Education in an unenlightened state

[texaslawchick]

So, as most people probably know by now, my state's Board of Education evicerated the Social Studies cirriculum last week. Apparently they have another vote coming up in May, but I don't really see the five democrats on the Board managing to wrangle three votes from the ten republicans

Comments

[cz_unit]

Remember: Stupid people vote Republican.

Once you figure that out it all makes sense.

C

[jasheffe]

No chance of the Board of Education at a Federal level stepping since this has the opportunity to not only affect Texas but the rest of the nation as well.

[charlayne]

Two of our grand kids go to a Clear Creek elementary school that has been found to be "exemplary" five years in a row. I'm impressed with what they are teaching. And both their parents and Bruce and I try to help supplement everything they are learning. The 10-year old is in the Gifted program in math and science and reads 2 years above his level. He loves reading and we keep him supplied in books. The 8 year old reads a lot too and is very inquisitive about things such as history. Since that's my subject, we talk a lot about it.

I'm not happy about what I am hearing coming out of that textbook committee. Creationism should be in the world history part under "creation mythology" and not in the science class where evolution should be taught. As I have had to argue with people before, if there is no evolution, explain how virus changes each year (like flu).

[dreamingkat]

When we were in clear lake school district we had a few issues. They refused to recognize me as a parental unit. They refused to take action when my son was teased about having "two mommies" - giving me stoney looks when I brought it up. And then they refused to help him with his problems writing - the only solution they would consider was making him stay in for recess and lunch - one week he didn't get to leave the classroom at all.

We then moved him to a charter school, which was good for him, but their middle school sucked. We moved closer into town, and Houston ISD has been great. Both kids are attending TH Rogers magnet school.

I am concerned about these really screwed up curriculum changes. I wonder if the solution is to have a "liberal school" that meets after school a few times a week, or on a weekend or something. Kinda like conservative Jewish kids go to Hebrew school, or Korean kids go to Korean school.

[charlayne]

I would love to have schools go into a voucher system so that we could send our kids to whatever school would fit best but that has been voted down so often.

As a pagan parent, I had no trouble with the schools here. I went in at first when we brought my daughter down to live with us and told them what I expected. I had to go back once to remind them about religious freedoms. I had to do it again in high school but that was it. We were at Brookside and Clear Brook. Grandkids are at Greene.

[dreamingkat]

Out of curiosity, how long ago were you at Brookside? That was the elementary school we were at (~5-6 yrs ago).

oh, look, i have an opinion.

[twistedcat]

Montessori is AWESOME for early education...

The secondary and high school in the area where my parents live is (or was) rated in the top 10 in the country, in a liberal area. and it still sucked. I did 7th grade and senor year there, and it wasn't up to snuff. my other 3 years of high school were Waldorf, and 6th & 8th grade were overseas at different schools.

I am very much not-a-fan of public school education, especially since Bush fucked with it. It's all about catering to the lowest common denominator.

[rainbow]

if you explore homeschooling options, the i hear the best things about from friends and acquaintances are unschooling and child-led learning.