Education & Things 4

This is what many of our colleges and universities are doing to their students.  It is an example of the huge damage being done in the vaunted name of one-sided political correctness.  Quote: "I am old enough to remember when the goal of a college education was to expand one’s horizons. Now the goal is to learn to be more emotionally volatile than the person whose ideas you seek to negate. As one of my readers recently put it, college is no longer providing a comprehensive education. It’s just a prep course for fascism."   http://townhall.com/columnists/mikeadams/2015/06/11/draft-n2010898/page/full 

The left is quick to bemoan problems when the crop up but seemingly do not connect such behavior to the permissiveness and  their insistence that we live lives absent fixed moral standards.  Quote: "Education at all levels is awash in cheating scandals, and liberals have worked themselves into a self-righteous dither as they bemoan the lack of integrity in students and teachers. For example, recently teachers and principals in the Atlanta public school system were convicted of fraud and taken away in handcuffs to serve prison sentences."  And, "What liberals in their self-absorbed blindness either do not see or refuse to admit is that they are the culprits in the transformation of American society into a culture that admits of no set boundaries concerning right and wrong. Moral relativism is the bedrock principle of contemporary liberalism. It’s is how they justify their commitment to abortion, the redistribution of wealth, and the various other nefarious beliefs of the left."   http://patriotupdate.com/articles/liberals-bemoan-cheating-scandals-in-education-but-they-are-the-culprits/

  

I don't know about you but this former Democrat government official, Janet Napolano, is overseeing something at the university level that I do not like.  It smacks of teaching university officials how to best exercise political correctness in their institutions. Quote: "The College Fix reached out to the UC Office of the President for comment. In response to a question about how these seminars might have a chilling effect on faculty members’ ability to engage in free speech, representative Shelly Meron said in an email Tuesday that “These seminars are not an attempt to curb open dialogue, debate or classroom discussions.”  Yea, right!!!   http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/22839/

A student called out one of this University's professors and claimed he was an embarrassment to the school.  This is the professor's response.  It reveals much about the rotting of our nation's colleges and universities and the quality/morals of many of their students.   http//townhall.com/columnists/mikeadams/2015/06/01/an-embarrassment-to-our-university-n2005993/page/full   The federal government's performance in its "oversight of education" since the Education Department was established by President Carter has been dismal at best.  And besides according to the Constitution it has absolutely no role to play in education.  That is the province of the states and local communities.

This Georgia political candidate makes Common Core a campaign issue.  http://www.erickontheradio.com/2015/06/common-core-math-becomes-a-campaign-issue/   The federal government continues to meddle in education despite the federal government according to the Constitution having no role in education whatsoever.   http://cfif.org/v/index.php/commentary/48-education/2632-the-biggest-boldest-school-reform-leaving-education-to-states-and-locals

This is definitely not something the government and public schools should engage in.  The title of the piece is on target...Orwellian.  Quote: "Rather than merely asking for a right or wrong answer to a math, history or science question, the new assessment industry is capable of boring into a child’s attitudes, values, opinions and beliefs, all of which parents and privacy advocates say is no business of the government’s."    http://www.wnd.com/2015/03/orwellian-nightmare-unleashed-on-schoolkids/   School choice is an option the should be explored if parents are concerned about their public schools.   http://dailysignal.com/2015/05/26/heres-data-prove-school-choice-working/?

What would you expect to learn in a course called "Politics of the 1960's to now" what would you expect to learn?  Quote: "Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas is offering students a course called Politics of the 1960s to Now. If you signed up for this course hoping for a general, unbiased overview of America’s political movements of the last 55 years, you would be sorely disappointed. According to Campus Reform, the course has less to do with a survey of history and more to do with the professor’s political brainwashing.  The college watchdogs got a copy of the curriculum, devised by Professor Chris Hamilton. In it, one can quickly see where Hamilton falls on the political spectrum. According to the curriculum, students can expect to learn that people like Senator Ted Cruz and Ron Paul are determined to erase civil rights protections for minorities, eliminate the federal government, and propagate a “New White Nationalist movement.”"  http://unfilteredpatriot.com/kansas-university-offers-course-in-the-extreme-right/  Dishonesty rules.  Anyone who thinks this type of instruction is academically responsible and advances individual growth and understanding is way far off base.  More and more academia pushes leftist ideology and shuts down anything or anyone expressing views contrary to theirs.  They are no longer purely institutions of higher learning where all ideas are considered but now far too often serve as propaganda houses for their preferred view of the world.  Anyone who chooses to look at what the left has repeatedly offered mankind will find the death of individual freedoms, liberty lost and injustices littering the landscape.  This does not mean that the radical right is free of criticism, far from it.  In the middle of these two extremes is where most of us want to be.  That is where there is no political correctness ruling the day or finding offense at the drop of a hat.  It is a place where people are free to honestly express their views with others and openly exchange opinions/ideas without fear of reprisal. 

This is an example of misguided/irresponsible federal government coercion.  It is imposing its will on how our children are educated.  Bear in mind that nowhere in the Constitution does the federal government have any role in education.  That is the province of the states.  But when the federal government back in the "Progressive Era" snookered the states into letting it tax everyone and nearly everything, it gained access to a largess that gave it the power of the purse, the ability to push their agenda on the states and the people.  The results always is: Do what we say or we will withdraw funds from you.  I call that coercion and total arrogance to think they know best what our children need.  This item really set me off.  This is what Jimmy Carter foisted on what was at the time the best education system in the world but which now is in the middle of the pact thanks to federal government intervention and mismanagement. His Department of Education has wasted tons of money and is ruining education at all levels from kindergarten to graduate school.  http://patriotnewsdaily.com/feds-threaten-schools-over-common-core-opt-outs/   

This right leaning opinion piece is strident but no more so than many I read coming from the left.  It is provided for the purpose of reinforcing the prevailing academia behavior covered in the previous paragraph.   http://patriotnewsdaily.com/a-funny-idea-of-free-expression-at-n-c-state/

Can anyone abide this teacher's actions?  The slippery slope which began 20 years or so ago is getting more slippery as time passes.  Quote: "If a kindergarten teacher spent thirty minutes explaining to his students that homosexuality was wrong, that a cursory glance at biology and anatomy proved that it was an aberration, and that the definition of marriage should be limited to partnerships of men and women, how many hours would pass before that teacher was fired? And if the answer is “not many,” then why is it okay to teach the opposite? Why is it illegal to refuse to bake a gay wedding cake but perfectly fine to refuse to bake an anti-gay cake? There is no FACT that says it’s okay to be gay. It’s an opinion and nothing more. But these liberals think that just because they believe strongly enough in their opinions that they somehow become irrefutable truths. That’s not the case, and teachers do not have the right to assume control over a child’s moral, ethical, and spiritual upbringing. There are some settled exceptions – few parents would complain if a teacher emphasized that stealing is wrong, for example – but this LGBTQ business does not qualify as one of them. And any teacher proud of using her position of authority to spread a political agenda has no business in our schools."   http://www.leanrightamerica.org/uncategorized/lesbian-teacher-brings-activism-to-kindergarten/  

  

States increasingly see the dangers of federal government mandates found in Common Core and are taking action to reject it outright. Quote: "With opposition to the controversial standards, often ridiculed by critics as “ObamaCore,” continuing to sweep America as awareness spreads, Common Core backers are working overtime to shield their “reforms” from outraged voters, parents, teachers, and taxpayers. Whether or not they succeed in defying the American people and the Constitution could very well define the nation for generations to come."   http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/item/20472-common-core-rebellion-to-opt-out-of-tests-spreads-nationwide

Many teachers are opting to relocate where Common Core is not permitted.  This offers some of the reasons why.   http://patriotsandpolitics.com/watch-this-teacher-break-down-in-tears-as-she-opts-out-of-common-core-video/  This award winning teacher First-ever Global Teacher Prize winner Nancie Atwell joined CNN’s New Day panel and spoke her mind about the Common Core system and those wanting to pursue a job in teaching.  After winning what many call the Nobel Prize for teachers, Atwell encouraged those seeking a job in education to look into the private sector and stay away from schools that implement Common Core."   http://www.westernjournalism.com/award-winning-teacher-trashes-common-core/

This is not a function any school board should assume it has.  More efforts unfold daily by elitists trying to manage the affairs of others.  Quote: "A new policy passed by the Goochland County School Board in Goochland , Virginia requires children aged 14 and up who’d like to be homeschooled to provide a statement to the school system about their religious beliefs. The board further reserves the right to call the children before the board for a hearing - a hearing that would seemingly be called to “judge” the student’s religious exemption requests."   http://eaglerising.com/13899/public-school-board-forces-homeschoolers-defend-religious-beliefs/

Public school problems like this were unknown in my day.  The decay of civil society, fatherless homes, social media, etc. are destroying self respect, self discipline, hard work and a desire to achieve.  This highlights that technology available today can impare education as well as offer positive opportunities.   http://www.wnd.com/2015/01/horrid-result-when-teacher-confiscates-cell-phone/

This is an assessment of American colleges and universities.  My own readings regarding the state of higher education suggest that it is more on target than not.  It is a quick and easy read with hard hitting points.  http://townhall.com/columnists/victordavishanson/2015/04/09/is-the-modern-american-university-a-failed-state-n1982645/page/full   Shortly after I added this item I ran across an item that validates one of the points in the previous link.  http://townhall.com/tipsheet/vivianhughbanks/2015/04/08/ridiculous-university-of-michigan-cancels-dangerous-and-offensive-american-sniper-showing-n1982600? 

This is the direction our schools are headed.  Secular humanism and leftist policies are destroying so many things good and decent.  A tragedy. http://www.wnd.com/2015/01/government-grills-grade-schoolers-over-lesbianism/

More politicians and advocates for good education for our children need to pick up on the ideas this governor espouses.  http://dailysignal.com/2015/02/09/jindal-emphasizes-teacher-tenure-reform-school-choice-sweeping-education-plan/

Do you think this qualifies as a really important subject school kids need to deal with?   Applying teacher's personal bias is too easily possible either left or right.    http://patriotnewsdaily.com/san-francisco-schools-offer-ferguson-curriculum/ 

George Burns