Brave
New Schools
by Berit Kjos
Reviews
Synopsis
With concrete examples from public school
material, Berit Kjos demonstrates how myths, feelings, and imagination
have replaced facts, logic and history in our classrooms. You can make
a positive difference in your children's education by educating yourself
first.
Customer Comments
A reader from Kirkland (Seattle)
washington USA, August 4, 1999
Great introduction to OBE now standards
based reform
Nice overview of values driving education
reform which is largely based on outcome based education, or TQM for education.
It does have a bit of a Christian spiritual bent, but should make sense
to sensible people of all faiths and beliefs.
melonbal@aol.com from Dover,
DE, June 20, 1999
Time for the Education Liberation Movement
This book is one of many new books heralding
a call for parents to once again take control of their children's education,
instead of handing them over to over-professionalized educrats, who get
their orders from the U.S. Dept of Education. To say Goals 2000 is subject
to
criticism is putting it mildly; I'd say it is a disaster for kids and families,
and is not supported by a lot of teachers. Opposition to it is justified,
and becoming more and more widespread. Parents, how much do you know about
it? Another book that explains it in great detail is Cathy Duffy's "Government
Nannies: The Cradle to Grave Agenda of Goals 2000 and Outcome Based Education."
Do you want your child to be given psychological tests that ask probing,
personal questions about his home life, sexual fantasies and parents without
your permission? (My neighbor's child was subjected to such a test). Do
you think sex education should start in kindergarten? Do you want your
child to be labeled a bigot because he doesn't have the "right" attitude
about homosexuality? If these things are perfectly fine with you, then
sign up your child at the public school nearest you. What I want to know
is why, if religion in the schools is unconstitutional, why are anti-religious
kinds of moral stances allowed to be "taught"? Schools are just not what
they used to be, and parents have basically no control. I have raised two
kids in the public schools, but I refuse to send my third little one. I
have already run into too many unexpected, bizarre problems, like teachers
who teach no math, no science, no English, and no P.E., but can't be fired,
because "it would cost the school system too much." When I wanted to take
my daughter out of this bad teacher's class, I was given a huge hassle,
and was told, "your daughter's just going to have a bad teacher some years."
And this was one of the better schools, in one of the better suburbs, mind
you. I have come to the conclusion that the only answer is for parents
to take their kids out of public schools, and find safe alternatives. They
can't wait for the big political battles to be fought. How many more school
shootings, culture wars, lawsuits, illiterate graduates, $10,000/year per
student price tags, and unauthorized gynecological tests on 11-year-olds
will it take before people realize that the monopolistic, government-funded
system is outdated, failing, and should be replaced? The same kind of school
is just not for everyone; the opposite of what Goals 2000 assumes. For
another good read, read "Market Education: The Unknown History"
by Andrew Coulson. It outlines private versus public education in history
and compares and contrasts, highlighting the advantages of private education.
Another good one is "Separating School
and State" by Sheldon Richman. As painful as it may be to some,
it is time to renew America by getting the government out of education,
and freeing up the tremendous creative resources out there that can do
a much better job at a lower cost. Let's go with social entrepeneurship
instead of social engineering. Parents! Take back your right to safeguard
your children and choose what you think is best for them.
there4@olypen.com from the
land of the free, and the home of the brave, June 8, 1999
The truth is responsibly told here, and
with painful honesty
Teachers, parents, students, or other Americans
(that can read), will find this well-documented research gives facts about
education reform without a candy-coated spin. It helps explain HOW and
WHY our school system is now producing minds that give many observant and
caring people cause for great concern. Much hard work, time, traveling
to international meetings and other in-depth research has been combined
into this honest presentation. If you love the idea of freedom, read this.
Thanks to the author for not charging enough for her valuable book. It
is the best on the subject with wider coverage of causal conditions than
most others have offered. It's a wake-up call to America!
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