Why have parents not removed their kids out of that school district?
Twana
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http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/parents-told-to-pay-to-see-school-curriculum/
A controversial school curriculum management system in Texas that once included a description of the Boston Tea Party as terror, and has referenced Islamic terrorists as freedom fighters, now has been found to be trying to charge parents hundreds of dollars to see the instructional materials being used by their own children, officials said.
However, under Texas Education Code Chapter 26, all parents have the undisputed right to see any and all instructional materials used in state classrooms.
The program is CSCOPE, and Amy Zimmerman, a mother in the Collinsville Independent School District, asked to see the 7th grade CSCOPE science lessons used between September 2012 and May 2013, citing her “parental right” under state law.
However, instead of the materials, what she got was a letter from an attorney for the district requiring the payment of $770 so see the materials.
Gerry Miller, an attorney with expertise in education law, said that doesn’t appear to align with the law.
“Suffice it to say the statute is mandatory because of the use of the word ‘shall,’ it is therefore incumbent on the school to comply with the parent’s request. No provision is made for payment by a parent as a ‘condition precedent’ to obtaining the teaching material,” Miller said.
“If a school district demands fees, especially exorbitant fees, to review teaching material, such action has the effect of invalidating the statute’s intent,” he said. “I would fully expect a judge to apply the statute as written and order the school to provide the information without charge.”
Miller also explained an added complication would be that property taxes have been used to support CSCOPE, which has faced heavy criticism by parents, teachers and legislators, culminating in hearings that revealed serious academic deficiencies in the areas of math, science and English, as well as what many critics believe is an agenda-driven bias in social studies content that promotes a negative view of America.
WND has reported on lessons claiming the Boston Tea Party was a terrorist act, and lessons requiring students to design flags for a new communist country.
Teachers also have told WND:
- Lessons are not matched to grade level; a ninth-grade lesson asks students to circle capital letters in a sentence.
- One social studies lesson teaches that capitalism is obsolete and communism is the best economic system, using a diagram that shows a man climbing a ladder towards communism.
- A third-grade lesson defines American “equality” as “fair share.” Competing definitions that include “equality under the law” or “equal opportunity” are not discussed.
- Muhammad is portrayed as a social justice crusader. There is no mention of his marriage to a young girl or his beheading of indigenous population groups.
- Political parties are taught from what critics claim is a subjective and left-leaning perspective, e.g. Democrats “benefit each individual” while Republicans “favor big business.”
WND has also recently acquired lessons covering the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, teaching students that “medicine” and “food” are “rights,” and not a matter of personal responsibility.
Students who do not answer that “medicine” and “food” are “rights” have their answers marked as incorrect, sources report.
Other controversial lesson content includes a science lesson that instructs students to set things on fire in the middle of class and also lessons that promote anorexia and mercy death, according to Mary Bowen, a curriculum expert and teacher of 30 years who corresponds with WND.
CSCOPE also has come under fire for its secrecy and lack of transparency, forcing teachers and districts to sign “user agreements” – what whistleblowers say amount to “gag orders.” Teachers are exposed to legal liability if they share lesson content or other class materials with the general public, and threats of termination have been reported by teachers who attempt to engage parents about controversial CSCOPE content.
One result of legislative hearings was the suggestion for changes in user agreements, but sources have told WND that existing users are not included in any changes; they are only for new groups who want to sign up.
A CSCOPE program advising on the privacy requirements for the content notes users are required to not allow “unauthorized users to have online access … or gain permanent possession of … content.”
Replies
Why is this trash allowed to happen. Education is a state responsibility. The Feds have no authority to force this down our throats. The States need to exercise their rights and stand up to the fed mandates that undermine our freedom. The unconstitutional fed department of education needs to be disbanded.
This what happens when we let the SICK-Os get in office. Then let them make people think they are the bosses when they are not. Vote them out of office and make sure they never have a chance for any other office again EVER. The ones who voted for them needs to be educated on what side of the fence they need to be on. They are so dumb they don't have a clue to what they are heading for. Why aren't the wealthy sharing their wealth????? If this was the case everyone of us would be wealthy as well.
Authority over the schools should be taken away from the Federal government and returned to the states and Local supervision. This raft of Communists ruling over the schools is intolerable. Take the kids out. The schools receive money for the bodies in seats. Cripple them financially. Parents have power in numbers if they just realize it.
You are so right Betty. If the conservatives just took their kids out of school it would crush the system. Their are so many Veterans in this country we could utilize as teachers. I am sure there are thousands who would volunteer an hour or two of their time per day to teach a course. All Vets are educators anyway, I am sure many have learned many subjects that provide the truth. Homeschool, neighborhoods or what, we need to get this type of action started. I would be more than willing to provide time to teach the truth. And I am sure they would be safe environment's.
Now we do what OB did. Make up all new BC's on our children, it's easy online fraud, right?
They are easy to confuse, not the sharpest stick's in the pile. If everyone does it it will be a disaster for them.
The only purpose for a BC is to enslave us with taxes, anyway.
They have the old school way of teaching with the McGuffey Reader and Ray's Arithmetic math series.Parent's can buy the whole educational series for only $159.00 and start teaching the whole neighborhood from this series, for all age groups. Only a computer and a printer is needed.
Just a couple of good adults, some veterans to elaborate the truth's of History and a small location in a Church, or an old country barn in a field We would be ready to save our children.
We parent's, could bring down the whole Federalized School system. Within one year we are all free to start new State run local schools the right way.
Keep the Government out of the education business .Parent's are better teachers. They love and care for their children, not some Teacher in it for the pay check, tenure and benefits. Parent's are in it for the child . DON'T let them tell us differently.The McGuffey eclectic readers teach everything and the math is up to calculus levels .A superior education compared to Fed. School for dummies.
Lord help us JESUS!
We've got to open our eyes and ears and take back our schools.
We have to be responsible and KNOW WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN!