The Sunday Education Weekly Reader: 10.02.11

Welcome to the Sunday Education Weekly Reader. We've collected stories this week about kindergarten protocol, an economic theory from Elizabeth Warren, the curriculum of victimhood, Doug Lasken's take on the GOP, and a question for readers on fascism and if it is alive on the campus of the University of Wisconsin.


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You might want to rethink about sending your human capital to kindergarten unless you like your child being tested...with 52 different tests. What happened to providing creative playtime and learning social skills?

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Would you want this woman teaching her version of economics in your school district?

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Does this sum up the state of education "reform" today?

"Programs provide content related to implementing strategies to combat discrimination, oppression, and economic deprivation and to promote social and economic justice" and prepare students to advocate for nondiscriminatory social and economic systems." Victimhood now defines entitlements by group to be awarded through communal sharing.

Are students considered victims rather than having the capacity for self-determination?

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Here is Doug Lasken's latest piece on the lack of coherent vision from the GOP.

Is the GOP's educational vision the same as Obama/Arne Duncan's plan? Do we even have a two parties in the country as it relates to education? Why are the "conservatives" lining up with the "progressives" in education "reform"?

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For our quote of the week, we're going to talk about the definition of fascism. Read this story about Professor James Miller at the University of Wisconsin and determine if you believe it is an example of "educational fascism".

Definition of FASCISM

1

often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition

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Have a good week.

What's the Purpose of University Today? Academic Learning or Learning Identity Through Diversity? UPDATED.

Parents send college for advanced learning, right? Check out Althouse on an interesting meeting at the University of Wisconsin:

"This afternoon a troubling communication was brought to my attention that involves a threat to our diversity efforts."

"I invite you to an urgent meeting this evening at 8:00 in the MSC Lounge in the Red Gym to discuss this matter. While last minute, I urge you to participate so we can be in community regarding our response."

What's going on?!

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A reader had an idea:

Horrors, the Center for Equal Opportunity is going to have a PRESS CONFERENCE at 11am and a DEBATE at 7pm. That's what they're afraid of: advocacy.

Beware: "Students' sense of identity may be threatened. Be prepared."

9/12/11 10:01 PM

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Why should students be worried their "sense of identity" might be threatened?


From "The Young Progressives" Facebook information page:


The Young Progressives, a University of Wisconsin-Madison political organization and the official Organizing for America team on campus, is a community coalition devoted to increasing political awareness in our local communities. We are college students, we are informed citizens, and we are future leaders ready to take on corporate interests and fight corruption within our government.

The Young Progressives

BREAKING: A radical right-wing think tank, the "Center for Equal Opportunity," will launch an attack on UW-Madison's diversity programs tomorrow. Their attack will begin with a press conference at 11 am at the Doubletree Hotel, where they may file a lawsuit against the university. At 7 pm, their president will participate in a scheduled debate against a UW law professor re: ending affirmative action. Students' sense of identity may be threatened. Be prepared

Maybe that's the "troubling communication" that threatens the university's diversity efforts. I wonder if it gives as much attention and call to action to student academic achievement as it does to student diversity programs. What is the purpose of a university? To prepare students to be STEM ready or focused on "sense of identity" based on race, gender or sexual orientation?

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From Althouse:

UPDATE: Well, it's not that we fell in the U.S. News rankings. Last year:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked 13th among public institutions in rankings released today (Tuesday, Aug. 17) in the U.S. News & World Report's 2011 Edition of America's Best Colleges.

UW-Madison also tied for 45th among 262 national doctoral universities. In the 2010 edition, the university ranked ninth among public institutions and tied for 39th among national doctoral universities.

This year, we've gone up to 10th among public institutions and 42d among national universities.

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Maybe that's the point the university is missing: focusing on "who you are" (identity) vs. "what you know" dilutes the academic reasons to obtain a higher education degree. Let's go back to the title of the meeting of the university's message:

"This afternoon a troubling communication was brought to my attention that involves a threat to our diversity efforts."

Falling rankings involves a threat to "our diversity efforts?" What does the university mean by this statement?