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Too Many Cooks Running Our
Schools |
 October 13, 2004
- The curriculum in our schools has been spoiled by
the fact that there are too many cooks in the kitchen. The academic agenda
of the public school system is as much determined by what is politically
incorrect to discuss in the schools, as it is by the basic assumptions about
the academic skills necessary to survive in our society.
It is a shame that in Social Studies and History, what one individual might
find of value is determined to be unimportant or too controversial to
examine because another group doesn’t feel the same way or might not receive
as much positive coverage. If schools were under local control, then the
overriding values held by those in the community would be considered when
developing the philosophy that guides the school.
Because some subjects have been elevated in importance in terms of academic
testing, other areas for study get much less consideration because the
school ranking won’t be dependent on student scores in that area. One
subject that deserves so much more attention and respect is Civic Education.
Due to the current value on multiculturalism and a global world community,
there has been growing support in the academic community for the
International Baccalaureate world history curriculum; a program affiliated
with UNESCO (To understand the true nature of the IB agenda, read the
following pieces archived at The Rant.us). [1,2]
At the same time, there has been a devaluation of the importance of Civic
Education; a curriculum designed to develop the student disposition to be
civically active. There is more to being civic minded than just picking up
litter in the park on Saturday. A civically disposed citizen must receive an
education in Constitutional Literacy to take a discerning stand on social,
economic, and political issues.
In some states, the only Civic Education that a student receives is
considered part of the broader curriculum of Social Studies. But teaching
Social Studies does not require our students to examine the U.S.
Constitution in a way that is necessary to be able to apply the document to
current events. Worse, not all states test Social Studies because the scores
are not considered to receive federal funding. Social Studies is becoming
irrelevant in our nation’s schools.
Although the federal government will test students in Math and Science every
two years as part of their National Report card with the National Assessment
of Educational Progress or NAEP, it will have been 8 years before Civics
will again be tested…this is despite the extremely poor scores which
resulted in l998. It has been acknowledged that this is a problem, but
unless Civics is elevated in importance, it will not receive sorely needed
attention.
Independent school systems do not have to follow a national curriculum.
Parents who send their kids to an independent school can take the time to
pick and choose one that reflects their values. More choices would increase
the possibility of a much better match between a student and a school. At
least parents would have a say over whether their children are going to
indoctrinated into a global agenda or learn the value of our Constitution in
a Civics program. George Washington said, "In a word, I want an American
character, that the powers of Europe may be convinced we act for ourselves
and not for others; this, in my judgment, is the only way to be respected
abroad and happy at home." To me, choice is badly needed in the world of
education.[1]
http://www.The New Media Journal.us/staff/nsalvato/how_secular_is_new_age_education.htm
[2]
http://www.The New Media Journal.us/staff/nsalvato/further_left_than_multiculturalism.htm
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