So what do the following words or topics have in common?

Abuse

Alcohol (beer and liquor), tobacco, or drugs

Birthdays

Bodily functions

Cancer (and other diseases)

Catastrophes/disasters

Children dealing with serious issues

Computers in the home

Creatures from outer space

Dancing

Death and disease

Dinosaurs and prehistoric times

Divorce

Geological history

Evolution

Expensive gifts, vacations, and prizes

Gambling

Halloween

Holidays

Homes with swimming pools

In-depth discussions of sports that require prior knowledge

Junk food

Loss of employment

Movies

Nuclear weapons

Parapsychology

Politics

Pornography

Poverty

Rap music

Religion

Religious holidays

Rock-and-Roll music

Running away

Sex

Slavery

Terrorism

Vermin (rats and roaches)

Violence

War and bloodshed

Weapons (guns, knives, etc.)

Witchcraft, sorcery, etc.

Give up?

These are all terms or topics that teachers may not use on tests in New York City Public Schools.

This is presented as food for thought for those who hold that all power in public education should be reserved to the lowest possible level (i.e., the school boards).

Among other things, these rules would make it virtually impossible either to teach or test American History.

Which might be the point.

Comments

Dana Garrett said…

How can you ask relevant test questions about the Civil War era without mentioning the word "slavery?" I don't get it.

April 15, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Steven H. Newton said…

Precisely my point: how can you teach any American History at all without access to most of these verboten topics?

April 15, 2012 at 11:18 AM

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