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Nov 24, 2024 5:59:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2021 19:13:28 GMT
As a parent the biggest problem I have with our school curriculum is the lack of transparency into what is being taught. For example, during "COVID school" (aka remote learning) I learned in my teen's World History class that the content stopped at World War I. There was ZERO discussion about World War I, World War II, why they started, how they were stopped, or anything past that. That to me that is very concerning because we are not teaching kids about the big mistakes humanity as a whole made and think about how to prevent them from happening again. Parents as a whole are not involved in the happenings of their school districts and don't take the time to learn and understand why something may be done a certain way or a certain subject taught in a certain manner. Yes, there have been things taught at school that my husband and I do not agree with in the curriculum. Instead of storming a school board meeting or sending scathing emails to teachers we use it as an opportunity to say and demonstrate "you don't have to think that way because there are other options and those options are....". We NEED our kids to be free thinkers. Critical thinkers. They can't do that when one person/agency is in charge so parents being involved and let's face it, parents don't or won't own it. Regardless if your kid is a bookworm, artist, athlete, musician, you have to be able to think that means being able to see things from different perspectives. I also think public education professionals (not just teachers but many across various operations) need to be a bit more flexible. Regardless of the career position you are, you can and will get "too deep in the weeds" and be too rigid to routine to see and reflect on different perspectives on how to accomplish something. Using education as an example I see it all the time in the three different school district volunteer committees I am on. I even have our superintendent now saying to his staff "don't get so deep in the weeds you can't see the water moving, the fish swimming, and the sun shining". The "it's my way or the highway" mentality is going to be the downfall of us all regardless of the political side you walk with. What did the school say when you asked about at what point the 20th century content is covered? How flexible should we be when we have 750 parents with 750 different ideas about what we should be teaching? Am I required to take curriculum ideas from all of them? When I asked the academic dean about the shortcoming she said she would look into it. Being a teacher, you know at that point (end of school year) if my kid is going to learn anything following WWI it would be up to us (parents) to teach or she picks it up again in college. Once that high school class is completed that's it. When I say flexible I don't mean bend and deliver 750 different ways of the same learning to 750 kids. That's impossible. Our state's education code is pretty broad in what it defines as requirements for each class. I'm a believer that a lot of learning and how it sticks is about delivery of instruction. In our district, worksheets were a mainstay for the longest until a group of us parents engaged respectfully with out school board about the homework our kids were having to do - the type and amount - and correlated that to low test scores due to the lack of critical analysis and thinking involved. Things have been changing since. My second child's high school learning experience involves much more discussion, project, and writing based activities than ever before and that is because her teachers are making that difference in the classroom versus giving worksheets and busy-work assignments for grades. However, I do believe teachers need to be open to recommendations, thoughts and idea of parents. If that's too much for teacher's to support then maybe district academic deans can open a "suggestion box" of some kind where parents can submit their thoughts and ideas. At the end of the day people just want to know the ideas for their kids have been heard, thought about, and acknowledged. Whether that happens at the campus level or district level parents want to feel involved. If they ask a question they shouldn't be sent away and told "we know better" by a school. At the end of the day they are our kids and educating them is long-term partnership, not a dictatorship. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 4, 2021 19:39:33 GMT
What did the school say when you asked about at what point the 20th century content is covered? How flexible should we be when we have 750 parents with 750 different ideas about what we should be teaching? Am I required to take curriculum ideas from all of them? When I asked the academic dean about the shortcoming she said she would look into it. Being a teacher, you know at that point (end of school year) if my kid is going to learn anything following WWI it would be up to us (parents) to teach or she picks it up again in college. Once that high school class is completed that's it. When I say flexible I don't mean bend and deliver 750 different ways of the same learning to 750 kids. That's impossible. Our state's education code is pretty broad in what it defines as requirements for each class. I'm a believer that a lot of learning and how it sticks is about delivery of instruction. In our district, worksheets were a mainstay for the longest until a group of us parents engaged respectfully with out school board about the homework our kids were having to do - the type and amount - and correlated that to low test scores due to the lack of critical analysis and thinking involved. Things have been changing since. My second child's high school learning experience involves much more discussion, project, and writing based activities than ever before and that is because her teachers are making that difference in the classroom versus giving worksheets and busy-work assignments for grades. However, I do believe teachers need to be open to recommendations, thoughts and idea of parents. If that's too much for teacher's to support then maybe district academic deans can open a "suggestion box" of some kind where parents can submit their thoughts and ideas. At the end of the day people just want to know the ideas for their kids have been heard, thought about, and acknowledged. Whether that happens at the campus level or district level parents want to feel involved. If they ask a question they shouldn't be sent away and told "we know better" by a school. At the end of the day they are our kids and educating them is long-term partnership, not a dictatorship. I mean ... I don't know any school that delivers instruction primarily through worksheets, so I'm sorry that's been the case where you are. It is not the case here and hasn't been for a long time. In my kids' experience, World History stopped about where yours did and American History covered the 20th century a bit more. The reality is that it's difficult to fit the entire history of the world (or even of our country) in a one-year course. It's one of the reasons I think some form of college education should be free for anyone who wants to attend and learn more. We can't cover it all in the four years of high school. To be honest, I think parents should not expect to be able to give specific suggestions about curriculum to teachers. Specific suggestions about your child and his/her learning style, yes. But if you get to have your say and feel heard, and so do all of the other 750 families at the school, where does that leave me? Most of the time, the curriculum is set by the district and teachers don't get to control it. Your issues should be taken to the principal or the board. It's false to say that "one agency" is controlling what is taught and is not capable of giving more than one perspective. That "one agency" (in this case the district's many curriculum committees) takes input and direction from many different entities with various and often competing ideologies. I agree that we need to teach our kids to think critically, but would disagree that whitewashing, conspiracy theories, and mythology need to be among the alternate points considered as valid. And unfortunately, that's what some parents are asking. |
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 4, 2021 19:40:53 GMT
I am a Virginia Democrat. Please do not congratulate Virginia. It would be a personal slap in the face.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Nov 4, 2021 20:18:28 GMT
I wish I had the ability to indoctrinate my students. If I could indoctrinate them, the first things I would do are: 1. Indoctrinate them into attending class on time and on a regular basis. 2. Indoctrinate them into paying attention - putting down the damn phone and giving me 100% attention. 3. Indoctrinate them into doing the work on a timely basis so they can practice what we do in class. Could someone please tell me where I can get some PD on indoctrination methods that actually work? Unfortunately, the years of training and degrees that I have didn't quite cover that. I think their new term is "grooming" instead of "indoctrinating." Maybe that is easier? lol |
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Nov 24, 2024 5:59:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2021 20:26:00 GMT
To be honest, I think parents should not expect to be able to give specific suggestions about curriculum to teachers. Specific suggestions about your child and his/her learning style, yes. But if you get to have your say and feel heard, and so do all of the other 750 families at the school, where does that leave me? Most of the time, the curriculum is set by the district and teachers don't get to control it. Your issues should be taken to the principal or the board. People have NO IDEA how many hours go into teaching. I remember the ass#($* (usually men) who used to say "What a great job - work 9-3 and summers off and they're paid for 12 mos!" Um, ass#*$, who do you think writes the lesson plans, grades the papers, grades the tests, meets with parents, attends professional training, attends school admin meetings, meets with students for extra support. Oh, and those 12 mo payments - yeah, that's their 10 mo. salary that some teachers could choose (not sure if it's still this way) to amortize over 12 mos. F#$(*#ing know-nothings. The stupider you are, the easier you think everything is for everyone else. What I saw during covid made me LOVE our kids' teachers and school so much more than I even did before. Teachers went above and beyond to excellently teach all the while juggling their own kids at home, and all the incredible upheaval of covid. |
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Post by friendly on Nov 4, 2021 20:29:22 GMT
the republican ran on hate and fear and lying about the curriculum in public schools. why would I celebrate that crap.. esp since he never called out trump or his actions. Ans the Democrat had already been governor and people are tired of career politicians. They should’ve picked a better choice to run. We didn’t and we got the results that we got. Ans I’ll say it again-Youngkin is crazy but I’m not worried about overturning abortion rights or anything like that. There will be laws I don’t agree with but I didn’t like Northam either. My fear was Amanda Chase would win the republican nod. I’m that case, we were doomed to hell. The lowest, filftithest laysr of hell. I would’ve moved. But most moderate republicans never would’ve voted for her nutcase ass. That’s why she didn’t win the nod. She would’ve lost by a landslide. I have numerous friends, moderates on both sides, who voted for Youngkim. He would be an idiot to alienate these people knowing that he wants to gain control of the state house and senate. Virginia is still a swing state and I know the pundits don’t think so, but we very much are. Many vote on issues, not party lines. There’s a large chunk of moderates, esp in the Richmond suburbs where I live. I’m a registered Democrat who has voted republican before. They were not happy with Northam and the pandemic and a man who already as governors and running again did not sit well with them. And public school curriculum? Virginia entacted this year a law that has forced schools to look at bathrooms and locker rooms for transgender students that I fully support. FYI, most districts haven’t done it or voted their shitty ass facilities are fine. So if Virginia is one more thing, we’re rebel to the core and we apparently don’t care, no matter what side of the fence you fall on. Virginia doesn't allow people to register as members of a party. You can't possibly be a "registered Democrat." |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Nov 4, 2021 20:36:21 GMT
The GOP is trying to create distrust of all institutions. Apparently schools are the target now. They want everyone to believe that they can't trust teachers, teachers don't respect them and their "role", schools are trying to groom students (for what? being a social justice warrior?), and so on. I don't think many people understand how curriculum is developed (including @shamalama on this thread). A teacher doesn't just randomly decide what they are going to teach in their class. I think it is also pretty disrespectful to discount the education and training that teachers have, as well as those in administration. In the situation above where world history class stopped at WWI, I would assume that the rest of the history started in a different class. Perhaps your child already took that class? Or took world history instead of US History?
The anti-equity group in our district requested that teachers give them a presentation of how they would teach the class when it was a topic they were "concerned" about. Give me a break. That might sound good in theory, but it doesn't take much foresight to realize that it wouldn't be feasible for every parent in the school to request a lesson be "taught" to them prior to their child taking the class. Just like it doesn't make sense for every parent to demand that they have a say in the curriculum. Perhaps there could be a suggestion box. But the way that parents go about it these days is just detrimental to the whole school--from the staff, the teachers AND the students--because the moral is so low due to the harassment, as well as the amount of time and stress dealing with parents. What do people think will be the outcome here and how does that help their kids?
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Post by mollycoddle on Nov 4, 2021 21:58:24 GMT
The GOP’s genius-for want of an accurate word-is to seize upon cultural issues that will frighten people and make them angry. I worked in a school system for more than thirty years, and spent a lot of time listening to teachers vent. And they vented for good reason.
If you don’t already know this, pay attention. Teachers are not interested in indoctrinating your kids. They are barely keeping their heads above water trying to keep up with the constant demands put upon them. They tend to be overworked, exhausted and demoralized.
And even if they wanted to turn your kids into Good Little Socialists, they could never get away with it. Lesson plans have to be turned in and there are frequent pop-up observations by school administrators. Teacher have constant interruptions. Go to your kid’s school, ask to sit in class, and observe. You will come away with the thought that teachers are underpaid.
And frankly, if you think that teachers have the time and energy to radicalize your kids, then you are a moron.
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Nov 24, 2024 5:59:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2021 22:13:24 GMT
When I asked the academic dean about the shortcoming she said she would look into it. Being a teacher, you know at that point (end of school year) if my kid is going to learn anything following WWI it would be up to us (parents) to teach or she picks it up again in college. Once that high school class is completed that's it. When I say flexible I don't mean bend and deliver 750 different ways of the same learning to 750 kids. That's impossible. Our state's education code is pretty broad in what it defines as requirements for each class. I'm a believer that a lot of learning and how it sticks is about delivery of instruction. In our district, worksheets were a mainstay for the longest until a group of us parents engaged respectfully with out school board about the homework our kids were having to do - the type and amount - and correlated that to low test scores due to the lack of critical analysis and thinking involved. Things have been changing since. My second child's high school learning experience involves much more discussion, project, and writing based activities than ever before and that is because her teachers are making that difference in the classroom versus giving worksheets and busy-work assignments for grades. However, I do believe teachers need to be open to recommendations, thoughts and idea of parents. If that's too much for teacher's to support then maybe district academic deans can open a "suggestion box" of some kind where parents can submit their thoughts and ideas. At the end of the day people just want to know the ideas for their kids have been heard, thought about, and acknowledged. Whether that happens at the campus level or district level parents want to feel involved. If they ask a question they shouldn't be sent away and told "we know better" by a school. At the end of the day they are our kids and educating them is long-term partnership, not a dictatorship. I mean ... I don't know any school that delivers instruction primarily through worksheets, so I'm sorry that's been the case where you are. It is not the case here and hasn't been for a long time. Instruction has improved but it was rough at first. I guess that is what happens when you live in a fast growth area.In my kids' experience, World History stopped about where yours did and American History covered the 20th century a bit more. The reality is that it's difficult to fit the entire history of the world (or even of our country) in a one-year course. It's one of the reasons I think some form of college education should be free for anyone who wants to attend and learn more. We can't cover it all in the four years of high school. I agree there isn't enough time. I wish in our district they would consolidated US Geography and US World History together and make it a two year required course - Part 1 and Part 2.To be honest, I think parents should not expect to be able to give specific suggestions about curriculum to teachers. Specific suggestions about your child and his/her learning style, yes. But if you get to have your say and feel heard, and so do all of the other 750 families at the school, where does that leave me? Most of the time, the curriculum is set by the district and teachers don't get to control it. Your issues should be taken to the principal or the board. Agreed. I mentioned that above.It's false to say that "one agency" is controlling what is taught and is not capable of giving more than one perspective. That "one agency" (in this case the district's many curriculum committees) takes input and direction from many different entities with various and often competing ideologies. I agree that we need to teach our kids to think critically, but would disagree that whitewashing, conspiracy theories, and mythology need to be among the alternate points considered as valid. And unfortunately, that's what some parents are asking. When I think of one agency I think of a state board of education entity who lays the basic groundwork of what must be covered in school curriculum, not a district level group or committee that develops/buys the curriculum content.
As for the comment "would disagree that whitewashing, conspiracy theories, and mythology need to be among the alternate points considered as valid. And unfortunately, that's what some parents are asking." - as much crazy comes from people's mouths these days public schools can't dismiss a taxpaying citizen and their opinion even if it is disagreed with - their opinion counts just as much as the next person and I've heard many of them lately based on one of committees I currently sit on. If parents are accosting teachers about curriculum then there needs to be a way the complaining parent is given a path to air their grievance and if that channel is not available it ends up being EVERYONE'S problem with the student suffering the most. How do we solve that?I answered in green above. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 4, 2021 22:42:38 GMT
I mean ... I don't know any school that delivers instruction primarily through worksheets, so I'm sorry that's been the case where you are. It is not the case here and hasn't been for a long time. Instruction has improved but it was rough at first. I guess that is what happens when you live in a fast growth area.In my kids' experience, World History stopped about where yours did and American History covered the 20th century a bit more. The reality is that it's difficult to fit the entire history of the world (or even of our country) in a one-year course. It's one of the reasons I think some form of college education should be free for anyone who wants to attend and learn more. We can't cover it all in the four years of high school. I agree there isn't enough time. I wish in our district they would consolidated US Geography and US World History together and make it a two year required course - Part 1 and Part 2.To be honest, I think parents should not expect to be able to give specific suggestions about curriculum to teachers. Specific suggestions about your child and his/her learning style, yes. But if you get to have your say and feel heard, and so do all of the other 750 families at the school, where does that leave me? Most of the time, the curriculum is set by the district and teachers don't get to control it. Your issues should be taken to the principal or the board. Agreed. I mentioned that above.It's false to say that "one agency" is controlling what is taught and is not capable of giving more than one perspective. That "one agency" (in this case the district's many curriculum committees) takes input and direction from many different entities with various and often competing ideologies. I agree that we need to teach our kids to think critically, but would disagree that whitewashing, conspiracy theories, and mythology need to be among the alternate points considered as valid. And unfortunately, that's what some parents are asking. When I think of one agency I think of a state board of education entity who lays the basic groundwork of what must be covered in school curriculum, not a district level group or committee that develops/buys the curriculum content.
As for the comment "would disagree that whitewashing, conspiracy theories, and mythology need to be among the alternate points considered as valid. And unfortunately, that's what some parents are asking." - as much crazy comes from people's mouths these days public schools can't dismiss a taxpaying citizen and their opinion even if it is disagreed with - their opinion counts just as much as the next person and I've heard many of them lately based on one of committees I currently sit on. If parents are accosting teachers about curriculum then there needs to be a way the complaining parent is given a path to air their grievance and if that channel is not available it ends up being EVERYONE'S problem with the student suffering the most. How do we solve that?I answered in green above. Disagree. I don’t care what you pay in taxes. If you’re trying to get us to peddle bullshit to the kids, your opinion is not just as valid as anyone else’s. You can sit down. This all goes back to the lack of respect for expertise and the teaching profession in general. Those of us who teach these kids daily, went to school to get multiple degrees to do it well, and have many years of experience in education generally do know better than the average parent what can and should be taught within the constraints we have. A few bad apples does not make this less true, just as the existence of quacks in the medical profession does not render you or I just as qualified as anyone to perform surgery. I absolutely refuse to take into account the wishes and opinions of nutjobs when planning my lessons. My job is to teach, not coddle delusions in adults who should know better. When it comes to that, I’ll know it’s time to leave the profession. |
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by ellen on Nov 4, 2021 23:47:41 GMT
As my teacher friend said, "I can't wait for parents to tell me what to teach."  I'm kind of hoping that they'll tell me they don't want me to teach kids to multiply two digit numbers anymore. For 30+ years I've been teaching 9 & 10 year olds how to multiply and I'm kind of over it.  |
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Nov 24, 2024 5:59:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2021 23:53:34 GMT
I answered in green above. Disagree. I don’t care what you pay in taxes. If you’re trying to get us to peddle bullshit to the kids, your opinion is not just as valid as anyone else’s. You can sit down. This all goes back to the lack of respect for expertise and the teaching profession in general. Those of us who teach these kids daily, went to school to get multiple degrees to do it well, and have many years of experience in education generally do know better than the average parent what can and should be taught within the constraints we have. A few bad apples does not make this less true, just as the existence of quacks in the medical profession does not render you or I just as qualified as anyone to perform surgery. I absolutely refuse to take into account the wishes and opinions of nutjobs when planning my lessons. My job is to teach, not coddle delusions in adults who should know better. When it comes to that, I’ll know it’s time to leave the profession. I understand boundaries and get the need for them. Maybe we are missing something in understanding each other's words. But, if I walked into my child's classroom and was met with this kind of disdain I would be removing my child from a teacher who is unwilling to work with anyone with a challenging situation and find a solution we both have our hands tied by. If not willing to find a solution at least provide a path to someone who can have a discussion and figure things out. The approach of calling parents "nutjobs" (and granted those are likely the extreme parents) comes across as extremely close minded. But like I said, maybe you are envisioning a very tense and confrontational situation versus a calm discussion? Not sure...there's a lot of anger coming through. |
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by ellen on Nov 5, 2021 0:10:38 GMT
Disagree. I don’t care what you pay in taxes. If you’re trying to get us to peddle bullshit to the kids, your opinion is not just as valid as anyone else’s. You can sit down. This all goes back to the lack of respect for expertise and the teaching profession in general. Those of us who teach these kids daily, went to school to get multiple degrees to do it well, and have many years of experience in education generally do know better than the average parent what can and should be taught within the constraints we have. A few bad apples does not make this less true, just as the existence of quacks in the medical profession does not render you or I just as qualified as anyone to perform surgery. I absolutely refuse to take into account the wishes and opinions of nutjobs when planning my lessons. My job is to teach, not coddle delusions in adults who should know better. When it comes to that, I’ll know it’s time to leave the profession. I understand boundaries and get the need for them. Maybe we are missing something in understanding each other's words. But, if I walked into my child's classroom and was met with this kind of disdain I would be removing my child from a teacher who is unwilling to work with anyone with a challenging situation and find a solution we both have our hands tied by. If not willing to find a solution at least provide a path to someone who can have a discussion and figure things out. The approach of calling parents "nutjobs" (and granted those are likely the extreme parents) comes across as extremely close minded. But like I said, maybe you are envisioning a very tense and confrontational situation versus a calm discussion? Not sure...there's a lot of anger coming through. A lot of these parents are just looking for things to complain about right now. I am currently reading the book "The School Mouse" to my class and am thinking of a way that a parent might object to it. The little mouse couple Buck & Flora find out that they are going to have babies at the end of the book and they are so happy. But they don't appear to be married like Robin & Hyacinth are. If a parent got after me for reading a book that promotes having children out of wedlock, I would not stop reading this book to my classes. If they took it to the school board and said they wanted it removed from the fourth grade read aloud list, I would step up and defend that book. I have been teaching 33 years and I know what I'm doing. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 5, 2021 0:28:05 GMT
Disagree. I don’t care what you pay in taxes. If you’re trying to get us to peddle bullshit to the kids, your opinion is not just as valid as anyone else’s. You can sit down. This all goes back to the lack of respect for expertise and the teaching profession in general. Those of us who teach these kids daily, went to school to get multiple degrees to do it well, and have many years of experience in education generally do know better than the average parent what can and should be taught within the constraints we have. A few bad apples does not make this less true, just as the existence of quacks in the medical profession does not render you or I just as qualified as anyone to perform surgery. I absolutely refuse to take into account the wishes and opinions of nutjobs when planning my lessons. My job is to teach, not coddle delusions in adults who should know better. When it comes to that, I’ll know it’s time to leave the profession. I understand boundaries and get the need for them. Maybe we are missing something in understanding each other's words. But, if I walked into my child's classroom and was met with this kind of disdain I would be removing my child from a teacher who is unwilling to work with anyone with a challenging situation and find a solution we both have our hands tied by. If not willing to find a solution at least provide a path to someone who can have a discussion and figure things out. The approach of calling parents "nutjobs" (and granted those are likely the extreme parents) comes across as extremely close minded. But like I said, maybe you are envisioning a very tense and confrontational situation versus a calm discussion? Not sure...there's a lot of anger coming through. This is, frankly, the worst kind of gaslighting. The people attacking education and teachers right now are not calm or rational. Teachers are not crazy or out of line for pushing back. Teachers are not closed-minded when we teach accurate history without reference to whether it might make someone uncomfortable. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2021 0:37:06 GMT
I understand boundaries and get the need for them. Maybe we are missing something in understanding each other's words. But, if I walked into my child's classroom and was met with this kind of disdain I would be removing my child from a teacher who is unwilling to work with anyone with a challenging situation and find a solution we both have our hands tied by. If not willing to find a solution at least provide a path to someone who can have a discussion and figure things out. The approach of calling parents "nutjobs" (and granted those are likely the extreme parents) comes across as extremely close minded. But like I said, maybe you are envisioning a very tense and confrontational situation versus a calm discussion? Not sure...there's a lot of anger coming through. A lot of these parents are just looking for things to complain about right now. I am currently reading the book "The School Mouse" to my class and am thinking of a way that a parent might object to it. The little mouse couple Buck & Flora find out that they are going to have babies at the end of the book and they are so happy. But they don't appear to be married like Robin & Hyacinth are. If a parent got after me for reading a book that promotes having children out of wedlock, I would not stop reading this book to my classes. If they took it to the school board and said they wanted it removed from the fourth grade read aloud list, I would step up and defend that book. I have been teaching 33 years and I know what I'm doing. I appreciate your response ellen . That gives me a little more insight to what I think Merge was saying. Establishing/mandating/regulating individual morals, values, and beliefs (in any manner) is a tricky business. In my dream world we would all be solution minded and figure a way to work through what can be uncomfortable content for some. A girl can dream.... ETA: @merge, I am really sorry you feel like you are being gaslighted. |
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Post by leftturnonly on Nov 5, 2021 7:01:50 GMT
On the left, the outgoing Democrat VA governor Ralph Northam, and on the right, the incoming immigrant marine veteran Republican VA lieutenant governor Winsome Sears.  |
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Post by katiejane on Nov 5, 2021 8:08:36 GMT
I don't understand why parents are expecting teachers to change the curriculum to suite their ideas of what needs to be taught. Education happens in more than one setting. A curriculum can only cover so much, if parents want to supplement that at home they can. And they certainly can't expect teacher to cover personal beliefs. I was raised by religious parents who hit the roof that creation was mentioned as a belief and evolution was taught as a credible scientific thought about the world in science. But that's what is true in the world outside the family faith. Church and my parents could teach me what they thought, but school needed to reflect the scientific community thought on the subject.
Parents can expand and supplement their children's learning at home, documentaries, museums, newspapers both national and international all help support childrens understanding. They don't need to get involved in what is being taught in the classroom. I can imagine poor teachers trying to cover.
I also think with access to international forum sites teens are exposed to more views about views outside their immediate world. They are aware of the politics, world views and priorities of nations and individuals outside their immediate social circle. This can be a real positive where it causes them to question rhetoric in their own countries, how other countries view their Governments, religous and personal freedoms and their own histories. But also exposes them to dangerous rhetoric such as anti vaxx theories.
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Post by Kymberlee on Nov 5, 2021 8:45:20 GMT
On the left, the outgoing Democrat VA governor Ralph Northam, and on the right, the incoming immigrant marine veteran Republican VA lieutenant governor Winsome Sears. <button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button> I find it a bit confusing that those that voted for Youngkin and Sears are being called racist/white supremists yet the current governor of VA was photographed in black face. Or was he the one in the KKK hood? I’m still unclear. |
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Nov 5, 2021 9:05:06 GMT
I understand boundaries and get the need for them. Maybe we are missing something in understanding each other's words. But, if I walked into my child's classroom and was met with this kind of disdain I would be removing my child from a teacher who is unwilling to work with anyone with a challenging situation and find a solution we both have our hands tied by. If not willing to find a solution at least provide a path to someone who can have a discussion and figure things out. The approach of calling parents "nutjobs" (and granted those are likely the extreme parents) comes across as extremely close minded. But like I said, maybe you are envisioning a very tense and confrontational situation versus a calm discussion? Not sure...there's a lot of anger coming through. This is, frankly, the worst kind of gaslighting. The people attacking education and teachers right now are not calm or rational. Teachers are not crazy or out of line for pushing back. Teachers are not closed-minded when we teach accurate history without reference to whether it might make someone uncomfortable. It’s confirmation bias, obscure cherry picking “research”!! |
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Nov 5, 2021 9:09:55 GMT
On the left, the outgoing Democrat VA governor Ralph Northam, and on the right, the incoming immigrant marine veteran Republican VA lieutenant governor Winsome Sears. <button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button> I find it a bit confusing that those that voted for Youngkin and Sears are being called racist/white supremists yet the current governor of VA was photographed in black face. Or was he the one in the KKK hood? I’m still unclear. You mean like how most are confused about Al Franken being forced to leave congress for his “sexual advances jokes” yet Matt Gaetz is a worshipped hero over his actual sexual encounters with MINORS, and trump with his pussy grabbing? Your concern must be so devastating for you… I’m still unclear… |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Nov 5, 2021 12:07:01 GMT
On the left, the outgoing Democrat VA governor Ralph Northam, and on the right, the incoming immigrant marine veteran Republican VA lieutenant governor Winsome Sears. <button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button> I find it a bit confusing that those that voted for Youngkin and Sears are being called racist/white supremists yet the current governor of VA was photographed in black face. Or was he the one in the KKK hood? I’m still unclear. I’m pretty sure there was a thread about Northam when the photos came out. Just because we are talking about Youngkin now doesn’t mean that people are ok with what Northam did when he was younger. However, Youngkin ran on race baiting fear mongering, so let’s stay on topic here. |
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Post by mollycoddle on Nov 5, 2021 12:25:17 GMT
On the left, the outgoing Democrat VA governor Ralph Northam, and on the right, the incoming immigrant marine veteran Republican VA lieutenant governor Winsome Sears. View Attachment What the current governor did was loathsome. She just looks silly. Who in the hell walks around like that? Nobody, but by all means let’s pander to the”I like big guns and I cannot lie” crowd. |
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Deleted
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Nov 24, 2024 5:59:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2021 12:39:45 GMT
On the left, the outgoing Democrat VA governor Ralph Northam, and on the right, the incoming immigrant marine veteran Republican VA lieutenant governor Winsome Sears. One of these people APOLOGIZED for their STUPIDITY. One didn't. I'll let you guess which is which. ps - here's a clue: www.cnn.com/2019/02/01/politics/northam-blackface-photo/index.html |
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Post by Merge on Nov 5, 2021 12:51:22 GMT
I don't understand why parents are expecting teachers to change the curriculum to suite their ideas of what needs to be taught. Education happens in more than one setting. A curriculum can only cover so much, if parents want to supplement that at home they can. And they certainly can't expect teacher to cover personal beliefs. I was raised by religious parents who hit the roof that creation was mentioned as a belief and evolution was taught as a credible scientific thought about the world in science. But that's what is true in the world outside the family faith. Church and my parents could teach me what they thought, but school needed to reflect the scientific community thought on the subject. Parents can expand and supplement their children's learning at home, documentaries, museums, newspapers both national and international all help support childrens understanding. They don't need to get involved in what is being taught in the classroom. I can imagine poor teachers trying to cover. I also think with access to international forum sites teens are exposed to more views about views outside their immediate world. They are aware of the politics, world views and priorities of nations and individuals outside their immediate social circle. This can be a real positive where it causes them to question rhetoric in their own countries, how other countries view their Governments, religous and personal freedoms and their own histories. But also exposes them to dangerous rhetoric such as anti vaxx theories. Oh you know, we're supposed to be "solution-minded" in making sure every fringe theory is represented in the classroom for parents who have their "hands tied" by religious belief. Otherwise, we're just "closed-minded." You all will have to excuse me - I have a 4th grade class to indoctrinate soon. Or groom. Whatever the word is now. We're learning about the blues, which they have come to discover has its roots in African American spirituals and work songs sung by people in slavery. I guess if a parent comes in wanting me to include the experience of the slaveowners and white people in the Jim Crow south in this unit, I'll just have to be open minded and try to find a way to do it. |
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sassyangel
Drama Llama
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Post by sassyangel on Nov 5, 2021 13:22:37 GMT
A lot of these parents are just looking for things to complain about right now. I am currently reading the book "The School Mouse" to my class and am thinking of a way that a parent might object to it. The little mouse couple Buck & Flora find out that they are going to have babies at the end of the book and they are so happy. But they don't appear to be married like Robin & Hyacinth are. If a parent got after me for reading a book that promotes having children out of wedlock, I would not stop reading this book to my classes. If they took it to the school board and said they wanted it removed from the fourth grade read aloud list, I would step up and defend that book. I have been teaching 33 years and I know what I'm doing. ETA: @merge, I am really sorry you feel like you are being gaslighted. Can I just point out the irony in this ‘apology’ containing more gaslighting? 🤷🏼♀️ Ok, moving on. So I guess someone sent out the peaCON bat signal? 💁🏼♀️😏 There was a thread on Northam, his actions and especially his response to it was and still is disgraceful, in my opinion. Quite happy to say that then, and now. It’s funny how no one ever sends one out when the GOP has done one of the many things in just the past year that actually blatantly threaten or undermine the democracy we all live in. Then it’s … 🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗. 🙄 |
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Post by spottiedottie on Nov 5, 2021 15:04:52 GMT
On the left, the outgoing Democrat VA governor Ralph Northam, and on the right, the incoming immigrant marine veteran Republican VA lieutenant governor Winsome Sears. One of these people APOLOGIZED for their STUPIDITY. One didn't. I'll let you guess which is which. ps - here's a clue: www.cnn.com/2019/02/01/politics/northam-blackface-photo/index.htmlJust what exactly is it you feel Winsome Sears needs to apologize for? I googled this photo to learn more about Sears. Here's what she said about it: "We are strong women. Black women own guns, and we're not going to hide anymore. If that's not your thing then it's not your thing but it is a Second Amendment thing." I'm not a gun person but I'm thrilled to see a strong accomplished black woman elected to office and standing up for what she believes. |
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Deleted
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Nov 24, 2024 5:59:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2021 15:06:03 GMT
Just what exactly is it you feel Winsome Sears needs to apologize for? Pandering. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Nov 5, 2021 15:15:35 GMT
The Christian right does not want kids to learn to think for themselves. They need to be obedient. The Christian right is behind the GOP's new attack on public educationAmanda Marcotte, Salon November 05, 2021 If the public knew what the GOP demands actually were — banning classic books like Toni Morrison's "Beloved" or "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood — most parents would not be on board. Few people want to be a Nazi book burner! But the GOP is repackaging this deeply fascist love of censorship in a friendlier frame of "parental rights." They got lucky that the Democratic candidate, Terry McAuliffe, blundered in the campaign's closing weeks when he said, "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach," instead of mounting a robust defense of free speech and teaching the truth about slavery and segregation in history classes. So what, exactly, are kids learning? Republicans use scare terms like "critical race theory," and liberals try to draw attention to the lists of books Republicans are trying to ban, mainly for suggesting racism is bad or that LGBTQ people exist. It's extremely important for the left to focus on how this supposed fight over "education" is really a proxy fight over the right's rejection of equality for LGBTQ people and people of color.But there's another aspect to this fight that has been less discussed: How the GOP war on schools is instigated, organized, and funded by right-wing religious groups whose true agenda is opposing the rights of children. Conservatives, especially the Christian right, have long taken a dim view of raising kids who can think for themselves. Their view is children should be "trained" to be obedient and submissive. Under the guise of "parents' rights," the Christian right is mainstreaming their hostility to the very idea that children have a right to an education. In this case, the right of a child to have a proper education that teaches critical thinking and intellectual curiosity.www.rawstory.com/school-board-meeting-2655504210/ |
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anonaname
Full Member
Posts: 256
Aug 18, 2021 0:04:22 GMT
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Post by anonaname on Nov 5, 2021 16:16:21 GMT
Just what exactly is it you feel Winsome Sears needs to apologize for? Pandering. And a democrat NEVER pandered to anyone before.  Give me a fuckin' break, lol!! |
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Deleted
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Nov 24, 2024 5:59:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2021 16:25:01 GMT
I don't understand why parents are expecting teachers to change the curriculum to suite their ideas of what needs to be taught. Education happens in more than one setting. A curriculum can only cover so much, if parents want to supplement that at home they can. And they certainly can't expect teacher to cover personal beliefs. I was raised by religious parents who hit the roof that creation was mentioned as a belief and evolution was taught as a credible scientific thought about the world in science. But that's what is true in the world outside the family faith. Church and my parents could teach me what they thought, but school needed to reflect the scientific community thought on the subject. Parents can expand and supplement their children's learning at home, documentaries, museums, newspapers both national and international all help support childrens understanding. They don't need to get involved in what is being taught in the classroom. I can imagine poor teachers trying to cover. I also think with access to international forum sites teens are exposed to more views about views outside their immediate world. They are aware of the politics, world views and priorities of nations and individuals outside their immediate social circle. This can be a real positive where it causes them to question rhetoric in their own countries, how other countries view their Governments, religous and personal freedoms and their own histories. But also exposes them to dangerous rhetoric such as anti vaxx theories. Oh you know, we're supposed to be "solution-minded" in making sure every fringe theory is represented in the classroom for parents who have their "hands tied" by religious belief. Otherwise, we're just "closed-minded." You all will have to excuse me - I have a 4th grade class to indoctrinate soon. Or groom. Whatever the word is now. We're learning about the blues, which they have come to discover has its roots in African American spirituals and work songs sung by people in slavery. I guess if a parent comes in wanting me to include the experience of the slaveowners and white people in the Jim Crow south in this unit, I'll just have to be open minded and try to find a way to do it. ETA: @merge, I am really sorry you feel like you are being gaslighted. Can I just point out the irony in this ‘apology’ containing more gaslighting? 🤷🏼♀️ Ok, moving on. So I guess someone sent out the peaCON bat signal? 💁🏼♀️😏 There was a thread on Northam, his actions and especially his response to it was and still is disgraceful, in my opinion. Quite happy to say that then, and now. It’s funny how no one ever sends one out when the GOP has done one of the many things in just the past year that actually blatantly threaten or undermine the democracy we all live in. Then it’s … 🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗. 🙄 Lots of defensiveness going on. Lots of blame gaming, labeling and excuses. Parents are not perfect but as parents, taxpayers (this includes teachers) and supporters of public schools we (parents) should have SOME say in what curriculum is taught considering the broad latitude states give school districts on overall requirements (at least my state). Public education is a partnership and to think otherwise is quite elitist. No one is doubting the decades of service, abilities, and skills of teachers but teachers don't own public education. The "your just a parent - you don't know jack about education" that comes across in many of these rebuttal comments is disheartening and concerns me for the kids in school today to be around so much anger and frustration, and dissonance. When public education steps into personal and societal values (which books do) and says school curriculum choices supersedes a family's chosen value system, then YES, parents are going to stand up and say something. To expect otherwise is obtuse. That's when we all have a choice - partner with parents to find a solution or keep being "abused" by parents raising their kids and being involved in their education. If teacher's don't want to partner with parents that's OK - send them to someone else in the district who wants to listen to feedback and address it. If parents keep being told by teachers that we are stupid, we are idiots, we don't know anything, then complain about being treated poorly - that's that definition of insanity. |
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