Yes, I do believe the American education system is under a harmful attack. It might not be evident to all as it seems to be a slow trickle. And if it is a slow trickle, it is surely picking up steam in lots of ways.
Take Indiana Senate Bill 167 for example. One portion of the legislation dictates that a group of people will determine curriculum for each school. 60% of the group MUST be comprised of community members. The remaining 40% of the group are to be educators. Be careful of this last one. The various boards of education must approve those who are to come from the education group.
What does this mean? The school board may well [likely] decide that the educators are the curriculum director, principal, assistant principal, athletic director and other building non-teaching administrators. Roughly translated...there may be no teachers, certainly teachers deemed not worthy by the board.
Here's another way to think about this particular aspect of legislation. Since when do airline passengers determine how to fly a plane? Since when do patients determine how to perform a surgery? The answer to each of these questions holds true for learning/designing curriculum and teaching.
Yes, a move is afoot to 'un'educate our students.
Dick
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