Posted on 03/07/2016 7:11:25 AM PST by Academiadotorg
Education School researchers at Stanford found that ethnic studies courses boost grades and attendance. Apparently, it never occurred to them to ask what exactly the students learn in them.
"New research shows gains in attendance and GPA of at-risk high school students from incorporating culturally relevant pedagogy," Brooke Donald reported in a news release from the Stanford Graduate School of Education. "A high school ethnic studies course examining the role of race, nationality and culture on identity and experience boosted attendance and academic performance of students at risk of dropping out, a new study by scholars at Stanford Graduate School of Education found."
"The study looked at ethnic studies classes piloted in several San Francisco high schools and compared academic outcomes for students encouraged to enroll in the course with similar students who did not take it."
At one time, such courses were known as "cake classes," at best, for that very reason. Indeed, it could be argued that, at a time when college students think that Judge Judy sits on the Supreme Court, that the academic value of such "pedagogy" is a bit dubious.
Moreover, as Cliff Kincaid of Accuracy in Media has reported, the content in some locales of ethnic studies can be downright corrosive and incendiary, encouraging revolution, and not necessarily the peaceful variety.
Of course. Everyone gets an A in ethnic grievance. Well, as long as they can suppress their white privilege.
At U of Chicago, our Common Core required one “non-western” history course (three quarters). It was widely known that the “easy” grade was for African History (there just isn’t that much of it, and it isn’t very complex). I decided to go for Russian, taught by two exceptional instructors, Ingham and Hellie. Incredibly complex, and an insane reading list, AND a bunch of unprouncable names. I made it through, but not with a great grade.
A sure-fire ticket to a “would ya like fries with your burger” career and agitating for $15/hour in your spare time.
Easy “A”s boost GPAs. Who’da thunk?
“Class, you want to remember this because it may be on the test.”
“What skin color is the Great Satan Oppressor of black people? A) Purple, B) Green, C) Orange, or D) Whitey. The answer, of course, is “D”.”
“Next, you may also want to remember this, as it will be on the test...”
When I have a conversation with an ethnic studies majority always ends with, “Yes. Yes I would like fries with that.”
So these courses attract “at-risk” students (e.g. students who would benefit much better from a trade school or some other form of vocational training) and increase their GPA’s encouraging them to take more worthless courses while being saddled with student loan debt. What could possibly go wrong.
Giving students the answers to all the tests would increase GPAs too. In fact, abolishing tests entirely and just handing out free diplomas would make GPAs irrelevant. So ...
In a sane world, all federal money in the form of student aid, research grants, or anything else would be cut off from any institution that continues to waste taxpayer money ‘teaching’ such leftist bilge as ethnic, gender or any other ‘studies’ crapola.
My old high school had a ‘talking to communicate’ course. Easy “A” and worthless unless your goal is working the counter at McDonalds. They still needed a picture association class to cover all the bases for the job. Maybe they do now. Both of those would really raise the student GPA.
I would hate to be the only white guy in the class.
but wouldn’t you feel privileged?
I’d feel like a chew toy.
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