Education Issues

[blush]

Originally Posted by Toughy

I wish folks would get as pissed off and upset about the 'new and improved' curriculum that is resulting in new textbooks being written courtesy of the Texas State School Board. The effects of these new textbooks will be felt across the nation. And in my mind is far more important.

I totally agree with you. And this is an issue most folks don't know much about. But most of what we know about history comes from these textbooks. They are the source of our culture's working knowledge. It is where censorship and cultural agendas are played out. Columbus is the classic example of this. Curriculum still states that he is taught as an explorer looking for spices. In the spite of autobiographical diaries in which he describes his quest for gold and methods for enslaving native Americans.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by blush

I totally agree with you. And this is an issue most folks don't know much about. But most of what we know about history comes from these textbooks. They are the source of our culture's working knowledge. It is where censorship and cultural agendas are played out. Columbus is the classic example of this. Curriculum still states that he is taught as an explorer looking for spices. In the spite of autobiographical diaries in which he describes his quest for gold and methods for enslaving native Americans.

This really is something that awareness needs to raised about. Has to be extremely frustrating for teachers pouring themselves into their work. And with the shift to the "testing" in public schools.

My late partner taught elementary grades and she and a team teacher (a Native American) gave their 5th grade class the "real" history of the slaughter of Native Americans within the California Mission system. This was before the curriculum and testing requirements were in place as they are today.

The class was taken to a Mission on a field trip wherein one little girl asked the Mission guide at one point- "Where are the mass Indian graves." He said- "We don't talk much about those much."

Out of the mouths of babes...

[Soon]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill passed Friday by the Tennessee Senate would forbid public school teachers and students in grades kindergarten through eight from discussing the fact that some people are gay.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_864895.html

[AtLast]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...rRFH_blog.html


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Swedish School Eliminates Gender

Erin Gloria Ryan — A preschool in Sweden is doing its part to make Tucker Carlson's bowtie spin around in shock and surprise.

CNN reports that the Egalia preschool in Stockholm will eliminate gender specific pronouns, and refer to the children present as "friends" rather than "boys" or "girls." Also on the chopping block? Fairy tales that further gender stereotypes, to be replaced with tales of families featuring gay and lesbian couples.

The school is funded by Swedish taxpayers, but if it ever finds itself in dire financial straits, it could always make extra money by charging American conservatives a hefty fee for a Halloween House of Liberal Horror tour of the facilities.

Scandinavian countries are known for their hippie dippie socialist ways, leading the world in gender equality.

"Society expects girls to be girlie, nice and pretty and boys to be manly, rough and outgoing," teacher Jenny Johnsson told the AP. "Egalia gives them a fantastic opportunity to be whoever they want to be."

It's a whole school of Storms!

This school, with its crazy ideas of equality and non sexualization of children, represents a serious international crisis. With Sweden going genderless, where will America's creepy uncles get their Swedish bikini team garage calendars?

No 'Boys' and 'Girls' at Gender Neutral School in Sweden [CNN]

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn....ool-in-sweden/

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