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Teacher-bashing simplistic

While it is true that many young Americans today aren’t nearly as culturally literate as they should be when it comes to basic geography, history, civics and current political understandings, Mona Charen, once again, in her uniquely tunnel-visioned, uninformed way, has managed to indict teachers everywhere as the culprit.

So if I, as a dedicated teacher, don’t take time that I already don’t have to create an entire civics instructional unit outside of an already hugely encompassing required curriculum that my students and I will be evaluated on, then “the case” obviously cannot be made for me as a good teacher, and I clearly am not pushing my students toward what they are capable of.

The Langley High School Case Day project sounds wonderful, and obviously results in learning that is important, but the fact that so many youngsters are graduating without this learning points more toward an already bulging load of critical skills that teachers are endeavoring to impart to their students than it does toward any ineffectiveness on their part.

It’s not that simple of a fix, Mona. Why do you feel the need to reduce it to one?

Warren Wheeler

Nine Mile Falls



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