EdAction
Maple River Education Coalition PAC
105 Peavey Rd, St 116 
Chaska, MN  55318 
952-361-4931
http://www.EdAction.org
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June 2, 2002
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Replacing Studies With Projects
- A Social Studies Teacher Speaks Out

The following letter shows the intense frustration teachers across the country are experiencing as a direct result of the radical restructuring of education that is being forced upon them.

This letter shows how the Profile of Learning in Minnesota and similar education restructuring in the other 49 states is "dumbing down" the curriculum and a destruction of academic achievement in schools.

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I am a social studies teacher. I have gone along with the standards [Profile of Learning] stuff (do I have a choice?), but I am presently fed up.

My students sure know how to do inquiry research and plan a really cool trip to Europe. But they do not know much about the rest of the world or where places are located. My year was bogged down in all sorts of fun little projects. We are now told, "Students don't have to 'do packages' [Performance packages]. Packages need to be implemented into the curriculum." (The word is "embedded.")

Whenever I bring up the need for learning core knowledge, memorizing geographic locations of countries, or testing for key ideas about American government, I am pooh-poohed by many fellow staff members.

I have been teaching ten years. I know what works. Memory work served me quite well. As a youngster, I was compelled to memorize my times table up to 13. Imagine the uproar from the experts if a third grade teacher expected that today! Guess what? I can count change, multiply, subtract and divide. I can even do change in my head! Some people today cannot figure out the change at a till if you throw an extra four cents on the counter.

Because I work in a school where the board and administration can be so political, I would ask that you not use my name. I am tenured, but fear for my job if the "wrong" comments come from me. Our administration has bought into the "seamless web" idea, hook, line and sinker. They have made the comment that they "will never abandon" the Profile of Learning.

Maybe I need to found a school where children can learn to read, write and love their country.

Yours truly,
A concerned teacher and parent

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