Clearing the Murky Waters of High School History
HoustonChronicle.com - Casey: TAKS' attack on U.S. history
Here's one way to teach U.S. history.It comes from a typed TAKS review sheet found sitting on a classroom teacher's desk recently by a substitute teacher in a Houston-area school.
Teachers throughout Texas are drilling their students in desperate hopes that this week they will score well on the TAKS, the only test by which teachers and principals are officially measured.
Here's how the review sheet begins:
"1. If it is a question about a person from the Revolutionary Era, the answer is George Washington or Thomas Jefferson."2. If it is a question about a women's rights leader, the answer has to be Susan B. Anthony.
"3. If it is a question about a civil rights leader, the answer will likely be Martin Luther King."
It goes on for two single-spaced pages, drilling dates and definitions, presenting a reflecting pool of U.S. history a centimeter deep and 200 years wide, filled with murky water.
Another way of teaching history is that promoted by Will Fitzhugh [...]
Comments
Sooner or later, I'm sure, I'll be found out. The word will be out that I went around via Google to the various anti-Bush weblogs, and much like a busy little bee, deposited a comment in those weblogs that allow for such.
At one particular weblog, I visited, the bloggeuse was in despair. Seemingly, indisputable files documenting Dumb'ya's misgovernance grow thicker and even more nauseating daily. Nonetheless, his lead in the polls increases. What could be going on? What could be the explanation?
Well, here's some of the comment I left. "Nobody cares to admit that their country willfully elevated a nincompoop to head of state. It's sort'a like admitting tha'cher favorite aunt gets her jollies from fellating alligators."
And here's the permissible portion of the comment I left.
"I'd like you to consider reading the text for a "state of the union" address that I believe is imperative for this country of ours. To get to it, all you need do is click on the below enclosed U.R.L
http://www.bcvoice.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=205
By the way, the proprietors of the www.BCVoice.com website have provided a couple ways for you to leave your comments."
Posted by: A Alexander Stella | April 27, 2004 5:16 PM