[Spiff]

I know the arguments I've made in the past about getting what you pay for in the context of public schools. We like much of what we've seen with the Charter school, it is just this specific science text and teacher that we're having a problem with now.

[Raycpa]

I think this book gives you a great chance to really teach your kids. Have them identify which statements are not science but value statements and have them compare those value statements to biblical teachings.

You won't ever get a better chance to inoculate them from culture.

Let me add, I have taught all of our children the ability to identify when they are getting brainwashed from the text or teacher and as they become adults (2 out of 4 so far) they tell me that those lessons were some of the most valuable.

You may disagree with my last prescription but I teach my kids its their job to get a good grade from the teacher. This means giving proper answers, answers the teacher desires. The class is not a debate platform. If they want to they can meet with the teacher after the class is over and then tell them they were feeding them back crap and they didn't agree with them. I happen to think that is more powerful than tangling issue by issue anyways.

[mware]

Don't they have a curriculum for your school? When you meet with them ask them for a copy of the curriculum.

I have to tell you I teach 7th grade Life Science, and those topics you mentioned are way out there.

[Lancey Howard]

I agree that you should be very wary of this "science textbook".
Dump it, ASAP, and I recommend that you make sure that every other parent is aware of your concerns.

By the way, Brontosaurus Principle: Up to a point, the bigger the better; beyond that point, benefits could be reduced. Or, to everything there is an optimum size.

First, this "principle" is actually known as "economies of scale", and second, "brontosaurus"?? - - that word was abandoned at least twenty years ago; certainly way before 1991.

[wintertime]

1) Immediately remove your children from this Charter school and resume homeschooling.

2) Don't be nice!
Photocopy your essay and give it to every parent who has a child in the school, and to the principal, all teachers, the board of directors, and students.

3) Make sure it is on every message board on the internet, and to all your legislators. Make certain that the teacher, principal, board of directors, and all parents and students know that your essay is being widely disseminated.

4) Negotiating with the principal, teacher, and or the Charter School board is a wast of time.

[wintertime]

Also,,,,,do you think that even if this science teacher is reprimanded that this teacher can control himself in our out of the classroom? No! He can't.

Even if a standard text is used, this teacher will communicate his "beliefs" through body language and facial expression.

Oh....and what about the rest of the teachers in the school?

Finally, you wrote that homework takes as much time as homeschool. All that "homework" sent home by the school is really YOU doing the teaching!

ALL academically success full children are homeschooled, even if they attend school! The only thing that the school sends home is a curriculum. Parents really do all the teaching.

By sending your child to school, you are STILL homeschooling every night by doing homework, and you are robbing your children of the most important time of all: PLAY.

It is through play that children learn creativity, concentration and focus for long periods of time, decisiveness, leadership, mentoring, burn off calories, and build strong bones and muscles.

[Always Right]

It is obvious why no one is allowed to bring that textbook home. Might as well teach the Communist Manifesto as science.

[Recovering Hermit]

Society's goal should be to live in comfort, and in harmony with nature.

Suddenly I have this overwhelming compulsion to go hug a tree.

[Aquinasfan]

THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS AND PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN ECOLOGY

I'm sure glad we're homeschooling. Our daughters' science textbooks are entitled, "Exploring God's Creation" and "God's Marvelous Works."

It's a different kind of approach 8-)

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

In Arizona, a Charter School is a privately run, smaller, more focused public school.

That's all they are - smaller public schools. The same types of Liberals run both public schools and charter schools. Your kids will be taught by Liberals who have an active anti-Conservative agenda. And your kids will have to deal with other kids who have that public school mentality - sex, drugs, and rock & roll.

[Cyber Liberty]

Leave the school.

[sam_paine]

Intelligent Design - bad, "Human Ecology" - good?

Looks like watermelon BS. Green outside, Commie inside.

[Dumb_Ox]

The teacher of this class is an outspoken atheist. The essay assignment for students to write how they agree or disagree with the principles and laws in the 1st chapter appears to be an attempt for the students to expose their immature (they're 8th graders) disagreements with the statements so that the teacher can categorize the students, soften them up by openly or subtly attacking their disagreements or beliefs, and/or by opening then up to criticism from their peers.

Though you're in a better position to evaluate this, I'd be careful about attributing malicious prosyletising intentions to this teacher. It's the only really dubious concern I found in your post, but it's a sure way to get ignored easily.

In eighth grade I was repeating stupid cant I had picked up about the cockroach being the most superior form of life on earth, but I picked up the cant on my own free time from some popular science writer and not from any teacher or textbook. Certain anthropology professors have a habit of singing the high praises of the Bonobo, a very horny and lazy ape. They describe its life in hagiographic terms, often putting it forward as a moral exemplar. You might want to keep an eye out for this insect and ape-worship, which is sometimes more subtle than outright "value statements."

[nicmarlo]

bttt

[DoctorMichael]

JMHO................................

Speaking as someone in Science (at the University level), kids should concentrate on the fundamentals (3R's) and NOT the stuff you're reciting. There's time enough later in life for them to make a rational decision on their own, in maybe a college course, once they've grasped the fundamentals. Not before.

Besides, what about Advanced Algebra and Pre-Calculus? What about basic Newtonian Physics? How about learning to write an intelligible sentence? Reading the Classics of Western Civilization and comprehending the knowledge of those great minds that came before us in Greece, Rome, the European Renaissance and Enlightenment. These contributed to our present success. There are so many other subjects to be learned that will enable kids to be prosperous without wasting their time.

I agree with your assessment that the book skews the conclusions towards the Left. I might add that I've always hated the so-called 'Field' of Ecology, and found it fertile ground for propagating this kind of nonsense.

[Paved Paradise]

You are right to be concerned. Now I know why the kids today have such wacky views; they're being indoctrinated; literally. Some of this is pantheism masquerading as science. It certainly has some scientific ideas meshed in and that's so it's palatable to the masses. Your children are very fortunate to have such intelligent parents.

My advice is to do one of two things depending on how much fight is in you: 1) Fight for what you know is right. Other children are being exposed to this drivel. You can be a crusader for this. The Darwinists keep hacking at us Christian folk for being non-scientific and our beliefs are far more scientific than this new age crud; OR (2) Just make sure your own children know it's bunk and forget about it. It won't be the last time they're exposed to garbage, posing as fact.

[Calpernia]

You are not alone. My children are in a private Catholic school and they have very similar stuff in their Math, Science and History books.

It is very frustrating.

[bk1000]

This text reeks of socialism. Title? Author?

[luckystarmom]

In California, I know charters still have to follow the state guidelines for education. If this is the case in Arizona, I would check to see what 8th graders are supposed to learn. If the text does not follow the state guidelines, then I would bring it up with your board. At least, it is a small number of people you are dealing with.

If the state guidelines talk about this stuff, then you're in for a bigger battle, and there really is not much the charter school can do.

[Paul_Denton]

Matter can neither be created nor destroyed.

Matter and antimatter anhillate eachother upon contact.