Schools banning words now.

[MyReality]

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/2 ... nt-1142542

Short preview:

"Divorce. Dinosaurs, Birthdays. Religion. Halloween. Christmas. Television. These are a few of the 50-plus words and references the New York City Department of Education is hoping to ban from the city’s standardized tests.

The banned word list was made public – and attracted considerable criticism – when the city’s education department recently released this year’s "request for proposal" The request for proposal is sent to test publishers around the country trying to get the job of revamping math and English tests for the City of New York.

The Department of Education's says that avoiding sensitive words on tests is nothing new, and that New York City is not the only locale to do so. California avoids the use of the word "weed" on tests and Florida avoids the phrases that use "Hurricane" or "Wildfires," according to a statement by the New York City Department of Education.

In its request for proposal, the NYC Department of Education explained it wanted to avoid certain words if the "the topic is controversial among the adult population and might not be acceptable in a state-mandated testing situation; the topic has been overused in standardized tests or textbooks and is thus overly familiar and/or boring to students; the topic appears biased against (or toward) some group of people.""

I am outraged with this, in my opinion banning the use of words is the same as banning books. It is reprehensible to think that America's education system is censoring words, this overly sensitive system is going to generate an generation of meek adults who will find that no one will be there to hold their hands when situations arise that they were sheltered from before.

What can be done in ones state to stop this encroaching threat to ones own educational boards?

Do any of you agree with this educational method? If so, why?

I have tons of questions, i will instead ask them as they arise through conversation. Lets start with these two.

[His Name Is John]

In am extremely opposed to this.

Everyone is just trying to keep everyone happy, and in the process upsetting everyone.

Christmas is a tradition, children should be taught about it. Dinosaurs are supported by pretty much every credible scientist, children should be taught about it. By ban birthdays? Religion is something most people in the world proscribe to, it would be unwise not to teach children about it.

To be honest, I don't get who is pushing this. It seems like both the ardent Christians (banning Dinosaurs, divorce etc.) but also the Atheists (Christmas, religion etc.)

They are just going to make everyone angry.

[Goat]

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/2 ... nt-1142542

Short preview:

"Divorce. Dinosaurs, Birthdays. Religion. Halloween. Christmas. Television. These are a few of the 50-plus words and references the New York City Department of Education is hoping to ban from the city’s standardized tests.

The banned word list was made public – and attracted considerable criticism – when the city’s education department recently released this year’s "request for proposal" The request for proposal is sent to test publishers around the country trying to get the job of revamping math and English tests for the City of New York.

The Department of Education's says that avoiding sensitive words on tests is nothing new, and that New York City is not the only locale to do so. California avoids the use of the word "weed" on tests and Florida avoids the phrases that use "Hurricane" or "Wildfires," according to a statement by the New York City Department of Education.

In its request for proposal, the NYC Department of Education explained it wanted to avoid certain words if the "the topic is controversial among the adult population and might not be acceptable in a state-mandated testing situation; the topic has been overused in standardized tests or textbooks and is thus overly familiar and/or boring to students; the topic appears biased against (or toward) some group of people.""

I am outraged with this, in my opinion banning the use of words is the same as banning books. It is reprehensible to think that America's education system is censoring words, this overly sensitive system is going to generate an generation of meek adults who will find that no one will be there to hold their hands when situations arise that they were sheltered from before.

What can be done in ones state to stop this encroaching threat to ones own educational boards?

Do any of you agree with this educational method? If so, why?

I have tons of questions, i will instead ask them as they arise through conversation. Lets start with these two.

I think it is the utmost lunacy. They should worry more about that quality of education, and doing some concentration on the basics of teaching reading, writing and math.. and HOW to learn.

[MyReality]

I did not think this would be much of a debate with people, as the large majority looks at this in stunned silenced. I would just like to know how to counter act these new rules, through court? city meetings? large protests? The fact that we are at this point is still unbelievable.

[ThatGirlAgain]

Did anyone notice that they are looking to avoid use of those words on standardized tests? The point it would seem is to not screw up the mind set of the student taking a test by making him think of irrelevant things, like his parents divorce or dinosaurs fighting. It might be overkill but it is not the high-handed censorshsip the OP makes it out to be.

[MyReality]

Did anyone notice that they are looking to avoid use of those words on standardized tests? The point it would seem is to not screw up the mind set of the student taking a test by making him think of irrelevant things, like his parents divorce or dinosaurs fighting. It might be overkill but it is not the high-handed censorshsip the OP makes it out to be.

Ever hear the term slippery slope?

[ThatGirlAgain]

Did anyone notice that they are looking to avoid use of those words on standardized tests? The point it would seem is to not screw up the mind set of the student taking a test by making him think of irrelevant things, like his parents divorce or dinosaurs fighting. It might be overkill but it is not the high-handed censorshsip the OP makes it out to be.

Ever hear the term slippery slope?

So let's let people talk out loud during tests because otherwise all speech will be banned.

Ever hear of the middle ground?

[MyReality]

Did anyone notice that they are looking to avoid use of those words on standardized tests? The point it would seem is to not screw up the mind set of the student taking a test by making him think of irrelevant things, like his parents divorce or dinosaurs fighting. It might be overkill but it is not the high-handed censorshsip the OP makes it out to be.

Ever hear the term slippery slope?

So let's let people talk out loud during tests because otherwise all speech will be banned.

Ever hear of the middle ground?

Talking during a test and omitting words from a test are two completely separate things. It's not even a related analogy. Omitting words because of a few people are overly sensitive to them is wrong. In addition, it was clearly political and not really in the best interest of the people, as it has now been scrapped after the outcry. We are trying to prepare children for the real world, nothing will be omitted for their convenience and will only prove to be a hindrance in the long run.

[ThatGirlAgain]

Did anyone notice that they are looking to avoid use of those words on standardized tests? The point it would seem is to not screw up the mind set of the student taking a test by making him think of irrelevant things, like his parents divorce or dinosaurs fighting. It might be overkill but it is not the high-handed censorshsip the OP makes it out to be.

Ever hear the term slippery slope?

So let's let people talk out loud during tests because otherwise all speech will be banned.

Ever hear of the middle ground?

Talking during a test and omitting words from a test are two completely separate things. It's not even a related analogy. Omitting words because of a few people are overly sensitive to them is wrong. In addition, it was clearly political and not really in the best interest of the people, as it has now been scrapped after the outcry. We are trying to prepare children for the real world, nothing will be omitted for their convenience and will only prove to be a hindrance in the long run.

And omitting the word 'divorce' from a test will of course leave students absolutely defenseless in the real world.

Omitting certain words from tests was intended to serve the same purpose as not allowing talking during a test - to keep the student from being distracted from the test itself by irrelevancies. It is an exact analogy.

And exactly why was the proposal withdrawn? Because of an outcry from people who had essentially no idea of what it was all about. And please explain in detail how the proposal was politically motivated but the opposition to it was not.

[Goat]

Did anyone notice that they are looking to avoid use of those words on standardized tests? The point it would seem is to not screw up the mind set of the student taking a test by making him think of irrelevant things, like his parents divorce or dinosaurs fighting. It might be overkill but it is not the high-handed censorshsip the OP makes it out to be.

Ever hear the term slippery slope?

So let's let people talk out loud during tests because otherwise all speech will be banned.

Ever hear of the middle ground?

Talking during a test and omitting words from a test are two completely separate things. It's not even a related analogy. Omitting words because of a few people are overly sensitive to them is wrong. In addition, it was clearly political and not really in the best interest of the people, as it has now been scrapped after the outcry. We are trying to prepare children for the real world, nothing will be omitted for their convenience and will only prove to be a hindrance in the long run.

And omitting the word 'divorce' from a test will of course leave students absolutely defenseless in the real world.

Omitting certain words from tests was intended to serve the same purpose as not allowing talking during a test - to keep the student from being distracted from the test itself by irrelevancies. It is an exact analogy.

And exactly why was the proposal withdrawn? Because of an outcry from people who had essentially no idea of what it was all about. And please explain in detail how the proposal was politically motivated but the opposition to it was not.

I have to disagree. The words in a test won't distract the student at all.. and well, dumbing down a test not offend people interfers with teaching.

Here is a reason why this dumbing down should be opposed.

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