Are Catholic schools' curriculum as lefty as the Arlington Public Schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a troll and I understand that my children will be interacting with people in society. What I don't want, however, is for my children to be indoctrinated with liberal BS rather than taught facts especially in the elementary and middle school grades. I would appreciate an answer to my question rather than a critique on it. If you don't have something to contribute, then please find another post to attack or, better yet, find something more worthwhile to do with your time.

You use words like "liberal BS" and then get all angry when someone attacks you in kind? Whatever else you are, you're definitely a moron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an obvious liberal bias in the Arlington public school curriculum and we are wondering if the Arlington/Alexandria/McLean Catholic schools are any better. We do not want our children to spend months on end learning about black Americans, Native Americans, Caesar Chavez, global warming, multiculturalism, etc. and miss out on learning about our founding fathers, 50 states, map skills, unbiased science, 'traditional' literature, etc. We are not being racists - we just feel that the liberal bias is obvious and it is not what we want for our children.

Does anyone have specific recommendations for Catholic schools that have more balanced and/or American-focused curricula?

You are, in fact, being racist. You are also being clueless. The curriculum is set by the state. For example, the entire fourth grade curriculum statewide studies Virginia, including many a trip to Jamestown where, gasp, they learn about the original settlers and things like the starving times (although this may not be to your taste since they also talk about Pocohontas as well as John Smith). Next week my daughter is taking a trip to Mount Vernon as part of a unit on the Revolutionary War that includes, gasp, study of the Founders (not the "Founding Fathers" -- no one uses that term anymore since it is a misnomer, historically speaking.).

Science unit currently is about metric system (I know, that's what the socialists use, right?). They also studied weather and, oddly, moon phases. They study a lot about moon phases. Personally, I think the state of Virginia wants to prepare our chilren to be werewolves. But, again, that's a State of Virginia thing, not an Arlington thing.


I haven't heard a word about Caesar Chavez (or Hugo Chavez for that matter.). It might upset you to know my second grader is currently studying the Chinese New Year. I know, fucking commies, right?

[Anonymous]

OP, since you fin the liberal bias "obvious" and seem so knowlegeable about your premise, please cite for me three specific pieces of the Arlington schools curriculum that offend your sensibilities and prove your point.

I want specifics. What grade, what unit, what school. What textbook has been assigned, what project is the deliverable.

Three examples. Shouldn't be hard for you. Specifics, not generalities.

Where, for example, is Cesar Chavez taught in the curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP and while I wouldn't have phrased it the same way OP did, I agree that APS has a decidedly liberal bent. For example, my K'er has learned a lot about MLK and spent most of a month on Chinese New Year, but has learned nothing about Washington or Lincoln. He learned about Kwaanza, Diwala, Ramadan, Hanukkah, but was told he shouldn't talk about what holiday(s) he celebrates with his friends. At the "winter concert" the groups played and sang songs about Hanukkah and another holiday (I can't remember whether it was Diwali or Kwaanza), but not one of the three groups performed any music related to Christmas. I too want kids to learn a lot about everyone's history, but APS seems too focused on PC liberalism, not the basics. That view does not make me racist or Xenophobic, just a concerned parent who wants my kid to learn history in a way that makes sense.

Live in the heart of liberalism, NW DC, and this is precisely why my kids are in a private school.

Mine too. I have nothing agains liberalism (and am somewhat liberal myself). I certainly want them to learn about leaders like MLK and Caesar Chavez and holidays of other religions and cultures. However, I also want them to be able to openly and proudly celebrate our holidays. I want them to be able to enjoy Christmas carols and Santa. I love that they recite the pledge and sing "God Bless America" in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP and while I wouldn't have phrased it the same way OP did, I agree that APS has a decidedly liberal bent. For example, my K'er has learned a lot about MLK and spent most of a month on Chinese New Year, but has learned nothing about Washington or Lincoln. He learned about Kwaanza, Diwala, Ramadan, Hanukkah, but was told he shouldn't talk about what holiday(s) he celebrates with his friends. At the "winter concert" the groups played and sang songs about Hanukkah and another holiday (I can't remember whether it was Diwali or Kwaanza), but not one of the three groups performed any music related to Christmas. I too want kids to learn a lot about everyone's history, but APS seems too focused on PC liberalism, not the basics. That view does not make me racist or Xenophobic, just a concerned parent who wants my kid to learn history in a way that makes sense.

Live in the heart of liberalism, NW DC, and this is precisely why my kids are in a private school.

Mine too. I have nothing agains liberalism (and am somewhat liberal myself). I certainly want them to learn about leaders like MLK and Caesar Chavez and holidays of other religions and cultures. However, I also want them to be able to openly and proudly celebrate our holidays. I want them to be able to enjoy Christmas carols and Santa. I love that they recite the pledge and sing "God Bless America" in school.

MLK and Caesar Chavez were both Americans. How are they not "our holidays"? It seems that you are objecting to your children learning about more recent American history rather than colonial-age history. I don't see how one detracts from the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP and while I wouldn't have phrased it the same way OP did, I agree that APS has a decidedly liberal bent. For example, my K'er has learned a lot about MLK and spent most of a month on Chinese New Year, but has learned nothing about Washington or Lincoln. He learned about Kwaanza, Diwala, Ramadan, Hanukkah, but was told he shouldn't talk about what holiday(s) he celebrates with his friends. At the "winter concert" the groups played and sang songs about Hanukkah and another holiday (I can't remember whether it was Diwali or Kwaanza), but not one of the three groups performed any music related to Christmas. I too want kids to learn a lot about everyone's history, but APS seems too focused on PC liberalism, not the basics. That view does not make me racist or Xenophobic, just a concerned parent who wants my kid to learn history in a way that makes sense.

Live in the heart of liberalism, NW DC, and this is precisely why my kids are in a private school.

Mine too. I have nothing agains liberalism (and am somewhat liberal myself). I certainly want them to learn about leaders like MLK and Caesar Chavez and holidays of other religions and cultures. However, I also want them to be able to openly and proudly celebrate our holidays. I want them to be able to enjoy Christmas carols and Santa. I love that they recite the pledge and sing "God Bless America" in school.

MLK and Caesar Chavez were both Americans. How are they not "our holidays"? It seems that you are objecting to your children learning about more recent American history rather than colonial-age history. I don't see how one detracts from the other.

I took it as that poster trying to counter the OPs post.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County is not as bad as Arlington PS, but they still misrepresent the War of Northern Aggression. At least they let you have Christmas, and there is great music in their Choral and Orchestral programs including plenty of liturgical. It's balanced by other faiths of course, but it is there. I'm pretty conservative, but I wasn't overly appalled by Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I always hate it when they let the Jewish and Muslim and Hindu, etc... kids celebrate too. They only make up the other 40% of the school and really need to learn to only appreciate MY religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP and while I wouldn't have phrased it the same way OP did, I agree that APS has a decidedly liberal bent. For example, my K'er has learned a lot about MLK and spent most of a month on Chinese New Year, but has learned nothing about Washington or Lincoln. He learned about Kwaanza, Diwala, Ramadan, Hanukkah, but was told he shouldn't talk about what holiday(s) he celebrates with his friends. At the "winter concert" the groups played and sang songs about Hanukkah and another holiday (I can't remember whether it was Diwali or Kwaanza), but not one of the three groups performed any music related to Christmas. I too want kids to learn a lot about everyone's history, but APS seems too focused on PC liberalism, not the basics. That view does not make me racist or Xenophobic, just a concerned parent who wants my kid to learn history in a way that makes sense.

Live in the heart of liberalism, NW DC, and this is precisely why my kids are in a private school.

Mine too. I have nothing agains liberalism (and am somewhat liberal myself). I certainly want them to learn about leaders like MLK and Caesar Chavez and holidays of other religions and cultures. However, I also want them to be able to openly and proudly celebrate our holidays. I want them to be able to enjoy Christmas carols and Santa. I love that they recite the pledge and sing "God Bless America" in school.

MLK and Caesar Chavez were both Americans. How are they not "our holidays"? It seems that you are objecting to your children learning about more recent American history rather than colonial-age history. I don't see how one detracts from the other.

Because in the majority of the public schools in the area, with the standard curriculum used, MLK, Caesar Cavez et al definitely supplants the "standard" (wrong word I know) history of this country. And that is not OK with me.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher all i can say is wow. I would recommend homeschooling your children. However, i hope you allow your children to have a neutral perspective often times parents forget what being a child is truly feels like. Good luck on finding a school and envronment that fosters your needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Because in the majority of the public schools in the area, with the standard curriculum used, MLK, Caesar Cavez et al definitely supplants the "standard" (wrong word I know) history of this country. And that is not OK with me.

"standard" = white

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the "winter concert" the groups played and sang songs about Hanukkah and another holiday (I can't remember whether it was Diwali or Kwaanza), but not one of the three groups performed any music related to Christmas.

Perhaps the music teacher was Jewish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP and while I wouldn't have phrased it the same way OP did, I agree that APS has a decidedly liberal bent. For example, my K'er has learned a lot about MLK and spent most of a month on Chinese New Year, but has learned nothing about Washington or Lincoln. He learned about Kwaanza, Diwala, Ramadan, Hanukkah, but was told he shouldn't talk about what holiday(s) he celebrates with his friends. At the "winter concert" the groups played and sang songs about Hanukkah and another holiday (I can't remember whether it was Diwali or Kwaanza), but not one of the three groups performed any music related to Christmas. I too want kids to learn a lot about everyone's history, but APS seems too focused on PC liberalism, not the basics. That view does not make me racist or Xenophobic, just a concerned parent who wants my kid to learn history in a way that makes sense.

Live in the heart of liberalism, NW DC, and this is precisely why my kids are in a private school.

Mine too. I have nothing agains liberalism (and am somewhat liberal myself). I certainly want them to learn about leaders like MLK and Caesar Chavez and holidays of other religions and cultures. However, I also want them to be able to openly and proudly celebrate our holidays. I want them to be able to enjoy Christmas carols and Santa. I love that they recite the pledge and sing "God Bless America" in school.

MLK and Caesar Chavez were both Americans. How are they not "our holidays"? It seems that you are objecting to your children learning about more recent American history rather than colonial-age history. I don't see how one detracts from the other.

You misunderstood me. I want my kids to learn about Americans like MLK and Caesar Chavez. I want them to learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I like that they learn about holidays like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but I also want them to celebrate our (meaning, my family's personal) holidays- Christmas and Easter. In some schools, kids aren't allowed to celebrate Halloween, but instead have an Autumn Festival. There is no Christmas, but instead, a Winter Holiday. Halloween and Christmas are as much ingrained into American culture as George Washington and apple pie. To ignore that these holidays exist seems not inclusive, but to be going to the other extreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher all i can say is wow. I would recommend homeschooling your children. However, i hope you allow your children to have a neutral perspective often times parents forget what being a child is truly feels like. Good luck on finding a school and envronment that fosters your needs.

This post -- from a teacher who can only say "wow" -- is yet another perfect example of why so many of us are choosing private schools for our kids.

[Anonymous]

PP - where do you send your kids to school? We are willing to go to private school if that is where we will find what we are looking for. Thanks!