Is this a subtle "book burning" tactic?

[Trapper John]

As it is my customary habit to peruse current events during some of the less "work intensive" periods like the holidays, I came across a discussion of the Common Core curriculum that is being promoted as part of the Obama administration "Race to the Top" educational reform program. See: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/12/27/why-all-cool-kids-are-reading-executive-order-13423/?intcmp=obnetwork#ixzz2GJ6HSRrq

This strikes me as a subtle form of "book burning" and will have the effect of damping down critical thinking skills in our children. Or perhaps that is the intent! After all if the electorate had better critical thinking skills then O would not have been elected in the first place. {Added in order to get a response from Dozer :D}

I tend to agree with the following opinion excerpted from the cited article: "But if states stay on the Common Core bandwagon, say goodbye to “1984,” “Animal Farm” and “Brave New World.” No need for kids to be reading those books, anyway. They’ll be living them."

I know that many of you that regularly post here are professional educators and I would like to read your thoughts on this subject. IMO this is of critical long-term importance!

[Dozer523]

If its book burning where is Fahrenheit 451?;)
There are only so many books that can be on a required reading list and gone are the days of the summer required reading list. There have been many worthy titles since BNW and 1984.
I read 1984 in 1970 -- I just realized I was 14 years old -- and 1984 the equivalent of my total lifetime in the future. That seemed a loooooooooong time and it was the future. It's Back to the Future now.
BNW might still scare the crap out of you.

[1stindoor]

...and gone are the days of the summer required reading list.

Some schools still have them. My kids get at least one or two titles at the end of every year. My daughter had a report due on one on the second day of school.

[Trapper John]

There are only so many books that can be on a required reading list and gone are the days of the summer required reading list.

WHAT?? I must be gettin' really old :( BTW BNW does scare the crap out of me - seems as thought its creeping up on us to be the new reality. If kids don't read this stuff and its not discussed in our schools then quess what? Self fulfilling prophecy - no?

And another thing (and then I'll shut up 'cause I feel a rant coming :eek:), I just realized, talking to my son-in-law, that the rejection of exceptionalism that is so prevalent among the millenials is because they were not taught, did not read about, and have no connection to the extreme sacrifices that were made by the Founders (and generations that followed) to secure our most precious right - the right to self determination. I am thinking about getting him Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America as a starting point for his re-eduction. (Required summer reading :D)

[Richard]

The "Common Core" curriculum concept has been a topic of discussion and in use by 'some' major urban districts for decades for their general ed curriculum. Even within those districts, there are a rich variety of curricula offered for programs such as Honors, AP, IB, thematically designed Magnet schools, etc which include the reading of materials like BNW, BNWR, 1984, Animal Farm, etc.

At my school, for example, we did have summer reading requirements beginning in the 6-7 grade transition and continuing through high school, and Animal Farm was a summer reading requirement for students entering 9th grade. Summer readings in lit and history courses were designed as 'introductory' material used as a preiew or foundation for the upcoming school year. As an example of the concept, incoming seniors were required to read Beowulf and The Hobbit as an intro to English Lit (senior English) and the heroic cycle, and selected readings from The Federalist Papers in preparation for their Govt/Econ courses.

The common core concept was and remains, IMO, of great worth and most effective when used by districts where there were large recent migrant student populations of diverse cultural backgrounds.

I wouldn't give up on it...yet.

Richard :munchin

[Trapper John]

Thanks Richard! Your post dropped my BP about 10-20 mm :D My fear is and always has been the centralization of a mandated curriculum. IMO this is a very bad idea. Reason: too easily manipulated to meet the ideological bias of the time. I prefer a system where decentralized experimentation and adaptability is encouraged. The best programs will rise to the top.

So no sooner than your post calmed me down, my 30 yo daughter comes in with an arithmetic problem "What is 6/2(1+2)?" She asks with a big smile. "1" I tell her. Her smile turns to a frown - "Huh", she says. "I thought it was 9." Apparently this is a "trick" question that was sent to her on facebook. "More, than half the people said it was 9 too", she protested. "Damit, arithmetic is not a majority decision!" :mad:

BP is back up! More work to do :lifter

[Richard]

Higher order thinking skills, e.g., math order of operations for Alg1+, are a diminishing skill set which, much like with secondary language skills, needs to periodically be refreshed.

Enjoy the refresher. ;)

Richard :munchin

[afchic]

If its book burning where is Fahrenheit 451?;)
There are only so many books that can be on a required reading list and gone are the days of the summer required reading list. There have been many worthy titles since BNW and 1984.
I read 1984 in 1970 -- I just realized I was 14 years old -- and 1984 the equivalent of my total lifetime in the future. That seemed a loooooooooong time and it was the future. It's Back to the Future now.
BNW might still scare the crap out of you.

One of the good things about our school district. For High School students, 1 from the "list" and 1 of their chosing, with 5 page reports on both due the first day of school.

I must say that my kid reads books, that I didn't get to until college and she is only a sophomore.

[Richard]

Military adopted the "Common Core Curriculum" model long ago for training leaders - rumors have it that it is now being refined to ensure we don't offend anybody by using a "real" country in the scenarios. :D

Richard

Military Strategy: What are the optimal siege tactics for taking Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2907817/posts

[Pete]

Reading The Deerslayer vs a Government Tech paper?

That's a tough call. I slogged through The Deerslayer a few months back. Had to use hip boots for most of it.

It is interesting to notice the difference in writing styles from that period and today. Zipped through the latest Clive Cussler book in an afternoon.

[Trapper John]

Military adopted the "Common Core Curriculum" model long ago for training leaders - rumors have it that it is now being refined to ensure we don't offend anybody by using a "real" country in the scenarios. :D

Richard

Military Strategy: What are the optimal siege tactics for taking Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2907817/posts

Very good plan IMO. I would have used a couple of small blocking force elements (Squad size would probably be enough) with M-60/50 Cal near Frontier Land to block E&E by water and to the NE of Fantasy Land. Good field of fire over water @Frontier Land with plenty of concealment along egress routes NE of Fantasy Land. Good ambush site IMO.

[MR2]

Military adopted the "Common Core Curriculum" model long ago for training leaders - rumors have it that it is now being refined to ensure we don't offend anybody by using a "real" country in the scenarios. :D

Richard

Military Strategy: What are the optimal siege tactics for taking Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2907817/posts

Just hire the six-fingered man and we'd have it in an afternoon.

Have fun stormin' the castle - Billy Crystal

[JJ_BPK]

Military Strategy: What are the optimal siege tactics for taking Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle?


This AO is just West of my current location, FB Melbourne

It's reel bad, A lot of small fiefdoms, The juxtapositions of political and sumo-religious inter relations lends itself to fence building and small town inbreeding. Pigs Co-habituating with Frogs, Human sacrifice, Dogs and Cats living together... Mass Hysteria!

What a way to start a war...

:lifter:D:lifter

[PSM]

Military Strategy: What are the optimal siege tactics for taking Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2907817/posts

I'd call the mission a success if only the Secondary Objective is accomplished:

***Secondary Objective:

While in Fantasyland we will have the opportunity to take down the menace of all parents everywhere. The "It's a Small World" ride will be within our reach. Our secondary objective is to eliminate the ride with extreme prejudice. This isn't a capture mission like the castle, but one of complete annihilation. Expect heavy casualties as their adorable repetitiveness burns into your skulls like white phosphorous in the jungle. Our sacrifices will be great, but our suffering is in the name of protecting others.
:lifter

Pat

[Trapper John]

I'd like to see another Secondary Objective and grab the Evil 7 (as in Dwarfs). Use enhanced interrogation methods on 'em - find out who the supplier is for that Cocaine Hag - Snow White! Bitch!! :D

[Trapper John]

Reading The Deerslayer vs a Government Tech paper?

That's a tough call. I slogged through The Deerslayer a few months back. Had to use hip boots for most of it.

It is interesting to notice the difference in writing styles from that period and today. Zipped through the latest Clive Cussler book in an afternoon.

Truth be known - I prefer Clive Cussler too. Shhhh, don't tell Richard. ;)

[Richard]

Reading The Deerslayer vs a Government Tech paper?

That's a tough call. I slogged through The Deerslayer a few months back. Had to use hip boots for most of it.

It is interesting to notice the difference in writing styles from that period and today. Zipped through the latest Clive Cussler book in an afternoon.

Near the end of the "olde modern" literary style - Mark Twain, IMO, marked the beginning of the movement away from the olde towards the more modern American literary movement we enjoy today.

Richard

[Trapper John]

Near the end of the "olde modern" literary style - Mark Twain, IMO, marked the beginning of the movement away from the olde towards the more modern American literary movement we enjoy today.

Richard

Yeah, but you gotta admit Cussler, Patterson, et al are good escape reading. Newest in the genre is Michael Pocalyko's The Navigator: a collision of worlds of big government, meta data collection, and big finance. Very topical.

[mark46th]

As a former employee of The Magic Kingdom and a long time sufferer of Small World induced catatonia, dibs on the pleasure of lighting the first fuse...