Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘Zombie apocalypse’ writing assignment leads to controversy at Minnesota high school
Twin Cities ^ | 11/21/2017 | Beth Leipholts

Posted on 11/22/2017 2:05:02 PM PST by Responsibility2nd

PARKERS PRAIRIE, Minn. — A hypothetical zombie apocalypse is to blame for recent controversy at Parkers Prairie High School in west-central Minnesota.

A teacher gave ninth-grade geography students an assignment that Principal Carey Johnson initially said is part of a nationally recognized curriculum called Zombie-Based Learning. One of the questions asked students to choose three people to sacrifice during a zombie apocalypse and explain why they were chosen.

The assignment from teacher angered some parents of ninth-graders, such as Michelle Diedrich.

“I told her (the principal) I want a copy of the zero for my daughter’s grade,” Diedrich said. “I will be proud because that zero is how many children she (the daughter) gave up.”

While the Zombie-Based Learning curriculum, created by Washington state teacher David Hunter, has been used in the district for a number of years, this specific question had never been included alongside the curriculum previously. Hunter said it is not part of the curriculum he has written.

(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: situationethics; zombie
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-43 next last
To: IronJack

It has to make a little more sense for it to have any value. At least say, “Your mom broke her leg, so she’s slow. But, she knows which plants have medicinal value and which are poisonous. Your brother is healthy and strong, but all he wants to do is smoke weed all day.” Etc. The way it’s presented, you have to make up the people, their attributes, the contextual circumstances. This isn’t a geography lesson. It’s creative writing.


21 posted on 11/22/2017 2:31:32 PM PST by Rastus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Bratch
And where is Hitchcock's cameo......


22 posted on 11/22/2017 2:42:09 PM PST by moehoward
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: APatientMan

“Why is this a bad assignment?”

Perhaps because it has NOTHING to do with GEOGRAPHY?

It’s no wonder that our “snowflakes” are so ignorant...

...and so afraid.


23 posted on 11/22/2017 2:43:02 PM PST by pfony1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

I like situational ethics questions from liberals.

Like, “How many Muslims are you willing to kill to save one of your children?”

My answer: “All of them.”

(Cue the sound of liberal heads exploding)


24 posted on 11/22/2017 2:47:58 PM PST by MeganC (Democrat by birth, Republican by default, Conservative by principle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

I’m not sacrificing anybody. The first three that go, go.

You have to be able to live with yourself. If however, I catch anybody pulling a ‘Shane’ and shooting someone else in the leg to make a getaway themselves, they’re on my list.


25 posted on 11/22/2017 2:52:58 PM PST by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rastus
Admittedly, the question is poorly framed. For example, who are "my people?" Are they just some strangers who happen to be in my group? Do I actually know any of them? Are some of them injured or dying already? Are they old? Young? Helpless? Gibbering idiots? Democrats (but I repeat myself)?

But being put in a (theoretical) position where you have the power of life and death over another human being can be a great thought-provoker.

26 posted on 11/22/2017 2:55:13 PM PST by IronJack (A)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: pfony1

i didn’t really consider GEOGRAPHY, when I asked the question. I was considering it more holistically. I’ve seen Freepers suggest that they’ve, and I’ll admit that I myself have , built a “list”. Seems like good planning to me - although these days I’ve begun the wonder who’s got a list and who’s full of shit. Excuse my language. Snowflakes especially.


27 posted on 11/22/2017 3:00:04 PM PST by APatientMan (Pick a side)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

I was given such exercises when I was in the military. I thought it was very Hitleresque.


28 posted on 11/22/2017 3:02:47 PM PST by MNDude (God is not a Republican, but Satan is certainly a Democratt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MNDude

You thought correctly.

Communistic even. See post 16. See post 20 on Situation Ethics.


29 posted on 11/22/2017 3:06:46 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

“Lifeboat scenario” that was the one!


30 posted on 11/22/2017 3:09:34 PM PST by MNDude (God is not a Republican, but Satan is certainly a Democratt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

Islam , oops we mean , zombie apocalypse


31 posted on 11/22/2017 3:33:27 PM PST by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

Your tax dollars at play.

What does this have to do with geography?


32 posted on 11/22/2017 3:54:40 PM PST by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd
And yet, nobody complained about B, having children write about killing fantasies with household objects?

What if one of those objects is an AR-15?

-PJ

33 posted on 11/22/2017 4:02:11 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (The 1st Amendment gives the People the right to a free press, not CNN the right to the 1st question.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bgill

Lots of good answers here on FR.

I am surprised no one pointed out that there are no such things as zombies, therefore there is no need to worry about sacrificing anyone.

I would find it highly annoying to have my kids learning about zombies. Also creepy.


34 posted on 11/22/2017 4:59:41 PM PST by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: generally
No such thing as zombies?
35 posted on 11/22/2017 5:11:13 PM PST by Garth Tater (Gone Galt and I ain't coming back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

Ah, the glorious return of Death Education to our schools! It sort of went underground after Columbine, but nothing’s too good for “our” children.


36 posted on 11/22/2017 5:21:25 PM PST by LimitedPowers (Citizenship is not a Hate Crime!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

37 posted on 11/22/2017 5:26:33 PM PST by simpson96
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: APatientMan

“Why is this a bad assignment?”

Perhaps because it has NOTHING to do with GEOGRAPHY?

It’s no wonder that our “snowflakes” are so ignorant...

...and so afraid.


38 posted on 11/22/2017 7:50:44 PM PST by pfony1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: APatientMan

I agree with you that planning for disasters, natural or man-made, makes good sense.

And, like you, I have a “list” of essential “supplies” I might need if a disaster lasts for longer than a few days. The “supplies” are stored where I can easily get them if I want them.

I have also identified sources of wild food and running water very near to my home if I should need to augment my supplies.

IMHO, students would be inspired to think about their real “survival needs” if they read “One Second After”. No “zombies” there, just an EMP attack (like the one threatened by the NORKs) and its long-term consequences.


39 posted on 11/22/2017 8:41:56 PM PST by pfony1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

If all the students wrote in the teacher’s name to sacrifice, they would stop this stuff.


40 posted on 11/22/2017 8:44:19 PM PST by aimhigh (1 John 3:23)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-43 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson