another argument for home schooling.
Seriously, if the New York City public school system is going to take cues for elementary and middle-school respect programs from Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, then Cartman's famous declaration ("It's all a bunch of tree-hugging hippie crap!") has become a reality. The program is called "Don't Laugh at Me," or DLAM for short.
On to DLAM’s outreach video. The tape included accounts of book-slamming, sandwich-spitting, and shin-kicking, as well as footage of a rendition of “Don’t Laugh at Me” that Yarrow had performed at the United Nations. “A ridicule-free world,” a soothing voice intoned. “It’s possible, but only with everyone’s help.” (dlam’s efforts at enrichment may also extend to Peter, Paul & Mary’s back catalogue. Page 22 of the teacher’s guide instructs: “Tell students that this version of the song ‘Don’t Laugh at Me’ is sung by Peter, Paul & Mary. If you have not already done so, tell them a little bit about the group. . . . In the early 1960s, Peter, Paul & Mary were the #1 recording group in the country.” )
Never mind that a "ridicule-free world" would rid us of correcting any behavior that clearly operates on a lack of common sense or use of actual truth (there's a lot of crap in this world that needs to be actively ridiculed), but the fact that Yarrow turned this supposedly altruistic program into a marketing opportunity is even worse. It's another reminder of how the folkies and the hippies sold out their values long ago.
Maybe the evangelicals are on to something with this home-schooling trend.
On to DLAM’s outreach video. The tape included accounts of book-slamming, sandwich-spitting, and shin-kicking, as well as footage of a rendition of “Don’t Laugh at Me” that Yarrow had performed at the United Nations. “A ridicule-free world,” a soothing voice intoned. “It’s possible, but only with everyone’s help.” (dlam’s efforts at enrichment may also extend to Peter, Paul & Mary’s back catalogue. Page 22 of the teacher’s guide instructs: “Tell students that this version of the song ‘Don’t Laugh at Me’ is sung by Peter, Paul & Mary. If you have not already done so, tell them a little bit about the group. . . . In the early 1960s, Peter, Paul & Mary were the #1 recording group in the country.” )
Never mind that a "ridicule-free world" would rid us of correcting any behavior that clearly operates on a lack of common sense or use of actual truth (there's a lot of crap in this world that needs to be actively ridiculed), but the fact that Yarrow turned this supposedly altruistic program into a marketing opportunity is even worse. It's another reminder of how the folkies and the hippies sold out their values long ago.
Maybe the evangelicals are on to something with this home-schooling trend.