Suggestions for Kids Newspaper/News Magazine? (vanity)

5/6/2004 | me, myself, and I

[Born Conservative]

I have the Public School Ping List, and another Freeper contacted me to ask if I knew of a kids' newspaper. The paper her child gets in school is "Time for Kids", and apparently it publishes stories that are not factually correct (e.g. A recent story on global warming stated carbon dioxide is getting into the atmosphere, "making our planet a dangerously warmer place."). Does anyone know of a decent newspaper for kids in the public schools?

[Born Conservative]

[Robert A Cook PE]

I subscribe to "Old News" -

It's printed each month like a newspaper, but has "news" stories ranging from Egyptian sphinx to Coast Guard rescues off of Hatteras, to Eskimo movies, to Aztec ceremonies, Elizabethan inventors, the first detective who used fingerprinting, photographers, etc.

About 6-8 stories in each issue. Every one of them delightful!

[woofer]

Fifth or sixth grade isn't too early to start 'em the Wall Street Journal.

They print the midwest edition in my hometown. If you asked, you could have all yesterday's unsold copies you wanted.

[Think free or die]

Our kids' school also uses Time for Kids. While I find it an irritating publication, we've used it to help teach our sons critical thinking. After discussing with them a few of the articles in the publication, they've become a lot more aware of biased reporting. Some of the most obvious bias has been in reporting on presidential politics and the environment. Now our sons come to us with examples of biased writing they've found in TFK or other publications.

[acapesket]

My son gets in trouble all of the time for telling his ultra liberal MA Parochial school teacher that "Time for Kids" is a load of trash. He gets straight A's anyway and she gets aggro with him for "knowing too Much"!! Fancy that. SOMEBODY, PLEASE GIVE US AN ALTERNATIVE!!
I am sue "Sister' would be receptive.
HELP!!

[Born Conservative]

I like that; using a negative (biased reporting) to produce a positive (teach critical thinking). I do the same with my son; he's able to see through the liberal indoctrination and sort out the facts/reality fairly well.

[Think free or die]

It's great to see how quickly kids catch on, given half an ounce of encouragement. We've had some great conversations with our kids.

[lizma]

I don't know of any option but while my kids are doing their homework, I read through it. If I find an articles with a left wing slant, I discuss it with them. Almost always I can find something that I at least need to comment on, but rarely something I need to lecture on.

My daughter recently brought an issue with Kerry on the cover. She had written a L on his forehead. I asked her "What's this?" She replied "L for loser" and described how she convinced the kids sitting around her to do the same!

That issue was the worse I've seen yet. I lectured so much on that propaganda that I suspect my kid's poor ears are still ringing.


p.s Could you please add me to your Public School Ping List?

[jocon307]

"Fifth or sixth grade isn't too early to start 'em the Wall Street Journal."

Definately agree with this. I remember being in those same grades in NYC public schools and getting the Times (back in the day when it was still somewhat good, if still liberal, Red Smith and all that, Safire too was in it still,then, whatever, time/space continuum confusion in my brain now). We were actually taught how to fold the big old pages from page to page so you'd be able to read it on the subway!

Red Smith was great btw, or at least I remember him that way.

[Think free or die]

"She had written a L on his forehead. I asked her "What's this?" She replied "L for loser" and described how she convinced the kids sitting around her to do the same!"

That's a hoot! My older son enjoys adding moustaches or erasing the eyeballs on politicians' pictures in the publication.