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Thread: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

  1. #1

    Default National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    http://www.aei.org/publication/nea-e...KawXsGVUlnVkKY

    Last week, thousands of teachers gathered in Houston for the National Education Association’s (NEA) annual convention. During the convention, any group of 50 delegates could bring to the floor a new business item, which is a one-year, non-binding resolution directing the union to take a certain action.
    Over 160 new business items were proposed, including New Business Item 2, a motion pledging the NEA would “re-dedicate itself to the pursuit of increased student learning in every public school in America.” The resolution also proposed that the “NEA will make student learning the priority of the Association” and that every NEA program should be evaluated by asking, “How does the proposed action promote the development of students as lifelong reflective learners?”
    When put to a vote of 6,000 NEA delegates, the motion failed.


    It’s unclear why the NEA would vote against re-dedicating itself to “increased student learning,” since the vote happened in a closed door session. But with no obvious poison pills in the item, “supporting student learning” should be the easiest vote that these teachers take.
    One would think that this motion’s defeat would be a public relations nightmare, because it could fuel the perception — a perception long denied by unions — that teachers unions look out primarily for teachers rather than students. But so far, that public relations nightmare hasn’t happened: Coverage of the convention in both mainstream media outlets and the education trade press have said almost nothing about the resolution’s failure.
    Yet for anyone looking closely, delegates’ decision to vote down the “student learning” resolution comes into sharper relief when compared to resolutions that did pass. When it came to numerous left-leaning ideas — many with seemingly little relation to teaching kids — delegates eagerly voiced their approval. Over the course of the convention, the delegates endorsed “the fundamental right to abortion under Roe v. Wade,” enthused over reparations for slave descendants, and called on the US government to “accept responsibility for the destabilization” of Central American countries and that this destabilization is “a root cause of the recent increase of asylum seekers in the United States.”
    And that’s not all. They also voted in favor of helping with the 2020 Census, supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, and teaching the concept of “White Fragility” (which they explain is produced by “white supremacy culture”) in NEA professional development.
    Put together, the voting record from this year’s convention makes it pretty clear where NEA delegates’ priorities lie.
    A similar focus was evident in the NEA conference agenda. During the convention, there were breakout sessions on topics like “Racial and Social Justice,” “Ethnic and Minority Affairs,” and “Women’s Issues.” Along with those discussions, delegates heard from a smorgasbord of progressive left warriors like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Bill de Blasio. Meanwhile, per the convention agenda, there wasn’t a single session devoted to curriculum and instruction, nor raising student test scores.
    How can this be? The NEA represents 3 million members, mostly public school teachers of all walks of life, from all political persuasions — 60% of whom have identified as Republicans or independents. The vast majority of these members undoubtedly care deeply about helping kids learn. While we see many things differently than the NEA, we also know many members, and they’re reasonable people whom we highly respect. That’s why it’s so bizarre to watch the majority of NEA delegates eagerly dive into politically-fraught abortion and race debates, while voting down a clear commitment to prioritize student learning. So please, NEA: Can you explain?
    I assume those who never liked school will now have a strong point in favour of not studying, since it's not just pointless, but simply detrimental to personal development. After poisoning universities the woke infection has reached schools as well.

    Given that schooling has no longer anything to do with knowledge but it's all about political activism, is it time to shut down funding altogether?

  2. #2

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by Basil II the B.S View Post
    Given that schooling has no longer anything to do with knowledge but it's all about political activism, is it time to shut down funding altogether?
    What percentage of the school curriculum is dedicated towards political activism?

  3. #3

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by Sukiyama View Post
    What percentage of the school curriculum is dedicated towards political activism?
    dont know about US, but in Sweden all they shove gender studies into every subject they can. Doesnt matter what subject, like programming.. student sjould see everything in a "gender perspecitvie". we have a state agency of gendee studies thats in charge of making all schools and companies adopt their guidelines, such as that a certain % of subject litterature must be authored by women etc. Its a slippery slope towards having a state ideology, so watch out america.

  4. #4

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by Basil II the B.S View Post
    Given that schooling has no longer anything to do with knowledge but it's all about political activism, is it time to shut down funding altogether?
    I have heard this line multiple times, yet the US keeps producing viable graduates. If schooling in the US has nothing to do with knowledge, where are the skilled laborers coming from? Aren't we like, still top in genetic research and stuff? Are we importing all those researchers?
    They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.

  5. #5

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Sweden Yes! It's also funny because it actually does not deliver the desired outcome but they force it anyway.

  6. #6

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by NosPortatArma View Post
    dont know about US, but in Sweden all they shove gender studies into every subject they can. Doesnt matter what subject, like programming.. student sjould see everything in a "gender perspecitvie". we have a state agency of gendee studies thats in charge of making all schools and companies adopt their guidelines, such as that a certain % of subject litterature must be authored by women etc. Its a slippery slope towards having a state ideology, so watch out america.
    Then there should be documentation confirming your assertions.

    Quote Originally Posted by Basil II the B.S View Post
    Sweden Yes! It's also funny because it actually does not deliver the desired outcome but they force it anyway.
    What outcome is that? Being one of the most wealthy nations on Earth?

  7. #7

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Always entertaining when liberals don't know anything about their own ideology. Sweden is trying to achieve ''equality of outcome'' in terms of gender representation in STEM fields, especially engineering/programming.

    The result of such policies is the exact opposite of what Sweden is trying to achieve and known as ''gender equality paradox''.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-equality_paradox

    In short, the more you level the field and give equal opportunities, the more inequal the outcome becomes, far more inequal than countries that do not implement such policies. Mostly because once you remove barriers in terms of access to education, the remaining discriminatory factors end up being interest related. Women are on average less interested than men in ''things'' related subjects, and once you go to the extreme of the distribution and those are the top scientists/engineers etc. there are only males. That's what's happening in Sweden.

    Thanks for your ignorant comment anyway. Always a pleasure to school you guys on your alleged topics of preference.

  8. #8

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by Sukiyama View Post
    Then there should be documentation confirming your assertions.
    you meam you doubt it? how would anyone be suprised that sweden does such things? I would expected you would welcome it. but yes, we have a national secretariat of gender studies, and gender studies is made part of our school laws. wholly openly they state teachers are meant to make students consider a gender perspective, discourage traditional norms etc. this has been the case for some time i think.

    What outcome is that? Being one of the most wealthy nations on Earth?
    thats certainly not due to gender studies!

  9. #9

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by Basil II the B.S View Post
    Always entertaining when liberals don't know anything about their own ideology. Sweden is trying to achieve ''equality of outcome'' in terms of gender representation in STEM fields, especially engineering/programming.

    The result of such policies is the exact opposite of what Sweden is trying to achieve and known as ''gender equality paradox''.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-equality_paradox

    In short, the more you level the field and give equal opportunities, the more inequal the outcome becomes, far more inequal than countries that do not implement such policies. Mostly because once you remove barriers in terms of access to education, the remaining discriminatory factors end up being interest related. Women are on average less interested than men in ''things'' related subjects, and once you go to the extreme of the distribution and those are the top scientists/engineers etc. there are only males. That's what's happening in Sweden.

    Thanks for your ignorant comment anyway. Always a pleasure to school you guys on your alleged topics of preference.
    Who knew that the intricacies and complexities of the natural world would confound the machinations of political ideologues?



  10. #10

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    And btw, just today the Economist, which has gone full woke in the last two years, is now dedicating the section on ''gender equality'' to Soviet policies, fully admitting that it has been achieved through coercion, because that's always the next step: when opportunity does not deliver the desired outcome, force the outcome.
    https://www.economist.com/europe/201...ladiesofthelab

  11. #11

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    This thread conceals the bleeding obvious. This is clearly a union conference, not an education policy forum. Anyone with a scintilla of workplace knowledge would know that union delegates can and indeed table motions of a political nature as well as some relating to their trade.

    So in plain English please,what the blazes has this got to do with what is taught in the classroom?


    Quote Originally Posted by Basil II the B.S View Post
    And btw, just today the Economist, which has gone full woke in the last two years, is now dedicating the section on ''gender equality'' to Soviet policies, fully admitting that it has been achieved through coercion, because that's always the next step: when opportunity does not deliver the desired outcome, force the outcome.
    https://www.economist.com/europe/201...ladiesofthelab
    Either you are not a details person, or yet again you consider the forum to be made up of fools.
    Economist The coercion has gone, but the habit of women working in labs has remained.
    The Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

    Anyway what's wrong with having female scientists? Are you some Saudi prince?
    Last edited by mongrel; July 20, 2019 at 05:11 AM.
    Absolutley Barking, Mudpit Mutt Former Patron: Garbarsardar

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  12. #12

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Mongrel defends coercing people into field of studies to achieve ''equality of outcome''. Nothing new.

  13. #13

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by Basil II the B.S View Post
    Mongrel defends coercing people into field of studies to achieve ''equality of outcome''. Nothing new.
    What coercion, this is a union meeting, nothing more. Education authorities decide the teaching curriculum surely. Now stop treating the forum like idiots and explain in plain English how this union meeting affects the teaching of kids in actual classrooms.
    Absolutley Barking, Mudpit Mutt Former Patron: Garbarsardar

    "Out of the crooked tree of humanity,no straight thing can be made." Immanuel Kant
    "Oh Yeah? What about a cricket bat? That's pretty straight. Just off the top of my head..." Al Murray, Pub Landlord.

  14. #14

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    That's not what the post is about.

  15. #15

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    The post describes a union meeting. How does it affect the way classes are taught in the US? I doubt that a union would free to dictate the content of lessons, so I'm asking you again, in plain English, how does this union meeting affect the teaching of kids in actual classrooms? If you simply riffed of a rambling article without giving this fundamental question any thought, just say so.
    Last edited by mongrel; July 21, 2019 at 12:53 AM.
    Absolutley Barking, Mudpit Mutt Former Patron: Garbarsardar

    "Out of the crooked tree of humanity,no straight thing can be made." Immanuel Kant
    "Oh Yeah? What about a cricket bat? That's pretty straight. Just off the top of my head..." Al Murray, Pub Landlord.

  16. #16
    irontaino's Avatar Protector Domesticus
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    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    If you're any example to go by, Basil, maybe teaching about white fragility is a good thing
    Last edited by irontaino; July 20, 2019 at 09:59 PM. Reason: Too wordy
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  17. #17

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by NosPortatArma View Post
    you meam you doubt it? how would anyone be suprised that sweden does such things? I would expected you would welcome it. but yes, we have a national secretariat of gender studies, and gender studies is made part of our school laws. wholly openly they state teachers are meant to make students consider a gender perspective, discourage traditional norms etc. this has been the case for some time i think.
    Yes. I am skeptical of such extraordinary claims.

    thats certainly not due to gender studies!
    The same is true of many other social sciences. Should we start criticizing all other "useless" subjects in education? Art, sports, culture.

  18. #18

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by Sukiyama View Post
    Yes. I am skeptical of such extraordinary claims.

    The same is true of many other social sciences. Should we start criticizing all other "useless" subjects in education? Art, sports, culture.
    I don't see how you can find it extraordinary. Sweden officially has a "feminist government" since a few years. Their stated goal is to make feminist analysis part of everything they do. All activities done by or supported by the state need to follow it. to that end they have created a "ministry of equality" to oversee this.
    https://www.government.se/government...st-government/

  19. #19

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by NosPortatArma View Post
    I don't see how you can find it extraordinary. Sweden officially has a "feminist government" since a few years. Their stated goal is to make feminist analysis part of everything they do. All activities done by or supported by the state need to follow it. to that end they have created a "ministry of equality" to oversee this.
    https://www.government.se/government...st-government/
    Maybe I am just a bit of a modernist here, but is a "feminist government" an actual political ideology comparable to Liberalism here? I always understood "feminism" as a perspective framework of history, rather than a group of ideological platforms. "Feminist" governments are still under the purview if Liberal Democracies, no?
    They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.

  20. #20

    Default Re: National Education Association votes in favour of teaching ''White Fragility'', turns down ''increased student learning''

    Quote Originally Posted by The spartan View Post
    Maybe I am just a bit of a modernist here, but is a "feminist government" an actual political ideology comparable to Liberalism here? I always understood "feminism" as a perspective framework of history, rather than a group of ideological platforms. "Feminist" governments are still under the purview if Liberal Democracies, no?
    ideologies can overlap. if we roughly define ideology to be:
    * an understanding of how society works
    * a prescription to achieve a good society
    then feminism is definitely an ideology. it can be combined with others though. Our government is supposedly guided by feminism in all that it does, icluding foreign policy, education, law enforcement.. so yes, i would say it has become an ideology of its own, comparable to liberalism

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