Update (2:00 p.m.): Visit these homeschool bloggers (and check out their sidebars for more blogs and resources):
Spunky Homeschool
Spunky Jr. (homeschooled kid)
Victoria Carrington
Jones Blog
Biblical Womanhood
HomeSchoolBlogger directory
Agent Tim (Adorable homeschooled kid – I had no idea he was a teenager until he told me. Hadn’t seen the pic.)
The Rebelution (homeschooled twins)
The Homeschooling Revolution
Homeschooling Helper
Why Homeschool
Dr. Helen (I don’t know if Instapundit’s wife is a homeschooler, but she linked to the gifted story, and some of the comments are must-reads.)
Homeschool FAQ (Answers “Why? and “How?,” and includes links to various homeschool methods.)
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Because too few black students are enrolling in magnet school programs for the gifted, “educators” in Montgomery County, Maryland, decided to experiment “with new ways to reach out to students who might have special abilities but may not have been recognized through traditional screening methods.” (Source)
In other words, they’ve decided to dumb down the programs for diversity, which almost always means “black.”
These stories are a dime a dozen, aren’t they? I long to read one where students of all colors are held to the same standards, and black students are pushed to compete at top levels instead of “educators” redefining top levels and dragging down standards for everybody. Who does this actually help?
Being gifted is not a bad thing, but in politically correct America, it’s close to it. Finding ways to improve student performance, getting parents involved and holding them accountable must be too taxing for government schools, so government schools are doing what’s best for themselves. Dumbing down curricula is standard operating procedure.
This is supposed to be enlightened and progressive:
We’ve changed from labeling children to labeling services,” Horn said. “It’s not whether you’re gifted, it’s what’s appropriate for you.”
Awwwwwww…
In other local race-based news, Prince George’s County, Maryland, has hired a white man to “superintend” the majority-black school systems. The horror! This is what the black school board chairman said:
Let me tell you, this was an agonizing decision for me. We’ve had three black school superintendents who didn’t work out, and I sure didn’t want to leave black people and especially black students with the impression that a black can’t lead…Did I want to turn this system over to a white man? Not if I’d had my druthers. But after looking at all of the candidates, this was the best guy to lead the system, raise the test scores and get our kids the best education possible. (Emphases added)
The best person to lead the system? What a revolutionary idea!
The “white man” is John E. Deasy. No matter what his credentials, he can’t do any worse for Prince George’s County schools than others have done.
Black conservatives aren’t the only ones publicly criticizing negative aspects of the “black community” and black-run government entities. The black and liberal Courtland Milloy in his high-profile Washington Post column (Wish I had one!) airs some dirty laundry:
But neither he [Jack B. Johnson, black PG County Executive] nor the rest of the county’s black middle class wants to talk publicly about the embarrassing spectacle of black school leaders getting caught up in catfights and scandals. Now, with a white man in charge, they won’t have to. And low-income blacks, who have long felt abandoned by their more affluent neighbors, get to root for a Great White Hope.
I think the infighting and bickering is funny, although I do feel sorry for the kids caught up in this ridiculous race-based tripe. What do they care about politics? They should be receiving the best education possible, one that will allow them to compete in society. That comes only through a traditional curriculum which has nothing to do with raising their self-esteem or making sure teachers and principals “look like them.”
Whatever worked for these three men and countless other people should be bottled. I guarantee you won’t find embarrassingly silly afrocentric classes, concern about white v. black superintendents, or demands for watered-down curricula as part of their excellent achievements.
Another generation of black kids have to settle for an inferior education, which will increase the need for race-based programs so they won’t be totally left behind the rest. The cycle will continue until parents decide, en masse, that their children’s academic preparation trumps politics.
If you’re a black parent with a child in a gifted program or one who’s excelling in challenging classes, I’d love to hear from you. If you want to remain private, e-mail me.
Blogger Christine says:
As you say, this sort of “dumbing down†doesn’t help anybody, whether based on “race†considerations or “Self-esteem†considerations. Part of the reason I didn’t get on well with the educational world is my steadfast belief that self-esteem doesn’t not come from a pat on the head, it comes from accomplishment, from being able to say “It was hard, but look! I did that!â€
Exactly. You don’t get high self-esteem from someone stroking your ego or telling you lies about your ancestors. You get it by performing. That requires effort.
Bloggers: Joanne Jacobs, Discriminations, Oh, That Liberal Media…
(Washington Post photo)
Related posts:
- Empty-Headed Education
- “White Flight” Declared Illegal in Texas School District
- Down The Cultural Toilet
Addendum: I’m still working on Part III of the Intelligence series. Paying opportunities keep getting in the way! While you wait, read The Last Taboo (Part I) and Some Research (Part II).
Update II: Commenter Eric Brown wrote:
As a father of two young black men (8 and 4, who are reading and writing above grade level), I find it very condecending to find that the MCPS has done this. I moved out of MoCo, MD a few years ago because the place was just too PC. Go take a look at any school or public library. You won’t find very many black children there. That’s the reason for the low numbers. Nothing more.
Emphasis added.
