Oops, Wrong Side

A Virginia fourth-grade textbook claims that thousands of black soldiers fought in the Civil War ... for the Confederacy!

The book, written by historian hack Joy Masoff, says "Thousands of Southern blacks fought in the Confederate ranks, including two black battalions under the command of Stonewall Jackson."

Masoff said one of her sources was Ervin Jordan, a University of Virginia historian. In an interview, Jordan denied being a source for Masoff's claims: "There's no way of knowing that there were thousands. And the claim about Jackson is totally false. I don't know where that came from."

Apparently Masoff didn't even realize she had written something controversial. "It's just one sentence. I don't want to ruffle any feathers". She also describes herself as "a fairly respected writer." Not anymore you're not.

There's Gold in Them Thar Brains

According to the Gilroy Dispatch (of Gilroy, CA), Eliot Elementary School is about to implement Whole Brain Teaching. They've signed a contract with Chris Biffle to the tune of $7,000. The article doesn't explain exactly what the Biffinflator will do for this large chunk of change, but they do mention 2 weekend workshops. That's nice work if you can get it ...

Parents are the Customer

On this blog, we've discussed two different classroom management programs, Whole Brain Teaching and Make Your Day. Both these systems are totalitarian, top-down, and punitive. In both cases, we've seen teachers who claim it's wonderful.

For instance, District to Keep Make Your Day Program reports that a school board unanimously voted to retain "Make Your Day". In a survey, 95% of teachers agreed with the statement, "I find the Make Your Day program is fair and reasonable for students". The superintendent is quoted as saying that 90 percent staff approval is a good benchmark for the district.

In the meantime, over 30% of parents disagreed with the statement that Make Your Day is fair and reasonable! As anyone who has tried to organize dissent against the school system can tell you, that's a very high percentage. But, the parents, as usual, were not listened to. The best they could get was a promise to "integrate positive feedback" into the program.

Who is school for? It ought to be conducted for the good of the kids who attend, as overseen by their parents. Kids are mostly too young and impressionable to form their own judgements, and too completely intimidated (or profoundly depressed) to speak out. It is up to parents to keep watch and advocate for their kids.

To use a business model, schools provide a service, which parents buy for their kids. The parents are the customer. As one of the "Make Your Day" parents says, “If it were me looking at a job I was doing, I’m giving myself 90 percent across the board, but my customers are giving me 60s. That’s not OK.”

Bullies and Suicide

I've been thinking about the issue of bullying recently, having read too many stories of bullied children and young adults committing suicide. Some of the victims were gay, and some were perceived as outsiders for other reasons.

While I've been pondering the issue, others have spoken out. Suburban Chicken Farmer sent a link to the moving testimony of city councilman Joel Burns (caution: have tissues handy.)

Chris asks, "Why can't it be Better Now?"

And northTOMom describes her efforts to teach tolerance to her children.

Anti "Choice"

No, I'm not bringing up any controversial political or moral issues. I'm talking about "choice" as the word is used by snake-oil classroom management peddlers today.

Here's an example from the "Make Your Day" program, which I learned about on Suburban Chicken Farmer's blog, Bon Mot. (Thanks, SCF!) "Make Your Day" is the usual classroom-coercion model, featuring punitive "Steps" that are used if a kid gets out of line.

For instance, in an atrocious list of kindergarten (!!!) steps, we see a child being punished for asking another child for a pencil when he should have been listening to the teacher. As we see the child progress from step 1 (sitting isolated in a special chair) to step 2 (isolation with his back to the class), we are told, "Choosing step doesn't mean I'm a bad kid, it just means I need help making better choices."

As if it wasn't cruel enough to punish the child for a completely trivial offense, the "Make Your Day" folks proceed to mess with his mind. On some level the child knows perfectly well that he never "chose" to be punished, any more than he "chose" to be stuck in this godforsaken kindergarten class. But the teacher says he did, and his own parents might even sign a paper saying so. What does it all mean?

It means that progressive ideas like respecting the child have gotten just far enough that a management system that openly used coercion and punishment would not sell well. But a system that uses coercion and punishment disguised as "choice" can sell very well indeed.

Let Teachers Learn

From a post entitled Let Teachers Teach at The Answer Sheet:

Don’t know what the zone of proximal development is or how to identify it? Don’t know how to design an assessment rubric or how to differentiate instruction effectively? Haven’t got a clue how to grab the attention of an adolescent amygdala?

Then you probably aren’t a teacher.

On the other hand, if you recognize that chatter about "zone of proximal development", "differentiation", "rubrics", and misunderstood brain research is the sign of a clueless educrat, then you're probably a parent.

Really, how did anyone manage to teach effectively before all this jargon was invented?

More Parents Getting Fed Up

I was pleased to read this post at the DC Urban Moms Forum:

So far, my child hasn't had many projects that were basically for us to do but when they increase I might have to lead a revolution. Either that or send her to school carrying a shoebox with her name on it, which is all she'd get to if I weren't working on it.

First graders cannot construct Great Antarctic Explorers of Finland Perform the Comedies of Shakespeare in Drag out of elbow macaroni, tissue paper, and a glue stick. I have tested and confirmed this hypothesis.

I was less pleased to read this reply, from the usual smug Stepford Mom:

Some of you really do not get it! Projects are supposed to be done alongside a parent. It gives parents a chance to see what kids are doing at school and to asses their ability. Personally, I appreciate the time working with my child. When we do projects together I am just the "heavy lifter" We use my child's ideas and do a little brainstorming TOGETHER about the final product. I would not miss the opportunity to see my child research on the computer, get excited about learning and show them how excited and interested I am in their school work. Your enthusiasm and excitement fosters a life long learner and love of learning in your child. They will pick pick up on your negative attitudes and lazy work ethic too!

Not only are parents (read "mothers") assumed to have the time, energy, and intention to do homework with (more accurately, "to") their kids, but we're told what attitudes we're allowed to have. Be enthusiastic! Model a good work ethic!

Kids are perfectly capable of hating homework on their own, regardless of their mother's attitude. It's an imposition on their time, and they rightly resent it. The chirpiest Mom won't change their accurate perception that most homework is a pointless exercise in compliance.