Endorsements and Bandwagons

By G. Richard Arnold

Endorsements and Bandwagons and Circuses and the Truth

They should not be taught like so many Pavlov's dogs. They should not be trained to react ... but to be thoughtful.

They should not be taught to "group think". They are being taught to react a la Orwell's 1984. Testing by using true/ false and multiple choice is little more than ...cheese at the end of a maze.

They should be taught to answer in full sentences. They should be give classical literature including autobiographies of historical people who were there at the time. Not puff pieces designed for entertainment such as Ranger Rick, Teen magazine and People.

But we can hardly critize the "outcome based education" when all most of the campaign literature ... is nothing more than follow the leader.

Instead of addressing the voter on an issue basis ... the politicians depend on you to take someone elses suggestion. Many of these people are the one's have have run the school system for the last 30 years.

You get a picture of a smiling family advocating more money.

This is the bandwagon effect, get on be popular, climb on even it it is going on the road to diaster. The education establishment is the very definition of group think.

This Education Establishment Bandwagon group thinks something like this.

With very little exception ...

1) Most want to raise more tax money

2) Most approve of Government-Private Partnership (Fascism)

3) Most accept UNESCO and Federal directives and or money ... as if the voters don't also pay Federal and State Taxes too.

4) Most approve and want to expand electives rather than concentrate on the basics.

5)Most want to reduce class size ... when it can be illustrated around the world that larger classes do not always result in better grades

6) Most resist ... early English immersion ... with fluency being required before joining a class. This would relieve the teacher and permit each person in the classe to fully benefit

7) Most don't tell the parents of their rights to
a) inspect the school books
b) attend the class
c) allow their children can opt out of sex education courses and other experimental ventures
d) meet with teachers
e) opt out of vacinations

Professor Thomas Szasz of Psychiatry notes:

50 years ago there were schools and there were guns But no school shootings.. now there are.

50 years ago there was no drug education. School personnel did not forcibly administrer drugs to children, and children did not use or abuse drugs, legal or illegal. Children did not receive sex educations nor condoms in school - that messes with their privacy and confuses their sense of personal integrity. and there were fewer teen pregancies.

50 years ago the main responsibility was to teach academics... the main function today is "social control"

50 years ago we recognized that there were good and bad kids .. some mentally healthy and some mentaly ill.

Thomas Szasz, Professor emeritus of psychiatry at SUNY in Syracuse suggests tht theaching literacy and mathematics is a goal that can be met in six years by the age of 12.

Need I say more after lookin at the below schedule for elementary and junior high schools in Free China. How can our "education establishment" look a parent in the eye and pretend we are doing a good job.

Elementary schools Elementary schools in the Republic of China span grades 1 through 6, classes are held from Monday through Friday, typically from 7:30 AM through 4PM (or noon on Wednesdays). Subjects include:

Mandarin: The official language of instruction. Mathematics: Mathematics education begins with the basics and reaches introductory algebra and geometry by the 6th grade. Science: Comprehensive science classes covering basic biology, physics, and chemistry. English: English is a compulsory subject within the mainstream school system from Grade 3 Elementary School and up. Native languages: Additional language classes in Taiwanese and Hakka are offered. Social studies Physical education Music Art Like middle schools, students are typically assigned to the elementary school closest to their registered place of residence. This leads some parents to file their children's household registration with other relatives or friends for the purpose of sending their children to what are perceived as better schools.

[edit] Secondary education [edit] Junior high school Junior high school spans grades 7 through 9 and is the last half of compulsory education. Unlike the slower pace of elementary school, junior high students typically have a single goal in life: to score high on the national senior high school entrance exams at the end of 9th grade. Consequently, the pressure on students from teachers and parents is intense. Though instruction officially ends around 4PM, students often stay in school till as late as 8 or 9PM for "extra classes" (which typically consist of extra quizzes and review).

Subject matter covered includes:

Literature: Classical and modern Chinese literature and poetry, composition and public speaking. Mathematics: Covers single and two variable algebra, geometry, proofs, trigonometry, and pre-calculus. English Biology: Taken during first year, includes more in depth studies and lab work. Physics and Chemistry: Taken during second and third year. More rigorous introduction to physical laws and equations, includes lab work. Civics & moral values History: Focus on the history of China and East Asia, also includes world history. Geography: Geography of Taiwan, Mainland China, and the world. In the past students were taught the 1947 map of China leading many to criticize that "history was being taught as geography". Recent years have seen a growing emphasis on Taiwan. Physical education Home economics & crafts Music Scout education: Outdoor survival skills. At the end of their third year, students participate in the national senior high school entrance exams and are assigned to senior high schools based upon their scores. Students may also participate in a separate national vocational school entrance exam if they wish to attend vocational school. In both cases, public schools are usually the most popular while private schools have traditionally been viewed as a backup for those unable to score high enough for public schools.

Roughly 94.7% of junior high school students continue on to senior high or vocational school End of Taiwan article.

If is time to end the group thinking that has brought the counry to the mess it is in.

Strip the studies down to basics, dump the phony one world agendas, use books free of all the social pontificating by going directly to the classics. Toss the fuzzy math and replace it with the Saxon series.

All future and present school buildings should be determined if they can be replaced economicaly with sturdy modules, save, warm and conducive to study. No monuments.

Teachers should be given a more pay and only students who have gone through English Immersion brought into class. Trim the administration and take electives to a minimum.

Provide a 5 year voucher system so the parents can choose the school of their choice. This would remind the bureaucrats that it is the parent's money and their children.

At the end of 5 years there would be a sunset clause that would prohibit the government from giving any private school any money so as to get the government OUT. By that time the good schools will have earned a reputation and public schools will have had time to attract students provided they have changed their focus. That is to produce a confidnet educated student and not a "human resource" to be exploited by the "busy" "International Community."

And if those Businesses want to mess with the schools ...let them provide for the sports and extra curicular items and not dictate board policy. That is up to the parents.