Oh Texas - Not Much for Thinking, eh?
From The Answer Sheet at the Washington Post, Valerie Strauss says it best:
"In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff department, here’s what the Republican Party of Texas wrote into its 2012 platform as part of the section on education:
Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority."
And there you have it. No smarty-pants thinking for Texas kids. They obviously do not get that critical thinking - and thinking broadly - brings the kind of entrepreneurial ideas and innovations that built this country.
They also oppose:
"..early childhood education, sex education, and multicultural education, but supports “school subjects with emphasis on the Judeo-Christian principles upon which America was founded.”
They do like things like corporal punishment ("effective and legal in Texas"). Interestingly they do like charters (but like local control) but they oppose "Foreign Culture Charter Schools" and I think they mean the Gulan charter group who get money from outside the country.
That race to the bottom seems to be among Texas, Florida and Louisiana (who has the early lead).
"In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff department, here’s what the Republican Party of Texas wrote into its 2012 platform as part of the section on education:
Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority."
And there you have it. No smarty-pants thinking for Texas kids. They obviously do not get that critical thinking - and thinking broadly - brings the kind of entrepreneurial ideas and innovations that built this country.
They also oppose:
"..early childhood education, sex education, and multicultural education, but supports “school subjects with emphasis on the Judeo-Christian principles upon which America was founded.”
They do like things like corporal punishment ("effective and legal in Texas"). Interestingly they do like charters (but like local control) but they oppose "Foreign Culture Charter Schools" and I think they mean the Gulan charter group who get money from outside the country.
That race to the bottom seems to be among Texas, Florida and Louisiana (who has the early lead).
Comments
Most of my friends who had children left for more progressive pastures.
SolvayGirl
They oppose critical thinking and "Foreign Culture" schools, and support corporal punishment? I guess that means you will do things THEIR way or be beaten, and anything but their way is a foreign way...
THAT is an absolutely horrific platform on which to run. Talk about your totaltarianism...
I thought Texas was in America. I guess their Republican politicians aren't.
They oppose critical thinking and "Foreign Culture" schools, and support corporal punishment? I guess that means you will do things THEIR way or be beaten, and anything but their way is a foreign way...
THAT is an absolutely horrific platform on which to run. Talk about your totaltarianism...
I thought Texas was in America. I guess their Republican politicians aren't.
Texas education, nice knowin' you.
From 2001:
http://prospect.org/article/new-school-wars-how-outcome-based-education-blew
I also went to the links. Here is what I found:
1. The "Knowledge Based Education" quote that Melissa cites from Valerie's article seems to be a verbatim quote from the platform: "Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority."
Melissa's second quote is from Valerie's article (not the platform), and is Strauss's attempt to summarize several of the platform's positions. As such, it is a correct quote from the Strauss article, and it appears to be a correct summary of platform positions. For example, on early childhood education, the TRP platform states: "Early Childhood Development – We believe that parents are best suited to train their children in their early development and oppose mandatory pre-school and Kindergarten. We urge Congress to repeal government-sponsored programs that deal with early childhood development."
On sex ed: "Sex Education – We recognize parental responsibility and authority regarding sex education. We believe that parents must be given an opportunity to review the material prior to giving their consent. We oppose any sex education other than abstinence until marriage."
On multicultural ed: "American Identity Patriotism and Loyalty – We believe the current teaching of a multicultural curriculum is divisive. We favor strengthening our common American identity and loyalty instead of political correctness that nurtures alienation among racial and ethnic groups. Students should pledge allegiance to the American and Texas flags daily to instill patriotism."
Finally, the language on Judeo-Christian values is in the following platform plank: "Traditional Principles in Education – We support school subjects with emphasis on the Judeo-Christian principles upon which America was founded and which form the basis of America’s legal, political and economic systems. We support curricula that are heavily weighted on original founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and Founders’ writings."
Holy Rosary, Arnold, where were you when the link was posted about Gates funding galvanic response to measure student attentiveness?
Mr White