Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command. Your old road is rapidly agin'.
Bob Dylan
WAITING FOR SUPERMAN IS A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE STATE OF AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION. IT CLAIMS THAT THE DECLINE OF NATIONAL READING AND MATH SCORES IS THE RESULT OF A DREADFUL SYSTEM WHICH FAILS OUR CHILDREN, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AMERICA’S SUB-PRIME INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC RANKING.
IT ACCUSES OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH IT CALLS “FAILURE FACTORIES”, OF CAUSING A NATIONAL DISASTER WITH AN ALARMINGLY HIGH DROPOUT RATE.
IT APPOINTS TEACHERS AS THE VILLAINS, AND CASTS THEIR UNIONS AS THE DEFENDERS OF A NEAR-CRIMINAL TENURE SYSTEM WHICH SUFFOCATES POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENT. THE ADVOCACY FILM MOCKS THE WAY PRINCIPALS ROTATE LOUSY TEACHERS WITHIN A GIVEN DISTRICT, IN A CYNICAL SHUFFLE VARIOUSLY KNOWN AS “THE DANCE OF THE LEMONS”, “THE TURKEY TROT”, AND “PASS THE TRASH".
THE FILM’S WHITE KNIGHT CHARGING TO THE RESCUE, IS A NETWORK OF NON-UNIONIZED, NON-INCLUSIVE CHARTER SCHOOLS.
AS AMERICA IS WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, ALONG COMES TIGER MOTHER.
IT’S A BOOK ABOUT A MOM AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS.
IT ARGUES THAT CHINESE PARENTS ARE BETTER AT RAISING KIDS THAN WESTERN ONES.
THE BOOK PRESENTS ITSELF AS A MANUAL FOR CREATING IDEAL STUDENTS.
THE TIGER MOM ACCEPTS NOTHING LESS THAN PERFECTION.
AN A- IS CONSIDERED A FAILURE IN THE TIGER HOME.
THE TEXT PRESCRIBES SUSTAINED HARDWORK AND TOTAL RESPECT FROM CHILDREN.
TIGER CHILDREN HAVE LIMITED CONTACT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND RIGID DISCIPLINE IN THE HOME.
THERE IS LITTLE TV AND NO VIDEO GAMES, PLAY DATES, OR SLEEPOVERS.
AS AMERICANS CONSIDER BECOMING TIGER MOTHERS, ALONG COMES SKINS.
NAMED AFTER THE PAPERS USED TO ROLL BLUNTS, SKINS IS THE LATEST MTV PRODUCT.
IT’S A SHOW ABOUT YOUNG KIDS TAKING DRUGS, STEALING, AND ENGAGING IN FRIENDS-WITH-BENEFITS SEX.
THE SHOW HAS CREATED A CONTROVERSY, SUGGESTING THAT IT VIOLATES FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPY LAWS. THE CHANNEL HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ACCUSATION, WHILE SECRETLY THRILLED OVER THE MEDIA ATTENTION WHICH WILL SURELY STIMULATE RATINGS AND PUBESCIENT BUZZ.
MTV CLAIMS THAT THE SHOW IS DESIGNED FOR ADULTS… BUT THEY’RE PLAYING THE JOE CAMEL GAME.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THE REAL TARGET AUDIENCE.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TWEETING AND TEXTING AWAY.
THE QUESTION FOR PARENTS IS, WILL THEIR CHILDREN BE WATCHING, AND WILL SCHOOLS HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE MESS?
7 comments:
Don't criticize what you can't understand.
We should pay good teachers more than bad ones.
And an A- is a failing grade. Today's schools give an A for a retard's best effort.
BEN,
RASCAL!
anon,
the movement is in the direction, but it will be politicized.
and yes....everybody is above average in the land of high esteem.
And most recently. there's "Race to Nowhere." A documentary dedicated to a 14 year old middle school girl. And excellent student who received her first F on a test. Devastated, she committed suicide just several weeks later. The message... Teachers should give less homework because kids are stressing out and too pressured. Can someone help me,us, teachers, find some middle ground... a balance?
The way I see it... again too much parental abdication and misplaced expectations on schools and teachers... While some of the Tiger Mother ancetdotes are quite harsh, ie; telling a child that their homemade birthday card is unacceptable.. it certainly does set a standard for maternal respect.I say more sleep and fewer videos for children... I am ok with reading from books or nooks .. Kids just need a fair set of expectations.. It all begins in the home...
ANCIENT,
THE COUNTRY IS LOSING IT'S PARENTING SKILLS.
NO. NOT EVERONE AND TO DIFFERENT DEGREES.
BUT THE CHILD HAS BECOME THE IDOLIZED SUN-KING OR A NEGLECTED DISTRACTION. SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
LOTS OF ESTEEM BUILDING HAS WATERED DOWN OUR HUMAN CURRENCY.
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