EDIT: After reading some of the posts in this thread, I'm not quite so sure of this opinion. What I don't like is how current the news is, but the point raised by keith99 about letting kids analyze the recruiting first hand is very good.
I agree with keith99 said. We are talking about a ninth grader (freshman in High School). I don't think that is to young to start seeing quotes about the enemy that will rock their world in a couple of years. Younger kids (depending on maturity level) may not be in the age group to appreciate this. A freshman in high school? They are a young adult at this point, and they are capable of stepping out a little into adult realities.
This woman was upset because they quoted (ISIS) what they wanted from their women that join. How Bin Ladin views human life. Yes, it isn't pretty. I have to wonder if her child isn't a bit sheltered. I remember my kids at that age asking ALL kinds of questions about current events, and some aspects of history they lived though...but couldn't really remember because they were young. Current events opens young people's eyes that not everywhere on this globe do we see things via western lenses.
Trying to explain the concept of 'honor' for example in the middle east was a tough one for me. The definition is completely different than how we use it. How Patriarchy on steroids in some parts of the world works? They were appalled, and couldn't understand why they woman couldn't leave. That was a hard discussion too. The realities of people in different parts of the world are shocking at times to young people, and I don't see this assignment as bad. It starts a discussion at school no doubt, and then it could continue at home.
Honestly? I think in many ways it woke my kids up to how coddled we are here compared to many parts of the world. That isn't meant as a cut down just the reality of it.
Quote from article:
Theresa Bosley's daughter is in that 9th grade class. Bosley found out about her daughter's assignment by chance. She said if you are going to teach about ISIS, don't stop there.
"I'm all about education. I have a juris in education. Yes. We should teach about ISIS. But let's teach the facts. Let's teach who they are and what happened. Let's teach about Paris in Lebanon. Let's teach about the 21 Christians that were beheaded," said Bosley. "Let's teach about the school kids that were kidnapped, 200 of them, from their school. Where are they now?"
If she truly KNEW about education? She would realize that in history class they would go into more of what she spoke about. You touch on this aspects in the class she is complaining about.
The above chart of pencils is a program they use in elementary school for example. If they are working on 'caring' each teacher EVEN GYM CLASS would speak about how to show 'caring' behavior towards others. The next week they do fairness. That's not to say you don't get into baseball in gym class, or vowels in English. Teachers tend to incorporate this into their lessons.
As they get older? You move on to bigger themes for that age group.
For all we know current events could be the subject of the week in High School. Her kid's English class will use the quotes from current events to incorporate parts of the lessons that the history teachers dives into more deeply.
This isn't an uncommon practice, and if this mother KNEW education? She would know that too. I mean she wants the English Teacher to teach ONLY about Isis, and leave out the writing lesson? Please.
