Dummying Down Of America



So now the state is talking about doing away with the Global History Regents because too many kids can't pass it.  Wow!  In one breath they are talking about making graduation requirements more stringent and the next they are talking about trying to make them easier.

Even Packemin, one of the best schools in the city has problems getting kids to pass this regents.  Could it be that the kids have trouble reading?  Is too much material covered in the two year span of the course?  Whatever the reason, history is important as anything else the kids study in school.  A person who succeeds in any field, be it science or engineering or art needs to have a well rounded education.  Engineering programs require students to take social science and liberal arts courses as well as math, technology and science. 

Too many students are coming into college unprepared for the rigor their course work will present.  They are too used to getting an easy out--a couple of online questions or a Golden Book report.  They are used to being able to substitute an arithmetic course for one in trigonometry.  Aside from hurting education, the wrong message is being sent if a math regents is allowed to replace one in history.

All the state really cares about is graduation rates.  Education doesn't matter.  Kids and their futures count for nothing.