This is Why Our Education System Stinks
You've got to check this out. A high school journalism class created a rap video about saving the whales. You want to know what's wrong with public education look no further than this.
There's so many problems here.
One - A journalism teacher is teaching her students about liberal issue advocacy. Well, that pretty much sums up most of the problems with journalism nowadays.
Two -A journalism teacher is cool with "Free Dem Walez" as passable English? Teachers are supposed to teach proper English (especially in a journalism class), not accept student's way of speaking and spelling.
Three - Listen to this teacher introduce her video by saying "I was always taught that whales and dolphins were safe and happy living in captivity. I don't believe that anymore. Neither do my students." She's indoctrinating her students to accept her beliefs. She has a certain point of view of things and she forces it on the students. And instead of teaching the students...I don't know...something about JOURNALISM she instead uses class time to teach her students about how whales and dolphins are abused.
Four - The fact that the school not only saw nothing wrong with this misuse of taxpayer money but actually contacted the media to highlight this as a shining example of their work tells you everything you need to know why our public education system is failing.
HT WESH
28 comments:
How is a rap song journalism? Reason 9,578 to homeschool.
It's actually quite the tip of the hand. That is, if any one is so naive to believe journalism is about reporting facts and not advocacy.
I can't judge the entire curriculum based on this.
What if they voted on what the cause would be?
Free the Whales is relatively uncontroversial (and I don't associate it as a liberal cause at all)....I would get upset over something like a pro-choice advertisement.
I don't see a problem with the language as a part of an entertaining video. If she is accepting written assignments with this language then it is a problem, but if the assignment was simply "create an entertaining and informative video" then they succeeded.
It's not just public education. I work at a Catholic high school, and creative projects like this are standard fare for students to "show what they know", especially for students who are "just not good test takers". Leftist advocacy is not restricted to journalism classes, either: leftism is the curriculum, and math, science, English, religion become so many particular ways to indoctrinate students into leftist ideology. Lesson and curriculum choices are made with the deliberate intent of teaching leftism.
Hmm. Wonder how a video to "Save the 2nd Amendment" would do?
Yeah, it's a stupid question. Just a compulsion of mine. Sorry.
Best bumpersticker seen on rescuing Shamu & Co.; "Save The Whales, Collect The Whole Set!)
I guess this means that Michael Jackson (RIP) became a journalist when he released his "Heal the world" song or perhaps as early as "We are the world"? I only watched about a minute of the video, but I'd like to see a writing sample of those 4 young men's writing.
Funny how this came out shortly after a woman in Sea World was killed by a killer whale in the same city... just sayin'
I'm wondering if next they'll do a video advocating outlawing bug zappers. I mean, mosquitoes and gypsy moths deserve life and happiness too.
So did everyone on this 'blog vote in the last school board election, hmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Passivity is the enemy.
So are "Teen Masses," but that's another story.
I cannot disagree more with this article, as a teacher who has to maintain positive relationships with students on a daily basis.
And rap IS a form of English that uses poetic techniques that are centuries old.
I would have thought that at least the "message" ought to be discernable.
The girls at the mic were singing something like "they should be happeeeeeeee" but other than that I didn't catch a word.
I know this wasn't a Pop Idol audition ( though it looked like one of the out takes) at least they had a tune, the poor boy in the hoodie, alone at the mic reading the words has the most execrable voice, he was particularly hard to understand. He looked really uncomfortable. It seems mean to have filmed him and put him on youtube.
The giant stuffed whale toy in front of the teacher amplified the childishness.
This teacher is just making an eejit out of her "journalism" students.
Agree with Anonymous at 4:51PM, and I would add, there's more than likely a little racism behind this complaint. "Proper English"? Yes because rap music is just like writing formal essays.
Or maybe you just don't like black people music.
And I like how wildlife conservation is somehow only a "liberal advocacy issue". I guess that means conservatives are on the side of killing things and wrecking the planet...?
That's almost as absurd as saying Christians are a "creative minority", or a minority of any kind for that matter.
Anonymous
As a teacher, what would you say the students are learning here that is relevant to the business of journalism?
Eshto
"rap music is just like writing formal essays."
You have got to be kidding.
Attitudes like this in education cripple rather than unlock the potential of young black people.
"Or maybe you just don't like black people music."
This is a journalism class.
Eshto... considering most conservatives are against abortion, I guess we're not on the side of killing important things. I'm all for Willy and Flipper to be happy but sorry, humans come first.
I actually have to say that "Language Arts" is about more than teaching "proper English". No one would deny the impact of say, Mark Twain, who clearly used a non-standard variety of American vernacular in much of what he wrote. Various forms of drama, from Shakespeare to Stephen Sondheim, make extensive use of a wide range of registers, dialects, wordplays, etc. Even looking at the field of "infotainment", which is what this video is trying to be, there's a very different linguistic style to reporting for a National Geographic special than for a Steve Irwin program, but it's important for people to be able to understand, and even express themselves by using, different standards of English.
That being said, this particular example does NOT hold up to scrutiny as a well-applied use of a non-standard register.
Because this kind of thing passes for education, that's why so many young people were easy prey for the slick Obama "Yes We Can" campaign videos made by celebrities. All entertainment and emotional appeals. Students believe that this kind of thing actually delivers a solid message. They don't know what a rational argument is, much less a substantial rebuttal. The more entertaining or creative video wins in their minds. Truth? What is truth?
My name is Jamie Aquino and I am the teacher in the video. After reading so many positives, I came across this website with so many negative comments, and felt compelled to write my thoughts. First of all, the song and video was not done in my class or was part of my curriculum. My environmental project is an outside project that my students work on in their own time. They did everything after school and on the weekends. I didn't tell them what to say or write, they did that on their own. The title was selected for a reason, we are trying to reach out to young people and they get those words and the rap style of music. We just want to give another side of an issue - nothing more. All I can say is at least my students care about the environment, and marine mammals and about something. So many young people in this world don't care and are getting into trouble. My students are trying to do something. So you can critique the video and the song all you want. I am proud of my students for taking a stance, giving up countless hours of their own personal time and working together on something that matters to them. I hope you consider my words and think twice before you post any more negative comments about what my students are doing.
With all due respect are you really trying to tell us that no classtime at all went to teaching these students about the alleged abuse of animals? And their work on this video has no effect on their grade whatsoever?
Doesn't it also strike you as odd that the "stance" your students took lines up exactly with your strongly held views.
Yes, that is what I am telling you. My environmental project is not a classroom project. And the students involved volunteer their time. Their work on this video in no way affects their grade. Four the students are not even in my Journalism class, they are in my English class. The editor of the video is a former student who now interns for tv production at the school. My students in all my classes are graded based on assignments that are part of the curriculum, of which this video and my environmental project are not.
When I started my environmental project five years ago, I wasn't opposed to marine mammals in captivity. However, the environmental groups that supported my project were opposed to marine mammals in captivity and they presented me with information and research that made me look differently at the issue. Just as people change their minds over time about certain issues, so did I. Same with my students - they learned about the same issue and got the same information and over time, they also came to the conclusion about marine mammals in captivity. I don't think it's odd in any way that we have the same viewpoints about this issue. These kids have had these thoughts for years, it is just that they feel it's the time to get their message across - with the recent incident at SeaWorld and the congressional hearings yesterday regarding marine mammals in captivity. It was a timely and relevant situation for us to speak out about.
My project has a website (www.pier2pier.net) that won a U.S. State Department award three years ago. Last year, we were one of 10 finalists in an international youth environmental competition sponsored by Volvo and the United Nations Environment Programme. We did not just jump on the "bandwagon" to save dolphins. We have been involved in a number of projects and campaigns for years.
The incident at SeaWorld involving Tillikum did prompt my students to create this rap message. I have one student, a senior, who spent 40 hours of his own time editing and producing the video. The rappers spent a few days after school recording their parts.
I hope this answers your questions!
Ms. Aquino: do you or your students eat fish? Have an aquarium? Have anything against zoos? Own pets? Eat meat? Know the difference in kind between human beings and animals? Or is it only "marine mammals" that are singled out for your compassion and activism; and if so, then why only that genus? What is your stance on abortion? Have your students considered making a rap video in defense of children in the womb?
Ms. Aquino, Odd then that the press wrote up the story as your journalism class created this video. You might want to call the media and inform them they have the story completely wrong.
Where did they get that idea?
Anon - 4/28, 4:51... I think you have that backwards, and in a way that is killing child-raising in general and formal education in particular. Your students are the ones who have to get along with YOU.
Not that you should antagonize on purpose or anything, but really, they should have to learn how to do the work you require in the manner you choose, and not be catered to.
And in other news....
Don't know if anyone caught this, but...
Marine scientists investigating the Sea World incident have finally finished their analysis of the recordings made by Tilly The Whale before and during the attack.
They found that Tilly was urgently repeating the same series of sounds over and over again. After detailed comparisons of these sounds against recordings of other whales and of Tilly they concluded he was repeating the following:
"I SAID, DON'T CALL ME TILLY!"
Sorry - joke o' the day. (I know it's bad, you don't have to tell me.)
Hey Ms. Aquino - at least you seem well-intentioned and caring for your students. You should be glad that your efforts have "kept them out of trouble". That really is a good thing. (Midnight basketball anyone?) But I don't know - isn't there something else they could glom on to that would be at least as important?
How about fatherlessness? Do you think the impact of absent fathers might be more significant in your (any) community than the plight of "Don't-Call-Me-Tilly" The-Whale?
If you are interested, I could knock you out a decent rap for that and sent it to you. Lyrics, music and all. Maybe I can include some whale rap in it. Maybe it will be catchy. (I learned "rap" in high school too - when it was brand new. But only after I was done with Shakespeare, etc.)
God bless your efforts. Each child is so precious!
P.S. Tilly's problem is that he has no daddy. :(
The music involved is distasteful to White Anglo Saxon Roman Protestants.
On the same hand, these children would be chased out of traditional SSPX Chapels for not conforming to the personal virtue of the SSPX's wealthy donors that own the respective Chapels they attend.
So where do these little negroes go? Into the welcoming arms of Bloods and Crips, or the Liberals.
It is our fault this teacher is stupid; we have failed to properly catechize her.
Axl Rose, a rock singer has a very interesting song. It is called Sweet Child of Mine. The song is about a man that looks back on what he did and failed to do in his life and calls the results his child.
When you look at these monkies jumping around, you are seeing the child you created.
May God our Lord in His infinite and supreme goodness be pleased to give us His abundant grace, that we may know His most holy will, and entirely fulfill it.
*
I am not clear, after Jamie Aquino's comments, as to whether she considers this video to be good authentic journalism or something else.
She must be teaching them something; their youtube video gets more hits than this blog.
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