More @ FL school nonsense: The David

[basilosaurus]

sg.news.yahoo.com/florida-principal-viewing-michelangelos-david-162441446.html

Principal had to resign after 6th grade students saw the david without parental permission slips.

What makes this extra special is it's a charter school, so publically funded, associated with extremely conservative Christian Hillsdale. 

"We [nominative pronoun] don’t use pronouns,” Bishop said. “We don’t teach CRT and we don’t ever mention 1619 — those are not appropriate subjects for our [poseessive pronoun] kids.” Gah, I really hate these people. 

Oh, and for a small bit of history, the statue was initially displayed in the main public piazza in Florence. 

[rubytue]

public charter institution that focuses on classical learning, a teaching philosophy centered on a traditional Western liberal arts education that aims to impart critical thinking skills children can use throughout their lives. Classical learning is also popular within the Christian homeschooling movement.

This seems… counter intuitive.

[lilac05]

Mar 25, 2023 21:44:58 GMT -5 rubytue said:

public charter institution that focuses on classical learning, a teaching philosophy centered on a traditional Western liberal arts education that aims to impart critical thinking skills children can use throughout their lives. Classical learning is also popular within the Christian homeschooling movement.

This seems… counter intuitive.

My (albeit limited) experience with homeschool friends who do “Classical Education” is that they SAY it’s good for building critical thinking, but it feels like it couldn’t be further from that. They’re pretty proud that their kids can [insert reciting a smorgasbord of facts about some obscure historical thing] but it rarely seems like there’s any connection to today. I’m not at all impressed, but they think it’s the best thing ever.

“We don’t use pronouns.” LOL. Way to make yourselves look super smart! Use a pronoun in the same sentence announcing that you don’t use them. Idiots.

[basilosaurus]

Mar 25, 2023 21:44:58 GMT -5 rubytue said:

public charter institution that focuses on classical learning, a teaching philosophy centered on a traditional Western liberal arts education that aims to impart critical thinking skills children can use throughout their lives. Classical learning is also popular within the Christian homeschooling movement.

This seems… counter intuitive.

What? Far right talibangelists engage in double speak?

Yeah, it's a really poor dog whistle. Basically they think that anything since classical times is devolution of culture. Women can vote and show ankles! Teh gayz don't get stoned to death! They idolize sophistry (classical) and think it's actually effective debate.

[MixedBerryJam]

I opened a link I saw, not having heard a thing about it, and it was an interview with the superintendent, I think. I read the whole article, and then closed the browser thinking I had read a satire that I just didn’t find funny. Hours later it was on the news and I realized, omg the guy is simply authentically stupid.

[neverfstop]

Lol- my kid (8YO girl) walked by while I was reading an article about and kind of got all bothered there was a naked man on my laptop....I explained it was art and the human body was normal, but she was still not happy about it. I told her there's lots of naked people in art, painting, and sculptures.

[pumpkin]

I’m pretty sure the David would fall into “classical.” 🙄

[maudefindlay]

This is the same school they are trying to build in my city. Private at the moment, but I know becoming a charter school is their goal. They are to open in August and so far cannot find a building and have been looking for a year/year and a half. They have 20 some odd students signed up, but goal is 75. I'd say overall our city is saying we don't want them here, I'm thinking there is a good chance they fail.
Eta Their "teachers" do not have to have an education degree nor teaching license. The principal of this school/not quite a school yet in my city is a former local high school teacher with no administration degree, so I bet this "principal/superintendent" in the story isn't a principal/superintendent in the sense we normally deal with.

[rubytue]

Mar 25, 2023 22:06:38 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Mar 25, 2023 21:44:58 GMT -5 rubytue said:

This seems… counter intuitive.

My (albeit limited) experience with homeschool friends who do “Classical Education” is that they SAY it’s good for building critical thinking, but it feels like it couldn’t be further from that. They’re pretty proud that their kids can [insert reciting a smorgasbord of facts about some obscure historical thing] but it rarely seems like there’s any connection to today. I’m not at all impressed, but they think it’s the best thing ever.

“We don’t use pronouns.” LOL. Way to make yourselves look super smart! Use a pronoun in the same sentence announcing that you don’t use them. Idiots.

Based on the adults I work with, having a standard education does guarantee you build critical thinking skill. But yes, what you said. These are the same people that bitch if a university asks someone to write a paper on a subject they disagree with. Which is… critical thinking. 

I’m also thinking that this is the type of education that someone like George Washington on Ben Franklin had. Which I’m sure is part of their argument for it. But, these evangelical parents don’t have enough critical thinking skills to actually comprehend that these guys were the left wing radicals of the 18th century, and really only nominally Christian. But, I’m sure they leave those writings out of their classical education.

There is a college in Maryland that says they do a classical education. It has always appeared to me to skew liberal, not evangelical, perhaps I’m wrong there. My understanding is it’s basically a pre-law degree.  www.sjc.edu/academic-programs/undergraduate 

I am really spun up over this misappropriation of a “classical education” because in reality, like you said, they do not value critical thinking skills. They don’t want their children to challenge their thinking or world views, which critical thinking does. Hell, Christianity is be good because someone is watching, not be good because it’s the right thing to do. 

[basilosaurus]

Beyond the obvious, one thing that really bothers me is it's a minority majority school. But, sure, kids don't need to learn about racism and slavery. They experience pleasantville every day. (Yes all kids need to learn, obviously, but they act like if they don't teach them no one will experience "negativity."

[Jalapeñomel]

The superintendent said that we don’t know how people in that century learned, as if people only learned to write things down in the 20th century. 🙄

[DarcyLongfellow]

So called "classical education" has been on my radar for about a decade since a girl I went to high school with made a huge deal on FB about how she was switching her kids to a new private school that taught classical education. The idea, on the surface, sounded awesome, but knowing this woman I had my doubts. It didn't take a long perusal of the various classical education schools' websites to realize it's all a big front for shoving Christian evangelical thinking down these kids' throats.

rubytue - St. Johns in Annapolis is definitely very liberal. They're truly based on the idea of studying the classics. It's been around a long time and has no connection to these new schools that are using "classical education" as a dog whistle to indicate that they won't teach your precious anything that might make them think too hard.

[rubytue]

Mar 26, 2023 10:13:15 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

So called "classical education" has been on my radar for about a decade since a girl I went to high school with made a huge deal on FB about how she was switching her kids to a new private school that taught classical education. The idea, on the surface, sounded awesome, but knowing this woman I had my doubts. It didn't take a long perusal of the various classical education schools' websites to realize it's all a big front for shoving Christian evangelical thinking down these kids' throats.

rubytue - St. Johns in Annapolis is definitely very liberal. They're truly based on the idea of studying the classics. It's been around a long time and has no connection to these new schools that are using "classical education" as a dog whistle to indicate that they won't teach your precious anything that might make them think too hard.

I think that’s what’s got me so spun up about it. It sounds so good, but then it’s bait and switch. Like, if I had kids, it would sound appealing to me on the surface. I’m sure I’d dig far enough to figure out the twist, but how many wouldn’t? Isn’t that the point and the way these people function? Find a phrase that sounds good and is hard to argue with and then use to to disguise sick beliefs. See also “all live matter”, “save the children”, etc etc etc. 

[Jalapeñomel]

I’m so sad and terrified at what’s happening with public schools.

[lilac05]

Mar 26, 2023 11:43:47 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I’m so sad and terrified at what’s happening with public schools.

Same.

There’s a bill to ban SEL in Iowa now. Apparently they think that includes CRT?!?

I don’t understand how they can pretend to care about the mental health of students…while attempting to remove one of the best things we can do for kids’ mental health in schools. The idiocy knows no bounds.

[erbear]

Mar 26, 2023 13:44:02 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Mar 26, 2023 11:43:47 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I’m so sad and terrified at what’s happening with public schools.

Same.

There’s a bill to ban SEL in Iowa now. Apparently they think that includes CRT?!?

I don’t understand how they can pretend to care about the mental health of students…while attempting to remove one of the best things we can do for kids’ mental health in schools. The idiocy knows no bounds.

Let’s be clear — none of this is “for the children”. Schools are just a pawn.

[smock]

The interview with the school board chair legit reads like satire:

slate.com/human-interest/2023/03/florida-principal-fired-michelangelo-david-statue.html

At one point he accuses the reporter of having a NY area code. And says teachers aren’t authorities. And says describing David as “nonpornographic” is offensive because it contains the word “pornographic.” 🧐

[Jalapeñomel]

Mar 26, 2023 13:44:02 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Mar 26, 2023 11:43:47 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I’m so sad and terrified at what’s happening with public schools.

Same.

There’s a bill to ban SEL in Iowa now. Apparently they think that includes CRT?!?

I don’t understand how they can pretend to care about the mental health of students…while attempting to remove one of the best things we can do for kids’ mental health in schools. The idiocy knows no bounds.

Iowa is doing some awful stuff right now.

[lilac05]

Mar 26, 2023 16:59:01 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Mar 26, 2023 13:44:02 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Same.

There’s a bill to ban SEL in Iowa now. Apparently they think that includes CRT?!?

I don’t understand how they can pretend to care about the mental health of students…while attempting to remove one of the best things we can do for kids’ mental health in schools. The idiocy knows no bounds.

Iowa is doing some awful stuff right now.

Yes. Truly abhorrent. I’m ashamed to say I live here, but I’m fighting like hell to make sure it doesn’t stay this way! We were a remarkably normal state not long ago…but we have a governor who is absolutely drunk on power and abusing her power.

[livinitup]

Did the parents object to the oversized large right hand symbolizing strength in the face of overwhelming power and adversity? Or is it the pre-pubescent penis?


I bet it’s the penis.

[erbear]

Mar 26, 2023 18:57:37 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Did the parents object to the oversized large right hand symbolizing strength in the face of overwhelming power and adversity? Or is it the pre-pubescent penis?


I bet it’s the penis.

It’s literally because the teacher said “this is not pornography. No need to tell your parents I showed you pornography because this is not that.” Because she said pornography. WTF

[icedcoffee]

The David was one of the most remarkable pieces of art I've ever seen. I am almost never impressed by art. It's just not that big to me, but seeing the David was so amazing.

Anyway--that state is full of a bunch of chucklefucks. WTF!

[msmerymac]

Mar 28, 2023 12:41:03 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

The David was one of the most remarkable pieces of art I've ever seen. I am almost never impressed by art. It's just not that big to me, but seeing the David was so amazing.

Anyway--that state is full of a bunch of chucklefucks. WTF!

I just saw it last September! For that, and other things, I am apparently going to hell. Despite the David being commissioned by, like, clergy. But evangelicals have a thing against Catholics, too.

[Michelle]

Mar 25, 2023 21:29:28 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

sg.news.yahoo.com/florida-principal-viewing-michelangelos-david-162441446.html

Principal had to resign after 6th grade students saw the david without parental permission slips.

What makes this extra special is it's a charter school, so publically funded, associated with extremely conservative Christian Hillsdale. 

"We [nominative pronoun] don’t use pronouns,” Bishop said. “We don’t teach CRT and we don’t ever mention 1619 — those are not appropriate subjects for our [poseessive pronoun] kids.” Gah, I really hate these people. 

Oh, and for a small bit of history, the statue was initially displayed in the main public piazza in Florence. 

There is a replica out in open display in Marseille.

Or it was there in 1998.


I may or may not have immature pictures with it somewhere...