HS kids reject authority

[tod evans]

Hundreds of Colorado students protest history curriculum changes that would promote patriotism

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/09/24/hundreds-colorado-students-protest-proposed-history-curriculum-changes/

Hundreds of students walked out of classrooms around suburban Denver on Tuesday in protest over a conservative-led school board proposal to focus history education on topics that promote citizenship, patriotism and respect for authority, in a show of civil disobedience that the new standards would aim to downplay.

The youth protest in the state's second-largest school district follows a sick-out from teachers that shut down two high schools in the politically and economically diverse area that has become a key political battleground.

Student participants said their demonstration was organized by word of mouth and social media. Many waved American flags and carried signs, including messages that read "There is nothing more patriotic than protest."

"I don't think my education should be censored. We should be able to know what happened in our past," said Tori Leu, a 17-year-old student who protested at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada.

The school board proposal that triggered the walkouts in Jefferson County calls of instructional materials that present positive aspects of the nation and its heritage. It would establish a committee to regularly review texts and course plans, starting with Advanced Placement history, to make sure materials "promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free-market system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights" and don't "encourage or condone civil disorder, social strike or disregard of the law."

The proposal from Julie Williams, part of the board's conservative majority, has not been voted on and was put on hold last week. She didn't return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment Tuesday, but previously told Chalkbeat Colorado, a school news website, that she recognizes there are negative events that are part of U.S. history that need to be taught.

"There are things we may not be proud of as Americans," she said. "But we shouldn't be encouraging our kids to think that America is a bad place."

A student demonstrator, Tyrone G. Parks, a senior at Arvada High School, said Tuesday that the nation's foundation was built on civil protests, "and everything that we've done is what allowed us to be at this point today. And if you take that from us, you take away everything that America was built off of."

The proposal comes from an elected board with three conservative members who took office in November. The other two board members were elected in 2011 and oppose the new plan, which was drafted in response to a national framework for teaching history that supporters say encourages discussion and critical thinking. Detractors, however, say it puts an outsize emphasis on the nation's problems.

Tension over high school education has cropped up recently in Texas, where conservative school board officials are facing criticism over new textbooks. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, conservatives have called on an education oversight committee to ask the College Board, which oversees Advanced Placement courses, to rewrite their framework to make sure there is no ideological bias.

The College Board says the outline provides a balanced view of American history, and officials plan clarify instructions to teachers to make that clear by the end of the month.

Participating students were not punished, school district spokeswoman Lynn Setzer said. They will receive unexcused absences unless their parents call to relay permission for missed classes, Setzer said.

Superintendent Dan McMinimee has met with some of the students and renewed his offer to continue discussions on the issue. "I respect the right of our students to express their opinions in a peaceful manner," he said. "I do, however, prefer that our students stay in class."

[Mani]

A glimmer of hope for our future generation.

[tod evans]

A glimmer of hope for our future generation.

I'm afraid it's only a glimmer though....:o

[brushfire]

A glimmer of hope for our future generation.

Hopefully they maintain their course



http://www.echobrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bill_hillary_rect-460x307.jpg

[oyarde]

Since I am a Great Patriot , if any of these kids want to buy me a case of beer , drop by some Sun afternoon, I will teach them some uncensored history .

[Constitutional Paulicy]

This truly deserves more airtime. :)

[dannno]

to make sure materials "promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free-market system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights" and don't "encourage or condone civil disorder, social strike or disregard of the law."


Ahh man why do they have to drag that through the mud?

[Ronin Truth]

Don't get too excited. I seem to remember that high schoolers tend to reject authority just because. I think it's hormonal and brain developmental.

As I was told growing up, it's just a phase and it will pass........... (well maybe that IS true for most folks. :D )

[Christian Liberty]

The school board proposal that triggered the walkouts in Jefferson County calls of instructional materials that present positive aspects of the nation and its heritage. It would establish a committee to regularly review texts and course plans, starting with Advanced Placement history, to make sure materials "promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free-market system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights" and don't "encourage or condone civil disorder, social strike or disregard of the law."

Do they not understand how the bolded parts contradict some of the other parts?

Yikes, are we really letting people who are this stupid teach our public schools? I sucked at math in school, but I swear I have more basic logic than any of these idiots.

As for Ronin's comment, I don't think its ever going to phase out for me (admittedly, I'm in college so a little older than these students) and the above is exhibit A of why. The so called "authorities" don't even have brains...

[Wooden Indian]

Don't get too excited. I seem to remember that high schoolers tend to reject authority just because. I think it's hormonal and brain developmental.

As I was told growing up, it's just a phase and it will pass........... (well maybe that IS true for most folks. :D )

I too was told it would pass. Not so much.

[KCIndy]

A glimmer of hope for our future generation.


I'm afraid it's only a glimmer though....:o


I'll take a glimmer! Still gives me a bit of hope. I'll have to admit that most of the kids in my high school probably wouldn't have done as much. Of course, that was so long ago that many of us were worn out from fighting off sabre toothed tigers and woolly mammoths. ;)

[osan]

Tension over high school education has cropped up recently in Texas, where conservative school board officials are facing criticism over new textbooks. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, conservatives have called on an education oversight committee to ask the College Board, which oversees Advanced Placement courses, to rewrite their framework to make sure there is no ideological bias.

BZZZZZZT... and thank you for playing.

These people are IDIOTS and should be cleansed from the gene pool, seriously. There absolutely SHOULD be an ideological bias and it should be strongly slanted toward freedom.

These are the people to whom you have entrusted the intellectual future of your children. When they grow up to be wildly idiotic and you grab your gun seeking to find those into whom to put your bullets, make sure you stop in front of a mirror first thing. You will then know who carries the primary blame.

[mad cow]

Outlaw public schools.

[HVACTech]

BZZZZZZT... and thank you for playing.

These people are IDIOTS and should be cleansed from the gene pool, seriously. There absolutely SHOULD be an ideological bias and it should be strongly slanted toward freedom.

and just how do we do that? not offering suggestions is evasive.

we do that by restoring our heritage, a constitution based on Natural Law.
what defines a Republic, is the "Rule of Law" our Rule of Law is the Constitution.
but what IS law? if it is not based on something?

http://www.nlnrac.org/earlymodern/locke

[Mani]

I'll take a glimmer! Still gives me a bit of hope. I'll have to admit that most of the kids in my high school probably wouldn't have done as much. Of course, that was so long ago that many of us were worn out from fighting off sabre toothed tigers and woolly mammoths. ;)


I remember our H.S. had a sit in in the gymnasium. Some teachers were getting cut or something, and kids liked those teachers. It was budget cuts or something...Can't remember the exact details..it was more than 20 years ago. But it was my first act of civil disobedience. The whole school cut class and sat in the gym. The Principal then had to get up and explain what was going on. Then after an hour they asked everyone to get back to class, and if you had further questions to meet the Principal one on one. I actually met the principal one on one afterwards in his office. Don't remember the conversation and a lot of what he said went over my head.

Looking back I thought it was a really good lesson, and it did show the power of numbers. Once the teachers realized this was going to be a large demonstration, and not just a bunch of kids wanting to cut class, and the sheer size of students participating...The school had to address it. Kids weren't deterred with threats of detention..What are you going to do, give the entire student body a detention? We had 800 to 900 students in all 4 grades. It was a unique situation, where students are normally subject to the rules and regulations of the governing body, but in this instance the students had leverage in numbers. I'm glad those kids decided to get their first taste in civil disobedience.

[Ronin Truth]

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”

[Origanalist]

CLAIM: NEA LINKED TO STUDENT WALKOUT ORGANIZED BY COLORADO TEACHERS UNION

The Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA) teachers’ union plan to use hundreds of students as pawns in their endeavor to exert control over the district’s school board was organized by a specialist funded by the National Education Association (NEA), one of the nation’s largest teachers’ unions.

more...http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/09/26/Colorado-Teachers-Union-Organized-Student-Walkouts-With-NEA-Grant-For-Organizing-Specialist

http://cdn.breitbart.com/mediaserver/Breitbart/Big-Government/2014/Education/colorado-student-protest-AP.jpg

Thousands of students from high schools in suburban Denver have walked out of school this week to protest, some stripping off their clothes and writing protest slogans on their bodies, to oppose what their teachers have told them is a proposed American History curriculum that will teach patriotism and citizenship and deny them the opportunity for civil disobedience, reports the Daily Mail.

As Breitbart News reported, John Ford, president of the Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA), told 9News that he thinks it’s “awesome that students understand and recognize their First Amendment rights and they’re taking action.”
“Trying to create a board that in some ways purifies our curriculum is a little bit concerning and somewhat chilling,” Ford said.

Breitbart News also reported on Friday that the student protests are the result of the Colorado Education Association having received a grant from the National Education Association (NEA) for an “organizational specialist” position, an individual who would work to enable the union to provoke students throughout the state to engage in a walkout.

Breitbart News also reported on Friday that the student protests are the result of the Colorado Education Association having received a grant from the National Education Association (NEA) for an “organizational specialist” position, an individual who would work to enable the union to provoke students throughout the state to engage in a walkout.

Teachers’ unions are reportedly threatened by the fact that the Douglas County Board of Education decided not to renegotiate its teachers’ union contract and is now making individual contracts with teachers. With the election of similar reform-minded individuals to the Jefferson County Board of Education (JeffCo), and the adoption of a merit pay system for teachers in that district, unions are feeling desperate.
Anita Stapleton of Stop Common Core Colorado told Breitbart News that JeffCo is the largest school district and very “union-dominant and liberal.”

more...http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/09/26/Colorado-Students-Strip-Off-Clothes-In-Mass-Protest-Provoked-By-Teachers-Union

[osan]

Thousands of students from high schools in suburban Denver have walked out of school this week to protest, some stripping off their clothes and writing protest slogans on their bodies, to oppose what their teachers have told them is a proposed American History curriculum that will teach patriotism and citizenship and deny them the opportunity for civil disobedience, reports the Daily Mail.

Note the absence of definitions for "patriotism" and "citizenship". Sound-bite "journalism" strikes again.


As Breitbart News reported, John Ford, president of the Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA), told 9News that he thinks it’s “awesome that students understand and recognize their First Amendment rights and they’re taking action.”

John Ford is full of shit. The moment those same students decide to protest something with which he is aboard, he would be shrieking about it to take the paint off the walls. Why does the reporter not ask how he would respond in such a case. These news outlets are less than worthless.


“Trying to create a board that in some ways purifies our curriculum is a little bit concerning and somewhat chilling,” Ford said.


Sure, but it is A-OK for his reach-around boys to fiddle with it.


Breitbart News also reported on Friday that the student protests are the result of the Colorado Education Association having received a grant from the National Education Association (NEA) for an “organizational specialist” position, an individual who would work to enable the union to provoke students throughout the state to engage in a walkout.

Is this vetted? If so, and if we are going to have bullshit "laws" on the books such as those for "conspiracy", why are those laws not being applied to these jokers?


Teachers’ unions are reportedly threatened by the fact that the Douglas County Board of Education decided not to renegotiate its teachers’ union contract and is now making individual contracts with teachers.

Ladies and gentlemen, the money shot.


With the election of similar reform-minded individuals to the Jefferson County Board of Education (JeffCo), and the adoption of a merit pay system for teachers in that district, unions are feeling desperate.

Some potentially good news for once? Dare I believe it?

To witness what goes by in this land unnoticed is a staggering experience.

[Origanalist]

"Is this vetted? If so, and if we are going to have bullshit "laws" on the books such as those for "conspiracy", why are those laws not being applied to these jokers?"


Perhaps it’s all a coincidence, but at the end of July, 48 NEA UniServ directors from 18 states were sent to Jefferson County to train local officers and activists in conducting home visits with members. Once the school year began, there was a flurry of union activity.
JCEA issued a vote of no confidence in school board president Ken Witt. Last week, two high schools had to cancel classes because of a teacher sick-out. JCEA denied responsibility for organizing it, but said it understood teachers’ “frustration.” The local heightened its presence and contributions in campaigns for the state legislature, and is encouraging student protests over the AP History curriculum.

and this for what it's worth....http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=172709162

[osan]

and just how do we do that? not offering suggestions is evasive.

Evasive? EVASIVE? That implies intent, which is in no way evident in what I wrote. Not sure what you meant to say, but if it was what you wrote, you will need to explain yourself because it makes no sense, given that to which it refers.

Also, how do we do WHAT? Your question is similarly ambiguous. How do we erase the idiots from the gene pool? How do we employ the right bias? How do we determine what that bias should be? Which is it?


we do that by restoring our heritage, a constitution based on Natural Law.

Much of our heritage is nothing about which to crow, so I might suggest you have stated this a bit unclearly. Does that count as being "evasive"? :)


what defines a Republic, is the "Rule of Law" our Rule of Law is the Constitution.

Without a rigorous definition of "rule of law", your statement takes on something nearing zero clear and useful meaning. The Constitution is not the correct instrument. The readily derivable and eminently simple, elegant, and compact principles of proper human relations should be. The basis of such rule must perforce be provably universal to all people or it is not in fact law, but rather mere whim of arbitrary will. It matters not a whit how emotionally compelling, how fancy, how impressive, how inspiring the strung words of arbitrary will may be. It matters not how agreeable and personally appealing. What matters is that their application may be demonstrated as universal to all men regardless of one's personal belief system.


but what IS law? if it is not based on something?

That it be based on something is not sufficient. That it be based on the right thing, is absolutely necessary.