Et Tu, Texas? (Well, It IS Austin…)

Sixth graders in Austin, Texas were given the following assignment:

Notice socialist/communist nations use symbolism on their flags representing various aspects of their economic system. Imagine a new socialist nation is creating a flag and you have been put in charge of creating a flag. Use symbolism to represent aspects of socialism/communism on your flag. What kind of symbolism/colors would you use?

As a side note, does anyone out there remember when teachers taught sixth graders stuff like math, science, English and REAL Social Studies?  Bueller?  Anyone?

Moving along.

This little "lesson plan" caught the attention of Texas legislators, who questioned and "grilled the creators" as a result:

“Members of the Senate Education Committee on Thursday grilled the creators of a curriculum system used across Texas that critics say promotes anti-American values and stifles classroom flexibility. “Committee Chairman Dan Patrick, R-Houston, called it ‘a mess.’ One witness compared the system to "mind control," and an algebra teacher wept as he described quitting because he felt he was ‘aiding and abetting a crime’ by using CSCOPE in his classroom.

“CSCOPE is an electronic curriculum management system that offers Web-based lesson plans and exams designed to help teachers adhere to state education requirements. It is used in 875 school districts — more than 70 percent of districts statewide — and is supposed to be flexible enough for teachers to alter content to meet their individual needs.

“A string of witnesses before the Senate Education Committee criticized the program for promoting liberal values they said are anti-Christian at best and openly socialist at worst.

“They also complained that it is hard for nonteachers to get a look at the program."

Beyond the socialism/communism aspects of the assignment, I'll go on a limb here and say that the "lesson plan" is just plain STUPID.  Seriously.  What in the world is the learning outcome of this?  To be able to pick pretty colors and be able to discern and then differentiate a hammer from a sickle?  

My sweet Dandelion turns three this week, and I suppose it's time to start saving for private school.  Because even if it is liberal-Austin, this is TEXAS, y'all.  And when this crap reaches Texas, things are officially wack.

Wow.