tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post6983992756570239584..comments2024-03-28T06:53:24.022-05:00Comments on a blog about school: Democratic citizens, yes -- but right-thinking, obedient ones!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12919030671050831251noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-75435051224401763392011-05-03T19:51:02.987-05:002011-05-03T19:51:02.987-05:00That's a nice link, FedUpMom. Number 3 on his...That's a nice link, FedUpMom. Number 3 on his list is relevant, too: "I used to think that public institutions embodied the collective values of society. And now I think that they embody the interests of the people who work in them."Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559356125770114400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-49910596769840807322011-05-03T14:37:53.859-05:002011-05-03T14:37:53.859-05:00Chris, I wish you the best of luck. But I'm c...Chris, I wish you the best of luck. But I'm cynical enough to think that even if the schools had the best possible statement of goals, it would still be a very long hard slog to get the schools to actually conform to the goals. <br /><br />Your post reminded me of a terrific Richard Elmore essay, which I excerpted at KFS:<br /><br /><a href="http://kidfriendlyschools.blogspot.com/2011/05/richard-elmore-re-beliefs-vs-practices.html" rel="nofollow">Richard Elmore re: Beliefs vs. Practices</a>FedUpMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00951858601020687242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-26041746327979258072011-05-03T11:32:59.734-05:002011-05-03T11:32:59.734-05:00Deb -- Thanks for commenting! Of course, I have n...Deb -- Thanks for commenting! Of course, I have no way of knowing how much the board members care about getting reelected. I guess I'm just projecting; it seems like an awfully thankless job that comes with a lot of burdens on one's personal life and family time.<br /><br />I see the mission of the schools more broadly than you do. I think discussion of ethics, and of right and wrong, is perfectly appropriate and important, and is largely what the humanities are about -- as long as no one "right answer" is being dictated. <br /><br />I agree, though, that it's one thing to require that students comply with district policies, and a very different thing to require that they "accept and internalize" them. A governmental body has no business requiring people (adults or children) to agree with its policies.<br /><br />It's worth noting that, although I agree with the district's Equity Statement, not everyone does, and some of its provisions are potentially controversial -- in particular, its inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity. My feeling is that someone who supports the Equity Statement should not be afraid of allowing students to debate it and reach their own conclusions about it. When someone's support for the statement is a result of his or her free choice, it is likely to be much more meaningful and lasting than if it is the result of compulsion or indoctrination. Moreover, the process of confronting different opinions and defending one's own is an important part of any real education.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559356125770114400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-41194390630863257442011-05-03T10:39:29.544-05:002011-05-03T10:39:29.544-05:00The job of the schools is not to teach character t...The job of the schools is not to teach character traits and values - that is the job of the parents. <br /><br />The schools should focus on what they're supposed to do - reading, writing and math. And they are failing at doing for a large number of students.<br /><br /><br />I disagree - the board members care deeply about being re-elected. That's the only way they can ensure their issues and ideas continue. Including this ends policy.Deb Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12535840400663366182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-87809339447811281942011-05-02T13:38:20.885-05:002011-05-02T13:38:20.885-05:00Stoz -- such a cynic!
I suppose the Ends Policy p...Stoz -- such a cynic!<br /><br />I suppose the Ends Policy probably doesn't have that much effect on what actually goes on in the schools, but I'm glad they have one, and that they have to talk about it once in a while. Sometimes it seems like what happens in the schools is just the result of some kind of weird auto-pilot inertia. In school board campaigns, the discussion seems to focus entirely on money, boundaries, buildings, etc. -- which are important, I know -- but without any real discussion of what we should actually trying to accomplish, or of how we conceive of education.<br /><br />Sure, bureaucracies are inevitably self-serving and self-perpetuating. But the school board itself is elected, and, for better or worse, I doubt most of the board members care much about whether they get reelected. I don't think any of the board members are intending to turn the kids into unthinking, obedient little worker bees, though I do think many of the district's practices work toward that end. My guess is that the board members would disavow indoctrination as a goal. But the fact is, they want a lot of things -- thoughtful, independent kids, lifelong learners, compliance with behavioral rules, high standardized test scores, approved character traits and values -- that aren't entirely consistent. Just getting these things talked about would be a step in the right direction. It would also tell us a lot about our board members that we don't usually learn in election campaigns.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559356125770114400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-22855611982669365402011-05-02T11:24:36.227-05:002011-05-02T11:24:36.227-05:00One inherent problem with your alternative stateme...One inherent problem with your alternative statement idea is that it's simply not true. The goal of the school is not to promote free-thinking students, so why would they put that in their mission statement?<br /><br />You should probably instead propose that they change the first half of their statement to bring it in line with reality. Instead of:<br /><br />"The District will ensure that students become responsible, independent, lifelong learners capable of making informed decisions in a democratic society as well as in the dynamic global community."<br /><br />It should be something like:<br /><br />"The District will ensure that students become unquestioning, dependent machines capable of obeying commands in an authoritarian society as well as in the dynamic global community."Seth Costerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14593463506257818030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-62301252682350000912011-05-01T21:50:16.084-05:002011-05-01T21:50:16.084-05:00I'm curious to see whether and how they respon...I'm curious to see whether and how they respond as well. I wish I knew more (my own fault) about what prompted the board to consider this change.<br /><br />I think the language of the statement is especially striking when you remember that some of the people it applies to -- some high school seniors -- are actually already voters. Is there any other example of a governmental body requiring some of its voters to "accept and internalize" one of its policies?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559356125770114400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-50061456290093392722011-05-01T21:22:40.416-05:002011-05-01T21:22:40.416-05:00I love your alternative statement! I can't wai...I love your alternative statement! I can't wait to hear how they respond.StepfordTOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08340282997915000608noreply@blogger.com