Keeping Kids Stupid: The Intellectual Lynching of Jay Bennish

http://artvoice.com/ ^ | march 9th 2006 | Michael I. Niman

[bubbabuddha]

One of the biggest problems confronting higher education is the fact that most students entering colleges and universities lack basic social science skills and knowledge. In a recent survey of college students in Buffalo, for example, almost half did not know who George Pataki is. Eighty percent had no idea, correct or incorrect, as to what communism is. Nearly the same number of students couldn’t define capitalism. For whatever reason, social science education in America has collapsed at the high school level. For a democracy that relies on an informed electorate, such ignorance is toxic.

[bubbabuddha]

I'm not really a fan of this guy, but I'm bored and tired of everyone and their mother mellow dramatizing this guy like he's some kind of evil monster who's out to steal our children, I'm sure there are more important things to be discussed but I figure this could help put a nail into this stories coffin.

[Borges]

Welcome to FR.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Since Mar-08-2006 eh?

I'll give you the BOTD, but I'm afraid others here may not.

[tigtog]

How can you intellectually lynch someone without an intellect. Good grief what is "human geography?" The man is a moron.

[fizziwig]

Nice of you to sign up yesterday to let us know how bored you are with this topic.

Bennish is a turd and should be fired. There, now that wasn't so boring was it?

[Andy from Beaverton]

[tigtog]

Did you note the similarity between Bennish and Mr. Garrison?

[Republicus2001]

I heard a recent inquiry found that most Americans thought the First Amendment was the right to own a pet. Or the right to drive a car.

[2banana]

Wonder how long this teacher would last if parents had school choice...

[MNJohnnie]

Curious if all the defenders would be saying the same thing if he had been using Conservative talking points. Given the recent conduct of the Hysteric Left at Harvard, pretty obvious they would not. Political Indoctrination, even when you agree with it, is complete improper in a Classroom. Funny how the same people who push Hate Speech Codes NOW want to pretend they are defenders of Free Thought.

[DocRock]

"but I'm bored and tired of everyone and their mother mellow dramatizing this guy"

Why are you bringing my mother into this?

IBTZ

[MileHi]

Bennish is the poster boy for what is wrong with government schools and why we need vouchers.

Oh, and you are a troll.

[johnny7]

My mental-mapping tells me... that you will soon leave this cultural landscape.

[HEY4QDEMS]

I heard a recent inquiry found that most Americans thought the First Amendment was the right to own a pet. Or the right to drive a car.

Dumbasses!
Don't they know that the correct answer is "The one before the second amendment".

[LongElegantLegs]

"Art Voice"??
B*tch, please. IB4TZ.

[Scarchin]

To an extent, I agree with you. However, this teacher is FAR from uniqueand that point has to be hammered home. This is my thirteenth year teaching in public schools and guys/gals like him are everywhere.

The shock expressed in reaction to his rant disturbed me only because it shows how unaware the public is of what is being "taught" in taxpayer funded schools.

[DocRock]

psssst... over here!

[bubbabuddha]

Thanks. I got tired of just gazing at all the interesting and informative posts and decided to take part. It's kind of hard not to voice an opinion.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

well at least you are tip toing. Remember you are new, and we are watching you VERY carefully. I am already suspicious but a few more comments like that from a new commer and you will become history in FR.

Having said that, welcome.

[zook]

From the posted article:

"Bennish attempted to stimulate a discussion by critiquing and responding to Bush’s State of the Union address. He put the U.S. into context by describing us as “probably the most violent nation on planet earth.” By almost every measure this is true. We have the highest incarceration rate, one of the highest murder and domestic violence rates, among the world’s most violent entertainment, and we have gotten ourselves into more wars than any other nation in modern history."

The teacher, the writer of the above, and anyone else who thinks this puts "the U.S. into context" are retards.