Education Madness? NYC Bans Words Like ‘Halloween’, ‘Dinosaurs, and ‘Birthdays’ From Tests
- Posted on March 27, 2012 at 7:39am by
Mike Opelka
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Is there a difference between censorship and blocking the use of certain words to protect the feelings of some people? The New York City school system believes there is and has instructed companies that create testing materials to exclude dozens of words and terms from their submissions.
Some of the “offensive” words and topics:
- Dinosaur – apparently people who don’t believe in evolution might be offended
- Halloween – rumored to support Paganism and that bothers some
- Birthday – Jehovah‘s Witnesses don’t celebrate birthdays, so nobody else should know about it… right?
- Dancing - unless it is ballet dancing
- Computers – if mentioned as being in homes… use in schools and libraries is ok
Those are just a few of the subjects considered to be taboo on tests. The city sent a memo to companies that create tests for the NYC schools, more than four dozen words were on a list to be excluded from testing materials. Topics like divorce and disease are to be avoided, because a student taking a test could be the child of a split marriage or might have a sick relative. Mentions of wealthy people could create jealousy. Poverty is also off limits, as poor or non-wealthy kids could be offended.
The New York Post reported on the story and tracked down a NY-DOE spokeswoman and got the following clarification on the exclusion guidelines:
“This is standard language that has been used by test publishers for many years and allows our students to complete practice exams without distraction,” said a Department of Education spokeswoman, insisting it’s not censorship.
The Post article also mentioned that “slavery” is not to be mentioned and “terrorism” is too toxic for tests. This seems a tad ironic as NYC was the site of America’s deadliest terror attack.
The local ABC affiliate reported on the story and also spoke with parents about the removal of language from the tests.
Where do you stand on this kind of manipulation of tests? Take our Blaze poll.
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Comments (202)
anOpinion
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:56amThis is just insane, hey, when do they start burning books?
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:08am.
Report Post »I think I’m offended. About what I don’t know, but I‘m pretty sure I’m offended. I think ya’ll need to have a commission rule on the possibility that I might be offended, by Ya’ll…………….
The_Jerk
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:34amIt’s a way for the minority to control the majority. Invent hate speech and hate crimes, and they can tell you what is, and what is not, hateful and punishable.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:42amWow! I thought it was 2012, but I was wrong. It’s “1984.”
Report Post »iamjustsayin
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:45amDo you think that these children are being groomed to be our next occupy wallstreeters because they have been so cloistered and have no sense of the real world? just sayin….
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 11:03amIamjustsayin, yes they are. That’s why the U.N. is pushing for its educational partner, the International Baccalaureate program (IB), to be implemented in every American school. They seek to replace education and accomplishment, the AP program, with its IB, “indoctrination into international socialism”, program.
Report Post »83plus
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 11:28am???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Unbelievable??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 12:26pmReplace education with indoctrination…
Report Post »83plus
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 1:14pmWith things like the ‘food police’ in NC and now this, how far are they going to go before parents and others yell ‘too far’ and tell them to stop?
It’s time to push back.
Report Post »jmevans99
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 2:05pmThey don’t have to burn books anymore…..they have changed (distorted) the content on so many that the truth (especially in History) is no longer in them.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 3:21pmUmm..What’s this story about??
I just saw the kinky topless chick with the pretty eyes and clicked on it…now I’m here…
Report Post »diaguy
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 3:53pmCommon sense and reasonable thought no longer exists. The end is near…..
Report Post »greenherring
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 4:42pmThe scary thing is that the people that come up with this **** actualy think it’s helping. They think that this what people need or want. How out of touch can the masters be before we have had enough.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:57pmIt is Jihad. The muslims have to gain control of the language and make certain things “offensive”. It will progress from this to banning speech that defames muslims, who, oddly enough, enjoy preferential treatment “under ObamaCare” not available to non-muslims; this is how we become dhimmis in our own freakin country.
The communists are laying the foundation and building the altar for the muslims to the god they want us to worship: Allah.
Allah. Enshrined in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The communists are tools of The Jihad for Planet Earth. The muslims take this goal seriously.
We do not.
Report Post »mauijonny
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 4:59amOh beautiful, for veggie fries, for un-em-PLOY-ment claims! For people mounts them magic steeds, and love our fruity brains! Amerika! Amerika! Dog shed it’s hair & fleas! And frown on wood and motherhood, from fee to shining fee!
Hope I didn’t offend anyone.
Report Post »mauijonny
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 5:04amWould you approve the use of the word “pudding” in a test question?
Report Post »black9897
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:31pmLets ban all words and not speak. That makes more sense. After all, we could hurt someones feelings if we said hey, or sky.
Report Post »mommaof7
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:56amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk0D16mNbp4&feature=plcp&context=C4dab5e4VDvjVQa1PpcFNAdUU4gBxWKXevl5ydwnTO5CGxf5yQiXg=
More education madness!!
Report Post »mommaof7
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:55amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk0D16mNbp4&feature=plcp&context=C4dab5e4VDvjVQa1PpcFNAdUU4gBxWKXevl5ydwnTO5CGxf5yQiXg=
Report Post »spirited
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:52amBfd
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 2:22pmQuite so. The more other people put limits on your speech, the less you can say without undue harassment.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 3:19pmDid you just call me a “Big Fat Dude??” …
…I’m offended…
Report Post »quiltgal
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:43amOur public schools are being run by progressively ignorant people, producing progressively ignorant students, who will eventually create a progressively ignorant society.
Report Post »Kitkarr
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:25amQuiltgal – “…who will eventually create a progressively ignorant society.” Too late. Happened right berfore my generation, some of the kids in my age bracket turned out ok, some didn’t. All of the ones under us went the way of the Godless occupant.
My parents had children late in life, but they were of the “I didn’t have anything, so I’m going to give my kids everything” mentality. I suppose that generational outlook birthed a gigantic outpooring of spoiled brats that think if the problem is too hard, then they should just change the answer.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:43amEventually? Wasn’t that what 2008 was all about?
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 12:59pmOne contributor onsite asked if the progressives would tear down this country for an ideology. Obviously, the answer to this question is a resounding……YES.
Report Post »And may I say that I am deeply offended. But then I am from Oklahoma, so I get offended by a great deal of stuff that goes on in NYC, or is it amused? No, it’s offended. But wait….. maybe I am sorta amused. Does that offend anyone?
Eggcellent
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:38pmYes, get ready for a resurgence of “See spot. See spot run. Run, Spot, run!!”. Oh, by the way, that’ll be the test!
Report Post »jeffersonian1776
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 1:31amno regard for the freedom of speech. F.o.S. was of course one of the major founding principles of this nation, and a major part of any free society for that matter.
Report Post »Hrothgar
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:42amYou leave those pagan celebrations out of my school! No birthdays, halloween(samhain) none of that crap, and don’t you ever suggest that dinosaurs ever existed. Those fossils are faker than the moon landing and computers are havens for porn and violence. Don’t breech my bubble of ignorance damn you!
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:39amHow easy it is to indoctrinate the hearts and minds of progressive simpletons.
Report Post »quiltgal
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:31amAs so often happens these days, this goes too far. How did ridiculousness become so widespread? Have we really become a nation of chronically offended wusses? Why do schools promote “diversity” and then want kids to pretend it doesn’t exist? Have dinosaurs and birthdays become politically incorrect? Should we all wear duct tape over our mouths to avoid speaking the truth?
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:59amExcellent points, but in “1984” you would have just committed a “thoughtcrime”!
Seriously, only the Progressives are such “wusses”. You are right when you talk about diversity. Sociologists KNOW that diversity creates conflict. However, in order to have CHANGE you have to have conflict! Progressives WANT this conflict in the hopes of one day achieving a “classless society”. In other words – Communism.
Report Post »quiltgal
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:13am@tigress1
Yes, exactly! Conflict, confusion, anxiety, chaos. It’s all good stuff in the minds of Commies. The ends justify the means.
Report Post »Wilsonpd
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 3:07pmCommunism is surely not a “classless” society. There are always two classes, the ruling elite and the rest of the poor schmucks. Too bad none of these progs bother to study history. They might realize which category they’re likely to fall into.
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:26amIt’s the beginning of “Newspeak”.
“…a thought is unthinkable, at least so far as thought is dependent on words. Newspeak was designed not to extend but to DIMINISH the range of thought, and this purpose was indirectly assisted by cutting the choice of words down to a minimum.”
-from George Orwell’s book “1984”.
In other words, the smaller the vocabulary the less freedom of thought and the means to express it. it’s a way to control people and limit freedom. Next comes the “Thought Police”.
Report Post »As an aside, I always find it fascinating to ponder how the Chinese have words in their vocabulary for things that we don’t even know about! Some things don’t even exist in the English language! Trying to translate some things from Chinese to English is about impossible without creating new words.
Cemetery
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:04amA Dinosaur was practicing his Dance moves on his Birthday. His Birthday happened to fall on Halloween. After his Dance practice, the Dinosaur sat down at his Computer and logged in to the blaze. He read this headline and became extremely angry. If the Dinosaur ate 60 liberals out of 100. How many liberals did the Dinosaur not eat?
Report Post »happygirl006
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:54amBest post!
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 11:07amIf the dinosaur lived in New York—Bloomiemayor wouldn’t allow him to eat Liberals
and the food shelters would be bare so the dinosaur would end up anorexic and have to seek psychiatric help but Bloomie has probably closed mental health clinics so the dinosaur would end up on the street,starving and psychotic—-Hence OWS.
OMG 2012
Report Post »LIBERTY714
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 1:13pmNot enough
Report Post »MinSoCal
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 3:35pmNot enough!
Report Post »Ksera Sugarmail
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:02amNewspeak is closely based on English but has a greatly reduced and simplified vocabulary and grammar. This suits the totalitarian regime of the Party, whose aim is to make any alternative thinking—“thoughtcrime”, or “crimethink” in the newest edition of Newspeak—impossible by removing any words or possible constructs which describe the ideas of freedom, rebellion and so on. One character, Syme, says admiringly of the shrinking volume of the new dictionary: “It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.”
- From a study on George Orwell’s book “1984” – (Source: Wikipedia)
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:27amOops! I read your post after I made mine! We are on the same wavelength!
Report Post »Ksera Sugarmail
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:37amHope the “Thought Police” doesn’t come crashing through our doors, Tigress! ;-)
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:53amGay pride is acceptable though
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:09amSo I suppose we can‘t have math questions since 5 is greater than 4 that might offend someone’s understanding of equality? Can’t teach “take aways” cause that might offend someone who still thinks stealing is wrong. Can’t teach multiplication because that might reinforce capitalistic notions that would offend the marxist, socialist. Can’t teach colors because someone might get the idea that one color is superior to another or arguments would ensue over which color is prettiest. Can’t teach the holocaust because muslims will be offended.
ARGH!!!!!!!!! There isn’t enough duct tape
Report Post »MrMark
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:36amAnd don’t forget that math is frightening to young children. That’s why the number six is afraid of the number seven; seven ate nine.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:46amWonder how long one must study to take a paternity test.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 1:59pmOne time, I studied 3 days for my urine test.
Report Post »ChildofJesus
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:44amTo heck w/ that I‘m not going to bow before anyone other then Jesus they can take their pc and shove where the sun don’t shine for all I care!
Report Post »Eggcellent
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:45pmWait! Wait!! The Sun might be offended!!
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:40amLol! wow.. i want a new country. this one has gone retarded…
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:46amYep. They banned prostitution, guns, drugs, and common sense and are doing really swell with the new tax base.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:55am.
Report Post »lol….You can’t say Retarded you idiot…………..
s0ck_monkey
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:32amThis politically correct crap makes me want to vomit!
By “crap” I really mean “remnants of digested food deposited in the large intestine”…
By “vomit” I really mean “orally discharge the contents of my stomach by muscle contractions of the abdomen & esophogus…
Guess I will offend someone by giving my own definition of the words “crap” and “vomit” instead of using a government appoved dictionary…
Hydrogen & Stupidity…two things we won’t have to ever worry about running out of!
Report Post »brntout
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:32amLooks like NYC is now competeing with Cauliflowernia for the lunacy title.
Report Post »Chromo200
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:32amSoon I won’t be able to say “Good Morning” This may offend a person who is having a bad day.
Report Post »MrMark
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:42amEventually we will be a society of people who walk in silence with our heads down because we’ve been beaten into submission by the fear of offending others.
We have been brainwashed so effectively that we have forgotten that when we are offended we have chosen to accept offense rather than drop an issue in favor of a better use of our time and energy.
Report Post »leftcoastslut
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:24amschool is for the 3 R’s…. social issues is for the parents
Report Post »jnorth21
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:11amAs much as I try to hope that people finally “wake up” its stories like this that make me wonder if I’m the one dreaming. I feel like the kid from “David after dentist”— is this real life?
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:19amgattica the movie is becoming reality
Report Post »DenisWTexas
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:11amI’m curious… Can you use the word “TEST” on the top of the test? Because test would denote the possibility of success or failure and it would hurt some kids’ feelings to think they might fail, so we can’t call it that.
In fact, why test them at all, because they are all winners that deserve a trophy no matter how poorly they do.
I say the first question should be…
1) Johnny’s divorced, handicapped mother gave him an old dinosaur of a computer for his birthday. If he uses it 4 hours a day to email letters of protest to the terrorists that run his school system, how many years of emails will it take to guarantee he won’t grow up a slave?
Report Post »leftcoastslut
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:22amperfect
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:23amWrong. You can’t use the word terrorist, you might offend a muslum. You know you can’t use the word curious, a child might actually think.
Report Post »Kitkarr
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 10:35amDenis – I have the answer to No. 1) Its a trick question, Johnny’s already a slave. He’s on the internet 4 hours a day.
Report Post »pixie60
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 4:35pmAs of this school year, if you take Algebra 1 in our school system, they no longer take TESTs. They do ASSESSMENTs. They don’t put a grade on the Assessments. You are either rated Expert, Proficient, Developing, or Novice (Hmmm… A, B, C, D?). You can retake a test as many times as you want to attempt to improve your rating. At the end of the semester, they grudgingly give you a real grade based on your various ratings. If you still have one Novice rating at the end of the semester, you flunk (oops, can’t say “flunk” – I meant you get to take the course again), and different combinations of ratings result in an A, B, C, or D. It’s extremely confusing. I want the old system back.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:09amLife is tough, but its tougher when you’re stupid. -john wayne
Report Post »HKS
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:01amAnd wonder why this government education system produces the dumbest people in the world, look what’s teaching them. Government, Union schools, is this a great country or what.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 7:52amThis is just the continued dumbing down and numbing down of America’s kids by the government.
Report Post »And yes, this is censorship. This is thought control.
s0ck_monkey
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:44amAgreed. But that’s their plan. We think in language. Once you control how people think, you can control their actions.
Nazi Germany, anyone?
Report Post »83plus
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 12:03pmsock_monkey
I was thinking USSR but okay.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 7:49amWhere did America go??? There I said it….
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 7:56amWelcome to Amerika…..the country you loved and remembered fondly, is gone.
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:19amYou can’t use the word America. You might offend a world order loon.
Report Post »