Posts by mrhhome

107

How do you feel about Common Core education?

by nonjwspouse in

especially if you are a teacher, how did you learn about it to begin with?

was there a common core rep doing a slick presentation?.

how do those of you with kids on school feel about, among others, things such as the deemphasis on the great works of literature ?.

mrhhome

Do you realize that you just supported nonjwspouses point? [Talk about critical thinking skills.]

And the CCSS in mathematics, read carefully, clearly leave much of what ought to happen … in the upper division of high school optional, which is entirely consistent with the findings of our panel as well.

Prior to this statement, I dismissed the claims that the Common Core was a lower standard. You just verified it.

So let's make sure that we are clear. We are crowding out the basics in the lower grades and chopping off stuff at the top. Who exactly thought that this is a good idea?

107

How do you feel about Common Core education?

by nonjwspouse in

especially if you are a teacher, how did you learn about it to begin with?

was there a common core rep doing a slick presentation?.

how do those of you with kids on school feel about, among others, things such as the deemphasis on the great works of literature ?.

mrhhome

It is disingenuous to seperate the problems with the course material and the Common Core. They are both part of the same general push. The text books are written to satisfy the Common Core.

I have discovered numerous problems with the course material. In many places, it is flat wrong. This is not a matter of political opinion. It is a matter of comparison with commonly accepted sources of authority such as the Webster dictionary.

This is not just some complaint from loony parents. This is coming from teachers and administrators as well. As one Vice President told me, "The people who are making these decisions obviously are not talking to the teachers who are actually working with the students."

They are pushing more skills down into lower grades. At first, this may sound like a good idea. Unfortunately, you reach a limit where it begins producing catastrophic effects. You only have a limited number of hours in the day to teach material. If you start adding high level material, you are spending less time teaching the basics. If you sacrifice the foundation of the basics, all the higher skills are a waste of time.

107

How do you feel about Common Core education?

by nonjwspouse in

especially if you are a teacher, how did you learn about it to begin with?

was there a common core rep doing a slick presentation?.

how do those of you with kids on school feel about, among others, things such as the deemphasis on the great works of literature ?.

mrhhome

Wow. There is a great deal to cover here. I will spread my response over several posts.

First, I would like to thank Oubliette for her post / response. You have illustrated several of my points on other threads beautifully. There is not much difference between religion and liberal / progressive secular dogma. They are both founded on blindly accepted tenets. They both are passionately evangelicized by their proponents who simply cite different sources of authority.

Normally, I try very hard not to get personal. Forgive me if I do on this subject. You are pushing something that is directly impacting my family. You are dismissing any concerns with the "we know best" / "we are smarter than you" / "your are a fool" response. [Did you learn that technique from the JW?] Sorry, that response is not going to cut it. They are my children. I have seen things that give me reason for concern, and you have not adequately addressed my concerns. Until YOU do, ...how did you say it Obliette..."refrain from further comments!"

BTW, did you say which grade you teach?

107

How do you feel about Common Core education?

by nonjwspouse in

especially if you are a teacher, how did you learn about it to begin with?

was there a common core rep doing a slick presentation?.

how do those of you with kids on school feel about, among others, things such as the deemphasis on the great works of literature ?.

mrhhome

I have had some first hand experience with common core as a parent.

I do not know if the problem is Common Core itself or the course material from the publishers. However, I have discovered a great deal that is flat wrong.
I have noticed that the teachers waste considerable time on stuff that simply is not critical at that grade level. Time would be better spent reinforcing the basics.
I have also noticed that they seem to be teaching short cuts. Bad, bad idea. I do not know if this is the teacher, the course material, or the common core.
Sorry to be so blunt. However, whenever I meet someone talking about "critical thinking skills", they are usually an idiot. This is my experience over the last 20+ years, since I first encountered the expression in college. People who know how to think don't talk about it, and it is very hard to teach someone to think in a classroom. Certainly not with multiple choice tests. Actually, it is very difficult to teach someone to think, and in all honesty, "thinking" is actually a neblous concept. Long conversation for another thread.
At best, this new cirriculum is unproven and carries a great deal of baggage. I think that the states who are holding out are wise.

18

Feedback on Letter

by mrhhome in

jw
friends

looking for feedback.

to bring you all back up to speed, wife is ex-jw.

shunned by her brother and parts of her family at uncles jw funeral.

mrhhome

No, he did not actually call her a slut, but he did cite 1 Cor 5 as he was thumping the bible. If you read it in context, that text was never intended for apostates. It was intended to throw out people who were enchanged in some pretty serious sexual immorality and bragging about it in church.

90

Why do so many think JW Religion is a Cult? (NO APOSTATES PLEASE)

by Brother Mike in

jw
friends

my question is, why do so many think the watchtower bible tract society is a cult?

.

mrhhome

I have to agree with Band on the Run. Once as lay leader at a UMC, I had to eject a member of the youth. He was supplying guns, knives, and tabacco to other youth. One gun ended up in a school. Luckily, no one got hurt.

I had a heart-to-heart talk with the kid first and actually got through his thick skull that this crap needed to end. Unfortunately, he went home to Mom and cried that I was being mean. She read me the riot act, and I kicked him out over the objections of the pastor. Enough was enough. Ironically, I actually helped the kid who brought the gun to school. He instantly realized that it was an incredibly dumb thing to do, and his parents asked for my support. The kid has since gotten his life completely turned around. (Funny how a a few nights in jail will make a kid really comtemplate their actions.)

There is one big difference between my actions and the JW. I never told anyone that they had to shun the kid that got kicked out. Quite the opposite, I intended to pull him back in after everyone had had some time to think about it for a while. Unfortunately, I left that church before I ever got a chance to do so.

There was no emotional black mail trying to seperate him from family and friends. Just an honest attempt to keep the other youth under my care safe.

692

abortion vs holocaust

by unstopableravens in

mrhhome

From a legal and political perspective, the primary role of any government is to protect innocent lifes. It is absolutely the govenment's role to determine whether (a) a life has been ended and (b) under what circumstances it can be legally terminated.

In the US, I believe that it is an issue that should be handled by the states rather than the federal government. The constituation does not speak to the matter. Likewise, the definition of what is and is not murder is typically determined at the state level. As an example, I point to the recent stand-your-ground cases. Why is abortion any different? State law frequently determines when it is and is not acceptable to end a life.

692

abortion vs holocaust

by unstopableravens in

mrhhome

I haven't read all 22 pages, but in the last couple of posts, I think that you swayed her opinion. Congratulations.

I agree that it isn't always black and white. However, you are also focusing on the exceptions rather than addressing the morality of abortion in the vast majority of cases where it simply is an unwanted baby.

692

abortion vs holocaust

by unstopableravens in

mrhhome

Band on the Run. On this point, we agree. That is a horrible way to treat those who are mourning.

BTW, tec is also right. The point is somewhat moot. In cofty's illustration, the fetus is going to die in either case. The only question is whether or not it is going to kill mom in the process. I think that raven agrees that under such a circumstances, the right thing to do is to save mom.

18

Feedback on Letter

by mrhhome in

jw
friends

looking for feedback.

to bring you all back up to speed, wife is ex-jw.

shunned by her brother and parts of her family at uncles jw funeral.

mrhhome

You all make some good points. (1) I am trying to reason with someone who is unreasonable, which is a waste of time. (2) I should try to get him to define what he considers "respectful" behavior. (3) There is no compromise with the Witnesses.

If I get a rational response, I think that I will follow the "How do you define respect?" train of thought. Realistically, I expect some absurd JW responsible. At which point, I am going to lay down the law.