Fifth Park Thought

[Wizzard419]

While you say that, which is probably true considering that there are state and federal guidelines to what is taught, the average american probably is also off in their history as well even if they are an old.

[Sharonofwindham]

While you say that, which is probably true considering that there are state and federal guidelines to what is taught, the average american probably is also off in their history as well even if they are an old.

From what I understand of the questions that were asked of students, there must be some super crazy guidelines in place . That said I'm no history major myself...to most I probably know very little . I love attractions like American Adventure, and I'm quite sure I've learned from it.

[Wizzard419]

Well, the guidelines are not so much crazy as they are strict, so there isn't much for lateral content and they are also limited by Texas and California since they are the biggest buyers of textbooks, so they also have greater pull over the content. There have been comments in other places, aside from here, about how schoolchildren no longer know about the titanic, it has no relevance to any coursework in k-12 so it gets left out.

[cy1229]

Well, the guidelines are not so much crazy as they are strict, so there isn't much for lateral content and they are also limited by Texas and California since they are the biggest buyers of textbooks, so they also have greater pull over the content. There have been comments in other places, aside from here, about how schoolchildren no longer know about the titanic, it has no relevance to any coursework in k-12 so it gets left out.

Drags up soap box

**ahem**

This is called Teaching to the Test. It happens when schools, teachers, districts, and the like are judged solely on students' test scores. Therefore, if a school or teacher knows that their pay, or their funding, or their public rating depends upon how well kids do on a test, it's just logical that they're going to teach what is on the test.

What this does is removes the creative, fun, unique things that each individual teacher would do because of his or her individuality. For example, in my chemistry class, I did some extra organic chemistry stuff where the kids made biodiesel fuel from vegetable oil, but ended up dropping it because of the standards and the tests.

It's the result of trying to make American education as homogeneous as possible. The result is that students aren't afforded enriching experiences, and are instead treated like a raw material to be sent through a factory to churn out a generic, identical, product.

Thank you for your attention.

Steps off soap box

[Wizzard419]

Yes, and that is what the parents wanted a standarized (yet racially biased) measure of recall that is masked as learning.

[Sharonofwindham]

Well, the guidelines are not so much crazy as they are strict, so there isn't much for lateral content and they are also limited by Texas and California since they are the biggest buyers of textbooks, so they also have greater pull over the content. There have been comments in other places, aside from here, about how schoolchildren no longer know about the titanic, it has no relevance to any coursework in k-12 so it gets left out.

Drags up soap box

**ahem**

This is called Teaching to the Test. It happens when schools, teachers, districts, and the like are judged solely on students' test scores. Therefore, if a school or teacher knows that their pay, or their funding, or their public rating depends upon how well kids do on a test, it's just logical that they're going to teach what is on the test.

What this does is removes the creative, fun, unique things that each individual teacher would do because of his or her individuality. For example, in my chemistry class, I did some extra organic chemistry stuff where the kids made biodiesel fuel from vegetable oil, but ended up dropping it because of the standards and the tests.

It's the result of trying to make American education as homogeneous as possible. The result is that students aren't afforded enriching experiences, and are instead treated like a raw material to be sent through a factory to churn out a generic, identical, product.

Thank you for your attention.

Steps off soap box

No problem, very interesting. That's got to be so frustrating for you though.

[cy1229]

Well, the guidelines are not so much crazy as they are strict, so there isn't much for lateral content and they are also limited by Texas and California since they are the biggest buyers of textbooks, so they also have greater pull over the content. There have been comments in other places, aside from here, about how schoolchildren no longer know about the titanic, it has no relevance to any coursework in k-12 so it gets left out.

Drags up soap box

**ahem**

This is called Teaching to the Test. It happens when schools, teachers, districts, and the like are judged solely on students' test scores. Therefore, if a school or teacher knows that their pay, or their funding, or their public rating depends upon how well kids do on a test, it's just logical that they're going to teach what is on the test.

What this does is removes the creative, fun, unique things that each individual teacher would do because of his or her individuality. For example, in my chemistry class, I did some extra organic chemistry stuff where the kids made biodiesel fuel from vegetable oil, but ended up dropping it because of the standards and the tests.

It's the result of trying to make American education as homogeneous as possible. The result is that students aren't afforded enriching experiences, and are instead treated like a raw material to be sent through a factory to churn out a generic, identical, product.

Thank you for your attention.

Steps off soap box

No problem, very interesting. That's got to be so frustrating for you though.

Well, It was, when I was still in the classroom. I'm not teaching any longer - I train teachers and write curriculum now. And the politics of it is part of what drove me from the classroom. I miss it a lot... but I have a lot less stress now, too.

[rphillips14]

Walt's frustration with Disneyland was that there was not enough land. disney would NEVER make that mistake again. However, you could never buy land like WD did in central florida in the mid-sixties. My belief is that land is too expensive to buy the amount that Disney the Corporation would want to open a new park. Also, the profit lines would be too limited.

I would love to see the aggressive renovation of the current parks like we've seen with Fantasyland. Avatarland is a step in the right direction for AK as it needed something....anything to help. I would love to see Epcot returned to it's roots of a glimpse of the future. Innoventions is a move in the right direction (the rollercoaster you design and then ride-great). Now let's make some positive moves in the MK.

[Sharonofwindham]

Walt's frustration with Disneyland was that there was not enough land. disney would NEVER make that mistake again. However, you could never buy land like WD did in central florida in the mid-sixties. My belief is that land is too expensive to buy the amount that Disney the Corporation would want to open a new park. Also, the profit lines would be too limited.

I would love to see the aggressive renovation of the current parks like we've seen with Fantasyland. Avatarland is a step in the right direction for AK as it needed something....anything to help. I would love to see Epcot returned to it's roots of a glimpse of the future. Innoventions is a move in the right direction (the rollercoaster you design and then ride-great). Now let's make some positive moves in the MK.

Well said...improve and expand what's already there is a great idea

[dstrawn9889]

Walt's frustration with Disneyland was that there was not enough land. disney would NEVER make that mistake again. However, you could never buy land like WD did in central florida in the mid-sixties. My belief is that land is too expensive to buy the amount that Disney the Corporation would want to open a new park. Also, the profit lines would be too limited.

I would love to see the aggressive renovation of the current parks like we've seen with Fantasyland. Avatarland is a step in the right direction for AK as it needed something....anything to help. I would love to see Epcot returned to it's roots of a glimpse of the future. Innoventions is a move in the right direction (the rollercoaster you design and then ride-great). Now let's make some positive moves in the MK.

i believe we were referring to opening a fifth park on WDW property...

there is plenty of space on the left of world drive, at the EPCOT exit for another park, all that would have to be moved is a canal i believe