Public Education Magic
When I was a child in elementary school we often sat “Indian style” on the classroom floor as we gathered around our teacher to hear a story or to do something where the desks would be in the way. Now thanks to the PC police we have “Magic Fives” which is basically the same thing, but isn’t offensive to Native Americans. Honest Injun. Oops, sorry about that sterotype that actually implies that an Indian is honest. If you think this is nutty check out the Understanding Prejudice web page for their advice to teachers. Frankly I am surprised that with the furor in some circles about the effect of “Harry Potter” on their children that their hasn’t been any protest about the use of the word magic.
On another note, to show you how outcome based education is dumbing down our children, teachers in Montgomery County, Maryland are not allowed to give out gold stars for performance because it might hurt the feelings of the students that didn’t get one. Even better, the new grading policy requires her to give a 50% mark on homework even if the student has only done one problem and the answer doesn’t even have to be correct! It gives new meaning to the old saying of E for effort.
Our education system is now turning out overly sensitive students who will lack the ability and skills that they will need to compete in this world. It is no wonder that over the last few years enrollment in parochial and homeschools has surged and will likely continue to grow as public education becomes a bastion of the dumbed down and politically correct.
Don Irvine is chairman of Accuracy in Media, Accuracy in Academia’s parent group.
Don Irvine
Donald Irvine is the chairman of of Accuracy in Academia (AIA), a non-profit research group reporting on bias in education. Irvine follows his father’s legacy, Reed Irvine, to critically analyze the liberal media’s bias and brings over thirty years of media analysis experience. He has published countless blog posts and articles on media bias, in context of current events, and he has been interviewed by many news media outlets during his professional career. He currently hosts a livestream weekly show on AIA’s Facebook page which discusses current events.
Irvine graduated from the University of Maryland and rose up the ranks to become chairman of Accuracy in Media until his transition to AIA.
He resides in the suburbs around the nation’s capital and is a proud father and grandfather.
