Education Texas Lesson Plan Instructs Students to Design Flags for a ‘New Socialist N

[line-em-up]

I find it funny that most of those schools on that list are either, A. Small districts in the middle of nowhere, B. Mostly minority, C. Smaller budget school districts. Hmmmmmmm........

All of the ones that I checked that are close to where I live were on the list.
Red Oak
Ennis
Ferris
Waxahachie

Surprisingly, Palmer wasn't on it.

[Pokulski-Blatz]

Evidently? I think it's a perquisite to be a teacher. I honestly haven't met a conservative one yet.

Leah?

[Pro Trash]

If you wish to bash educators in Texas, how about we look at that the fact we are in the bottom 10 of the 50 states on dollar per student spent on education yet in the top 20 in performance results. Our teachers are asked to do more with less and do so very well. C-Scope is a curriculum tool that "some" districts use, lots of districts do not. For those not aware there are 254 counties in our state, how many school districts (see below)? As of 2012 the U.S. is 30th in math, 14th in reading and 20th in science while China is #1 in all three areas. I am not promoting communism but please feel free to assume, we do live in a free country. I am right wing but have seen the damage done when people claim to act on their version of "religion". Here are some more interesting facts, there are 1032 public school districts in Texas, the teacher to student ratio is 14.5 to 1 and just over 50% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch. I am thinking you may wish to complain about some of those issues but hey if you wish to holler about 1 lesson plan out thousands, have at it. If you are wondering I am a school Principal, a disabled veteran and not a communist, but if I were, would I not have the right in this country?

[Chas_svo]

Also note the "pure numbers"...both China and India each have more honor students than the U.S. has students.

[Pro Trash]

Also note the "pure numbers"...both China and India each have more honor students than the U.S. has students.

good point

[line-em-up]

If you wish to bash educators in Texas, how about we look at that the fact we are in the bottom 10 of the 50 states on dollar per student spent on education yet in the top 20 in performance results. Our teachers are asked to do more with less and do so very well. C-Scope is a curriculum tool that "some" districts use, lots of districts do not. For those not aware there are 254 counties in our state, how many school districts (see below)? As of 2012 the U.S. is 30th in math, 14th in reading and 20th in science while China is #1 in all three areas. I am not promoting communism but please feel free to assume, we do live in a free country. I am right wing but have seen the damage done when people claim to act on their version of "religion". Here are some more interesting facts, there are 1032 public school districts in Texas, the teacher to student ratio is 14.5 to 1 and just over 50% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch. I am thinking you may wish to complain about some of those issues but hey if you wish to holler about 1 lesson plan out thousands, have at it. If you are wondering I am a school Principal, a disabled veteran and not a communist, but if I were, would I not have the right in this country?

Nice post. Thanks for serving our country.

Overall, how do you feel about the claims that we are dumbing down our kids? From your side of the fence, how can we get our kids' grades up? Personally, I am concerned that the schools make it too easy on the kids by helping them pass their classes when they are young. It is something that I think they become conscious of and then don't feel the pressure like I did as a kid. I always had that fear of failing, which drove me harder. I see my kids struggle with a class and make poor grades sometimes, yet they always seem to pass. I think that the teachers are helping them. I think failure is good for people sometimes to build character and to light a fire under their butt.

[Pro Trash]

Nice post. Thanks for serving our country.

Overall, how do you feel about the claims that we are dumbing down our kids? From you side of the fence, how can we get our kids' grades up? Personally, I am concerned that the schools make it too easy on the kids by helping them pass their classes when they are young. It is something that I think they become conscious of and then don't feel the pressure like I did as a kid. I always had that fear of failing, which drove me harder. I see my kids struggle with a class and make poor grades sometimes, yet they always seem to pass. I think that the teachers are helping them. I think failure is good for people sometimes to build character and to light a fire under their butt.

I believe if we are to move our students into the future we must recognize their respective differences, find their strengths and assist them in working collaboratively with both peers and adults. It is imperative that we model the behaviors we wish for them to imitate and provide instruction that addresses individual needs and demands. Remember todays students need to be prepared to solve problems that have yet to be derived.

[GhostTX]

Leah?

Ah. I did meet her once. My in laws are staunch in the tank union teachers. I do my best to not talk politics with them.

[racrguy]

I believe if we are to move our students into the future we must recognize their respective differences, find their strengths and assist them in working collaboratively with both peers and adults. It is imperative that we model the behaviors we wish for them to imitate and provide instruction that addresses individual needs and demands. Remember todays students need to be prepared to solve problems that have yet to be derived.

I would also throw out there if we got the parents involved with their schooling it would make a difference. That may be asking too much from some demographics. I'm also not talking about the discipline aspect of it either.

It may take a generation of school students to see a quantifiable difference with what I'm proposing.

We need to change people's veiwpoint of school from "that thing you have to do" to "that thing you want/need to do."

[KBScobravert]

My child would turn in a sheet of white paper with a single rectangle box in it. "This is a blank flag to represent the hope of ever satisfying an individual dream under a socialist nation."

This is my "symbolism" that you asked for.

[KBScobravert]

I would also throw out there if we got the parents involved with their schooling it would make a difference. That may be asking too much from some demographics. I'm also not talking about the discipline aspect of it either.

It may take a generation of school students to see a quantifiable difference with what I'm proposing.

We need to change people's veiwpoint of school from "that thing you have to do" to "that thing you want/need to do."

I would add; and that school is not just free daycare

[Vertnut]

Schools were so much more effective when teachers just "taught".

This latest judgement on Texas schools being incorrectly/under-funded, should be interesting. Public schools have gotten out of hand with administrative salaries out of control and districts spending $50-$60 million on stadiums. We need to find a way to base teacher/admin salaries on performance, just like any other profession. Instead of teaching being a "fall-back" option for some grads, it might lure the brightest/smartest prospects into the profession.

[ceyko]

It'll all end bloody one day, and we'll have to ban even talking about or even suggesting the redistribution of wealth. Making it a crime to even bring it up is the only way I can see over being rid of it for good. I don't think it would be harmful to free speech to say that you can't suggest something that's been proven to be a society/nation killer. There are other things that are already a crime to say, and we get along just fine with those in place.

Does not mean it is right. We can't stomp on rights in any fashion, whether we like what it's about or not. Just like I HATE WBC - it's their right. However, where I come from your rights can get you punched in the mouth.

Schools were so much more effective when teachers just "taught".

I agree fully with this opinion and some teachers REALLY shined, while others did okay. However, it was probably much better than being forced to teach xyz in a certain manner...etc.

[helosailor]

Seems to me that the biggest problem with all of this is that politicians are trying to turn teachers into facilitators, facilitators that perpetuate the politicians agenda.

[8mpg]

Again the media reports something half ass to stir up controversy.

On the way home I was listening to 96.7 and the guys got someone one the phone from STAAR or one of those organizations and he explained it.

That flag was only PART of the exercise and education on economic principals. Texas state requires teacher to teach about Socialism/Communism/Free Market. When they teach these they need to require, visualization, communication and reading about these structures. Drawing a Socialist flag was one part of the whole lesson. They later did a Venn diagram or something to that nature for the free market structure. There was also something that they did visually for the Communist structure.

So who fucking cares? Everyone hears that kids drew a flag and have no sense of what else they did. Everyone jumps to conclusions our education system is fucked up and teachers are pushing liberalism/socialism on our kids. WRONG