The manure we shovel...

[Friday]

...to gain employment.

From a follow-up thank you email I sent after an interview:

"Preparing our students for integration into the global community is a challenging, yet worthwhile endeavor."

Yes, because I wholeheartedly believe holding hands and singing "Kumbaya" provides a better education than actually teaching the basics. I almost typed "indoctrination" instead of "integration", but decided being able to eat trumps standing on principle at this moment in time.

Shoot me. Shoot me now...

 

[starguard]

Welcome to our New World Order

 

[eloisel]

...to gain employment.

From a follow-up thank you email I sent after an interview:

"Preparing our students for integration into the global community is a challenging, yet worthwhile endeavor."

Yes, because I wholeheartedly believe holding hands and singing "Kumbaya" provides a better education than actually teaching the basics. I almost typed "indoctrination" instead of "integration", but decided being able to eat trumps standing on principle at this moment in time.

Shoot me. Shoot me now...

What is wrong with preparing the youth of today to integrate into a global community? With the technology we have today, and what is coming, a global community is the future. Why not be prepared for it?

What basic education won't be taught in sacrifice to preparing students for a global community?

I'm not trying to pick a fight, Friday. I've just always thought of you as very liberal - and in a good way for the most part. Why wouldn't the global community theme appeal to you?

 

[Friday]

Trying to attain a global community is all warm and fuzzy, but it's happening to the detriment of *real* education.

The school I interviewed with had a very liberal curriculum. It is an International Baccalaureate school. However, their end of grade test scores were in the 60% range, which is failing, according to the No Child Left Behind act. If the test scores backed up this global program, I would be all for it, but the scores don't lie. Proficiency in the basic areas--reading, math, language arts--is being sacrificed for an international group hug.

Like many other "new and improved" methods of teaching, the IB program is form over substance.

 

[eloisel]

We live in a different world these days. What really is a basic education now?

 

[Friday]

The ability to think critically; to be able to determine facts from empirical evidence. The ability to spell, and use proper grammar.

I've been in 6th grade Language Arts classes that didn't require the proper spelling of vocabulary words--only the correct definition was necessary. Have you read what passes for grammar in any comments section on any site, whether it be CNN or YouTube? It's appalling.

I've read *university* English Department websites where theme was emphasized, grammar be damned.

Students are not held accountable any longer. In a lot of districts, letter grades were switched to pass/fail, in order to protect self esteem. Children are being promoted on a social, not academic, basis.

I do believe education should embrace the 21st century, but not to the point where we produce a nation of illiterate dolts who couldn't think their way out of a paper bag.