Comments on: Education Administrators Say Don’t Focus on Personal Value

By: Shauna

Shauna — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:45:25 +0000

Actually, Syndrome said that when everyone is Super then no one will be, but I’m referring to the conversation Dash had in the car with his mother.

Helen: Everyone’s special, Dash.
Dash: Which is another way of saying no one is.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:53:58 +0000

I wann acorrect Shauna above there - it was Syndrome (the bad guy) who said that, not Dash. “And when eveyone’s special.. no one will be…” *evil chuckle*

By: Marye~

Marye~ — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:21:42 +0000

Wow! What are they doing to those poor kids? Yes, I am glad I homeschool. My kids will grow up with a good work ethic, good morals and not need a ribbon to know they are smart, creative, intelligent, and beautiful individuals. Thank you for sharing the information. It helps re-enforce my convictions!

By: NJDrummer

NJDrummer — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:25:35 +0000

I agree w/ all the sentiments argued here. To Mommywithattitude’s comment - some teachers are also not allowed to tell a child their answer is incorrect when it clearly is. Presumably this movement is supposed to foster the well-being of children and ensure that they are well-adjusted and feel accepted.

Why must all children feel that they are academic equals? Does this place any value on education at all? Would everyone be happy with a country filled with an equally submediocre student body and future workforce? What are they actually learning? How can they possibly pass “standardized” tests? Does speak at all to the fact that the US is (and has) dramatically declined in the educational arena? Does speak at all to the fact that only 30% of college students can write a cohesive 5-page summary of a 15 page document that makes any sense at all? What happens to the “well-adjusted” child when the enter the workforce and find out that they are not actually prepared…or well-adjusted? Did I miss the memo stating that it is now the schools responsibility to raise well-adjusted children and no longer the parents? Does one more person really need to state how absurd this is???

By: Rebecca Wallace-Segall

Rebecca Wallace-Segall — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:29:47 +0000

Thank you much for excerpting my Wall Street Journal piece on your blog. If you get a chance, please correct the spelling of my name to Rebecca Wallace-Segall. Thank you! ~~Rebecca

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:10:23 +0000

That is ridiculous. I don’t get where they get their ideas about self-esteem, anyway. You gain confidence by taking on challenges, not having every struggle ironed out for you in advance. And really, where is self-esteem where there is nothing but the collective?

By: MommyWithAttitude

MommyWithAttitude — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:31:03 +0000

Incredible, isn’t it? My first grader got his first report card this week, and at least at his school, apparently, they don’t even have grades anymore. I’m not kidding. So I asked my husband, WHAT exactly is this supposed to tell us about how he’s doing and what he needs help with?

My husband said grades are probably politically incorrect.

What is wrong with everybody????

By: Shauna

Shauna — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:57:10 +0000

I read about several schools doing away with spelling bees a few years ago for the same reason. Reminds me of Harrison Bergeron. And to quote Dash Incredible, saying everyone is special is just another way of saying that no one is.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:47:45 +0000

It’s like the school is run by the Borg collective…

By: chilihead

chilihead — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:29:09 +0000

I read this article yesterday. The exact same quote struck me too. Un-freaking-believable. I also like the part about the jocks being able to compete, but the academics being denied the opportunity to do academic bowls.

I am so over the self-esteem thing.