Thursday, August 28, 2008
College worth it?
Interesting article about the value of college - not sure if I agree, but it is a good read. CLICK HERE!
Friday, August 8, 2008
No Bible Clubs Allowed
More nonsense from a public high school - click here.
At least California reversed its decision on allowing home-schools.
At least California reversed its decision on allowing home-schools.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Vouchers at the college level?
Colorado Christian just recently got its state scholarship funding back:
Here's the brief:
Students at Colorado Christian University will get state scholarships under a decision Friday by two Colorado agencies.
State Higher Education Director David Skaggs and Attorney General John Suthers said they will not contest a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling reversing a state decision barring scholarships to students at the Lakewood campus.
The Colorado Commission on Higher Eduction [sic] had determined that CCU is “pervasively sectarian.”
In the July 23 decision, the appeals court held that the state erred in treating CCU differently from other schools that are owned by religious groups, but which were not deemed “pervasively sectarian.”
Two thoughts:
1. I love the phrase "pervasively sectarian" (the reason they previously did not get funds). That's code for "a Christian-based college that actually acts like it." I hope DLHS is pervasively sectarian.
2. Why not state scholarships for K-12 private schools? Colorado: vouchers for college kids and no one else!
Here's the brief:
Students at Colorado Christian University will get state scholarships under a decision Friday by two Colorado agencies.
State Higher Education Director David Skaggs and Attorney General John Suthers said they will not contest a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling reversing a state decision barring scholarships to students at the Lakewood campus.
The Colorado Commission on Higher Eduction [sic] had determined that CCU is “pervasively sectarian.”
In the July 23 decision, the appeals court held that the state erred in treating CCU differently from other schools that are owned by religious groups, but which were not deemed “pervasively sectarian.”
Two thoughts:
1. I love the phrase "pervasively sectarian" (the reason they previously did not get funds). That's code for "a Christian-based college that actually acts like it." I hope DLHS is pervasively sectarian.
2. Why not state scholarships for K-12 private schools? Colorado: vouchers for college kids and no one else!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
A new twist on AP classes
Schools around the country that make a "top 10" or "top 100" schools list generally make that list based on how many Advanced Placement courses they offer, or if they have an IB program, which is basically AP courses with an added writing element. A classic example of this is the fact that Lakewood High School often makes Colorado's Top 10 schools list.
Interestingly, not many parents really understand what AP is. Most parents believe AP courses to be a course with a "higher standard" or "honors level" and ask, "how many AP courses does your school have?" In the spirit of parental education, here you go:
AP courses were originally designed and written by college professors to be the equivalent of freshmen college courses. Therefore, if a student scored well enough on the AP exam, he/she would receive college credit for the course.
This has snowballed into the AP Collegeboard creating AP courses for every subject under the sun. In the rush to be considered "high-level," public high schools now offer every AP course they can. But having more AP classes does not necessarily mean that a student is "learning more" or receiving a better education. In fact, critics suggest that AP curriculum, while extensive, is extremely shallow. This combined with the fact that the courses are "taught to the test," means that AP courses are extremely rigid and rarely allow for any deviation from the course outline.
Like most things in education, the pendulum is starting to swing back. Many east coast private schools and other non-public schools are now advocating an "AP-free" curriculum. If you don't believe me, check out http://www.excellencewithoutap.org/Index.html. They are doing this because it makes them "different from the public schools," and the harsh truth is this: colleges don't care if a transcript is full of AP classes or not. The best colleges will be looking for things that make a transcript "special or different." Right now, that's not AP courses because all the big public schools are doing it.
Interestingly, not many parents really understand what AP is. Most parents believe AP courses to be a course with a "higher standard" or "honors level" and ask, "how many AP courses does your school have?" In the spirit of parental education, here you go:
AP courses were originally designed and written by college professors to be the equivalent of freshmen college courses. Therefore, if a student scored well enough on the AP exam, he/she would receive college credit for the course.
This has snowballed into the AP Collegeboard creating AP courses for every subject under the sun. In the rush to be considered "high-level," public high schools now offer every AP course they can. But having more AP classes does not necessarily mean that a student is "learning more" or receiving a better education. In fact, critics suggest that AP curriculum, while extensive, is extremely shallow. This combined with the fact that the courses are "taught to the test," means that AP courses are extremely rigid and rarely allow for any deviation from the course outline.
Like most things in education, the pendulum is starting to swing back. Many east coast private schools and other non-public schools are now advocating an "AP-free" curriculum. If you don't believe me, check out http://www.excellencewithoutap.org/Index.html. They are doing this because it makes them "different from the public schools," and the harsh truth is this: colleges don't care if a transcript is full of AP classes or not. The best colleges will be looking for things that make a transcript "special or different." Right now, that's not AP courses because all the big public schools are doing it.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Social engineering at Minnesota public schools
This is where public education is or where it is heading. Read this whole article - fascinating and scary. Hopefully, the parents can stop this before it goes into effect next year. I'm not betting on it.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
"I am so happy you graduated that I'm now in jail!"
Here's to hoping that DLHS never has to resort to this - click here.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Coming soon to a public high school near you . . .
A new textbook is being used in 38 states at 180 high schools. It's called The Bible and its Influence. Sounds good, right? In actuality, it is a textbook that treats the Bible not as the word of God, but as a book to be challenged, criticized, and brought into line with a non-Christian, secular, morally relativistic worldview. I cannot find a better example of "you either educate your children with Jesus Christ or they will be educated against Him."
Here's a couple of articles on the the topic: Read this and then THIS!!
Here's a couple of articles on the the topic: Read this and then THIS!!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Lutheran Song . . .
No differentiation as to what kind of Lutherans, but nevertheless very funny (thanks to Brother Hellmers for finding this) . . . click here.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
California decision and the culture war
If you've been keeping up with supreme court decision in California to allow gay marriage and wondering, "What will that mean for our society? (And public schools?)" - this article is a must read.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The future of American education . . .
Great article about the future of American education - click HERE.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
GSA clubs at the public high schools . . .
Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs at the high schools that many of our Christian kids go to:
Green Mountain, Wheat Ridge (click here and scroll down if you don't believe me), Lakewood (they call theirs a "Diversity Club.") - even Ralston Valley High School (there's is called "Pride in the Valley" according to the GLSEN website).
For a full list of the high schools that have one of these students clubs that are backed by GLSEN - click here.
"Not at my local high school!" - maybe that argument can now be put to rest.
Green Mountain, Wheat Ridge (click here and scroll down if you don't believe me), Lakewood (they call theirs a "Diversity Club.") - even Ralston Valley High School (there's is called "Pride in the Valley" according to the GLSEN website).
For a full list of the high schools that have one of these students clubs that are backed by GLSEN - click here.
"Not at my local high school!" - maybe that argument can now be put to rest.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
"ISSUES in Christian Education" article . . .
Concordia University Nebraska just published its Spring 2008 - ISSUES in Christian Education magazine. Here's the preview of the issue from the CUNE website. To read the editorials (including one from a local Lutheran high school principal), click here and go to page 3 of the PDF.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Is the fix in?
Found this fascinating article about California college admissions and kids from Christian schools that use Christian-based textbooks - I have often wondered if it was only a matter of time before this started happening. I'll keep an eye on this story and look for follow-ups. The lawsuit took place in 2005, but I can't find what ever happened with it.
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