What a steaming pile of bulldust! Myers' comments say it all.Dear Kindergarten parents and guardians:
We hope this letter serves to help you better understand how the demands of the 21st century are changing schools and, more specifically, to clarify misconceptions about the Kindergarten show. It is most important to keep in mind that this issue is not unique to Elwood. Although the movement toward more rigorous learning standards has been in the national news for more than a decade, the changing face of education is beginning to feel unsettling for some people. What and how we teach is changing to meet the demands of a changing world.The reason for eliminating the Kindergarten show is simple. We are responsible for preparing children for college and career with valuable lifelong skills and know that we can best do that by having them become strong readers, writers, coworkers, and problem solvers. Please do not fault us for making professional decisions that we know will never be able to please everyone. But know that we are making these decisions with the interests of all children in mind.
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Sunday, 27 April 2014
From Kindergarten to Stalag
I don't always agree with PZ Myers - does anybody? - but in this case I have to echo an amen. It seems a New York Elementary school has cancelled it's annual Kindergarten art show because Performance-Led-Outcomes Nazis have determined otherwise. The school writes:
Can't remember where I saw it (maybe buried in the comments under that story posted elsewhere), but it sounds like this might be a hoax...that the actual school website appears to have had the show scheduled as planned and that there wasn't any public notice there of any changes. Malcontents are considered possibly guilty of trying to perpetuate the stalag narrative of the public school system to advance whatever it is they want to advance. I don't know. But something about the notice didn't ring true to me either -- though I quite agree that the system at this time is quite capable of such, and worse. But perhaps not this particular one? Might be worth double-checking.
ReplyDeleteI did check and it's unfortunately no hoax. Google "Kindergarten Class Cancelled" and click on the Washington Post story or follow the link.
DeleteWe are responsible for preparing children for college and career with valuable lifelong skills and know that we can best do that by having them become strong readers, writers, coworkers, and problem solvers.
ReplyDeleteThen for heaven's sake, teach them to lie, cheat, steal and practice deception effectively!
Studies have shown that unless the child learns to be an effective liar by age 5, he or she will be doomed to be locked out of the boardroom of any major company, never become CEO, and, heck, never become President of the United States!
We can't be sure whether or not participation in a Kindergarten Show would facilitate devious deception, but it should because it will give children practice in learning how to act, deceive and prevaricate convincingly.
For the sake of the children and their future success, please, please, please teach them to be corrupt!