New Standards For Teachers

 

In what could at best be considered a horribly vague pronouncement, the Illinois State Board of Education is considering new standards for teachers and administrators which are designed to mandate more sensitivity for different cultures and backgrounds.

It's all part of the “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading” standards which are being proposed as rules for primary and secondary educators.

I have no problem with the idea of encouraging teachers to adapt their instructional methods to help students from diverse cultures. I’m sure they do already. But there is plenty of proposed vague verbiage which needs to be fleshed out in this proposal.

For instance, try this on for size.

I’m reading directly from the proposal. They call on educators to “embrace and encourage progressive viewpoints and perspectives that leverage asset thinking toward traditionally marginalized populations,” as well as “understand and value the notion…that there is not one ‘correct’ way of doing or understanding something, and that what is seen as ‘correct’ is most often based on our lived experiences.”

Say what? As a parent, it was my job to teach my children “the correct way” of doing things. It was built on respect and our core values as a family. This gobbledygook essentially says truth is illusive. Truth does not exist.

Note to the state board. Concentrate on your math scores and spare us the progressive agenda.