be terrified...... Fight.
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 9:08PM EDT (link)Arm yourself with facts, friends, family and more facts.
Hit the politicians hard, harder and hardest. Call them out in public.
Go to all PTSA meetings - demand to be heard.
Get an attorney - yes that costs money - buyt get an attorney who believes in the nation’s core principles and FIGHT..
This entire piece of garbage literally invalidates chunks of The Constitution and Bill Of Rights, let alone what it does to your right as a parent to decide what is best for your own children.
God help us if all else fails and we have to invoke The 2nd Amendment and really arm ourselves to stop this.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Kenny, I had to threaten FOIA suit to get the previous Stupidintendent of our County Schools
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 9:12PM EDT (link)to answer a freakin email on how they chose Everyday Math.
The district policy is to wait out the parents with a wall of silence. You are branded a horrific troublemaker and they then wait you out until you have no more to give. Seriously.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
Then keep fighting..... Demand access...... File the lawsuit and even a demand notice.
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 9:29PM EDT (link)DO NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS.
Do not accept anything less than total transparency as to what is being taught to YOUR CHILDREN.
The bullcrap stops here and now.
I’m saying this as someone without kids….
The kids are our nation’s future. They don’t realize what is happening to them….. yet.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Then join us Kenny - you don't need kids to be involved. You foot the bill for those schools too.
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 9:32PM EDT (link)Join us on the dark side - we have milk and cookies.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
I'm in it every day... all day.
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 9:43PM EDT (link)I work in the schools here in South Florida. I help protect the kids…. the little ones in elementary schools.
I’ve seen things go on that could turn a lump of coal into ashes without any fire.
I’m also getting deeply involved with State’s Rights here in Florida trying to force our State Legislators to invoke The 10th Amendment.
We’ve got a candidate who will fight, to the death if need be - he’s been shot at more than once, so folks who at best are talking out of their arses don’t scare him a whit. The gent’s name is Lt. Col. Allen West.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
all the power to you working in the school...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 9:52PM EDT (link)as you can tell from our conversation about VA, I would be fired for not following the curriculum in a heart beat because it is asinine. I do not teach because there is no living in it plus there is no monetary incentive to do better than my colleagues. Of course that is one of the problems with the public school system. Right now I have long hair and its full, if I went to tteach at he public school I would be bald and drinking and smoking an awful lot.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
wow you two guys certainly have a different experience than I with public schools
kyle8 Monday, June 15th at 10:14PM EDT (link)I’m not saying they are great, but I teach in the Texas public school system in the suburbs of Houston. Our schools are safe and our students do well above the national average in all areas, And that is with a high percentage of students with English as a second language.
Of course there is some political indoctrination, such as the big enviro-recycling thing around earth day. But other parts of the social studies curriculum are surprisingly balanced, in some ways even conservative.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
Kyle, some of the good things are because y'all have 'open carry'........
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 10:23PM EDT (link)It pays to be nice to folks in Texas.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Kyle8, you said Texas...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 10:34PM EDT (link)I expect the proper education of children in Texas as you said, you know the whole. “The stars at night are big and bright”…. waiting…
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
deep in the heart of Texas
E Pluribus Unum Monday, June 15th at 11:16PM EDT (link)…
Carthago delenda est
thanks EPU, everyone left me hanging-nt
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 11:18PM EDT (link)“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
We sing that one at the Fort Worth Cats games
E Pluribus Unum Tuesday, June 16th at 11:36AM EDT (link)maybe the Rangers too, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been to a Ranger game.
And since I don’t own a diamond brokerage or oil company, I have no idea if it’s covered at Cowboy games.
Carthago delenda est
TX refused national standards for English and math
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 10:35PM EDT (link)TX is also unique for textbook funding & adoption than other states and what they pick has a big impact on textbooks in other states too.
Kyle
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 10:40PM EDT (link)Have you seen this site? This couple worked for years to keep garbage out of the books:
http://www.textbookreviews.org/
Forget Milk and Cookies
monstermom Wednesday, June 17th at 8:22AM EDT (link)we’ve upgraded to Margaritas! Trust me, after 3 hours in a school board meeting being by TEACHERS that parents just need to sit down and shut up, I need a Margarita.
Here are a few selected comments from one such board meeting. We had the audacity to ask that he school district offer parents a choice in how their children are taught math. We didn’t want to disrupt the program the county administrators love, we just wanted them to offer a program we felt would better meet our kids needs.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6wX1-J]
My response to the teacher who said that spectators need to spectate, was that if I signed my kid up for basketball and the coach was teaching him soccer, I’d have a few words with the coach about what he was teaching my child.
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Oh drat - I did that wrong
monstermom Wednesday, June 17th at 8:27AM EDT (link)Sorry! Here’s a link to the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6wX1-J
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cleverone- looks like I need to start tutoring...
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 9:29PM EDT (link)there are going to be numerous children that need to be taught the right way how to do Math, because the SAT do not care about Everyday Math. BTW, I scored an 800/800 on my SAT for Math back in 93, I attribute partly my aptitude but solely credit my Catholic School education.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
Wow - a perfect score on the math. That is tough to do!
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 9:42PM EDT (link)You are in great demand now. Most of the learning centers pay dearly for math tutors.
Everyday Math was the brainchild of the Chicago Math Project in answer to the National Science Foundation’s call to jiggy up math programs since not only was Johnny not reading, he was sucking at math.
An open letter was send to Richard Riley, Secretary of Education under Clinton to repeal a good majority of the fuzzy math programs introduced in the NSF’s quest. The letter was signed by, I believe, 204 math professionals including professors at Ivy League universities and two Nobel Laureates. It fell on deaf ears all the way around.
I can only atrribute it to the power of the publishers of these programs.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
Just do not ask me about the English Part-nt
DONTREADONME Monday, June 15th at 9:45PM EDT (link)“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
We may be going to the state AG
monstermom Tuesday, June 16th at 8:14AM EDT (link)Over how PWC adopted Investigations. State law requires that the criteria they use to select non-state approved materials (and TERC isn’t state approved) be formally debated and authorized by the school board. PWC never bothered. They even admitted as much in a FOIA response to me.
I contacted the state DOE and was told by three different people that adherence to state law by local school districts wasn’t such a big deal and that they just liked to give the school boards as much control as possible.
So I contacted my state Delegate and he forwarded my summary and a response from PWCS to the state AG.
That was a couple of months ago and I have no clue what’s been going on since.
ocleverone - I’d love to chat with you about joining together with other local folks to take our issues to the state. We got an election coming up and I’m sure the power that be in either campaign won’t want negative press about how the largest state organization allows it’s local affiliates to disregard state law.
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Monstermom
ocleverone Tuesday, June 16th at 8:25AM EDT (link)I would love to chat also - here’s my email ocleverone@aol.com.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
We have the exact same thing here
ocleverone Tuesday, June 16th at 8:35AM EDT (link)We have one brilliant researcher on our side and he found that the way Everyday Math was adopted was a violation of state law. So far, we have heard nothing back from ANYONE.
It amazes me how districts seem to be above following statutes when it behooves their interests.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
this is all part of the plan -- they want you paralyzed with fear
David Hinz Monday, June 15th at 9:51PM EDT (link)It is all part of the Cloward-Piven plan to overwhelm and paralyze…
…and conquer.
The Minority Report — The HinzSight Report — TMRB.tv — MFOB “Miss Tagart, do you know the hallmark of the second-rater? It’s resentment of another man’s achievement.”
Yes it is David and somehow we must help people find the courage to say enough. nt
ocleverone Monday, June 15th at 9:59PM EDT (link)To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
courage to say 'enough'
molybdanthan Monday, June 15th at 10:43PM EDT (link)and the courage to do more.
Parents need to follow the union model and go on strike. Something like ‘take your child from school’ day.
AMEN, and you echo pilgrim and other mom I think - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, June 15th at 10:45PM EDT (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Taking state tests is optional
monstermom Tuesday, June 16th at 8:17AM EDT (link)in elementary and middle school. It’s required in high school. About the best strike any parents can effect is to refuse state mandated testing for their child, because progress on state mandated testing is how the schools get their funding. If enough people refuse to take the test and get 0 scores then the scores for the county will decline and their funding will be jeopardized.
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If That's Your Attitude, You've Already Lost This Fight...
IJB Monday, June 15th at 8:28PM EDT (link)…And you might as well give up.
But pretending that there’s any difference between locally-run, state-run and federally-run public education isn’t doing anyone any favors.
P.S. Your point about vouchers is why people like Mom2OneSon and I oppose vouchers.
monstermom at your local level
mom2oneson Monday, June 15th at 8:36PM EDT (link)How does the district recieve the money? How much of it is based on attendance? How much extra do they recieve from the federal gov for low income from the school lunch forms? How much extra do they recieve for special needs students? If children did not attend they would lose at least part of that money.
The money comes from multiple sources
monstermom Wednesday, June 17th at 8:32AM EDT (link)but the primary sources are from state income taxes and local property taxes. Federal money is significant, but ranks third. Then there are grants from companies like Exxon (which totally supports fuzzy math), from the NSF (also 100% behind fuzzy programs), and grants from colleges and Universities.
In PWC we know of one $80,000 grant for teacher certification which depended on the school district adopting TERC. We’ve submitted a FOIA asking about other grants and were slapped with a $600 charge to obtain that information.
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5. 'Zactly right MM. nt
ocleverone Wednesday, June 17th at 8:39AM EDT (link)To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
There's a very good reason that this is secret
civil_truth Monday, June 15th at 8:34PM EDT (link)Curriculum is an extremely controversial topic whenever there is public discussion - keeping everything secret until the standards are finalized is the only way they can impose their agenda on the nation.
I’m wondering how they plan to evade public comment when they publish the propose standards in the Federal Register - unless there is enabling legislation that will enable them to evade this step.
And Rightly So!
They won't need any legislation.....
Kenny Solomon Monday, June 15th at 9:11PM EDT (link)Teh Mess-I-Yah will simply appoint a Czar.
WAKE UP AND FIGHT THIS OR WHATEVER FUTURE OUR NATION HAS IS GONE.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
good interview
mom2oneson Tuesday, June 16th at 12:03AM EDT (link)with John Saxon. He mentions his dealings with the standards folks & districts..
http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/view/rc/s31p655.htm#Message3339
I wasn’t sure where to fit this in as a reply but it’s relevant especially with DTOM post about the lack of math facts being taught.
John Saxon died and the family sold his "math" to Harcourt Publishing
ocleverone Tuesday, June 16th at 12:25AM EDT (link)Which is doing its level best to dumb down his curriculum.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
The interview
mom2oneson Tuesday, June 16th at 9:16AM EDT (link)is still relevant and the series is still good IMHO even with the HA changes.
Crummy curricula = remediation in college
monstermom Tuesday, June 16th at 8:26AM EDT (link)Many of the problems are seen at the community college level because that’s where students are sent to take remedial math.
This group did a study of the remediation rates and tied it to high schools. It’s an eye opening read.
http://www.all4ed.org/files/archive/publications/remediation.pdf
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