DON'T PICK ON JUST ONE GROUP

Arkansas Publk Skulz ^ | 20040228 | Margaret Brogley

[steplock]

DON'T PICK ON JUST ONE GROUP
By Margaret Brogley

Because public schools are failing we continually hear that students must be held accountable for learning. Also, the teachers and administrators, and, likewise, the parents must become involved and held accountable. I hear nothing about holding the colleges and the Arkansas Department of Education accountable.

Why Not?

The education department promotes the programs and the colleges teach the methods used. If the wrong methods and materials are used, what else can you expect but failure in the public schools?

For at least eighty years the colleges have taught the future teachers the "look-say" method of reading instead of intensive systematic phonics. This method caused very poor readers. Also, the colleges have de-emphasized spelling and taught New Math. Now we have children who can neither spell nor make change. From whom did the children learn? From college graduates, of course.

The Department of Education is guilty of promoting programs contrary to our U.S. Constitution. One glaring program promoted in the 1960s was Fabian Socialist Economics that encouraged the child to depend on the federal government instead of being self-reliant.

Now, the Department of Education is or will be promoting the civics textbook - We the People - which will in essence help rewrite the U.S. Constitution that our enemies failed to accomplish in the 1970s.

The Department will promote the book because the No Child Left Behind Act demands it. The Department is now trying to put that legislation into effect which has caused the fight we see.

Look, let's be fair and include everyone who has a part in the failure of our schools.

Don't pick on just one group.

This article comes from Arkansas Publik Skulz
http://www.gohotsprings.com/school/

The URL for this story is:
http://www.gohotsprings.com/school/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=356

[squarebarb]

I don't quite understand what's going on here. Can you clear this up for me? What is being objected to specifically?

[looois]

I learned my teaching skills at UALR in the early 80s. I already had a degree, I just needed to get about 30 additional hours in methods courses to qualify for certification. At the time, in order to qualify in Arkansas, I had to take the NEA teacher's exam.

I came to Florida to teach, which didn't require the NEA exam. All Florida needed to certify me was copies of transcripts to prove I had taken courses related to teaching.

The system Arkansas was putting in place put emphasis on teaching to objectives. Florida appeared to me to be behind...at that time.

I know Arkansas has some problems in its' education system. I just don't think it's the fault of it's colleges and universities.

Still, I'm wondering about the source here. The article reads like someone has an agenda.