How politics are dumbing down students' textbooks

[1prophet]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
The textbooks are a disgrace in many ways. And teaching methods revolve around passing as many students as possible, without regard as to whether they get a usable education.

I am afraid it will take adults with common sense (a rare commodity these days) to fix these things. And the people who project their personal agendas into education need to be marginalized.

Of course it would help if we had a government that actually believed in science and honest history.

Almost seems like a lost cause to me.

Notice how the article fails to mention Science and History classes have been replaced by Bible Classes in many Southern States.

Does this count?

From article:

In Texas, the Board of Education is dominated by political conservatives who are heavily lobbied by conservative activists, among them the evangelical group Focus on the Family and the husband-and-wife team of Mel and Norma Gabler, whose tireless campaigning for religiously centered teaching materials has made them among the most influential forces in the production of American textbooks.

Texas? textbooks, which are often adopted by other states that have few alternatives, have included board-ordered passages mandating politically conservative definitions of marriage, abortion and same-sex relationships and instructing students that pregnancies are best prevented by ?respecting yourself? and getting ?plenty of rest.? They have eliminated any mention of condoms, even though Texas leads the nation in teenage pregnancies

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: 1prophet

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
The textbooks are a disgrace in many ways. And teaching methods revolve around passing as many students as possible, without regard as to whether they get a usable education.

I am afraid it will take adults with common sense (a rare commodity these days) to fix these things. And the people who project their personal agendas into education need to be marginalized.

Of course it would help if we had a government that actually believed in science and honest history.

Almost seems like a lost cause to me.

Notice how the article fails to mention Science and History classes have been replaced by Bible Classes in many Southern States.

Does this count?

From article:

In Texas, the Board of Education is dominated by political conservatives who are heavily lobbied by conservative activists, among them the evangelical group Focus on the Family and the husband-and-wife team of Mel and Norma Gabler, whose tireless campaigning for religiously centered teaching materials has made them among the most influential forces in the production of American textbooks.

Texas? textbooks, which are often adopted by other states that have few alternatives, have included board-ordered passages mandating politically conservative definitions of marriage, abortion and same-sex relationships and instructing students that pregnancies are best prevented by ?respecting yourself? and getting ?plenty of rest.? They have eliminated any mention of condoms, even though Texas leads the nation in teenage pregnancies

I guess that is the Politically way to say it. (sigh)

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: Jadow
I dunno, but my 6th grade son has been struggling with doing systems of equations, quadratic functions, and adding polynomials recently. Dumbed down? I miss when we just did fractions, decimals, and percents. I remember glaring at this stuff in high school. He is in 6th grade!

How much TV, Xbox, Ipod, etc... does he take in during a normal 7 day week? Because the little chinese and indian kids are getting a lot less than us. Not only are they studying arder, they taking like kung fu classes and eating healthily, so not only will they be able to beat us mentally, they'll be able to kick our pasty fat asses physically too.

Do you have any cite for the that last bit (I've not heard of that, and have actually read a fair bit on Falun Gong folks being treated pretty nasty in China)?

Actually, Kung Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, and Chi Kung (pretty much any life art or martial art centered around the nebulous 'chi') should all help geratly in intellectual pursuits (moving meditation, good exercise that is not temporarily damaging).

Also, don't forget about their being less simple sugars in their diets; and having other good parts of foods, generally, when there are.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: screech
Probably depends greatly on the class a student is in. If a kid is in dumbfvck History, they have a higher chance of getting a (crappy)book suited to that class. If they are in a more advanced class, the book will likely be better.

Generally, the choice is not in the hands of anyone near students. They get told to use book X, and that's all there is too it.

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: Corn

Originally posted by: BBond

We have a bunch of fundies and wackos dictating how schools and students are rated as well as what they are taught. It's as if we're slipping backwards to the days when scientists were tortured and killed for making outrageous observations like Earth isn't the center of the universe and actually revolves around the Sun, not the other way around!

.....for the Oscar for best drama, and the winner is.........A Day In The Life of Bbond!

I remember the Mods telling members not to post inane drivel. But then, if you didn't post inane drivel, you wouldn't post anything at all, corn, so maybe they made an exception in your case.

 

[Dissipate]

This article is completely false. Everything in the government school system is fine (just ask 3Chord). Keep paying your property taxes.

 

[Jadow]

I was really ahead of the curve in 7th grade or so when I observed that in every story problem in the math book, it was always about Manuel or Hector, or Wu.

Not many Joe Smiths or Steve Johnsons in the math problems.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Jadow
I was really ahead of the curve in 7th grade or so when I observed that in every story problem in the math book, it was always about Manuel or Hector, or Wu.

Not many Joe Smiths or Steve Johnsons in the math problems.

The CEO of Big Oil Company, Joe Smith, has 100,000 barrels of oil to sell.
Joe wants to get the highest price for his oil.
Steve Johnson works in a factory and is middle class and he wants to buy gas as cheaply as possible.
If Joe has to sell the oil within 30 days what should he do.
Correct Answer:
B) Joe should ask his friends in the Government to cut off oil supplies from other countries as quickly as possible so Steve Johnson will just feel lucky to have gas at whatever price Joe sets.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Jadow
I dunno, but my 6th grade son has been struggling with doing systems of equations, quadratic functions, and adding polynomials recently. Dumbed down? I miss when we just did fractions, decimals, and percents. I remember glaring at this stuff in high school. He is in 6th grade!


How much TV, Xbox, Ipod, etc... does he take in during a normal 7 day week? Because the little chinese and indian kids are getting a lot less than us. Not only are they studying arder, they taking like kung fu classes and eating healthily, so not only will they be able to beat us mentally, they'll be able to kick our pasty fat asses physically too.

Nah there too busy farming WoW chracters or playing (insert FPS game here)

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Jadow
I dunno, but my 6th grade son has been struggling with doing systems of equations, quadratic functions, and adding polynomials recently. Dumbed down? I miss when we just did fractions, decimals, and percents. I remember glaring at this stuff in high school. He is in 6th grade!


How much TV, Xbox, Ipod, etc... does he take in during a normal 7 day week? Because the little chinese and indian kids are getting a lot less than us. Not only are they studying arder, they taking like kung fu classes and eating healthily, so not only will they be able to beat us mentally, they'll be able to kick our pasty fat asses physically too.

Actually, he is an art nut. He draws incessently, just got into photography, and knows how to work photoshop better than most adults.

Of course, he sucks at school (except math), because he has severe dyslexia/dysgraphia. He is a square peg/being pounded into a round hole.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: episodic

Actually, he is an art nut. He draws incessently, just got into photography, and knows how to work photoshop better than most adults.

Of course, he sucks at school (except math), because he has severe dyslexia/dysgraphia. He is a square peg/being pounded into a round hole.

What the hell are you doing sending him to a public school? The public school is going to ruin his life! They can't deal with kids who have special disabilities/abilities.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: episodic

Actually, he is an art nut. He draws incessently, just got into photography, and knows how to work photoshop better than most adults.

Of course, he sucks at school (except math), because he has severe dyslexia/dysgraphia. He is a square peg/being pounded into a round hole.

What the hell are you doing sending him to a public school? The public school is going to ruin his life! They can't deal with kids who have special disabilities/abilities.

I don't live in an area with many choices. He knows the deal. He understands that his learning begins at home, and that school is something to do to get a diploma for career purposes. He plans on being a drafter (my brother is in construction, and he found out about it and loves it).

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: episodic

Actually, he is an art nut. He draws incessently, just got into photography, and knows how to work photoshop better than most adults.

Of course, he sucks at school (except math), because he has severe dyslexia/dysgraphia. He is a square peg/being pounded into a round hole.

What the hell are you doing sending him to a public school? The public school is going to ruin his life! They can't deal with kids who have special disabilities/abilities.

I don't live in an area with many choices. He knows the deal. He understands that his learning begins at home, and that school is something to do to get a diploma for career purposes. He plans on being a drafter (my brother is in construction, and he found out about it and loves it).

Intresting...maybe get your son into Civil Engineering....although it is still technical, you end up using "photoshop for engineers" to design buildings and objects~

as for dumbing down student textbooks...Unless I myself examine the public school I will not send my kid there. Private school it is. Or if I send them to public school and I have time I will teach them stuff on my own...

 

[Future Shock]

Originally posted by: episodic
I don't live in an area with many choices. He knows the deal. He understands that his learning begins at home, and that school is something to do to get a diploma for career purposes. He plans on being a drafter (my brother is in construction, and he found out about it and loves it).

Good parenting in difficult circumstances - 4TW!! :beer:

FS

 

[Corn]

2 entries found for inane.
in·ane ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-n)
adj. in·an·er, in·an·est
One that lacks sense or substance: interrupting with inane comments; angry with my inane roommate.


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[Latin innis, empty, lacking sense.]
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in·anely adv.

[Download Now or Buy the Book]
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


inane

adj : complacently or inanely foolish [syn: asinine, fatuous, mindless, vacuous]

2 entries found for drivel.
driv·el ( P ) Pronunciation Key (drvl)
v. driv·eled, or driv·elled driv·el·ing, or driv·el·ling driv·els or driv·els
v. intr.
To slobber; drool.
To flow like spittle or saliva.
To talk stupidly or childishly.

v. tr.
To allow to flow from the mouth.
To say (something) stupidly.

n.
Saliva flowing from the mouth.
Stupid or senseless talk.


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[Middle English drevelen, from Old English dreflian.]
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drivel·er n.

[Download Now or Buy the Book]
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


drivel

n 1: a worthless message [syn: garbage] 2: saliva spilling from the mouth [syn: drool, dribble, slobber] v : let saliva drivel from the mouth; "The baby drooled" [syn: drool, slabber, slaver, slobber, dribble]

Example:

Originally posted by: BBond

It's as if we're slipping backwards to the days when scientists were tortured and killed for making outrageous observations like Earth isn't the center of the universe and actually revolves around the Sun, not the other way around!