Deliberate Dumbing Down of America Public Education

G–11

Glossary

education takes into account the numinous mystery of life and the universe in addition to the experiential reality.

(See 1991 Global Alliance for Transforming Education, Sustainable Development , World Class Education , and Appendix XXVII.) Gradualism. “Two steps forward, one step back.” This political process allows change agents to introduce major social change in bits and pieces, rather than in sweeping proposals. Often semantic deception is used to introduce these changes, focusing attention on the “trees” (the bits and pieces) rather than the “forest.” Gradualism keeps the common thread of change out of view while the process of change continues—unnoticed by the general public. (See Preface) Group Process. The group process uses sensitivity training and other psychological techniques to strip the individual of his individuality and to manipulate him into conformity with politically correct group values and goals. (See 1947 National Training Laboratory, Con sensus Building and Appendix XXII) Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS). Psychological manipulation using “application, analy sis, synthesis, and evaluation” (the higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy) without the fac tual knowledge needed for rational and objective thinking. The student is drawn toward making conclusions based on biased, politically correct information and disinformation. (See Critical Thinking and Appendix XIX and XXIII) Holistic (Wholistic) Education. Involving the whole person—”body, soul and spirit.” It inte grates all subjects and infuses everything with a pantheistic, monistic spirituality. (See 1991 Sustainable Development/GATE entry, Global Education , Appendix XXVII, and Resource List Brave New Schools information) Human Capital or Resource. The new label for all children and adults who are being shaped/ molded to match the supposed needs of the global economy. The trained workforce product of global/national schooling. (See Appendix XI, XII, XV, and XVIII) Humanism (Secular). A belief system based on the self-determination of man. Recognized as a religion in the United States. (See 1933 entry on Humanist Manifesto I and Onalee McGraw pamphlet and Character Education ) Individual Education Plan (IEP). A plan drawn up to accommodate the needs of individual children who traditionally have been labeled “special education.” IEPs will, in the future, be used for all children due to the move from traditional competitive education to non competitive, teach-to-the-test outcome-based education/mastery learning/direct instruction and workforce training (STW) which necessarily use individually prescribed instruction. IEPs often call for the use of behavior modification techniques, including Skinnerian operant conditioning. Title I Special Education regulations contain a parental consent with the right to refuse requirement before developing IEPs or using behavior modification techniques, a protection not presently available to non-special education students. It is important that in the future all students who have IEPs be covered by this consent requirement and that relevant language, i.e., language covering all such students and all types of “plans” related to behavior disorders, academics, career training, etc., be included in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 . The transformation of schools