Alert: Scholastic Books plans to distribute ABC's rot to schools...

[Fridays Child]

...complete with lesson plans, telling teachers how to shove this garbage down our kids' throats!

Tell Scholastic what you think of their plan (and, please keep this kicked): http://scholastic.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/scholastic.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php


Here's what I wrote:

Please do not be conned into distributing ABC's docudrama, "The Path to 9/11." This film is filled with right wing lies and smears, all of which have been thoroughly debunked. To pass this tripe off as educational material is an utter outrage.

I've been a Scholastic customer since I was a child, and I buy your products for my children, too. But if you disseminate ABC's propaganda, I will boycott you and ask others to do the same. Additionally, I will insist that the PTA at my daughter's school decline to host and participate in the annual Scholastic book fair, citing your company's failure to maintain a neutral political stance.

[LA lady]

1. Probably too late

Our school already received the materials.

They are also available online.

[Fridays Child]

4. Scholastic can "taketh away" what Scholastic can "giveth."

Meaning that they can withdraw that crap from their line-up, if they so choose. Please register your displeasure. :)

[WinkyDink]

44. You can still show the truth posted here in several threads to the

teaching staff/Administration.

[Drum]

2. Damn!

Scholastic is located right across the street from where I work (lower Manhattan.) Wish I could put a big sign up in our 2nd flr windows protesting this, but I'm sure my boss wouldn't go for it.
:mad:

[AX10]

3. K & R!

[renate]

5. 'bye Scholastic

You'll miss us. Boycotting you won't cause us any pain, because we have a great local library.

Somebody should have thoroughly vetted a project with such an obvious potential for political overtones. I would feel the same way if it were a liberal program (although in that case I wouldn't boycott them, since I'm happy to vote with my dollars or the withholding thereof).

[Mrs. Overall]

6. Just wrote to them--thanks for the website!

[w4rma]

7. These nuts are going all out on this. (nt)

[LA lady]

9. Apple

Apparently Apple i-tunes is allowing a free down load, WTF!?

[Nikki Stone 1]

Wrote. Kick and Recommend

Even if it's too late, Scholastic needs to know that parents are outraged.

[Neurotica]

8. I've just skimmed through the lesson plans...

I'll have to read them more closely, but at first glance nothing really jumped out at me -- nothing that I can bring to the attention of our school system if I find out that we plan to use these materials.

Does anyone have more specifics regarding bias and inaccuracies contained in the movie and/or lesson plans (and links to credible sources)?

Thanks.

[Fridays Child]

13. Here's a start...

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/05/clarke-blasts-abc/

Also, Media Matters: http://mediamatters.org/items/200609010012.

[moc]

15. I looked at the materials. In their review of the "key countries"

involved in 9/11, they fail to mention Saudi Arabia (except for a single reference when describing OBL's history) despite the fact that most of the hijackers were Saudi. They also include Iraq in that list of "key countries" perpetuating the false link between Iraq and 9/11.

And Think Progress' website is good for documented inaccuraces such as http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/05/clarke-blasts-abc/#comments

[WinkyDink]

45. READ OUR THREAD TITLES! Berger, Clarke, Clinton, et al. have

noted the LIES, the FICTIONS, etc.!

And look at the way Scholastic frames classroom "discussion questions"; whar PREMISES do they use?

[weeve]

10. Outrageous

Thanks for the info! As a parent of three school kids I will get this info out ( to our generally fairly liberal school ). As it is, I never buy their books, as we too love our public library system. I don't feel they should be allowed to hawk their wares in the classroom as it is, and this just makes it more important that we protect our children's minds from such biased sludge.

[K8-EEE]

11. Well We Need To Prepare A "Debunking Study Guide"

Seriously -- make them teach the real facts and how they differ from this idiotic propaganda...

[Fridays Child]

17. Let's challenge Scholastic to distribute "Loose Change."

I'm sure that Dylan Avery and/or the 9/11 Scholars would be pleased to prepare a study guide.

[K8-EEE]

18. Yeah!! How can they NOT?

If they are going to "teach" this crap then they should allow equal time...

[mcar]

12. Thanks, I sent something in too

I buy from these jerks all the time to support my son's school. Not anymore.

[DeSwiss]

14. My email to Scholastic....

I am appalled that Scholastic is planning to distribute materials on the controversial TV program - Path to 911. Particularly since many of the points made in this so-called "docudrama" are now being challenged by the participants in the actual event. ABC has recently received such an adverse reaction to the program that they have shutdown the movie's blog site.

The author of this material is a well known conservative pundit whose political positions and leanings could hardly be considered objective and definitely not the kind of material for legitimate discussion in a learning environment.

In my view, much of the movie's assertions about who and what led to 911 is a collection of lies and political smears designed to influence the upcoming fall elections and Scholastic will, wittingly or not, find itself promoting this claptrap as "educational material" which is outrageous.

When I was a child, I looked forward to reading Scholastic materials. I found it to be then an insight into the many worlds of wonder. I accepted this information without question. I believed in the objectivity of the resources used and viewed these materials as neutral political resources. This Path to 911 material is not.

Please tell me that this has not changed and that Scholastic has not become another lapdog of the political mouthpieces as I've come to view the mainstream media. Scholastic needs to scrap plans to disseminate materials related to this program immediately. If you do not, I will petition our PTA at my grandchildren's schools and ask that they decline to participate in your annual book fair and cease and desist further use of any Scholastic materials as they obviously cannot be viewed as objective and neutral.
===================================================================
From Scholastic:
Your Question has been Submitted
The reference number for your question is '060905-001806'.

You should receive a response by email from our support department soon.
===================================================================
Fridays Child, thanks for the email link.

[Fridays Child]

16. Well said!

:thumbsup:

[wisteria]

19. This is the same group that supported Bush big time during 04 election. n/

[nosillies]

20. done...here's my letter

I have enjoyed Scholastic books all my life, and have loved reading Scholastic books to my child since he was born.

But now, my child will just have to do without Clifford. And I'll be very disappointed to miss the next Harry Potter.

But, you see, I cannot support a company that pushes political propaganda of any type on schoolchildren. Your "lesson plans" that help promote and spread the innaccuracies and lies of ABC's mockumentary, "The Path to 9/11," are inexcusable. It is not your lesson plans, per se, that I oppose. It is the subject matter that they cover. Like it or not, your providing these plans enables and encourages the spread of lies dressed up as facts. I would have expected better from a company whose only motives should have been the education and entertainment of our children in a neutral manner.

Not only have you lost my monetary support, you've also gained a formidable adversary. My child is young, and I have another one on the way. You've got many years of me getting on as many school committees as I can so that I can fight any proposals of hosting Scholastic book fairs tooth and nail to look forward to.

I look forward to the news that your company has reconsidered this ill-advised plan, so that I may once again become a Scholastic supporter.

[Fridays Child]

21. All I can say is...

:woohoo:

[nosillies]

22. Thanks to you for the link! n/t

[savemefromdumbya]

23. thanks for that info

[Fridays Child]

24. kick...

:kick:

[proud patriot]

25. I have written them

Thanks for the link

[seabeyond]

26. i emailed. i wont be buying those books i buy three/four times

a year. and i will be watching my schools to see if they show this film. i will also be educating my kids about the lies in the film so they will be able to raise hand in class and refute what is being said.

[rg302200]

27. I am a teacher and this really bothers me...so I wrote them

Here is a copy of my letter:

To whom it May Concern,

I am utterly appalled that a company of Scholastics statue would stoop so low as to sell right-wing propaganda. The false hoods and out right lies that are prevalent in "Path To 9/11" should not be taught to children. The author of this dribble is a well-known Republican pundit who uses the same worn talking points to slander Democrats in order to prop up his pathetic excuse of a party.

As a teacher myself I find it very disturbing that the truth is being bulled over in favor of a political agenda. I have faithfully supported your company in the past but NO MORE! If you want to publish such lies then maybe you should just take your wares and set up shop at the GOP national convention. Plenty of rich parents there who would be more than willing to buy your lies for their spoiled children! Better yet why not just hock your crap through Disney’s online store. They would be more than willing to set up a spot for you.

Take my word for it when I say that I will not let your actions go unanswered. I will make it my life’s work to ensure that my school district will never support your company again. Believe me when I say that Scholastic as seen the last of my financial support as well as the financial support of my county and local school district. Remember this; I am only 25 years old, so I have plenty of years ahead of me to see my goal come to fruition.

[seabeyond]

28. let us know if it comes into your school district. amarillo, texas, i wil

do the same. this is not something i am going to let come into our school as fact. only fiction. after it shows, i would like for us to accumulate all falsehoods presented and documented and have ready ammunition if it does comes to our schools to address both administration and teachers so i can prepare my kids to challenge if need be. we are not afraid. and i think across the nation we should challenge

[countingbluecars]

29. I wrote and asked to be

removed from their e-mail and catalog mailing lists and let them know why in no uncertain terms. My mailbox at school is packed with catalogs right now. Scholastic owns all the book clubs that I know of, which is a shame.

[nealmhughes]

30. Damn! I grew up on those book from age 5 to about 12....

I remember ticing the boxes on my three or four new paperbacks every month or so in class!

It's odd that I don't remember any political content, most of them were novels if I remember correctly, and a few "hero" brief bios -- Hank Aaron was one of those I had to have to match my binder and lunch box with Hank on them...

I guess this isn't the late 60s and early 70s any longer...

[readmoreoften]

31. Wrote, Kicked, Recommended. /nt

[immoderate]

32. I wrote this:

I hope you will consider withdrawing you support material for the horrible ABC propaganda piece, "The Path to 911." I know it is all about the money to you, but maybe you could offer an alternative "Guide to Fascist Propaganda," which exposes the lies and historical misrepresentations in this movie. That would be educational.

I am guessing your venality will overcome any pleas for truthfulness, so as a teacher trainer, I will be sure that my clients become aware of your disdain for the truth. I hope this will backfire for you, and you will pay dearly for this breach of faith.

--IMM

[countingbluecars]

33. Kick

for teachers and parents.

[yasmina27]

34. OK, I just looked at their website

did a "yahoo" search for scholastic 9/11 and came up on their page for suggested activities. I didn't see anywhere that they were distributing ABC's propaganda.

They're not actually distributing it, merely providing resources for students and teachers about the program. I haven't had time to go through all the documents, but my impression is that whether we like it or not, many people in this country will be watching this, and many of the children who are now old enough to understand were too young when it happened to know what was going on.

There are actually some good items there.

http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=5287

http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=5312

From what I can see, they are NOT advocating that students watch the program, only providing resources for teachers with students who DO watch it.

[countingbluecars]

35. Do their resources

debunk the lies? I doubt it.

[soup]

39. Clearly laid out here:

9/11 Discussion Guide for ABC Miniseries
http://content.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplan.jsp?id=415

Directions:

Distribute the Resource Sheets and Discussion Guide Sheets (see PDFs above) as you prepare your class to watch The Path to 9/11 and discuss the events detailed in The 9/11 Commission Report.

[yasmina27]

42. OK, I see what you mean

But that doesn't mean a teacher can't use the event to generate discussion about what is NOT in the video, in age appropriate ways.

[midnight]

36. Thanks for including their e-mail site.

I wrote them a short note of concern.

[nosillies]

37. Did anyone get a response, even a form letter type response?

[seabeyond]

40. sent two emails. i have received two received email

response from the company with promise i will receive replies. i imagine they have a lot of emails to address

[countingbluecars]

43. Yesterday I wrote asking them to remove

my name from e-mail and catalog mailings and explained why. Today I got a "Back to School" e-mail from the president of Scholastic Books. My complaint was not addressed. It was simply a letter singing the praises of Scholastic Books. I am posting a paragraph from the letter which has the president's e-mail and address. This might be a better place to send complaints.

"I am always available to hear any of your ideas or suggestions for how we can make Scholastic Book Clubs better for you and your students. Please e-mail me anytime at [e-mail] or write to me at 557 Broadway, New York, New York 10012. If you need to let us know of a school change, grade change, or want more catalogs, please contact customer service directly at [e-mail] or 1-800-SCHOLASTIC (1-800-724-6527) and they will be happy to assist you."


Judy Newman
President, Scholastic Book Clubs

[JeffR]

38. I sent them this:

To whom it may concern:

As a young student in Florida and later in Georgia, I was privileged to have access to Scholastic books and materials which helped my reading and comprehension skills develop, which helped me grow up to be an informed, inquisitive citizen, which helped me shape an understanding of this complex world we live in. Scholastic was an important part of my formative years and a crucial component of my early education.

So it is with utter dismay that I find myself writing to you now to protest your involvement in the dissemination of ABC's utterly shameful pseudo-documentary "The Path to 9/11" to a new generation of young students. Despite ABC's attempts to obfuscate, portions of the content have already been widely discussed on the internet, and it is already clear that this work is nothing more than blatant political propaganda, suspiciously selective in its factual background, downright fictional in terms of portraying the Clinton Administration's anti-terror initiatives, and flagrantly partisan in its attempt to bolster the mythology the current Administration so desperately continues to push in this election year. That this work was written by a right-wing ideologue is bad enough. That it is being passed off as information rather than spin is worse still. That Scholastic would attach its good name to the project is absolutely reprehensible.

I do not have school-age children, and in any case I no longer live in the United States. However, on behalf of the young American students who will be deliberately misinformed by "The Path to 9/11", I strongly object to Scholastic's involvement in this farce. Your company was a good corporate partner to the school boards that helped educate me; today's young minds, by contrast, are now receiving trash under your auspices.

You have done serious damage to your reputation. More vitally, you are doing a terrible disservice to American children by participating in this sham. The judgment exercised by whichever corporate officers at Scholastic made this decision is extraordinarily poor. Their continued employment should be immediately reconsidered.

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,
JeffR

[KBlagburn]

41. My letter

I am greatly disappointed in your decision to connect a company as great as scholastic with the program "The Path to 9/11". This event is portrayed as being based upon the "9/11 Commission Report" but it is not.

Former government officials have come forth to highlight the inaccuracies in this film.
These officials include, but are not limited to: Richard Clarke, former counter terrorism czar for Bush I, Clinton and Bush II, and now counter terrorism adviser to ABC. Roger Cressy, former NSC director for counter terrorism. Madeline Albright, former Sec. of State. Sandy Berger, former National Security Adviser.

I respectfully urge you to reconsider this move and to research your projects more carefully, such as the makers of this film

I grew up reading Scholastic books as do my children now. If you insist on partaking in this blatant inaccurate portrayal of history, scholastic books will not continue to receive any support from my household.

[WinkyDink]

46. You can make like a Republican, and complain right to the top!

http://www.statelocalgov.net/50states-education.cfm