Education

‘Old Dead White Men’: Okla. Reconsiders Edgy Curriculum Paid for With Federal Funds

Old Dead White Men: Okla. Reconsiders Edgy Curriculum Paid for With Federal Funds

If we told you that some schools were considering using music to teach history to at-risk students, you might think that’s a good idea. But what if the lyrics went something like this:

White men getting richer than Enron. They stepping on Indians, women and blacks. Era of Good Feeling doesn’t come with the facts.

And this:

Andrew Jackson thinks he’s a tough guy. Killing more Indians than there are stars in the sky. Evil wars of Florida killing the Seminoles. Saying hello, putting Creek in the hell holes. Like Adolf Hitler he had the final solution. ‘No, Indians, I don’t want you to live here anymore.

The history program is called Flocabulary, and it compares Andrew Jackson to Adolf Hitler and refers to Founder James Madison as an “old dead white guy.” It has made its way into the Oklahoma City public school district, where it was at lest partially paid for using federal funds. And now, after numerous complaints from teachers over the curriculum’s language, the district is reconsidering using the rap and hip-hop program to teach history to at-risk students.

“Without engagement and motivation it’s very difficult to learn, so our main purpose is to create materials that will motivate the students that are least likely to succeed with traditional methods,” Flocabulary’s CEO and co-founder Alex Rappaport told FoxNews.com.

Rappaport said that the lyrics are meant to be thought-provoking and incite discussion. He also said the curriculum is used in more than 10,000 schools nationwide and are “proven to increase student motivation.”

“Kids learn differently. One thing we definitely want to do as a school district is use different techniques,” Oklahoma City School Board Chairperson Angela Monson told News 9 in Oklahoma City.

But others aren‘t convinced it’s a good idea.

“Our founding fathers deserve a little more respect than that,” said one concerned educator to News 9. “I just don‘t think it’s appropriate. I don’t think any parent would want their child looking at that material,” added another teacher, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation.

Adding to the controversy is the fact that the program is being paid for using tax dollars. According to and editorial in NewsOK.com, the school board authorized using $100,000 in federal funds for the controversial program and about $10,000 has been spent so far.

That same NewsOK editorial calls on the school board to keep better track of where its money is going:

With dozens of schools using dozens of programs to teach core subjects, the district has a responsibility to students and taxpayers to ensure money’s not wasted on inappropriate programs and that the programs in use are working to improve student achievement.

Glenn Beck weighed in on the issue on “Fox and Friends” on Tuesday, admitting that Andrew Jackson’s actions were an “abomination,” but expressed concern that the language mirrors that of the 1920′s progressive movement:

Since the story broke, at least one of the Oklahoma schools, Seeworth Academy, is planning on ditching or trimming down the program:

Comments (127)

1 2 3 4
  • Conservative Grinch
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:03am

    How long should we remain tolerant of the blatant racism and hate speech of the left?

     
  • Jimmers46
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:01am

    Life is tough enough without being taught to be stupid!

     
    • vennoye
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 3:59pm

      YOU ARE SO RIGHT!! It is a outright crime that we are so much better educated then the children now. There are so many things that we are having to teach my grandchildren because the schools are so inadequate.

      Report Post » vennoye  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:58am

    I suspect that over exposure to mindless talentless “rap” is what caused a lot of these kids to be “at risk” in the first place.

    Just sayin’.

    Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:10am

      Our public school district has a special program, Juvenile Review Board, to prevent youthful offenders from going to Juvenile Court, and quite truthfully, the program is much stricter than what JC hands out. On the up side, the kids don’t start a rap sheet and avoid Juvenile Court. On the down side, it’s only open to first time offenders and after three warnings the student is handed over to Juvenile Court.

      The JRB counselor said in a meeting that he was shocked at the new case load that he got after Christmas and then proceeded to say that the kids coming in don’t think that having a rap sheet or a parole officer is a “bad” thing. “My buddy has a parole officer and it’s no big sweat.” is often said to the counselor. The number of cases have literally tripled and range from assault and battery (hair pulling), truancy, up to and including attempted manslaughter and possession with intent to sell. Before you wonder why he’s handling felonies, let me remind you that these are minors. The youngest one as of June was 10 years old. I haven’t heard the summer break out numbers yet.

      These kids are already in trouble and already headed down the wrong road. Teaching them more hatred through a rap song is totally insane. I actually have heard “rap” songs that teach the state capitals and a few other things, so the hatred and the prejudice can be eliminated. I’m not wild about having the kids learn history through rap, but it may stick something in their empty little heads.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • watchmanonthewall
      Posted on October 9, 2010 at 4:13am

      Thats right, and music is a powerful thing in many aspects. Ever had a song going round and round in your head or a tune that wouldn’t go away. This method is a wonderful tool, but the type of lyrics and music is designed to do only one thing seperate by racism. What ever happened to “Multiplication Rock” and “Education Rock”? These were great back when I was young. It came on saturday morning during cartoons, which btw have also changed a great deal for the worst. I learned the “Preamble” by this method, and it has stayed with me till this day. I can recite it by heart because of this song. Also helped me learn my multiplication tables, still have that old record album, waiting for my grandkids now.

      Report Post »  
  • Rowgue
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:57am

    So in other words it’s acceptable to feed kids lies and distortions and call it education as long as it motivates them and makes them feel good. Sorry morons but neglecting to teach kids actual information and filling their heads with propaganda is how we ended up with all these dimwits in office now.

    Report Post »  
  • seayalater73
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:57am

    Does dumbing down educational standards in the interest of the lowest common denominator lead to a vibrant, self-sufficient, prosperous body of voters? Or a welfare slave majority that won’t even vote in the interest of their own nation?

    How in the hell else could anyone justify this curiculum?

    Ultimatley I feel horrible for the “at-risk” youth being targeted by this. They need tireless, dedicated, then disciplined teachers (AKA loving fathers.) Instead they are encouraged to dig into a cultural slop-trough by unionista public educators. How do they plan on approaching advanced algebra? Drug distribution simulators? Do these supposed “educators” even care about the limitations they are hard-wiring these kids with?

    Report Post »  
  • OneRepublic4us
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:50am

    So what they‘re saying is the teachers are just too lazy to teach anything and the kids don’t know how to read or remember anything. WHY DOES THE DOE EXIST?

    Report Post » OneRepublic4us  
  • Fedup
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:50am

    This curriculum is pure garbage. This is progressive, revisionist history in full view for all will again make blacks,hispanics and indians into victims will making the white race into the monster. Typical tactic of the left. Brainwash and indoctrinate our children so they can become part of the lower class ruled by the elites. What is worse is the dumbing down of our students. Teach them how to speak english and think properly. They will never be able to obtain employment with this kind of a vocabulary. So stop the method now.

    Report Post »  
    • Ultra-Conservative
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 1:33pm

      I agree with your assessment. I have, for years believed that our Public Schools are little more than indoctrination camps for our children. What really concerns me is that the progressives have come so far with their agenda that they don’t bother to hide their bias any more. I remember when I was in grad school being taught a Socialist agenda, and that was back in the late 50‘s and 60’s. It took me almost 20 years after I quit school to completely overcome that indoctrination. Unfortunately we don’t have time for our children to learn the hard way, that what they are being taught may not be 100% right. By then the progressives will have succeeded in destroying this country, and we will be just another socialist nation.

      Report Post »  
  • scootydoo
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:40am

    I wonder if the course says the same kinds of things about black leaders? I think the only thing that this course would teach is that it’s ok to be a racist.

    Report Post » scootydoo  
  • Huckabee Gingrich 12
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:38am

    The “Ghetto-ization” of education. No rhyme intended.

    Report Post » Huckabee Gingrich 12  
    • TrueGrit
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 1:15pm

      Maybe ‘Blackmatising’ fits better.

      Wolverine

      Report Post »  
    • Huckabee Gingrich 12
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 2:12pm

      @TG
      Doesn’t work better, because hip-hop isn’t an exclusively black phenomenon. If it weren’t for middle-class white kids, rap would have died in the 80s.

      Report Post » Huckabee Gingrich 12  
  • moonpeace
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:38am

    Am I mistaken or does this type of thing seem to come primarily from the left? That is purely a rhetorical question. We know it does. I really don’t like being hated just because I am white. Believe me, I understand prejudice, but my color doesn’t make me a bigot. I am what I am and I try to grow better at helping others. Judge me on my character and you will like me.

    Report Post » moonpeace  
  • Steve
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:37am

    I am so sick and tired of this black thug culture. I really wish we had never brought them over here. Do any of them ever think where they would be right now if we hadn’t? It‘s this thug retribtive entitlement dependency culture that’s desperately trying to slither it’s way into our American culture and take over our American system and values, And I’m totally sick of it.

    Report Post » Steve Smith  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:37am

    home school your children.. I did mine. the only bad part is my taxes go for public school and not to educate my children.. but on a different level go to you local school board meetings each and everyone and if you have a concern tell them and demand answers..

    VOTE and then DEMAND term limits

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • mck05002
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:37am

    I don‘t understand why even kids that are at risk can’t read a book? Has rap done anything positive for anybody?

    Report Post »  
    • Mikee T
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 12:18pm

      Nope …spreads Ebonics so that people have no chance in life but to stick to a remedial way of communicating with each other and will ultimately have to “lean” on big govy brotha to help them…what a disgrace……. I would hope that one day more minority leaders like Clarence Thomas will set the record straight and expose liberal / progressivism for what it is….a means for “keeping people down” and “dumbed down”…. Rap, etc., should be relegated to ONLY what it represents…a form of entertainment for some people….I myself, never like it unless it had a real nice rhythmic melody line in it…….in other words…showcased a degree of musical talent……

      Report Post »  
  • john seven eighteen
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:27am

    Fair is fair, so if they are going to use that trash to educate children they need to also use songs from other genres of music as well (since we know that educators are all about being fair!) How about this excerpt from a famous David Allen Coe song: “Well, I Was drunk the day my mom got out of prison
    And I went to pick her up in the rain
    But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
    She got runned over by a damned old train”

    And not wanting to leave the rockers out of the equation, how about this classic from Aerosmith:
    “(That, that) Dude looks like a lady
    (That, that) Dude looks like a lady
    (That, that) Dude looks like a lady
    (That, that) Dude looks like a lady

    So never judge a book by it’s cover
    Or who you’re going to love by your lover
    Love put me wise to her love in disguise
    She had the body of a venus
    Lord imagine my surprise”
    After all, we want our children well rounded, right?

    Report Post » john seven eighteen  
  • Flagwaver
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:25am

    It is racism plain and simple. It sounds to me like they are promoting an anti-white agenda to students who are minority-at-risk to begin with. I’m sorry to say it, but promoting a racist agenda to at-risk students in the first place is doing nothing more than reinforcing the stereotypes they have been bombarded by.

    Report Post » Flagwaver  
    • AZfreeman
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 3:22pm

      Exactly right! As an X-teacher, hear me !!! … the public school system has been corrupted and the DOE is evil and needs to be abolished! WARNING get your kids out now! Public schools are nothing more than indoctrination centers for a Politically Correct, Left Wing, Socialist agenda. The curriculum is revisionist history and getting worse each year. The Universities turn out ignorant, young ‘Progressive/Socialist’ teachers; heads filled with mush, and creativity and exceptionalism are stifled. It‘s time to start spending more time and money on ’gifted’ students who will make America competitive again. Let the slower students show a true desire to learn and let them struggle to prove their ability and that desire first. Not every child is college material and there’s nothing wrong with that! Nothing is gained by wasting time and resources on students who are just there to pass the time of day, check out the chicks, and get a free lunch. This “Flocabulary” is an extension of the ‘no child left behind’ failed Progressive/Socialist policy of the past and is intended as nothing more than a tool to develop young Democratic voters. Don’t get me started on this topic..I am passionate about this one! …rf

      Report Post » AZfreeman  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:23am

    Home.

    School.

    There’s the solution.

    Public schools are a sewer, even the “good” ones, these days. The choice is…your children’s education and sanity, or having those extra material goodies that mom and dad work for like rats on a treadmill.

    Harsh, but life is becoming that way more and more. There’s no other solution that I know of, it’s simply impossible to combat the public schools on every front if you have kids in them.

    Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • libertybella58
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:21am

    Sounds like new age style lyrics for a Bob Dylan song. So according to this story, there are 10,000 schools with at-risk students? Do they each receive $100,000 in federal funds for controversial programs?

    Report Post » libertybella58  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:20am

    This is outrageous. Are we now teaching our kids how to be idiots?

    Report Post » Marylou7  
    • charles48
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:14am

      or as the proggressives would say they are teaching our kids to be the homers of the world so they can manuplate them DONT BE A HOMER KNOW YOUR FACTS thats what we should be teaching our kids

      Report Post »  
  • SnapTie
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:19am

    My daughter is a teacher in Florida and they are forcing them to use this crap this year.

    Report Post » SnapTie  
  • Ponyexpress
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:19am

    DOEd needs to go.
    Once education becomes propaganda, it is time to go back to home school and private schools.

    Report Post » Ponyexpress  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:17am

    “Evil” white men drug the world out of chaos and created western society. Without “evil” white men, I doubt the wheel would even be invented yet.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • rolandg79
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:17am

    The goverment bring back racesim to keep us divided. On our dime.

    Report Post » rolandg79  
  • Ozzie
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:16am

    Our tax dollars would have been better off being flushed down the toilette, and to think some people believe we ought to pay more taxes.

    Report Post » Ozzie  
  • drbage
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:12am

    Since they are using Federal funds from the DOEd, it probably means that it is all part of the “Race to the Top.” If that is true, it would mean that this is soon coming to a school district near you. Does this curriculum also include anything from the traditional interpretation of history or is it all part of the race to indoctrinate the young that everything that the USA has done is evil? America is not perfect, but there are a lot of good things in the world today that have come from this country and it is time for more people to stand up and express the good that has been done by this country.

    Report Post »  
  • Berticus33
    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:09am

    Sounds to me like some improper indoctrination through more dumbing down of the student body.

    Report Post » Berticus33  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:40am

      I think the people who have kids that this stuff is being spewed on should be overwhelmingly offended that schools think thier kids are so stupid they can’t be taught by traditional means. Lazy assed teachers that don’t want to put in the extra effort on kids having a hard time in school. Do our children even have a chance to grow into respecful decent adults?

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • adifftake
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:57am

      It is truly a sad statement of the American Education system, that they are so poorly teaching children that this foolishness is needed to reach the children.

      Had they been taught how to learn this crud would not be happening.

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:59am

      Another creative way to be sure we teach socialism to everyone. The schools are our biggest problem. The socialist know that, that’s why they have been working on them for a hundred years. If you hear it in school it’s like Gospel to a kid. At this point I would not be opposed to shutting them all down and starting over at home, how much worse could it be? That system is rotten to the bone.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • arx
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:03am

      This is why education should be funded and administered at the local level. This garbage would never be printed much less taught if free market forces and accountability existed in schools.

      Report Post » arx  
    • moelarrycurly
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 12:19pm

      This is why my girlfriend works two jobs to put her son into a private Christian school. Not only is it worth the money to see her son grown in a nurturing environment. but it’s also interesting to see him thriving in subjects he was failing. While their is still much work to be done by him-She is doing what I think we all should do…Pull our kids out of all public schools and take responsibility and control of our kids education. I would love to hear about parents forcing the issue by demanding that they can use the taxes that their child receives for school goes to the school of the parent’s choice. This would bust the unions and get the focus back on what it should have been all along-the kids…Let us not forget-that public schools are the first social program in this country(I believe…)

      Report Post »  
    • VegasGuy
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 1:57pm

      The only thing Flocabulary is going to accomplish is to turn failing students into hateful failing students who think white people are the cause of their misery. But then that is probably the underlying goal of the whole program.

      Report Post » VegasGuy  
    • roguetea
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 2:06pm

      rogue, Teaching Earliest Adults
      Obviously it has become fashionable and highly profitable for conservatives to write books, most for adults. This I applaud and do not expect a decline in the foreseeable future. Many of these authors are either in the education field or have distinguished themselves in academia. However, with advancements in communications, both by means and in diversification, we need to encourage these same authors to publish curriculum for all of our ages, within their expertise. A team effort or collaborations is easily envisioned and very doable. We must call for this, and make such curriculum widely popular and most certainly profitable. What price is too great for our youth to learn and appreciate truth? Targeting public schools would be grand but home schools, public libraries, private schools, internet and the likes of Beck U and 8-28 also offer tremendous payback, for the decades to come. It is past time for us to target our youth.

      Thanks Glenn for Blaze and may you find the richness of God’s best grace in your current struggle.
      tea party, ReAct 2010, ROGUE ON

      Report Post » roguetea  
    • Compete or Lose
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 2:38pm

      .
      .
      .
      .
      You know, after the election in November and Washington starts doing a better job, it is time to get rid of the IDIOTS responsible for running our schools. In my school district (Lee Ccounty Schools, Florida) their annual budget is $17,944 per student which for a classroom of 30 students is $538,320 per year. According to the school districts budget they spend $363 per pupil per year for transportiation (bus) service—so $363 per student times 30 students is $10.890 per 30 student classroom per year. The district budget for building maintenence and operation is $419 per pupil per year—so $419 per student times 30 student is $12,570 per 30 student classroom per year. The average cost per year for a classroom teacher (including benefits and retirement) is $83,850.

      The Bottom Line——————————–$538,320
      Cost for teacher———————————– 83,850
      Cost for busses———————————– 10,890
      Cost for classroom maint & Ops————12,570

      Unaccounted spending for 30 students $431,010

      80% of the districts annual expenditures are for things OTHER THAN the teacher, the bus and the classroom……doesnt this tell you why education performance has declined in spite of school spending rising? Doent it also really make you angry that the first thing the school district does when they dont get all the money they want is PUNISH the students and their parents by cutting TEACHERS——It is time to demand that the schools focus their spending on the STUDENT AND ACHIEVING RESULTS—OR ELSE FIRE THEM.

      Good Luck

      RGS

      District Spending for 30 students $

      Report Post »  
    • ARIZONA VETERAN
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:27pm

      I‘m perdy sure they can’t get much dumber than they all ready are…..

      Report Post » ARIZONA VETERAN  
    • Post-Progressive American
      Posted on October 9, 2010 at 6:00am

      I used to be against home and private schools, thinking that the public schools were the better option (after a complete overhaul to fix them, of course). But, as my children went through them I saw the degree to which they have deteriorated and I was not impressed. Not only did we have to provide all the school supplies (including those that you used to ‘check out’ from the teacher) and for disaster preparedness, we volunteered at the school, like many parents, to fill some of the basic admin needs which could no longer be paid for. Even then we still had to home school our children at night and assign extra homework, just to keep them at the appropriate grade level.

      As @Compete Or Lose points out, too little of the existing funds go to actual education. I have come to realize that our public schools, like many of government institutions, have failed. Privitization of education is the best long-term solution.

      Report Post » Post-Progressive American  
    • msgbear78
      Posted on October 11, 2010 at 4:06pm

      As a teacher, in general, and a teacher in OKC specifically, I am embarassed by the stupidity of some of my colleagues and administrative personnel in the district. But here is the real problem – many of you abandoned the districts feeling you had no power and went to christian schools, home schooling or private schools. Districts are run by their patrons – not politicians. Only if you let others try to run things do you loose your power. Go to District Board Meetings – sound off when they try to push through stopid initiatives, let them know you don’t want subject matter “dumbed-down”, that you support high expectations of the students and you want rigorous academics. However, then support the teachers in areas such as student behavior and performance, let you own student know what your expectations are, hold your child responsible for assignments, homework, testing, etc. Quit assuming your child is perfect and understand teachers have more to do than pick your child out for a personal vendetta. Also, understand there are many conservative, christian educators that hate being painted with the same broad brush. Focus your dissatisfaction with the schools the same way you focused your frustration with our political leaders and we can retake our schools and bring about reformation and transformation in the public education system.

      Report Post »  
1 2 3 4

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love