Deliberate Dumbing Down of America Public Education

257 nation, must see education as a lifelong process, as occurring in the total community, and as being the responsibility of everyone.... Our national survival depends on it; the world expects it, and the children of the world require it. [Ed. Note: Leaving aside the focus on political correctness, one should be concerned over the total lack of emphasis on—or even mention of—academics. It would be a grave mistake to dis miss this article as the totalitarian ravings of a lesser-known change agent spoken to his closest change-agent associates. Dr. Thomas, a close friend of the late former Secretary of Education T.H. Bell and present Secretary Richard Riley, is one of the most important change agents in the world. He has been responsible for controversial restructuring in several states and has been involved in exchanges with the former Soviet Union and Eastern European nations which are implementing Effective School Research. Again, it was he who recommended a $50.00 fine for parents who refused to volunteer in schools—both in South Carolina and in Utah.] The "Effective" Eighties : c. 1989

“A PPROPRIATE E DUCATION IN THE P RIMARY G RADES : A P OSITION S TATEMENT OF THE N A tional Association for the Education of Young Children” (NAEYC) was published and distributed in 1989. 24 Excerpts follow:

INTEGRATED COMPONENTS OF APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE PRACTICE IN THE PRIMARY GRADES

Appropriate Practice. The curriculum is integrated so that children’s learning in all traditional subject areas occurs primarily through projects and learning centers that teachers plan and that reflect children’s interests and suggestions. Teachers guide children’s involvement in projects and enrich the learning experience by extending children’s ideas, responding to their questions, engaging them in conversation and challenging their thinking. Inappropriate Practice. Curriculum is divided into separate subjects and time is carefully allotted for each with primary emphasis given each day to reading and secondarily to math. Other subjects such as social studies, science, and health are covered if time permits. Art, music, and physical education are taught only once a week and only by teachers who are specialists in those areas. Appropriate Practice. The goal of the math program is to enable chidren to use math through exploration, discovery, and solving meaningful problems. Math activities are integrated with other relevant projects, such as science and social studies.... Inappropriate Practice. Math is taught as a separate subject at a scheduled time each day. A math textbook with accompanying workbooks, practice sheets, and board work is the focus of the math program. Teachers move sequentially through lessons as outlined in the teacher’s edition of the text.... Timed tests on number facts are given and graded daily. Competition between children or groups of children.... is used to motivate children to learn math facts.

R ENEWAL OF U. S.-S OVIET E DUCATION /C ULTURAL A GREEMENTS IN 1989 CALLED FOR PLAC ing statues of Soviet cultural figures on United States territory.

I N 1989 THE A SSOCIATION FOR S UPERVISION AND C URRICULUM D EVELOPMENT ’ S (ASCD) Elementary