Re: individual and society
Dewey Dykstra, Jr. (dykstrad who-is-at varney.idbsu.edu)
Tue, 19 Sep 1995 10:41:18 -0700
>Mike, I think your last message (quote) re: the child making sense of the
>society into which it has been born, coupled with Jay's earlier remarks
>about the constructs of school curriculum with the attendant conflicts
>over specific content viewed through a political lens, and Peter's
>comments about Cartesian thought prevalent in American schools - whew! -
>all of this has caused me to wonder how the following curriculum
>objective can possibly be explained.
>
>In my school district we are following the state of Colorado's initiative
>in writing performance standards - (Local 'Babbits' claim that this is to
>place Colorado in the 'forefront' of 'education' for the '21st century'.)
>
>Example: Grade 2 - The student knows and is able to: Describe
>how democratic ideas and institutions in the U.S.have developed, changed,
>and / or been maintained. Indicators of Performance: Explains the
>meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance. Continuum: Understands the meaning
>of the Pledge of Allegiance.
> Students know that religious and philosophical ideas have been
>powerful forces throughout history. The student knows and is able to:
>Explain the origins and historical development of religions and
>philosophical beliefs. Indicators of Performance: Explains the meaning
>of the Pledge of Allegiance. Continuum: Recites the Pledge of Allegiance
>and recognizes it as a statement of our country's foundation.
>
>
> I can't imagine what a child in the second grade (seven to eight
>years old) could possibly make of this.
>
>Phillip
As the kids would say, "me neither!" This is as bad or worse than
objectives written for science which amount to understanding electricity in
terms of sub-atomic particles (electrons and protons) when they really
don't have an instrumental notion of matter as made of atoms. We all know
that our educational system fails at science. Sounds to me like we do just
as "well" at other subjects.
Dewey
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Dewey I. Dykstra, Jr. Phone: (208)385-3105
Professor of Physics Dept: (208)385-3775
Department of Physics/SN318 Fax: (208)385-4330
Boise State University dykstrad who-is-at varney.idbsu.edu
1910 University Drive Boise Highlanders
Boise, ID 83725-1570 novice piper
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