"Wussification" of American Education

"Up in the mornin’ and out to school
The teacher is teachin’ the golden rule
American history and practical math
You studyin’ hard and hopin’ to pass
Workin’ your fingers right down to the bone...."

The 'School Day' is not like that anymore Chuck Berry!

The educational geniuses at most Des Moines High Schools will be starting their first day, Thursday, with pep assemblies and having students spend time with their advisory groups (?).

It's all in an attempt to "welcome kids back to school" according to Liz Celenia-Fagen, Des Moines' director of high school programs and achievement.

This is the same woman who I quoted June 2 (I agree with Alice Cooper, School's Out Completely), then the issue was high school students needing more than 4 years to graduate.

Here are those pearls of wisdom......"We felt like it was a sort of walk of shame for students who didn't earn enough credits to be reclassified as freshmen again. We want all students to work towards their goals, and if that takes them a bit longer, that's O.K. But we don't want them discouraged by processes and procedures that we have".

In that piece I though Ms. Celenia-Fagen had watched too much Stuart Smalley and his Daily Affirmation's on Saturday Night Live, I wasn't wrong.

"Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me!" Smalley also says, "And that's.. o-kay" a lot.

According to Naomi Housman, director of the National High School Alliance in Washington, D.C., "There's definitely a trend sweeping the nation to revisit the traditional practice of high school. Most high schools have not changed the basic way they work for over 100 years".

I'm always leery of these sweeping trends, especially if they come out of California.

It seems to me school has gotten easier academically.

Look what was required of students in the classroom 100 years ago vs. today! Watch a program such as Ken Burns, 'The Civil War' and you'll hear the eloquence of letters written to loved ones. Talk to a student today, or read their MySpace page....SAD!

Educators today don't appear to be about making students become the best and the brightest.

It's about indulging them, entertaining them, wanting to be their friends and letting them feel good about themselves.

One of my favorite high school teachers, Tom Fitzgerald, told a student 30 years ago who was complaining of boredom...."I'm here to educate you, not entertain you"!

I wonder how many Des Moines High School students will get accepted into M.I.T.?
(see following post)