An Old Guy’s View of the School Controversy
 |
| One parents' view |
As the Florence Nightingale of Bryn Mawr I go about my duties quietly and without complaint, slaving night and day to make Mrs DL comfortable after her surgery. In fact, I actually made a meal the other day with three different ingredients that did NOT include water, wieners and beans! That said, I feel I can take a break from my caregiving to share some deep thoughts (from a shallow mind?) about the current state of education in the US.
There was an article in the Star and Sickle back on 1/21 regarding the Anoka-Hennepin school board and their difficulty in selecting a president due to conflicting views of the board members. If you haven't been paying attention, this is just the latest example of a phenomenon not just here in Minnesota but across the country. Ostensibly it is about how much input
parents should have to their kid’s curricula. While that is certainly part of
it, I believe it is also a proxy for the ideological war that is being fought across
all of American society.
You may remember this little tidbit that I mentioned in an earlier post:
 |
| For God's sake Marge, cover the kids' eyes! |
A BBC article in April of this year reported how the principal of a Florida school was forced to resign after allowing an art class of 11 and 12 year old kids to view Michelangelo's famous statue "David." Almost as bad, according to some parents, the kids viewed other “pornographic” items like Michelangelo's painting "Creation of Adam" and Botticelli's "Birth of Venus." Seriously? (Interestingly - and ironically - the school is called the Tallahassee Classical School.) Sheesh.I hate
to go further down the slippery slope of Florida education but this is too interesting not to share.
“In November, the Miami-Dade School Board adopted new rules requiring schools to fully inform parents of any school-sponsored events, activities, or supplemental programs and to obtain signed permission forms from parents in order for students to participate.”
So far so good – I guess.
Then this . . . |
| Parental permission slip: Whew, thank god it's only for a Black guy reading, could be for that libtard Dear Leader! |
The
state education department said, “Of course you don’t need a permission slip to
listen to a Black author!”
However, if you ran a school in FL and knew Ron DeSantis what would you do just to be safe?
Permission
slip, coming right up!
Anyway, right, wrong or indifferent, school curricula is a very sensitive issue.
 |
| Another parents' view |
Like most folks of a certain age I attended public schools from kindergarten
through bachelor’s degree. (Don't tell anyone but I snuck off to a Lutheran-affiliated college for my Masters. Lower entrance requirements?) Anyway, it’s been about 60 yrs since I was in junior high
but despite calling someone “gay” (not intended as a homosexual term) I’m not
sure I knew exactly what a homosexual was – let alone a transexual. And
certainly there weren’t any in our town. Right? And I definitely did not hear
about them in school.
There were no people of color in town either except for an exchange student from Ethiopia (great guy.) In fact, the only “different” people were Catholics. (Relax, protestant humor.) Racism? Well, I did know there had been slaves but I understood that problem had been solved with the Civil War. Racist jokes were apparently still okay though.
 |
| I know the kid in front row left looks like me but no, I'm not THAT old! |
Yes, I went to school in a few small Minnesota towns but I'm not sure that mattered then or should now. Nor do I think my experience was all that different than most people my age.
You know, I have no recollection of my mom and dad ever having any opinion about the curriculum (granted, they had a 10th and 8th grade education respectively but they were very smart people.) I'm not sure but I don't think other parents did either. Nor, I admit, did we for our kids. Perhaps it was our lack of time or attention. Or perhaps there just didn't seem to be any issues to fight about. I might, however. today if they wouldn't let my kids see a Michelangelo painting or statue!
So here we are today. This is not the America I grew up in - duh! - it is much larger, much more complex and much, much more diverse. I’m an old white guy, kids long out of school – one of which was public, the other two split split private and public – so I don’t really have a dog in this hunt. No surprise, however, I have an opinion. Yup, I am in no position to offer advice or solutions but I won't let that stop me. Besides, age is suppose to bring wisdom so I will presume to offer what little of that I might have. And perhaps a mea culpa for my own educational shortcomings?
The curricula today is obviously much different, as it should be. It also is fair to question it, especially on the more controversial or sensitive issues. In general, however, on most of those issues I personally believe it’s better for kids to have a fuller knowledge of the lives of their peers, lives of those with a different race, gender or sexual orientation. What harm can it do? They’re going to be around other people not like themselves the rest of their lives. (Who knew there were gays and Black people in college and the Air Force!)
Likewise,
our state and nation’s history should be honest as well. We have a great
history and it neither needs to, nor should, be whitewashed by myths and
omissions. Systemic racism does exist here as it does virtually everywhere
else - as well as sexism and ageism. It’s also a fact that there was genocide of the indigenous people. Sadly, also common around the world - and often encouraged by the governments. We're humans, we make mistakes so
denying them by banning books and education about it is wrong and
foolhardy.
 |
| Mass hanging 38 Indians - Mankato 1862 |
Also, most
of us would acknowledge that our classes in civics – if we even had them - really
left us with no idea how the government actually functions. Kids need to know more about our government, the good and the bad e.g. the power of
political parties, special interest groups and money. And the mistakes that it has made. (A few extraneous wars come to mind).
These are just some of the “truths” we need to share them, things we learn as we grow older anyway. Perhaps that's why so many people become disillusioned or bitter later; they feel they’ve been lied to all their life. But these things need not define us, real patriotism (a much-abused term) can handle the truth. Sure, it’s tough stuff and must be handled sensitively and age-appropriately but kids are smart and tough themselves - and probably already know or intuit a lot of this anyway.
I
am a huge supporter of education at all levels but I am also a taxpayer and we
spend vast amounts of money on education in this country with generally awful
results. This is bad for everyone, especially the kids. Clearly, we all need to
do better: teachers, administrators, kids – and parents. Maybe especially parents.
Of course there’s a place for private and charter schools. (I suppose home schooling is an option too but I believe does a great disservice to kids.) Nothing, however, can replace public education for the vast majority of kids. It bears the brunt of our society's issues and problems but also offers the most hope for them. We can’t afford to lose it now. If we don’t resolve this then what’s left? Just homeschool every kid - so they can be protected from things their parents fear?
 |
| Okay, special question for Dougie: will you give us an overview of quantum mechanics? |
For 150 years public education has been a foundation of our country and our democracy. I think it's the only defense against the further fracturing that is destroying it today. If we fail I suspect the nation is probably doomed as a going concern.
"It is only the ignorant who despise education."
Publilius Syrus
"Education is our only political safety. Outside of this ark all is deluge."
Horace Mann
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all."
Aristotle
"The weekend at the college didn't turn out like you planned
The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand."
Famous Philosopher Steely Dan
Oh well, who cares, this is just an old guy's mutterings - and as usual offering very few answers. So excuse me now, I must get back to my care giving duties.
Educational Music
Comments
Post a Comment