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Reporter
October 7, 2015
Opinion
Declare among the nations,
and publish, and set up a standard;
publish, and conceal not;
Jeremiah 50:2
On the Porch
What are our
kids learning?
“The philosophy of the school room in one generation will
be the philosophy of government in the next.”
- Abraham Lincoln
A Monroe County parent was planning to pull
her daughter out of public school last month
because her seventh-grade English Language
Arts (ELA) curriculum was heavy on white
guilt. A suggested reading list included books
about South African apartheid and screeds about racism in
America.
A mutual friend faxed the reading list to me, and I met
with superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman and assistant
superintendent Angie Dillon, who’s in charge of curriculum,
to ask about it.
Protests over curriculum aren’t limited to Monroe
County. You may have read where parents in Walton
County, Ga. are complaining that their kids are being
taught the glories of Islam with too much enthusiasm.
The Georgia Department of Education produces most of
the curriculum used in schools, and they’re heavily influ
enced by textbook giants like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
They’re also influenced by college professors who help write
curriculum. You can guess which way they lean politically.
Parents are right to push back. The public schools belong
to we the people. We should decide what our children are
taught. And sometimes, the good guys win.
Recently, the College Board that, produces the Advanced
Placement curriculum announced new AP history stan
dards for high school students that were very left-wing and
anti-American. Several states, including Georgia, pushed
back, and made plans to drop the College Board curriculum
for other choices. The College Board reversed itself faster
than you can say wampum, releasing a more traditional-
minded curriculum that honors capitalism, liberty and our
Founding Fathers. It was a rare victory for conservatives
amidst the liberal flood.
When the afore-mentioned Monroe County parent took
her concerns about the curriculum to school officials, they
gave her options. They could put the seventh grader on
self study in the library where she would have no supervi
sion, or she could take a computer course and learn on her
own. Neither seemed palatable. I was told the mother may
decide to home-school.
Hickman told me that. Monroe County does have some
flexibility. While the standards are set. by the state, the
schools are usually free to pick the reading materials.
“We do have the ability within the state recommenda
tions to pick and choose the works we use to meet the stan
dards,” said Hickman.
Hickman and Dillon noted, though, that, when the schools
have advertised that parents may review new textbooks
being adopted, rarely does anyone show.
Parents, taxpayers and lawmakers should push back
against liberal, anti-American curriculum. But just as it
would be difficult to shut, down every bar, strip club and
pornographic web site to protect, our kids, so it’s also dif
ficult. to change the 40 year march of liberalism through
school curriculum.
What we can do is engage our kids, figure out what,
they’re learning and thinking, and teach them how to use
their brains. For instance, I was helping my sixth grade son
Park study for a science test a few weeks ago. His study
guide said that, a scientific theory is something that, has
been proven.
“Is that, true, son?’ I asked.
“Well, that’s what. it. says. That’s what. I have to say to get.
the question right!”
‘Maybe so, but. what do YOU think? Is a THEORY some
thing that’s proven true?”
“Well no.”
I want, my children to think for themselves. Perhaps I’m
paranoid, but. I can see the never-resting liberals using
this question to groom our children to accept the Theory of
Evolution as true. But. a theory is NOT something that’s
proven. Darwin’s theory is just, a theory, and a poor one
with little evidence. After all, if we descend from primates,
why are all the primates still here in the same form they
were thousands of years ago?
Thankfully, most. Monroe County teachers seem to reflect
the values of our community. My children have shared
with me times when religious or political issues have arisen
in the classroom, such as Darwin’s theory, and the teach
ers have usually told students they can make up their own
minds.
Parents may be bored by discussions of curriculum and
textbooks (or increasingly, e-books). But nothing is more
important than passing our values to our children. If we
don’t, ensure that, we’re teaching them our values, other
people will be happy to teach them theirs. We probably
won’t be happy with the results. Just look where it’s gotten
us today - the disaster that, is President. Barack Hussein
Obama.
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Carolyn’s Corner
Donkeys confused without cussing
BY CAROLYN
MARTEL
ads@mymcr.net
T his week, I’ve
been reading
a book titled,
“The Glory of
His Presence”
by Dr. John D. Shiver.
The author shares
inspiring stories of past,
revivals and how people’s
lives are changed when
God shows up! The story
of the 1904 Welsh
revival was a real
eye-opener. When
a powerful move of
God swept, across
Welsh towns and
valleys, entire
communities
were trans
formed. Bars
and gambling
houses closed due to lack
of business. Prostitution
ceased. Courthouses
closed because there
were no criminal cases
to try. I particularly
enjoyed Shiver’s amusing
account, of the conver-
sion of men who worked
in the coal mines. When
the miners got, saved
they had to retrain all
the little donkeys that,
pulled carts loaded with
coal. Why, you ask?
Well, when these rough,
rugged men were con
verted, they stopped
using profanity. This
was a good thing, but it
caused a dilemma. You
see, the donkeys were
conditioned to
respond to com
mands laced with
foul-mouthed curse
words. Unfamiliar
with the “cleaned-
up” vocabulary,
these beasts of
burden didn’t
know what to
do! No doubt,,
the miners must, have
observed a “a deer (uh,
donkey) in the head
lights” look. Frustrated
at, times, some of the
men were probably
tempted to use profan
ity once again to get,
things moving. But, they
patiently persevered,
and obstinate donkeys
learned to respond to a
new set, of verbal com
mands.
I LOVED reading
about, the interaction
between the miners and
the donkeys. I person
ally think donkeys are
adorable, although one
chased me when I was
a child and tried to bite
me! They have big ears;
they kick and buck and
bray so loud they can
be heard a mile away.
They are also notori
ous for being stubborn.
We can be stubborn
too. However, a better
description of man’s
character would be rebel
lious. Like uncooperative
donkeys, we kick and
buck and bray in will
ful defiance when God’s
directives don’t, suit, us.
The little donkeys of
Wales balked because
they didn’t understand
what was being said.
Rebellious humans on
the other hand, sim
ply choose to turn a
deaf ear, although God
speaks in clear unmis
takable terms. You
may say,’’But,, God has
never spoken to me!”
Reconsider. The Bible
is God’s voice in print,.
Plus, who can deny the
compelling voice on the
inside that, pricks the
conscience? The writer
of Hebrews reveals the
heart, of God with this
call to action, “Today,
if you hear his voice,
do not, harden your
hearts.” Hebrews 3:15.
Realistically, it, all boils
down to a choice. We can
bray or obey!
Carolyn Martel
writes encouraging col
umns each week in the
Reporter’s Carolyn’s
Corner. She’s also the
advertising manager for
the Reporter. E-mail her
at ads@mymcr.net.
As I See It...
Why the hate on Dr. Carson?
BY CLAUDE CURLEE
cbcurl4 7gmail. com
A writer in the Sept,. 23
Reporter described Dr.
Ben Carson as a “sup
posedly great, pediatric
neurosurgeon.” What,
did the words “supposedly great,”
demonstrate?
Please be patient,, the following
list, of accomplishments, awards
and humanitarian efforts do serve
a purpose. Thank you:
• Overcoming the obstacles of
being a black youth in the inner
city of Detroit, to become a world
admired and respected Pediatric
Neurosurgeon.
• The first, and only surgeon to
separate twins joined at, the head.
The operation lasted more than 22
hours and both twins lived.
• Operated on twin
babies in the womb and
placed a shunt, to relieve
excessive pressure in the
brain cavity.
• Recipient, of the 2006
Spingarn Medal which
is the highest, honor
bestowed by the
NAACP.
• Professor of
Neurosurgery,
Oncology, Plastic
Surgery and Pediatrics/Director
Neurosurgery /Co. Director of
the John Hopkins Craniofacial
Center.
• Received the nation’s highest,
civilian award, the Presidential
Medal of Freedom in 2008.
• Received the Jefferson
Award in 2000 for “Greatest,
Public Service Benefiting the
Disadvantaged”
• Elected by the Library of
Congress as one of the 89 “Living
Legends” on the occasion of its
200t,h anniversary in 2001.
• Appointed in 2004 to serve
on the President’s Council on
Bioethics.
• Named one of “America’s Best,
Leaders” by U.S. News & World
Report, in 2008.
• Co-Founder with his wife
(Candy) of the Carson Scholars
Fund which recognizes students of
all background in grades 9-11 for
exceptional academic and humani
tarian qualities. Winners receive
a $1,000 scholarship invested
toward their college education.
• Co-founder of Angels of the
O.R. which provides grants to
assist, Neurosurgery patients with
expenses not, covered by insur
ance.
• Detroit, Public Schools opened
the Benjamin Carson High School
of Science and Medicine for stu
dents interested in pursuing
healthcare careers.
• Awarded 60 honorary doctor
ate degrees and dozens of national
citations.
• Author of six books among
them “Gifted Hands” which was
made into a movie.
This incomplete list, of
his accomplishments in the
medical field, the estab
lishment, of scholarships
and charities by him and
his wife Candy, the honors
and awards bestowed on
Dr. Carson confirm he is
not, only a great, Pediatric
Neurosurgeon but,
he is also a very
great, person.
No one who has
been exposed to
the media for the last, two years
can claim ignorance of some of
the great, things Dr. Carson has
accomplished. Then why was he
referred to as a “supposedly great,
Pediatric Neurosurgeon”?
I believe it, was and is an
attempt to discredit him and his
accomplishments. When someone
like Dr. Carson comes along he
is a big threat, to the Democratic
machine. So instead of holding
him up as an example of what, a
young person living in the projects
can accomplish, instead of saying
follow Dr. Carson’s example of
getting an education, don’t, quit,
school, don’t, have children until
you are married and are a family
which can support and care for
them, the liberal mindset, discred
its his accomplishment,.
I believe one of the ways to help
all our youth to succeed would
be showing of the movie “Gifted
Hands” in school at, least, every
other year. I have seen it, and it, is
a great, motivational movie.
If you are concerned about, our
youth, I can’t, think of a better
example than Dr. Ben Carson’s
story. His story shows it’s possible
to succeed even growing up in the
projects of inner-city Detroit, and
could lead a lot, of our youth to
success in life.
I would like to see the walls
of our schools lined with the pic
tures and stories of people who
have achieved success. The youth
need to see people of all races who
have made positive contributions
and I don’t, mean in just, sports
or politics. There are all kinds of
inventions they come into contact,
with every day. If they realized
someone who looked just, like
them invented it,, it, could be the
spark to excite a young mind. If
they see someone of their own
race has accomplished something,
it, means more and gives them
someone to admire. This can be an
important, motivator and builder
of self-esteem. There are enough
people setting bad examples. We
need them to see more positive
examples. If you are a teacher,
have your students do a project, on
inventions with the emphasis on
them finding inventors they can
connect, with.
If a white conservative male
had referred to a black Democrat,
who had just, a very small degree
of Dr. Carson’s accomplishments,
awards and humanitarian efforts
as someone “supposedly great,”
that, person would be quickly
labeled a racist,.
I ask you does the same logic
apply when a white liberal
female refers to Dr. Carson “as
a supposedly great, Pediatric
Neurosurgeon”. I think it, should.
Dr. Carson’s achievements
shouldn’t, be made light, of for any
reason.
Claude Cur lee of Forsyth is a.
Vietnam veteran and a member of
the Monroe County GOP.
GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST
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