Posted on 01/11/2006 9:45:23 AM PST by caryatid
Prospective teachers are expected to have the correct 'disposition,' proof of which is espousing 'progressive' political beliefs.
The surest, quickest way to add quality to primary and secondary education would be addition by subtraction: Close all the schools of education. Consider The Chronicle of Higher Education's recent report concerning the schools that certify America's teachers.
Many education schools discourage, even disqualify, prospective teachers who lack the correct "disposition," meaning those who do not embrace today's "progressive" political catechism. Karen Siegfried had a 3.75 grade-point average at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, but after voicing conservative views, she was told by her education professors that she lacked the "professional disposition" teachers need. She is now studying to be an aviation technician.
In 2002 the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education declared that a "professional disposition" is "guided by beliefs and attitudes related to values such as caring, fairness, honesty, responsibility, and social justice." Regarding that last, the Chronicle reports that the University of Alabama's College of Education proclaims itself "committed to preparing individuals to"—what? "Read, write and reason"? No, "to promote social justice, to be change agents, and to recognize individual and institutionalized racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism," and to "break silences" about those things and "develop anti-racist, anti-homophobic, anti-sexist community [sic] and alliances."
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Read more here
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
(AgapePress) -- A union watchdog group says a new disclosure report confirms that the nation's largest teachers union, the National Education Association (NEA), is heavily involved in the wider liberal political movement and the Democratic Party.
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the NEA gave $65 million last year to liberal groups such as People for the American Way, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and the Human Rights Campaign, which is the largest pro-homosexual lobby in the U.S.
In the past, unions with at least one private sector member have had to report their costs and expenses, but they have been able to lump them into large categories such as contributions, gifts, and grants. But now, under new federal rules, the NEA must detail where all its grants have gone, down to $5,000.
Mike Antonucci with the California-based Education Intelligence Agency has been monitoring the NEA for years. He says the new rules have not changed the NEA's political activity, but they help reveal the union's extensive contributions to left-wing causes.
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Check Rita Kramer's book, THE ED SCHOOL FOLLIES, where she visits Ed Schools across the country and finds the same garbage and trends.
That's why we homeschool and became life members of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.
Bang On, George Will! And Thank you.
This made it into Newsweek? I'm going to have to readjust my worldview.
My daughter is studying to be an elementary school teacher. I can tell you that most of the courses she has to take are chock full of pscyho babble.
The biggest criticism we have is that actual teaching experience is very limited. The only way to learn how to effectively teach is to do it. All the theories in the world can not replace actual experience.
My daughter is Catholic and holds true to the values and morals taught by our faith. I can already see problems for her if she gets a job in the public school system.
I graduated with a 4.0 in my major, (BSBA), and at one point thought about teaching high school math. I only needed five "education" courses to get certified because I already had the math background, but I couldn't stomach one of them. Indoctrination is the word. Prayers for your daughter. I'm sure the kids need her.
I am a Christian college student, and let me tell you, I wanted to be a journalist, but I got to the office to talk to my advisor, and you will never believe what he told me.
So, he said, what side of the political spectrum are you on?
I say, I am neither.
He says, what will it be, the New York Times or the LDS Ensign?
I say, neither.
He says, then you should not be a journalism major. Journalism is for leftists and the occasional conservative who works for the Mormons or Focus on the Family.
I walk out and decide to change majors.
I have had several friends who are teaching majors. despite the bad pay here in Utah, they elect to stay here because they get defended by the parents when they stand up for thier viewpoints. One was a Christian girl and another was a Mormon.
Aside from that, how do explain the diversity requirement at most colleges? I don't get it, why should I have to take a course on poor people in Virginia or handicapped people? It seems like a worthless requirement to me.
It's enough to make conspiracy theories strangely believable.
By the way, hope all goes well with the new major. My oldest son is 17. He thought for years (when he thought at all!) that he would go to business school, but now he's leaning toward a film major. I want to encourage him -- we need strong Christians in the arts and media -- but he's in for a tough road, I fear.
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