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Students were asked to compose a written debate over whether the Holocaust was “merely a political scheme created to influence public emotion and gain.”. The district initially defended the eighth-grade assignment. But now Rialto District spokesperson Syeda Jafri has stated “It was an error and we have to correct it.
School district’s interim superintendent, Mohammed Z. Islam has received death threats and police are investigating.
The Dept of Education seems to think that "critical thinking" just appears by magic as soon as a child enters the school system. They can discern truth from fiction just like adults.
There a much better ways to do that if that is the case and the age of the kids is much too young.
In this situation, it's such an offensive topic and it's been pushed by various groups....I mean, imagine some German school handing out an assignment to 8th graders asking them if it's true that white people are superior to the lesser races?
There is just no fixing that mess....
Personally, I want to know HOW that assignment came to pass. The initial defense of the assignment followed by back-tracking could indicate that they started asking questions about how the assignment came to be and they found something bad.
Eighth graders are much too young to learn about the Holocaust and critical thinking skills? What the hell are you teaching eighth graders down there? See Spot Run? Growing lima beans on wet paper towels?
My son wrote a paper on the systematic extermination of homosexuals by the Nazis when he was in grade 5.
There are all kinds of areas of public interest in which there are strong political views coupled with a legitimate basis to argue either side of the issue. The Holocaust is not one of them. 100% of Holocaust deniers are anti-semites, and there is no legitimate debate as to the questions raised in the assignment. To assign such a question for a research paper is irresponsible and pointless.
There are all kinds of areas of public interest in which there are strong political views coupled with a legitimate basis to argue either side of the issue. The Holocaust is not one of them. 100% of Holocaust deniers are anti-semites, and there is no legitimate debate as to the questions raised in the assignment. To assign such a question for a research paper is irresponsible and pointless.
[MOD CUT/rude]
The assignment wasn't about denying the holocaust.
From the link....
The controversial question in the assignment read: “…write an argumentative essay, based upon cited textual evidence, in which you explain whether or not you believe this was an actual event in history or merely a political scheme created to influence public emotion and gain wealth…”
The district initially defended the eighth-grade assignment – which was one part of an 18-piece essay – as an exercise to help students “evaluate the quality of evidence made by advocates or opponents of an issue.”
There are all kinds of areas of public interest in which there are strong political views coupled with a legitimate basis to argue either side of the issue. The Holocaust is not one of them. 100% of Holocaust deniers are anti-semites, and there is no legitimate debate as to the questions raised in the assignment. To assign such a question for a research paper is irresponsible and pointless.
Quote:
Originally Posted by weltschmerz
[MOD CUT/rude]
The assignment wasn't about denying the holocaust.
From the link....
The controversial question in the assignment read: “…write an argumentative essay, based upon cited textual evidence, in which you explain whether or not you believe this was an actual event in history or merely a political scheme created to influence public emotion and gain wealth…”
The district initially defended the eighth-grade assignment – which was one part of an 18-piece essay – as an exercise to help students “evaluate the quality of evidence made by advocates or opponents of an issue.”
Agree with jackmccullough. 8th grade is a bit young for all this nuance.
Last edited by Ibginnie; 05-07-2014 at 07:31 PM..
Reason: edited quoted psot
Eighth graders are much too young to learn about the Holocaust and critical thinking skills? What the hell are you teaching eighth graders down there? See Spot Run? Growing lima beans on wet paper towels?
My son wrote a paper on the systematic extermination of homosexuals by the Nazis when he was in grade 5.
I totally forgot about the Lima beans!
Eighth graders are not babies. I suspect the assignment had an agenda behind it, but learning about the holocaust at that age is not out of line.
Eighth graders are much too young to learn about the Holocaust and critical thinking skills? What the hell are you teaching eighth graders down there? See Spot Run? Growing lima beans on wet paper towels?
My son wrote a paper on the systematic extermination of homosexuals by the Nazis when he was in grade 5.
Did he have to include the viewpoint that none of this stuff ever happened?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801
I totally forgot about the Lima beans!
Eighth graders are not babies. I suspect the assignment had an agenda behind it, but learning about the holocaust at that age is not out of line.
8th graders are not adults, either. I don't think anyone is advocating they not learn about the holocaust. It probably wouldn't hurt for them to learn about holocaust deniers, either. But I do suspect there's an agenda here. We'll never know since the school is backing off the assignment.
Did he have to include the viewpoint that none of this stuff ever happened?
And this is why such an "assignment" is a waste of time. Either something did happen or it didn't; either it is or it isn't. It's not debatable in this case and it's not something that arguing about is going to change facts. The teacher may as well have made an assignment for students to argue why the world is flat. Complete waste of time.
Debate/argumentation skills are honed on something that is debatable, not fabricating lies and attempting to peddle them as truth. Documentation, photos, testimony, and eye witnesses exist for this topic. We can't really say that about many things we DO assume to be true without 100% proof. But if those things were questioned, all hell would break loose and the teacher would be burned alive at the stake.
Doesn't seem like a unreasonable topic, it teaches critical thinking. As long as they weren't trying to actually convince the children it was a hoax, but rather teach them how to deal with idiocy, and recognize how governments and other people can distort the truth.
A muslim doing a critical skills essay on the holocaust?
Was he trying to ignite another holy war?
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