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| Fifth Column |
| Michigan school lends a hand to anti-Americanism |
| 2003-08-26 |
| I wasn’t sure if this should be Home Front or Fifth Column, because it mentions Chomsky. Some parents in Farmington, Mich., are crying "anti-Americanism" over a high school international affairs class. The course is offered to juniors and seniors in the Farmington School District and focuses on America’s role in the Middle East. A fairly unbalanced view it appears. But it’s not the topic that’s angered some students’ parents. It’s the class readings, many of which come from left-wing Web sites like Alternet.org, Indymedia.org, Progressive.org and War-times.org, that vigorously attack the Bush administration. Great! Public education just got easier. Let websites do the teaching. This belief that we have to show that every concept out of that society can be understood and excused is really a problem across the country," said Farmington father Don Cohen. "We are bending over backwards and by doing so, we’re misrepresenting and misinforming our children and our society." Yep. Farmington superintendent of schools, Robert Maxfield, defended the course, saying high school juniors and seniors should be critical thinkers and should be exposed to many points of view. Critical of only one part of the problem. Do they teach them to only look at one part of a math problem? Pro-Bush materials, such as government Web sites like WhiteHouse.gov, were added to the class’ reading list — only after parents complained that the course was an exercise in political correctness. The extra sources help balance the course’s curriculum and offer support to President Bush’s policies and America’s role in the Middle East. That says it all, doesn’t it? Still, the school board stopped short of removing author Noam Chomsky’s controversial book "9-11" — in which he writes about why he thinks the U.S. is a terrorist state — from the list of course materials. We’ll, thankfully they didn’t cut Chomsky, it would have been one sided then. "That’s the bias inbred into this curriculum," Cohen fumed. |
| Posted by:Mike N. |
| #8 This just has ACLU written all over it. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-8-26 2:51:23 PM |
| #7 "...saying high school juniors and seniors should be critical thinkers and should be exposed to many points of view." I beg to differ. "Should be" doesn't hack it. He must teach them to be critical thinkers because many are not. I know from first-hand experience as a father of three. I suspect that the superintendent has not been close to high school students for quite some time, if ever. |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-8-26 12:35:21 PM |
| #6 Farmington is a wealthy area, for the most part. Private schools, and not necessarily parochial schools, are well within the means of many families there. Apparently the super thinks he has too many students. |
| Posted by: Richard Aubrey 2003-8-26 11:32:28 AM |
| #5 Hey, how come Rantburg isn't on the list of assigned websites? But here's an alternative deal: Teach gets to assign any reading he wants; but he has to invite one SEAL, Green Beret, fighter jock or 3ID guy (or girl) to spend a couple of hours with the class. I can't imagine too many kids in the class saying "Dude, that SEAL was a wuss. I want be like Chomsky when I grow up." Show them a hero. |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-8-26 11:18:02 AM |
| #4 .com - you're correct, and this board voted 4-3 to include this crap in the curriculum. I'd like to see a followup story at the next board elections - should be "spirited"? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-26 10:37:47 AM |
| #3 I hope that the attendees of these classes will recognize that they are being fed propaganda by the remnants of a dying ideology, or at least consider the viewpoints "uncool" since they "have" to read them (I never picked up wuthering heights again...) That said...if anyone in MI wishes to register displeasure...I haven't found the email address yet, but. Farmington Public Schools Administration Building (248) 489-3349 |
| Posted by: mjh 2003-8-26 10:35:44 AM |
| #2 Aren't School Board members elected positions? EZ fix for asshats like that... |
| Posted by: .com 2003-8-26 9:44:52 AM |
| #1 the school board stopped short of removing author Noam Chomsky’s controversial book "9-11" — in which he writes about why he thinks the U.S. is a terrorist state — from the list of course materials. Geez... and I thought having to read "Great Expectations" was bad. |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-8-26 9:29:49 AM |