Mar. 2, 2006 - ~* Just One More Reason to be Thankful You Homeschool Your Kids *~
Listen (or read) what an Overland High School geography teacher is teaching his students. Yay for the student who taped this to share it with his parents....it's now been shared with the world.
(HT: Patricia of Patricia Ann's Pollywog Creek Porch)
Copyright © Sheryl Rogrob 2005-2010
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Comments
Mar. 2, 2006 - American History Book for Homeschoolers
Posted by Anonymous
I listened to the audio of TEACHER CAUGHT IN BUSH RANT, with great interest. Also, with sadness.
My name is Michael Class. I live in the Seattle area with my wife and two children. I am a retired "dot-com" executive turned author, photographer, and publisher.
I was appalled at how some teachers presented American history to my children. My son and daughter learned that Thomas Jefferson had slavesbefore they learned that he wrote the document articulating our rights and duties as free people. European settlers killed Native Americans with blankets infected with smallpox, they found out. That allegation upstaged the stories of courage, perseverance, and curiosity that defined the pioneers. My children knew that more than a hundred thousand people died when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, but they were not made to understand the moral context and the enormous scale of the conflict called World War II in which the atomic bomb story fit.
With a curriculum seemingly designed to instill guilt and shame, I wondered, how will my kids ever discover the lessons of history that inspire greatness and noble aspirations? Will they ever believe that they can make a difference? Will they have any heroes left at all? Then, I wondered: What would the heroes of Americas past say to the children of today?
I wrote, photographed, and published a book designed to set the record straight, to properly prepare our children for the future. My book is called Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame.
If anyone knows where I can reach 10th-grader Sean Allen, I will gladly send him a FREE copy of my book. He did the right thing.
My book specifically rebuts the positions taken by teacher Jay Bennish - because I have heard his arguments so many times before. My book tells the truth about capitalism, the War on Terror, and places them in historical perspective.
In the book, my real-life son, twelve-year-old Anthony, time-travels into the great events of the 20th century. Digital photographic magic places Anthony in the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis with Charles Lindbergh, on the moon with Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, in the laboratories of Thomas Edison and Jonas Salk, and on Normandy beach on D-Day. It looks as though Anthony really did meet Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, FDR, Lou Gehrig, Charles Lindbergh, and Audie Murphy. And its all historically accurate: Even Anthonys conversations with Americas heroes are based on things they really said.
While writing and photographing the book, I spoke with relatives of famous scientists and inventors, Holocaust survivors, award-winning biographers, and others who could help me ensure that the facts of the book were both accurate and vivid.
But the book goes beyond a simple recitation of historical facts: the book presents the moral lessons of American history. The chapter about Lindberghs flight is really about choosing ones destiny. The story of Lou Gehrig is one of a virtuous life. The chapter about Thomas Edison is really about business. The story of Apollo 11 is about wonder, taking risks, and courage. The story of Dr. Jonas Salk and the cure for polio is really about dedicating ones life to a higher purpose. When Anthony meets his immigrant great-grandfather at Ellis Island in 1907, its really a story about what it means to be an American. Anthonys observation of D-Day and the liberation of the death camps during the Holocaust is a testament to the reality of evil and the need to fight it.
The book is meant to challenge the young reader. Many adults will find the book challenging, too. Anthony COMPARES the people and events of the past with the people and events of his own time. Anthony discusses the nature of good and evil, right and wrong, war and peace, what it means to be an American, honor and discipline, success and achievement, courage and destiny, marriage and family, God and purpose. Anthonys observations prompt serious discussion of timeless moral questions. Anthony challenges the reader to think critically - to see the modern world in the light of the lessons of the past.
We can't afford to raise a generation of Americans who do not value their country, their heritage, and their place in the world. As Abraham Lincoln said: America is the "last best hope of earth."
Thank you.
Michael S. Class
Author / Photographer / Publisher
Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame: An American History Book for Right-Thinking Parents and Their Children
-----------------------
E-Mail: class@MagicPictureFrame.com
Web site: www.MagicPictureFrame.com
Mar. 2, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Janne
Oh my! When did American schools become so un-American?
Mar. 2, 2006 - I hate to sound cynical ...
Posted by 3feistykids
but there have always been teachers who have used their positions as an opportunity to sound off about their political views. I was actually surprised he was put on leave for his diatribes. I am glad the school is taking notice, though. The expectation that kids receive balanced viewpoints should be taken seriously. I wonder how often that really happens, though?
Mar. 2, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by eyecorn
That is unbelievable...no, actually, I believe that garbage is being spewed about in p/s. All DH and I are trying to do is educate arm our DS so he can survive through some of the college lectures that will undoubtedly go this direction.
Mar. 3, 2006 - Geography
Posted by doehillhomeschool
I think the comparison to Hitler was particularly odious. I can tolerate [and I don't mean in the "every view is equally correct" sense, but rather the "polite civility" sense] views from people who don't agree with Presdent Bush--I don't agree with him on everything. But to equate him with Hitler is, to me, a sign of an extreme ignorance of history and/or rabid, unbridled hate. It's one thing to encounter this sort of hate by pundits on TV or the internet blogosphere, but to indoctrinate children in our public schools with this kind of vitriol is despicable. Yes, Sheryl, I'm glad we homeschool.
Mar. 3, 2006 - I agree...
Posted by takingthechallenge
...with you Gin of doehillhomeschool, in that I don't agree with everything George Bush does and/or says. I also believe in freedom of speech and allowing differing points of view...however, they should be shared as such, not taught as fact which is what this teacher was doing.
I certainly don't ever want us to become a nation where we're not allowed to disagree publicly, but allowing a teacher (who, I might add, would not be allowed to mention the name of Jesus because it might offend someone) to teach that America is an evil nation equivalent to the Nazis, as fact, is hypocritical at best.
I think we both are agreeing, I just wanted to clarify that I'm not a Koolaid drinker for any party or president, but hate to see kids being fed this kind of poison as "fact". I wonder...where are the hate speech police on this one? Hmmmm...
Mar. 3, 2006 - I agree---
Posted by doehillhomeschool
Koolaid is delicious but not under coersion! You hit the nail on the head. And the hate speech police are in Indiana making sure no one in the state legislature prays in the name of Jesus---http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/3/afa/22006b.asp
Civil public discourse seems almost to be a thing of the past. Sure, there are lots of opinionated people talking, but it mostly seems to be at each other instead of to each other. In these culture wars, every forum--from public schools to the courts to movies to the internet--is seized upon with a near desperation by ideological opposites. Perhaps with so much at stake civility cannot help but be a casualty--let's hope truth isn't the next one.
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
Mar. 4, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Kristal
That is just terrible! hmm just one more reason to add to my long list of why I want to home school our children. I am keeping track because DH is not sure if that is the road he wants to take, but I pray that he will see it the road God is asking us to take.
Mar. 6, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Just One More Reason to be Thankful You Homeschool Your Kids
Yes because it would be awful if someone asked your children to think.
