Recognize this?
What about this? Look familiar?
That’s what I thought. Of course, you recognize them. They are two beloved children’s books by Bill Martin Jr.
Ever seen this one?
Didn’t think so. Even at a glance, it’s pretty obvious which book or books are appropriate for children. Apparently, it wasn’t very obvious to the Texas State Board of Education. Last week the Associated Press reported (“Confusion bars children’s author from curriculum”) that the board, in all its brilliance, banned the work of Bill Martin Jr. and Bill Martin from elementary school curriculum.
I know the covers are easily confused, and “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” just sounds like a natural extension of Marxism, but this mistake could have been avoided with some relatively simple research. Apparently no one did the proper research, and it was a classic case of assuming someone else did the homework.
If they’re making decisions about what our children will study in school, shouldn’t they all be doing their homework?
Tags: Authors, children's book, News, politics, school, thumbs down
While this is an amusing anecdote, it is also a sobering reminder that we need more educators on the board, and that we need to bring the focus of the board back to educating future generations of Texans. This is why I’m running for Texas State Board of Education, District 5. Visit http://www.voterebecca.com for more information.
Thank you,
Rebecca Bell-Metereau
wow. I’m embarrassed for them.
With all due respect to Rebecca above, it does not show we need more educators on the Board. It shows we need less Board control of education!
Parents should be deciding what their children learn. Government doesn’t know best. Obviously!
I am a supporter of public schools, but the crazy ideas the state seems to have about the curriculum is a pet peeve of mine … probably another topic for some other blog. What upsets me the most is the people that have been entrusted with these positions obviously don’t take them seriously. If curriculum will continue to be chosen by a board, then I do agree that the board could benefit from the insight of more educators. It has also reinforced the fact that as a parent, it is my responsibility to oversee the education of my children and supplement their classroom work with outside opportunities and learning experiences.
While I’m a homeschooler, I’m also a supporter of public schools. When I wrote above that parents should be deciding what their children learn, I meant that curriculum decisions, for instance, should be made by the educators and parents at the school or school district level. I want truly local control of local/personal issues. State and Federal boards of education shouldn’t exist.
[...] weeks ago I shared my disapproving opinion of the Texas State Board of Education, and its inability to distinguish between authors Bill Martin and Bill Martin [...]