ABC Nightline
3/11/2010
Summary: An interview with an influential member of the Texas School board that imposed a number of controversial changes to the state's curriculum, including the attempted removal of Thomas Jefferson, a defense of Joseph McCarthy, and the marginalization of minority self-determination.
Intended Audience: Nightline is broadcast nationwide and aimed at the every-day average US citizen.
Key Points: 1) Texas implemented a number of controversial curriculum changes in 2010; 2) Gives a board member the chance to defend himself.
Relevance: First of all, I want to make it very clear that I am not posting this as an attempt to espouse any particular set of beliefs or ideologies. I will not publicly support either side in a forum such as this, and apologize that the embed is from an impartial source (one that I do not remotely support); it was, in fact, the only version able to be embedded. I have linked the original from ABC's website in the header.
I do, however, believe that this specific topic brings to light some of the more raw, dangerous and controversial aspects of education. Topics that should not be avoided at all costs, but that should be mulled over, ruminated upon, discussed and debated. After all, the most basic reason this particular topic is relevant is this: What are schools for? Thereby, what are our goals as educators?
Thank you for your well thought out and constructed response. I cannot disagree with any of it.
ReplyDeleteThe third paragraph you wrote was particularly relevant to myself as I work to develop my personal philosophy of education.
What exactly is the study of history, and how exactly should I go about teaching it?
I especially like Bruner for the way that he talks about being what you learn. In order to have a fuller and deeper understanding of a history, the student should approach it as a historian and not someone who is merely studying history. To approach history in the way that you wrote about in your third paragraph would be to approach it in precisely such way.