Legislation and Language
This is a newspaper talking about Florida and new legislation.
I think it connects to both what Jenn (comment to my posting) and Jodi wrote.
Take a look at the outradgeous language that is used!!!
How do we as teachers change these situations??
Can we become a source of influence?
Should education always be involved in the politico/economic/cultural aspects of life and learning? Can we not? What are/would be the implications???
Florida Legislation Mandates How to Teach History
Leigh A. Neithardt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In June, Florida governor Jeb Bush signed legislation declaring that history teachers “shall teach efficiently and faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, following the prescribed courses of study, and employing approved methods of instruction.” The bill lists the required areas of study as “the period of discovery, early colonies, the War for Independence, the Civil War, the expansion of the United States to its present boundaries, the world wars, and the civil rights movement to the present.”
“Special provisions mandate the teaching of the history of the Holocaust, the history of African Americans, and Hispanic ‘contributions’ to the United States. The role that Native Americans played in American history escapes mention,” notes National Coalition for History director R. Bruce Craig in the newsletter NCH Washington Update. In [the bill’s] highly prescriptive language students are to be taught ‘the arguments in support of adopting our republican form of government’ as embodied in the Federalist Papers. This language causes thoughtful teachers to wonder whether they are permitted to teach the line of reasoning advanced by the antifederalists.”
The most controversial passage of the bill states that “American history shall be viewed as factual, not as constructed, shall be viewed as knowable, teachable, and testable, and shall be defined as the creation of a new nation based largely on the universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence.”
Faculty, administrators, and others have criticized the bill, which took effect on July 1, as simplistic. In 2007, the Florida Department of Education will review textbooks
and standards in accordance with the new provisions.
posted by Patrick K. Schmidt @ 1:13 PM
3 Comments:
Reading this article reminded me of what it means to be a non-tenured teacher. If I were to teach history in Florida, I would absolutely have to use "approved methods of instruction," and if I did not, I would no doubt be fired. I wonder what "approved methods of instruction" would be for teaching music? Would I be fired for allowing my students to determine which way my lessons go and (gasp) straying from the lesson plan? Yet, even without such a mandate for music, I fear that I would risk losing my job for any kind of teaching too far "outside of the box."
I feel that this bill's only purpose is to brainwash students into believing what the current person in power want them to believe. This bill has no concern for the child learning. It has no concern for the critical thinking and individual opinions. It has no concern for individuals at all. In response to Jodi's comment, a non-tenured teacher often has to follow the rules and use "approved methods of instruction". However, after the teacher makes tenure, that is when the true difference can be made. Unfortunately, teachers have to play the political game. It is through this game that the teacher can make a difference. However, it is important to remember to foster critical thinking in children and allow them to come to their own conclusions about this world. That is everything this bill is against.
Professor Schmidt asked , "Can we become a source of influence?" Just a suggestion: what would happen if we non-tenured teachers stopped "playing the political game"? What if the tenured and non-tenured teachers joined forces for the common goal of making music education better, perhaps by using some different methods that may not be "approved"? Just a thought...I don't know what the implications would be other than angry administrators.
Post a Comment
<< Home