“It’s not my job to teach you what to think, after all – just to present everything that’s ever happened anywhere in or to our great nation in more or less chronological order without prioritization or unnecessary commentary.”

For sure, it’s not a teacher’s job to teach (tell) a student what to think (believe – at least ‘what we need to know for the test’ …); I might go further to say it’s NOBODY’S job to do so – parents, pastors, …

Also, NOBODY can ever PRESENT EVERYTHING – in three days or even three decades. There is simply too much information. Therefore, may I suggest presenting in three days will involve someone’s prioritization with unnecessary commentary probably delivered to teachers if not students by the source of the prioritization.

I don’t care what ‘schedule prioritization’ is used to decide three days are sufficient. Sadly, however, the ‘standards’ that lead to such decisions are the problems. I once attended a seminar on the evolution of textbooks. The speaker chose to illustrate this evolution using the leading textbooks at ten-year intervals on the content associated with a John Paul Jones. Each succeeding interval saw the content shrink, ending with ONE sentence. The state (political most certainly…) standards AND the required textbook were the reasons.

JCBJR always has a suggestion or two… First, I’d do away with all textbooks. Use the social media sources; any inconsistencies (and they will arise) present great skills development opportunities as well as introduction to the real world of meaningful / important material. Second, facilitate the development of at least four skills (Effective Learning, problem identifying / solving, communicating, and working in groups) – starting in pre-K where it’s really quite natural. Third, facilitate a student-controlled classroom that enables refining those skills through practice – evolving into habits so important to critical lifelong learning.

I understand any class of students will possibly not ‘check off the Civil War standard (or John Paul Jones)’; but they WILL know how to learn about them OR ANY OTHER TOPIC and use the learning to address personal curiosity or some important situation. To me, that’s much more important!!!

But back to the statement at the top: ‘I’m not sure how to read it’, how to take it. I believe I know Blue Cereal Education well enough (admittedly questionable) to KNOW he knows and does all that I’ve written and more . So it’s got to be aimed at getting readers to be awakened to seriously a Consider changes. Now if only the politicians and policy people would just Consider his and others’ posts as well.

Double whammy: Told what to teach for how long AND told to do it for poor compensation…