Ran across this while viewing an Obama article and thought what a well-spoken young man we have in the making with this article's author.
Questioning authority yes we can, and at such a young age (compared to mine of course)
Link to Lesson - No Spin
This Op-Ed appeared in the LA Times and was written by a high schooler in New Jersey.
Throughout my life, my teachers have told me that school is a neutral environment where my classmates and I can count on teachers and textbooks to provide us with the factual and unbiased information that will equip us for life. Lately, though, I've begun to wonder whether they really mean it.
In my junior year of high school in New Jersey, my U.S. history teacher used the first week of class to preach his religious beliefs. He told students, among other things, that they "belong in hell" if they reject Jesus as their savior, that evolution and the Big Bang are ridiculous and unscientific theories, and that there were dinosaurs on Noah's Ark.
Principal didn't believe him but he had the teacher on tape. The tape part makes me cringe a little but well that's what it takes for proof anymore.
Now in his senior year he's leading the charge against an American Government text book, written by a Bush appointee that is more opinion than fact.
What is most distressing is not that some public school teachers preach their religion, or that some authors put politics ahead of education. It is that it is so rare for anyone to call them on it. This text is widely used. Yet to my knowledge, no one has challenged these incorrect and misleading statements.
Are we all ready to stand up and be heard as this young man has been?