Reply to Example of APE Astroturf tactics

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I know there was like a 500 page APE thread awhile ago asking about who they were, how were they financed and what their end goals were that devolved into nonsense.

I did want to point out a specific example of what the tactics are with their likely endgoal using an example - textbooks.

First - prominent APE member posts in other Arlington groups stating that her son learns math better on text books than electronically.  So why can't we pressure Arlington to force all students onto textbooks for math (because obviously the thing that is best for her child personally should be imposed on every child in APS)?

[b]Teachers chime in to point out that textbooks are heavy, expensive and prevent them from teaching to the class level and they can come up with better sample problems that teach the concepts than what was incorporated into the text book. That for later math so much of the work requires computer programs anyway and that its important to teach how to do the work on those programs. Also that higher ed and work is done online so textbook mandated learning handicaps kids going to the next level.
[/b]
Other APE'rs pop up with comments about how "research says" textbooks are better.  If they do cite research its like one study conducted by political ideologues.

But they conclude - we are just talking about math here and there is obviously something special about math instruction that lends itself to textbooks. And math isn't ideological like some other subjects can be so there is no harm!

Then in APE's latest newsletter section on textbooks - but its advocating a "return to textbooks for all subjects"  No longer "just math."

Then you have your lackeys post the newsletter everywhere saying - hey this is a good overview of the current issues that are facing schools right now!  Bam! Suddenly textbooks are an "important issue facing Arlington schools" not just a pet peeve of one person.

And here's where this leads - 
If and when this takes off the next step will be advocating for the type of textbooks that are procured - "studies show" that this particular brand or teaching philosophy produces the best outcome.  Those studies will conducted by right wing funded think tanks with neutral sounding names and those textbooks will have questionable teaching about U.S. history, economics, social studies and other issues.

And that is how you get one of the most progressive communities in the country to teach that slavery was about economic migrants and that the civil rights era solved all racism in America.

Happy MLK Day!

[/quote]

Prevent them from teaching to the class level?  Unless the class is well beyond the level of the textbook, I don't see that as a problem.  Teachers can adjust their lessons from the curriculum whether they're using a textbook or not.  But if they need to discard the majority of a textbook because the class is generally too behind? Then maybe we should have been using the textbooks and holding students to a higher standard.

Higher levels of math use computer programs.  That argument is irrelevant for elementary school and even middle school; and it's important for students to understand HOW to SOLVE the problems....the logic getting you to the answer.  You don't get that by just learning which numbers to plunk into the calculator.

As for handicapping students by making them use books and paper and pencils....UTTER NONSENSE!  Kids can learn the digital stuff at any point and there's no legitimate rationale to make them reliant upon it before the near the end of high school. I already see impacts of this in my teens.  They have everything done for them so they can't figure something out for themselves when they need to.  [/quote]

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