Denver schools’ rebellion not the one they wanted

The Washington TImes ^ | 10/8/2012

[markomalley]

Students in the Denver Public Schools need to know reading, writing and ‘rithmetic, but what about the fourth “r” — revolution?

District officials have scrambled to respond to a public outcry over language in the new teacher-assessment criteria that describes a “distinguished” teacher as one who “encourages students to challenge and question the dominant culture” and “take social action to change/improve society or work for social justice.”

The district’s “Framework for Effective Teaching” also said teachers would be scored on whether “Spades students appear comfortable challenging the dominant culture in respectful ways.”

John Peterson, an East High School social studies teacher, said he didn’t think spurring students to buck power fell under his job description.

“I think our job is not to challenge the dominant culture, but to prepare students for college or the military or the workforce, and be productive citizens,” Mr. Peterson said. “‘Working toward social justice’ typically comes as code words from the far left for big government programs and a redistributionist philosophy.”

[ModelBreaker]

““Spades students appear comfortable challenging the dominant culture in respectful ways.”

The insanity of this thinking is that the left IS and HAS BEEN the dominant culture of america for decades. Obama, William Ayers, HRC. They are the establishment with the tired, old conventional wisdom.

It has been an educational tour de force to convince rebellious adolescents that they are rebelling when they in effect yell: “We want more of the same old progressive solutions. Five more decades. Five more decades.” And “We demand that we keep expanding government, just like grandpa and dad did!!!”

[Windflier]

"...on whether “Spades students appear comfortable..." I'm showing my age. In my day, that was a pretty strong racial slur. It is considered politically correct now?

In some circles, that's still a racial slur, but in this case, I'm sure it was just a transcription error. The young lefty that wrote that crap, has probably never heard the term.

[Lancey Howard]

John Peterson, an East High School social studies teacher, said he didn’t think spurring students to buck power fell under his job description.

“I think our job is not to challenge the dominant culture, but to prepare students for college or the military or the workforce, and be productive citizens,” Mr. Peterson said. “‘Working toward social justice’ typically comes as code words from the far left for big government programs and a redistributionist philosophy.”

Well, God bless this teacher. He broke the code. He gets it.
Congratulations, Mr. Peterson! Do yourself a favor and get out of the government schools and get a job at a real school.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Goebbels would approve this.

[generally]

John Peterson, an East High School social studies teacher, said he didn’t think spurring students to buck power fell under his job description.

Will the union stand up for this guys opinion?

He's bucking the power of the union, so I'm sure they will support that. /s

[MrB]

“Spades students appear comfortable challenging the dominant culture in respectful ways.”

Ah... rebellion, being encouraged by schools. Since The Standard is unchanging, any "challenge" to that Standard will always be drifting further and further away.