Dr. Ries and a controversial curriculum issue

 In your experience, are schools hostile environments for LGBTQ students? Can you give examples? Do you think that our textbooks should include the experiences of those who identify as part of the LGBTQ community? Should state departments of education (or in the case of private schools...........regional curriculum committees) forbid schools from creating a curriculum that portrays homosexuality as a “positive alternative lifestyle?’ Should departments of education (or in the case of private schools......boards of trustees............forbid teachers and students from discussing the topic of homosexuality?  How is your present curriculum addressing this issue? In your opinion, is more needed?

Rosalie is interested in discussing school choice

 Coming from a private school perspective and familiar with schooling in Europe,  where school choice is a way of life, I'm looking to understand the issues around "school choice" as it exists here in the United States. I feel comfortable in this class asking this question that would otherwise go unanswered for me.

During our last class, Dr. Ries reacted in surprise to the idea of paying even $5,000 for K-12 private schooling.    She felt that it was expensive.  I couldn't agree more!!! This leads to the question of "school choice" in general as it exists here in the United States. When a student moves out of a school district, the money goes with the child.  

This scenario is how I feel and would like to understand the issue of choice:

Social security is collected from our paychecks.  That money is used for our retirement.  

Imagine once you retire you can move into free housing which is funded by those monthly social security checks.  If you decide to not live in the free housing, you can't have your social security checks each month and have to pay out of pocket for your own housing.   

As someone who pays a lot of taxes (close to $30k per year)  it would have been nice to be able to use the money allocated to my children at the public school (while they were school age) to offset the costs of private school tuition.  Now that they are in college, I don't mind supporting the public schools in my town.  However, I felt while they were in school, I had no choice.  I had to support the free public school even though my child did not attend.  While we technically left the district, the money did not move with my children to their private school but stayed within the district.   

I love to learn and understand things from different perspectives, so I'm hoping we can have a discussion on school choice.  

Rosalie is going to clarify her question that is highlighted in green when we get to class this week.    Then we can have a discussion and, if you wish, you may comment before NEXT week.    ER

William poses a question as to a teacher's responsibility with regard to climate change.

Should teachers introduce the idea of climate change into their various lessons? What are some of the pros and cons with regard to the teaching of climate change? Is climate change truly an issue? Are teachers morally and professionally obligated to teach about topics of universal concern? How does your district’s curriculum incorporate and implement climate change learning standards? 

Two links that may give you some background on this issue have been inserted below:

https://www.nj.com/education/2022/09/climate-change-must-now-be-taught-to-nj-students-

what-will-new-curriculum-look-like.html

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11C8sbhaDMrqrdf_s2DssdqVLjhgsRgvS/view?usp=sharing

Dr. Ries and new curriculum controversy

There is a great deal of controversy over the recently adopted sex education standards for students in New Jersey that were approved by the State Board of Education.   As people who are interested in structuring curriculum that addresses present-day issues, how do you feel about this new curriculum?   Inserted below are two articles that will give you some background on the controversy that now exists in many school districts.   Please read one of the articles and insert a few of your ideas/concerns in your response.   You can surely leave your more detailed thoughts for the class discussion of this topic that will take place on Tuesday.    

https://www.nj.com/education/2022/10/njs-new-sex-ed-standards-hit-the-classroom-as-criticism-rages-in-some-districts.html

 https://www.montclair.edu/cehs/2020/12/19/experts-sex-education-should-begin-in-kindergarten/