"Don't worry about teaching Social Studies

[proud2BlibKansan]

It's not tested."

Yep, folks, this is what the teachers at my school were told this past week by an administrator.

Now think about this for just a minute. What is taught in Social Studies?

If you answered "the constitution" you would be right!

And think a little bit more. I know it's a Sunday evening and the football game may be a little less mentally challenging, but this is really important.

What do kids learn about when they study the Constitution of the United States of America?

If you answered "The Bill of Rights", give yourself an A+.

Now do the math.

How many of these rights has the bush administration taken away so far? How many have they tried to take away? How many more do you suppose they are planning to take away?

Okay just one more question. If our constitutional rights are being taken away, why in the world would kids need to learn about them in school?

"Don't worry about teaching Social Studies. It's not tested."

[hobbit709]

1. Why am I not surprised

by that totally idiotic statement?

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. We are leaving children behind

Isn't it sad that this is NOT surprising?

[teach1st]

2. I've heard it too..

...but I ignore it. I teach social studies as if our nation's well-being depended on it. And it does.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Well we were told not to worry about it

So I won't worry about it as I continue to teach it. :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

39. Thank god for teachers who won't let it die.

[MissWaverly]

3. No child's Behind Left Strikes Again

Now you see the beauty of the plan, by concentrating on testing, very little will be taught,
what did someone say, why spend 12 years teaching them, when all they need is 6 weeks of
basic training.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I'm getting the chills

This is just too awful in so many ways.

[MissWaverly]

11. well, yes I know that

But they believe in absolute power for the elite with no boundaries, they have no respect
or like for the common people. We are just "useless" eaters to them unless there is an
opportunity for exploiting us in some way.

[kestrel91316]

32. My new favorite:

"Why spend 12 years teaching them, when all they need is 6 weeks of
basic training?"

Jesus wept. You are SO right.

[MissWaverly]

44. yes, they missed the part about all men are created equal

with inalienable rights and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Maybe
it's because they wouldn't know happiness if it jumped up and barked in their face.

[Wilber_Stool]

4. And if my memory serves me correctly

other countries and the world.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. History Government Geography Sociology Economics

and of course Civics.

That's Social Studies.

[Wilber_Stool]

13. Civics?

Haven't heard that word in a long time.
We weere required to pass a civics test before graduating from grade school. It was given in seventh grade to give those that failed one more chance.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. They will all be failing it now

:cry:

[LostInAnomie]

9. I can believe it.

In the school I used to teach at Math and English have been given a double period every day. All of the other classes have been reduced to 30 minute periods, and if it is a special schedule they are reduced to 20 to make sure Math and English aren't effected. This idea that English and Math are the only important subjects has gone too far. These testing zealots have no idea what a well rounded education is. Their only concern is the eventual killing off public education.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. We are lucky in my state

We get to teach Science too cause it is TESTED.

This is just so evil. You are right. They are killing public education.

Remember this? - - - >

When I was chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (1993-97), I asked Bill Bennett to visit my office so that I could ask him for help in seeking legislation that would pay for internet access in all classrooms and libraries in the country. <skip> At any rate, since Mr. Bennett had been Secretary of Education I asked him to support the bill in the crucial stage when we needed Republican allies. He told me he would not help, because he did not want public schools to obtain new funding, new capability, new tools for success. He wanted them, he said, to fail so that they could be replaced with vouchers,charter schools, religious schools, and other forms of private education.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/10/1/105329/697

[kestrel91316]

33. Correct. This is their goal:

"Their only concern is the eventual killing off (of)public education."

[LibDemAlways]

10. I had a conference with my daughter's 8th gr. social studies teacher

this week and came away with the feeling I was dealing with a clueless kool-aid drinker. She had no first period class and we were discussing my daughter's test while the morning announcements droned on in the background. As soon as she heard a voice leading the flag salute in the background, she leaped up, hand over heart, and pledged loudly, looking at me like she was going to call Homeland Security on me for not joining in. I stood respectful but silent.

Anyhow, she went on and on about how she teaches the Constitution and how it guarantees "all the freedoms we enjoy today in this great country." Kind of scary that my daughter is being taught social studies by someone who doesn't even sense a change under the Bush regime.

Think I'll get her a copy of Howard Zinn for Christmas.

[Marr]

14. That's too bad, because the Constitution is certainly being tested.

[countingbluecars]

15. Social Studies

is taught and state tested in Virginia. My fourth grade students will be tested on Virginia history and geography in the spring. We cover everything from Jamestown to current times. The emphasis is on state government, but we do cover the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I am the Social Studies contact person at my school, so I attend curriculum meetings and report back to teachers at my school. At our last meeting, I was happy to learn that we will be stressing critical thinking in social studies. The trick is to teach the huge amount of factual info required/tested by the state in a way that develops critical thinking skills.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Wonderful

We used to test Social Studies but it was too expensive so the state dropped it.

[Lisa]

19. wow! I teach something that's too expensive to test!

Asking kids to find something on a map is too expensive? Having them bring a newspaper clipping, to put up on the classroom wall and discuss (like my Soc Studies teacher in elementary school used to do) is too expensive? Or getting them to bring in their favorite tacky souvenir from another country or state, so the class can think about what it does -- and doesn't -- reveal about that place, is too expensive?

If all of this is "too expensive" -- they should consider how much ignorance costs.



p.s. actually, it CAN be quantified. This article was circulated by the chair of our geography department.

"Insensitive computer programmers with little knowledge of geography have cost the giant Microsoft company hundreds of millions of dollars in lost business and led hapless company employees to be arrested by offended governments."
"In a frank assessment of the company's problems in trying to be a global player without offending local sensibilities, Tom Edwards, its senior geopolitical strategist, said employees' lack of basic geography was to blame. The company has now launched geography classes for its staff to avoid further bloomers which have caused embarrassment and cost money on a grand scale."

http://technology.guardian.co.uk/online/news/0,12597,1286066,00.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. The test is expensive

We used to test every subject area but in only a few grades. Then NCLB came along and we have to test Reading and Math in every grade 3 thru 8. As you know, this is an unfunded mandate. So to meet the budget, they had to cut one test so they picked Social Studies.

Why couldn't they have picked Science?

[Lisa]

26. it must be very frustrating ...

I know this is out of your control, and that you have probably had to put up with more than your share of dumb looks and being ignored by those in authority (who should know better).

If the NCLBers are so keen on testing, I think they should pony up the bucks for it! I am getting so tired of those who drone "education is our children's future", but assume that they can just wave a magic wand and everything will happen without money, oversight, etc.

[BlueJazz]

18. Funny you should bring this up. When my Son was in school, I had..

...a administrator tell the teachers fairly much the same thing. I waited until the
last day of school, (my Son was going to another school next session) and LET HIM HAVE IT.
I had waited nine months to tell this idiot what I thought of him and his Politics.
I'm 6' 3" 230lb and I was 6 inches from his face and I Let him have it with both barrels blazing! (of my Mouth) :)

It was the first time I had ever done anything like that but Damn..It felt Good!!

[seabeyond]

23. why did you wait? i dont. and i am only 5'8" and 130 lbs

i have always been able to talk to the teachers and administration of all my kids schools in the reddest of red area and religious belt to boot. not to mention that kids went 6 years to a private christian school. my point, i did all of this without ruffling feathers and gaining positive reactions that did not ever result in a negative for my kids. and i am down at their schools often.

[BlueJazz]

35. Well.I was afraid of Reprisals toward my Son... n/t

[seabeyond]

20. my kids school worries about teaching social studies, and music

and physical education and and and of course the tested english, math and science. get on your schools ass

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. It's not really the school that needs its ass kicked

It's the federal govt.

[seabeyond]

24. why?.... we are part of fed govt and we dont have that issue because

of our principle and she would not allow it. they score highest or near highest in the state on the tests. they have automatic tutoring for all kids for littlest of reasons. that said

i am not a fan of the tests. the teachers and principles are not either. and we are in an environment that the tests arent going to cause as much issue. so i am more sympathitic with other school locations.

if this is a rant to the tests i am with you. but i still do not think it is a valid reason the administration would suggest this to a teacher and as a parent i would be in there

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. I wish you were a parent in my school

[seabeyond]

30. i wish more parents participated too. i told the counselor the

beginning of the school year when she helped me with sons schedule, ..... have i told you how much i love this school and how good you all are to my family.

she was taken aback. she said no one ever says anything good. only complaints. that is so nice

how sad is that. if any parent is bitching i can almost guarentee it is because the parent has not become involved. i have yet to run into teacher or administrator that is not out to resolve issue with the child in mind.

i too would like to see more parents involved in school and their childrens education.

[Swamp Rat]

25. Where did this "administrator" receive her/his education?

Liberty University? University of Phoenix online? :eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. It's not her

It's NCLB and the damn tests.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. You forgot one last thing that is also taught

HISTORY... but who cares about history? Only those who ignore it are bound to repeat it right?

We are leaving across the looking glass and George Orwell was a visionary

[Nikki Stone 1]

31. Exactly.

...

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. History is part of Social Studies

[lumberjack_jeff]

36. Teach a kid the three R's and you'll get a worker bee.

Teach the kid history and social studies and you'll get a citizen.

We can't have that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Don't need no history to work at Walmart

[Iris]

45. well, yeah. And knowing some history might actually make you question

why you keep votin' republican just cause grandaddy did.

[NMMNG]

38. Why teach them their rights,

when they are never going to have a chance to exercise them?

[izzybeans]

40. That's because "Worry about the test or YOU ARE FIRED!"

is the mantra. This person is just looking out for the teacher and they should be. It is not just the kids being left behind it is also their teachers.

Two teachers in my wife's school were let go because of their students test scores. Never mind the fact that most of these children do not do their work because their parents are absent. This administrator is probably responding to the blame the teacher first political culture we have. Is it excusable? No. But a underperforming school threatened with loss of funds will start to shed more and more of the programs that are not assessed within the definition of "performance". It is understandable.

[LWolf]

41. Is it time, yet?

Will parents, and the general population, start holding ALL legislator's feet to the fire until NCLB is, not "fixed" or "fully funded," but repealed?

Democrats helped write the legislation that demands all the tests. Are they going to continue to be part of the problem, or the solution?

I'm watching the "process" begin in my little district; two schools had a subgroup that didn't grow enough, and they didn't make AYP. The mantra is beginning.

Don't like it, people? WTF have you done in the last 6 years to help us fight it? Have you written letters to your reps demanding that they oppose it? That they work to repeal it? Have you let your Dem reps know that "fixing" or "funding" won't do the job, that you want it gone? Have you written LTEs, spoken at school board meetings, contacted state reps to let them know what kind of resistance you expect from them?

Are you ready to stand with educators in their opposition to this shit? Or are we still going to criticize them for complying, and hanging on to their jobs?

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. Good rant

[tsuki]

42. The war on teaching Social Studies, History & Govt began in the

Reagan era. Anyone who teaches it now can be accused of being a "left winger." The RW has now moved on to science.

[BuyingThyme]

46. Scholastic has this covered.

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. Scholastic markets lots of Social Studies materials

hmmm