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View Full Version : American public schools now teaching 'truther" curriculum


tomder55
Mar 29, 2013, 03:31 AM
CORPUS CHRISTI -- Many parents check their children's school work to make sure they're getting good grades, but how often to you check the content of those lessons? One mother of a child in Flour Bluff ISD says when she did, she was shocked that lesson taught her son to blame the United States for the 9/11 attacks.

Kara Sands posted the test on her Facebook page and it began to spread like wildfire. The test covers content watched on a video in class. What bothered her most is question #3 on the test. It asks why the U.S. may be a target for terrorism. Her son chose the correct answer - 'decisions we made in the United States that negatively impact people elsewhere.'

"I'm not going to justify radical terrorists by saying we did anything to deserve that, over 3,000 people died," Sands said. She contacted her son's principal and teacher, both met with her and contacted the video's distributor, Safari Montage.

Representatives say they stand behind the video, but have already changed the corresponding quiz that may have caused confusion.

Sands tells us the quiz opened her eyes to the content in lessons taught at the school. Her biggest concern is curriculum called CSCOPE.

Click here to read Flour Bluff ISD's response to the parent's concerns: 9/11 Curriculum, CSCOPE Curriculum

One worksheet on the Bill of Rights names food and medicine as rights, not personal responsibility. "He got marked wrong, because it is, it is our responsibility for shelter, its our responsibility for food for medicine, its not the government's responsibility," Sand said.

Flour Bluff officials say Sands is the only parent to complain about the test specifically, but her post on Facebook now has 1,662 likes.

Several parents plan to meet next week and Sands says school board members Shirley Thornton and Wade Chapman have requested the concerns be brought up in the next school board meeting. The agenda for the March 28th meeting is not yet posted to confirm the item.

Sands says parents need to get involved.

"When I teach my children that you have to work hard and you have to earn a living and they go to school and learn something different I absolutely take issue with that," Sands said.

Flour Bluff Parent Upset Over Lesson on Terrorism & Government | Corpus Christi, TX | KRISTV.com | (http://www.kristv.com/news/parents-upset-over-lessons-on-terrorism-and-government/#_)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200690473569569&set=p.10200690473569569&type=1&theater


North Texas will have plenty of representation on a committee appointed by the State Board of Education to review the content of CScope, a widely used educational curriculum support system that has received considerable criticism from some teachers and parents.

Board chairwoman Barbara Cargill named fellow board members Pat Hardy of Fort Worth and Mavis Knight of Dallas to the seven-member committee, along with Clyde Steelman of Fort Worth's Region 11 Education Service Center.

Critics of the online CScope system say it promotes Islam, socialism and liberalism, and is riddled with errors.
But officials with the Regional Education Service Centers say it is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards, and that it helps teachers prepare for assessment tests.

The original idea behind CScope, which was developed in the 2006-07 school year, was to provide a curriculum aligned with state required standards that small districts could afford, said Hardy. The regional education service centers, which are self-sustaining despite their alignment with the Texas Education Agency, provide the curriculum and charge districts for the system.

CScope adoption has grown from 182 districts its first year to 875 districts, or about 70 percent of the state's 1,247 districts.

Many parents and political conservatives contend that the CScope curriculum promotes socialist, anti-American and anti-Christian values.

Teachers have also been critical of CScope, citing the time and materials required to make hard copies of lessons from the web site. Though the curriculum is billed as being customizable, some teachers have said it is too regimented, and that too much emphasis is placed on lesson plans that decrease creativity.

New public concerns arose this year when a school district in Lumberton came under fire from parents because of pictures they say show students wearing Islamic burqas as part of a CScope class lesson. Another district has been assailed for supposedly labeling the Boston Tea Party a "terrorist act" in another lesson. On the CScope web site, the governing board posted an item on the burqa incident:

"This activity was not a part of any lesson in CScope; rather, it was a locally developed lesson in a Texas school district," read the item, accompanied by a link to a news release from the Lumberton district. A report is also included on the state standards for teaching world religions in social studies classes.

CScope administrators say the reference to the Boston Tea Party was from an out-of-date, optional lesson offered in a World History unit that promoted "critical thinking" from different perspectives, one of the objectives of state approved curriculum standards. It was removed when new social studies standards were adopted.

State Sens. Dan Patrick and Donna Campbell filed a bill last week to reform CScope.

Patrick, who is chair of the Senate Education Committee, arranged a committee hearing with CScope representatives. A release from Patrick's office said the hearing "exposed problems including a lack of management oversight, a lack of transparency, questionable lesson plans, and troubling legal documents."

Critics have been especially wary of CScope's governance.

A non-profit corporation, the Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative, compiled the CScope system which they own and manage. Its 20-member board of directors includes the executive directors of each Education Service Center. CScope is funded by the fees collected from districts.

Patrick is calling for the dissolution of the organization in favor of a new CScope oversight board.

The two state board committee members from Tarrant and Dallas counties approach CScope with different perspectives.

Hardy, an educator with extensive experience in the Weatherford school district with both CScope and social studies, said CScope has improved with its frequent revisions. The second round, after revision, was better, Hardy said, and the Weatherford district began using the social studies curriculum. The district is now on all CScope for core standards.

Opinions on CScope are much quieter in Mavis Knight's district, which includes southern Dallas and eastern Tarrant counties, where no districts use CScope.

Committee to review controversial CScope curriculum system | Schools | News from Fort Wo... (http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/03/14/4681471/committee-to-review-controversial.html)

Fr_Chuck
Mar 29, 2013, 04:31 AM
Why is anyone surprised, the government must be considered evil by the masses in order for it to change to a new form. One where it will be right and "equal" for all.

speechlesstx
Mar 29, 2013, 06:58 AM
Well that's just sick, but typical.

NeedKarma
Mar 29, 2013, 07:01 AM
Her son chose the correct answer - 'decisions we made in the United States that negatively impact people elsewhere.'Yes, that is the correct answer. It's not the "truther" theory though.

speechlesstx
Mar 29, 2013, 07:06 AM
Yes, that is the correct answer. It's not the "truther" theory though.

So you're one of them, figures. I really don't see how any of those people deserved to die or how it was our fault.

NeedKarma
Mar 29, 2013, 07:18 AM
I really don't see how any of those people deserved to die or how it was our fault.They did not deserve to die of course but US influence in the affairs of others led the others to do it.

speechlesstx
Mar 29, 2013, 07:21 AM
They did not deserve to die of course but US influence in the affairs of others led the others to do it.

Oh that's bullsh*t.

paraclete
Mar 29, 2013, 01:55 PM
Well speech it is truth that your actions have wide impacts

tomder55
Mar 29, 2013, 04:00 PM
It is horse e revisionist hate American history to claim that our actions cause the attacks of 9-11-01 .

Here is the question again :
"Why might the United States be the target of terrorism?"

(A) Other people just don't like Americans
(B) Decisions we made in the United States have had negative effects on people elsewhere
(C) Terrorists hate everyone
(D) None of the above.
I'd say any of the other 23 answers were more correct than B ;the so called correct answer.
Trutherism is the belief that the US was behind the 9/11 attacks. To say the US caused the attacks is not much different .

But the larger point is the garbage indoctrination being taught in American public schools . If the Texas schools systems aren't immune from this then where is it ?
Obama and Ayers Pushed Radicalism On Schools - WSJ.com (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122212856075765367.html)

paraclete
Mar 29, 2013, 07:00 PM
(A) Other people just don't like Americans
(B) Decisions we made in the United States have had negative effects on people elsewhere
(C) Terrorists hate everyone


I would say each of A, B and C have a certain amount of truth but it is a cop out to suggest B is not the major reason, because terrorists are created out of situations of injustice or provacation.

The reason for 9/11 was the stationing of troops in Saudi Arabia which upset Bin Laden to the extent he planned an attack or attacks against the US. He didn't care that the US were attacking Saddam he just saw infidels on what he considered holy ground

For too long the american public has been blind to the impacts of their presence in the world particularly the third world

tomder55
Mar 29, 2013, 07:48 PM
because terrorists are created out of situations of injustice or provacation.


More Shiite (have fun mods)... jihadists have a goal to create a world wide caliphate ,and the US was in their way. Did you even read Bin Laden's fatwa? He did not like it that US troops were in Saudi Arabia ;invited there by the government to protect the country during and after Saddam's attempt to seize the oil assets of the Arabian Peninsula .

paraclete
Mar 30, 2013, 12:59 AM
more Shiite (have fun mods).... jihadists have a goal to create a world wide caliphate ,and the US was in their way. Did you even read Bin Laden's fatwa? He did not like it that US troops were in Saudi Arabia ;invited there by the government to protect the country during and after Saddam's attempt to seize the oil assets of the Arabian Peninsula .

So what if they create their caliphate, they are not trying to do it where you live. All right Saddam did the wrong thing, but so did GHWB by not finishing the job and leaving, which gave Bin Laden cause for offense you were in Saudi for thirteen years, polluting their culture

tomder55
Mar 30, 2013, 02:31 AM
you were in Saudi for thirteen years, polluting their culture this week the Saudis executed a man by decapitation and then crucifying his remains . Don't talk to me about polluting their culture. We were in bases in the desert and had zero interaction with their culture.

So what if they create their caliphate, they are not trying to do it where you live.
Of course they are ,and that on it's own is cause for us to go on the defensive. But they attacked us ;they tried a decapitation strike on our government ,military ,and financial centers .
It's revisionism to say that 'decisions we made in the United States ' was the reason the US was attacked .

paraclete
Mar 30, 2013, 03:57 AM
No Tom it is realism, sad part is you don't realise it. If Bush were still President you would be embroiled in a war in Syria and Iran by now. Your thinking is so eighteenth century

speechlesstx
Mar 30, 2013, 04:48 AM
So what if they create their caliphate, they are not trying to do it where you live. Alright Saddam did the wrong thing, but so did GHWB by not finishing the job and leaving, which gave Bin Laden cause for offense you were in Saudi for thirteen years, polluting their culture

The key word is worldwide.

speechlesstx
Apr 2, 2013, 11:53 AM
Speaking of public schools 'teaching'...


Educators begin surrendering in alleged Atlanta cheating scandal
(http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57577414/educators-begin-surrendering-in-alleged-atlanta-cheating-scandal/)

(CBS News) Thirty-five Atlanta educators are expected to surrender Tuesday after being indicted in the biggest alleged cheating scandal involving standardized testing in American history. The list of suspects includes everyone from the former superintendent to principals and teachers.

All 35 of those educators have until noon on Tuesday to turn themselves in for booking. At least two of them have already showed up for processing.

Investigators say Atlanta's school district orchestrated a culture of cheating to benefit those at the top.

Nearly 200 educators admitted to taking part in the massive scandal: they tampered with students' standardized tests and corrected answers to inflate scores. Some teachers had pizza parties to erase wrong answers and circle in the right ones. One principal allegedly handled altered tests wearing gloves to avoid leaving her fingerprints.

At one middle school, 86 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient in math, compared to 24 percent the year before. Prosecutors say that progress was a criminal mirage.

"The four principle crimes that are charged in the indictment are the statements and writings, false swearings, theft by taking, and influencing witnesses," Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. said.

Beverly Hall is Atlanta's retired school superintendent. Her system's turnaround won her national fame, awards, and more than $500,000 in performance bonuses. But investigators say she pressured teachers and principals to cheat, and punished those who refused. Hall, among those indicted, has denied the charges. A grand jury recommended her bail be set at $7.5 million.

Justina Collins says her daughter Nybria, now 15, has always struggled with reading. The single mother knew something was wrong when Nybria aced her standardized test in reading.

"Could someone explain to me how she could have passed or exceed a test, but fail throughout the whole entire year? ... When you hear it coming from the very ones that you look up to, to help educate your children, it's just sad and hurtful to know that we search and hope for the best for our kids, and that's what their oath is to provide the best education for them," Collins said.

Nybria is now a ninth grader reading at a fifth-grade level.

All 35 educators face racketeering charges. The maximum sentence could be 20 years in prison.

But our public school 'educators' are in it for the children, right?

NeedKarma
Apr 2, 2013, 11:58 AM
What a mess. Best to send your kids outside of the US for their education.

speechlesstx
Apr 2, 2013, 12:08 PM
What a mess. Best to send your kids outside of the US for their education.

And yet another useless contribution.

NeedKarma
Apr 2, 2013, 12:10 PM
Geez, you're an idiot LOL.

speechlesstx
Apr 2, 2013, 12:26 PM
Geez, you're an idiot LOL.

You don't play well with others do you?

talaniman
Apr 2, 2013, 02:05 PM
This is one of many such scandals across the country.

Schools Caught Cheating In Atlanta, Around The Country (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/08/atlanta-schools-cheating-scandal-ripples-across-country_n_919509.html)

NeedKarma
Apr 2, 2013, 02:23 PM
And it continues:
Idaho teacher who used word 'vagina' during biology lesson faces reprimand | Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/28/idaho-teacher-reportedly-probed-for-saying-vagina-during-biology-lesson/)

speechlesstx
Apr 2, 2013, 04:35 PM
I don't think anyone should in trouble for saying the word vagina but that's small potatoes compared to Atlanta's scandal. Half a million in fraudulent bonuses to the administrator and two hundred teachers involved in cheating? Absolutely inexcusable and disgraceful.

Tuttyd
Apr 3, 2013, 01:39 AM
I don't think anyone should in trouble for saying the word vagina but that's small potatoes compared to Atlanta's scandal. Half a million in fraudulent bonuses to the administrator and two hundred teachers involved in cheating? Absolutely inexcusable and disgraceful.

They probably didn't get away with pocketing all of those taxpayer/private funds because unlike banks schools are not too big to fail or too big to prosecute. Similar attempts at similar behaviours result in completely different outcomes.

Offering bonuses for performance in education is just asking people to dabble in fraudulent behaviour. On the other hand, fraudulent behaviour of banks seems a pretty safe bet according to the Eric Holder.

Perhaps this is because banks only indulge in 'personhood' when if it isn't inconvenient.

paraclete
Apr 3, 2013, 03:01 AM
Schools have been allowed to fail, but because no one lost big bucks no one cares

tomder55
Apr 3, 2013, 03:10 AM
Allows to fail ? Nope ,the libs try to fix the problem the only way they know how... throwing more money at the problem.

NeedKarma
Apr 3, 2013, 04:09 AM
Ah yes, it's all the "libs" fault again. <sigh>

NeedKarma
Apr 3, 2013, 04:15 AM
Conservatives likely want to follow Pat Robertson's idea:
Robertson: God gives fewer miracles to 'too-educated Americans' who learn science | The Raw Story (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/01/robertson-god-gives-less-miracles-to-too-educated-americans-who-learn-science/)

“We’re so sophisticated, we think we’ve got everything figured out. We know about evolution, we know about Darwin, we know about all these things that says God isn’t real.”

“We have been inundated with skepticism and secularism,” he conintued. “And overseas, they’re simple, humble. You tell ‘em God loves ‘em and they say, ‘Okay, he loves me.’ You say God will do miracles and they say, ‘Okay, we believe him.’”

“And that’s what God’s looking for. That’s why they have miracles.”

speechlesstx
Apr 3, 2013, 04:32 AM
They probably didn't get away with pocketing all of those taxpayer/private funds because unlike banks schools are not too big to fail or too big to prosecute. Similar attempts at similar behaviours result in completely different outcomes.

Offering bonuses for performance in education is just asking people to dabble in fraudulent behaviour. On the other hand, fraudulent behaviour of banks seems a pretty safe bet according to the Eric Holder.

Perhaps this is because banks only indulge in 'personhood' when if it isn't inconvenient.

I didn't realize this had anything to do with banks.

speechlesstx
Apr 3, 2013, 04:35 AM
Conservatives likely want to follow Pat Robertson's idea:
Robertson: God gives fewer miracles to ‘too-educated Americans’ who learn science | The Raw Story (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/01/robertson-god-gives-less-miracles-to-too-educated-americans-who-learn-science/)

I don't look to him for anything, but I think you miss the point of the quote.

NeedKarma
Apr 3, 2013, 04:37 AM
I get the quote - if you keep people uneducated they are more likely to perceive things as miracles.

Tuttyd
Apr 3, 2013, 04:49 AM
I didn't realize this had anything to do with banks.


I guess its relevant to ones perception of excusable and inexcusable. If one belong to the ruling elite then apparently such behaviour is excusable.

speechlesstx
Apr 3, 2013, 04:53 AM
I get the quote - if you keep people uneducated they are more likely to perceive things as miracles.

Uh, no.

speechlesstx
Apr 3, 2013, 04:56 AM
I guess its relevant to ones perception of excusable and inexcusable. If one belong to the ruling elite then apparently such behaviour is excusable.

I don't differentiate between excusable or inexcusable fraud. Fraud is fraud and when it's perpetrated on our children by those entrusted to look out for their best interests I find especially heinous.

Tuttyd
Apr 3, 2013, 05:07 AM
I don't differentiate between excusable or inexcusable fraud. Fraud is fraud and when it's perpetrated on our children by those entrusted to look out for their best interests I find especially heinous.

Sorry, I withdraw my comment. I was just being a nitpicker.

speechlesstx
Apr 3, 2013, 05:33 AM
Sorry,. I withdraw my comment. I was just being a nitpicker.

You are good at it. :)

speechlesstx
Apr 4, 2013, 12:04 PM
Two school administrators got caught cheating in Philadelphia, but unlike the Atlanta case it looks like they'll not face criminal charges and get to keep their pensions. Perhaps even teach some day at another fine school.

Two Phila. principals lose credentials in cheating scandal
(http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20130403_Two_Phila__principals_lose_credentials_in _cheating_scandal.html)

NeedKarma
Apr 4, 2013, 12:10 PM
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/current-events/american-public-schools-now-teaching-truther-curriculum-741611-2.html#post3433424

speechlesstx
Apr 4, 2013, 01:22 PM
Sticking with the useless responses, eh?

NeedKarma
Apr 4, 2013, 03:40 PM
The more you post all those issues with your screwed up educational system the more you validate my comment.

speechlesstx
Apr 4, 2013, 05:11 PM
The more you post all those issues with your screwed up educational system the more you validate my comment.

You have yet to learn when you get like this I pick on Canada next. Fix your own problems.

NeedKarma
Apr 5, 2013, 01:00 AM
You have yet to learn when you get like this I pick on CanadI know you do, it's your defense mechanism yet it's totally irrelevant to the discussion.
You don't see any Canadians here lamenting how terrible the people are in our educational system... because we value it. If you post any issues with it we view it correctly as the abberations to the norm, which is why it makes the news.

Tuttyd
Apr 5, 2013, 03:37 AM
Paying schools or individuals "bonuses" for obtaining results is just asking for educational trouble. This process devalues the role of the student who should be at the centre of the education.

Corporatism in education is no different to political corporatism in wider society. Corporatism in education has little to do with liberal ideas or progressive ideas. It has everything to do with devaluing the role of all individuals who are involved in the process. It has everything to do with pushing a rationalist agenda in education. It is worth keeping in mind that devalued individuals behave like devalued individuals.

Political corporatism does noting for the individual in exactly the same way corporatism in education does nothing for the kids. In the end this is understandable and perhaps excusable. After all we are obviously still bewitched by the ideology.

NeedKarma
Apr 5, 2013, 04:17 AM
Tutty,
Wonderful post, I agree with what you've said.

tomder55
Apr 5, 2013, 04:48 AM
Corporatism in education has little to do with liberal ideas or progressive ideas. I think it has everything to do with it . Progressive corporatism or Liberal corporatism has infiltrated the American Education system since the progressive movement in the US began.
Liberal corporatism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_corporatism)
And yes ;the system is designed to create nameless faceless drones and cogs in the machine ,who don't challenge the assumptions that are taught . All they need do is regurgitate canned answers or fill the correct response in a bubble test.

speechlesstx
Apr 5, 2013, 05:26 AM
I know you do, it's your defense mechanism yet it's totally irrelevant to the discussion.
You don;t see any Canadians here lamenting how terrible the people are in our educational system...because we value it. If you post any issues with it we view it correctly as the abberations to the norm, which is why it makes the news.

If you only knew how amusing your posts are and why.

Tuttyd
Apr 5, 2013, 05:31 AM
I think it has everything to do with it . Progressive corporatism or Liberal corporatism has infiltrated the American Education system since the progressive movement in the US began.
Liberal corporatism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_corporatism)
and yes ;the system is designed to create nameless faceless drones and cogs in the machine ,who don't challenge the assumptions that are taught . All they need do is regurgitate canned answers or fill the correct response in a bubble test.

As far as liberal corporatism is concerned I think we have moved on from that position into what I would now call political corporatism. Political corporatism is a form of management that marginalizes interests groups and goes beyond economics.

You can tout all the political changes in education you like but it will make no difference. It will be the same outcomes with different labels. After all, that's the beauty of political corporatism when applied to education.