Wow - Scholastic Material Now Tells Students Look 4 ABC Fibs - RECOMMEND

[Dems Will Win]

Dear Teacher of Social Studies, grades 9-12

As you know, Scholastic has provided to teachers and students information, background, and explanations of current U.S. and world issues since our first Scholastic magazine was published in 1920 by my father, M.R. Robinson, the founder of our company.

Since then, Scholastic has explained the contemporary world in a clear, understandable way that is balanced and free of bias. Our mission is well-captured in our credo and editorial platform which includes the statement: “Good citizens may honestly differ on important public questions. We believe that all sides of the issues of our times should be fairly discussed—with deep respect for facts and logical thinking—in classroom magazines, books and other educational materials used in schools and homes.”

We also strongly believe that students should discuss the important issues of the day in classrooms so that they may gain the critical thinking skills which will help them become participating citizens and voters.

In that context, because the ABC docudrama The Path to 9/11 will be watched by many people in the U.S., including some of your students, we believe we should provide you with teaching ideas and background information on this series which will provide a “teachable moment” for an important issue of our time.


This program is highly controversial because:


As a docudrama, it contains imagined scenes that some of the political figures who lived through the period say are misleading and inaccurate.


It is an emotional portrayal of a period leading up to one of the searing events of our time—one which I personally witnessed first-hand from our Scholastic offices (less than a mile from the World Trade Center site). Several of our employees’ family members died in the attack.


It is being broadcast in a period just before the 2006 elections. A major election issue is the relationship between terrorism, the war in Iraq, and other conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan. As such, The Path to 9/11 is viewed by some as political and partisan.

The events leading up to 9/11 are important issues of our time. The docudrama, which covers the background of the period 1993-2001, is said to be largely based on the 9/11 Commission Report, and former Governor Tom Kean, Chair of the 9/11 Commission, is an advisor to the series.

We posted a discussion guide on Wednesday, August 23, which we believe was not in keeping with our high standards—and we took down that guide on Wednesday, September 6. We have rewritten this guide to focus more sharply on the issues of the docudrama as well as the background events.


The guide helps teachers to discuss these important questions:


What are the matters of dispute in the docudrama? What are the scenes that were altered or did not happen? How do these scenes affect your understanding? Are the changes part of an effort by the producers to shape your beliefs about these events? In your view, is this an appropriate way to treat an event such as this?


What are the different views of the relationship between the attacks of 9/11, the Iraq War, the war in Afghanistan, and the unrest in the Middle East? Many people believe that there is no connection between Iraq and the events of 9/11. Others believe that the broadly defined “War on Terror” justified the invasion of Iraq. As you study the background of events leading up to and following 9/11, what do you think?


There is a long history of conflict in the Middle East. How well do you understand each of the countries involved and what influences their behavior?

We believe that the rewritten discussion guide presented herewith will help your students interpret the ABC docudrama, The Path to 9/11, and hope that you will find it helpful in understanding the relationship between facts and drama, and the background of the different views about 9/11 in the U.S. and around the world.

Richard Robinson
Chairman, President and CEO
Scholastic

http://www.scholastic.com/medialiteracy/

This lesson plan clearly would help the Democrats as kids will talk about it with their parents and while watching the movie point out the inaccuracies. Yes, they would watch the movie, but each family would have a young 9-11 expert sitting crying "BULLSHIT" each time they roll out the falsehoods about Clinton!

Hmmm. Seems this has backfired big-time on Disney. Now if they run the movie they get a boycott AND the showing HELPS the Dems?

Or have I gone completely over the edge here?

They still see the movie BUT...

It's a little hard to believe, but I think in this case

DEMS DID WIN!

- Dems Will Win

[Cooley Hurd]

1. It sounds like ABC ISN'T going to correct it...

...that seems to be the gist of the Scholastic message!

We can't let up on this!!!!! K&R!

[Bozita]

17. yup, "tweaking" ain't "correcting"

[LynneSin]

62. Yes but that's not Scholastic's fault, they weren't makers of the movie

If anything, they (Scholastic) new they put shit out for their teachers to review with the movie. And now they are putting out materials that pretty much says we know this was made-up shit why not teach your children how to be cognizant of when the media is making up shit. Perhaps the kids will learn what propaganda is and not to believe everything TV tells you.

[Hugin]

69. I choose not to have my child practice Scatology.

She's too young to participate in a perversion initiated by an Administration
I've been trying to protect her from.

[AZBlue]

85. Did you bother to read the Guide?

It would prevent her from participating in such a "perversion."

You should really read it before you start criticizing it.

[LynneSin]

112. Exactly!! Hopefully it will teach our children to understand propaganda

Something that is becoming even more mainsteam with our government!

[Hugin]

122. I don't need to read supplemental porn to know I don't want it shown in..

schools.

Edited to add:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2094491

I don't *NEED* to read the guide... I read the above.

If I want my child to read fiction I'll get out a religious book.

[rrasile]

84. ABC correct it,

why should they. They are not performing the job that their license requires them to do and there's nothing the public can do to change it.
This is good because worldwide attention is being drawn to our media and how everything is turned.
Perhaps the next administration will wake up and charge the FCC to balance our media.

[rfranklin]

2. At least they are urging some critical thinking....

though they may be appeasing the terrorists!

[Mabus]

4. Maybe it will help kids realize that everything they see on TV isn't real

after all.

[Nikki Stone 1]

10. That in itself would be an amazing achievement

Kudos to the parents who wrote to Scholastic and got them to see the error of their ways.

[brer cat]

32. That would be a major plus if parents can pull it off.

Hope they have the good sense to help children/young people understand that it is a fictional drama, not fact. However, I would GREATLY prefer that it not be shown at all. We at DU know it is crap and could help guide our young people through it, but how many others will?

[Mabus]

51. I totally agree, I would rather it not be shown at all

In fact, I'd prefer they take everything associated with it and burn it.

[marshall]

61. I totally agree

Normally I am a big supporter of intellectual freedom and abhor burning books or movies (I love the Harry Potter series, which is a frequent target of censors), but in this case I'll make an exception. Burn it before it poisons the minds of the ignorant!

[Cobalt-60]

110. It might not be necessary

Critics claim this abomination sucks so hard that no one will sit through it.
Well freeps never have made good movies.
Does anyone remember a particularly vile 1987 mini series called (I think) Amerika featuring a Soviet occupation of the United States?
thought not.

[quiet.american]

3. Thanks for posting. I think this is an excellent approach from Scholastic.

[katinmn]

5. Well done! Kudos for Scholastic for getting it right this time.

We posted a discussion guide on Wednesday, August 23, which we believe was not in keeping with our high standards—and we took down that guide on Wednesday, September 6. We have rewritten this guide to focus more sharply on the issues of the docudrama as well as the background events.

[Karenina]

7. This is nothing more than CYA.

Their "study materials" were online and in distribution for 2 WEEKS. This is no more than closing the barn door after the bull has taken off down the road for a shit.

[katinmn]

9. OK. And would you prefer they do nothing? They admitted a mistake.

This is huge. They acknowledged that the timing of the docu-drama coincides with the mid-terms. They said the peice was not up to their standards. They pulled and re-wrote the hand-outs. That is a big admission of a major mistake.

Short of public flogging, what would you recommend they do?

[Karenina]

13. Public flogging???

Sounds good to me! PLUS a BIT HIT to their bottom line! :evilgrin:

[InkAddict]

16. How about joining with

their academic colleagues in presenting these issues to their Congressional Education Committees that remind Congresscritters of their responsibilities to uphold their oaths to uphold our constitution and to either: a) reconvene the 9/11 Commission for additional truthseeking and answers to questions that remain perplexing and amendment thereto; b)follow rule-of-law and available options of due process for an Impeachment protocol that requires open/public SWORN individual testimony. Leading and governing America should not be like the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire" in which contestants (unsworn witnesses) can get a free answer from the audience or from a family member or "friend" of their choice.

[MADem]

103. They should FORMALLY DISASSOCIATE themselves from this

And tell the kids to watch FOOTBALL on Sunday night.

They're invested in this piece of shit. That's why they continue to try to polish the turd.

[cally]

38. I don't agree with you...we pushed them into this

but this is what I want our schools to teach. There is propaganda out there and it's in many forms. Learn to look at programs with a critical mind. Kudos to Scholastic. This is better then pulling out entirely.

[AZBlue]

86. Did you bother to read it?

No. Because if anything this uncovers thier A!

It really annoys me when people on this board criticize things they aren't even familiar with. That's what Republicans do. We're better than that.

[MADem]

108. And now, we've put up a guide to try to polish the turd

...but it is STILL a turd. A six hour long turd. And kids should NOT be assigned it as homework. Not only no, but HELL NO.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2819174&mesg_id=2819174

See this thread--the guide still SUCKS.

[Schema Thing]

6. DUCK!!! fuck, what's that noise???

Backfire. Big Backfire.

[johnaries]

8. YES! Get the kids searching for the truth on their own!

Teach them not to believe everything they see on TV. Scholastic, I take back everything I've thought and said about you in the last few days.
:patriot:

[zbdent]

11. Here's how Scholastic should have presented it

Here are the facts ("thud" - sound of the 9/11 commission report hitting the desk) - and here, on TV, is a piece of fiction speculating what happened leading up to 9/11 ...

[StraightDope]

26. I wouldn't go so far...

as to call the 9/11 Commission report "factual". My $.02

[chill_wind]

40. That's for sure!

Another whole excercise in manipulation and whitewashing all unto itself.
The whole thing should be a required course in high school civics or college political science studies.

[AZBlue]

87. No kidding!!

eom

[1monster]

70. That is too easy for the kids. If the kids are the ones to actually

research the material and find out for themselves what is true and what is slanted or outright lies, they will learn more and remember more.

The new lesson plans that Scholatic has posted are terrific!
Check it out yourself. http://content.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplan.jsp?id=424

These are exactly the kind of lesson plan we need in the schools today. There is so much information available to everyone today that was never as easily accessable in the past. But there is also just as much misinformation out there that kids need to be taught how to find the true information and separate the misleading and false info out.

This lesson plan is one of the best I've seen online. I say BRAVO! to Scholastic.

:applause:

[roody]

73. Fuck Scholastic.

When they pushed B's lies to invade Iraq, I stopped buying the Sch News for my first graders. Now I threatened to stop giving out the book orders. They suck.

[1monster]

79. You know, as a mother who bought loads of Scholastic books for

my kid during the elementary years, I would be very upset at a teacher who refused to allow my child the opportunity to buy those books simply because s/he disagreed with the company.

While there are a few books in every Scholastic catalog that I raised my eyebrows over (Captain Underpants comes to mind, but many kids lave them and thus read them) there are many more really terrific books available for a fraction of what they cost in the book stores. I don't recall much political content in any of those books.

Even the book about children in the White House was totally apolitical and it was hilarious.

As a teacher, I totally disagree with taking away opportunities for children to read.

I'm not sure Scholastic is the big bad guy here. They may have been completely compliant with the ABC program, but I doubt it. They were probably sold a bill of goods like ABC planned to do with the rest of us.

And finally, this year's first graders would not yet have been born or were only in their first few months of life when the events of 0/11/01 happened. To them, it is ancient history and I doubt if many of them will be watching this miniseries or even be able understand the implications of it.

Read the replacement lesson plan that Scholastic has put up. It is terrific. And the really good part of it is that now teachers who have been flat out told not to even suggest to students that they are not getting the truth about what is going on in our country, our government, and our media system now have an opportunity to lead their students to the point of being able to find this out for themselves AND develop the skills that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

Scholastic could have just pulled out of the whole program when outraged people pointed out that they were going to be hurt by the association. But the mini series would still have aired with no rebuttal. Instead, they went the extra mile and developed a lesson plan that is exactly the kind of educational plans we need desperately in our schools today.

[riderinthestorm]

81. But it relies on the teacher to KNOW what's fact or fiction

in the movie. It assumes the teachers know which parts are made-up. I wouldn't assume most teachers are liberal/progressive Dems who understand what's truth or fiction.

[1monster]

91. No, it doesn't. It requires the student to go to the 9/11 Commsission

Report (which, I'll grant, is not the ultimate truth in all things 9/11) to see how the movie diviated from that and then to go to the news media on the same subject and see what the media slant was on that.

If I were doing this assignment with students, I would also require them to look it up on the blogs, both liberal and conservative to see what they could find there, too.

This lesson plan has enough potential to take up the entire school year. It's great.

[riderinthestorm]

94. Not trying to be snarky, but do you have time for that kind of in-depth

research as a teacher? I'm really just curious that's all.

And yes, I think the Commission Report is deeply flawed which I didn't make clear in my initial post. I believe most teachers do think the Commission Report is the truth and nothing but the truth.

[1monster]

97. To spend a whole school year on it? No, of course not. However,

I spent three weeks on the three Anglo-Saxon lyric poems, "The Seafarer," The Wanderer," and "The Wife's Lament" translated from The Exeter Book.

So I don't see why a period of two weeks at minimum couldn't be spent on examining "The Path to 9/11" especially since it covers such a large area of time, information, and history.

One could go back in time to when the majority of the Middle East woes began with the British Empire and the artificial boundry lines drawn to make nations. It could continue on to the dismantling of the Iranian government in the 1950's and the subsequent installation of the Shah by the CIA.

In fact, I think a good case could be made to spend four to six weeks in the area. 9/11 would end up being only a small piece of the lesson plan, because, after all, 9/11 is only a very small piece of a very large painting.

[MADem]

104. No offense, but that is absurd. Two weeks on a soap opera of lies?

Badly written, poorly edited, shitty camerawork and all?

Why not spend two weeks on the PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION? I mean, that is a load of lies too, but...you could point them OUT, and that would make it all better. Because, kids, they ALWAYS listen to the teacher...

Give me a break.

There just is NO justification for putting this shit in the classroom.

If you were a SERIOUS educator, you'd spend two weeks having them read and view the 911 Commission testimony and report. Not this ..... SHIT. And we wonder why our schools are in trouble?

[1monster]

113. Perhaps you should go back and reread my posts and the lesson

plan offered by Scholastic. I would not be teaching "The Path to 9/11" as such. It would be a springboard to teach the kids how and where to get their information, how to figure out when they are being lied to and how to get at the truth.

It would also be an opportunity to expose the students to the troubled history of the Middle East, and allow them to find out that many of the problems that the peoples of the Middle East are facing today have their roots in European and American interference in their lands.

You seem to feel that the students should be left to assume that ABC's representation of the events leading up to 9/11 are true because ABC says so. I believe they should be given the tools to determine the facts.

Kids are not stupid, they are just inexperienced. If they see for themselves that they are being spun and lied to, they will be more wary and develop into more aware and better citizens in the future.

Your arguement sounds a lot like those who refuse to allow honest sex education in the schools because once knowing about sex, the kids will want to try it.

I've got news for you, those who watch television are already aware of the ABC mini series. They will watch or not as they please. At least, if they are guided to find out for themselves that it is false, they will be better served than going it alone. Just like kids who have been exposed to genuine sex education are less likely to end up as teen parents or with STD.

For the record, I most likely would NEVER assign a television show, movie, or mini series for homework. I don't have a very high opinion of the idiot box at all and do not ever encourage kids to watch it.

I see no reason to continue debating with you. You are just looking for a fight and I'm not going to play.



One could go back in time to when the majority of the Middle East woes began with the British Empire and the artificial boundry lines drawn to make nations. It could continue on to the dismantling of the Iranian government in the 1950's and the subsequent installation of the Shah by the CIA.

In fact, I think a good case could be made to spend four to six weeks in the area. 9/11 would end up being only a small piece of the lesson plan, because, after all, 9/11 is only a very small piece of a very large painting.

[AZBlue]

115. You got that right.

"I see no reason to continue debating with you. You are just looking for a fight and I'm not going to play."

Unfortunately, 1monster, I've had to add a second DU'er to my iggy list. I'll let you guess who.

[MADem]

120. I beg your pardon--debating with you? There has been no back and forth

discussion between you and me in this thread.

I put my beak in just once, above, to you. I posted a separate thread that featured the ENTIRE lesson plan in it, and went over it, noting why I thought it was bullshit. I not only READ the plan, I comprehended it. SCHOLASTIC is INVESTED in this debacle, and they are trying to extricate themselves from responsibility without pissing off their corporate masters. That's why they didn't do the RIGHT thing, which would be to say the LESSON PLAN IS WITHDRAWN. There will be NO substitutions.

My point stands. You don't force kids to watch six hours of PROPAGANDA to give them a twenty minute lesson about why it is awful.

Why not force them to watch TRIUMPH OF THE WILL in its entirety? Or PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION?

Those are propaganda pieces too. And then, spend weeks going over every inaccuracy and false detail? While not teaching to standardized tests they have to take to graduate? You'd be fired if you pulled that.

And unfortunately, when it comes to modern history, plenty of KIDS ARE STUPID. This may be contemporaneous political science to adults, but it is ANCIENT HISTORY to a kid who was seven or eight years old in 1998, making the kid SIX or SEVEN when Monica was playing Bill's flute. There ARE kids alive, in high school, who cannot name all the Presidents since JFK in proper order, or at all.

It was wrong for SCHOLASTIC to "tweak" their lesson plan around in order to PRESERVE assigning a shoddy, six hour hit piece as homework. The only appropriate response would have been to sever all ties with the project.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2819174&mesg_id=2819174

[BlueEyedSon]

12. What should they do, turn on FOX to fact check it?

:(

[kurth]

14. Yeah, the materials did not meet our high $$tandard$

They saw a boycott coming.

[Nite Owl]

15. It's better than it was

sure but why are they doing it at all? It would have been better if they said that they have now viewed this miniseries and it is not worthy of discussion due to its inaccuracies. It's still going to be seen and the scenes that are lies will still be there for children to even discuss if it was right or not. That should not be open to discussion, truth is not a matter of opinion.

[brer cat]

34. imho it is better to suggest positive ways for discussion

since Scholastic cannot stop it from being shown. :shrug:

[Clarkie1]

42. You can't change the reality that this is going to be viewed by millions

You can't shield young people from the reality of the world. The Scholastic approach is exactly the right one. Students should be critically evaluating what is broadcast on television, especially something of this magnitude.

[me b zola]

74. Can't stop it from airing...BUT

Now it appears to be required viewing.

Bullshit. Am I the only one who gets this?

[LuckyLib]

128. I'm with you. Without commercials, ABC has "legitimized" this fiction.

Scholastic is in it for the $$, twisting their take in response to protest. But no teacher needs to bite on it. There are a million better, more important issues to discuss and debate than the crap your TV offers you. Everybody's brain could be better spent, particularly in the classroom.

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. I told you this would backfire on the right-wingers. Now they have

provided teachers with a great opportunity to teach kids that the media is used to push right-wing propaganda.

[katinmn]

20. Yes, that is a good thing

The R-W has actually opened the door to national public discussion on 9/11 that was shut tight before now.

Even WaPo did a fairly balanced article on the 911 truth movement today. I think the confidence to do that is the result of the ABC flap.

Could this have been another Rove misfire?

[Kber]

66. Either a Rove misfire or

a democratic equivalent who is every bit as much of an evil genius as he is.

But I wouldn't give the Dems that much credit.

[madmusic]

19. Excellent! Long live Scholastic! nt

[MADem]

105. No, fuck scholastic--and their rightwing agenda

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2819174&mesg_id=2819174

Read and weep. They're STILL in it, for the MONEY.

They've done nothing but put lipstick on a DEAD pig and call it a beauty queen.

[Marie26]

21. LOL

This has backfired big time, hasn't it?

[katinmn]

22. Yes. The Arrogant Right has been knocked down a few rungs.

[Dems Will Win]

23. OFFICIAL DEMS WILL WIN PREDICTION: THIS IS A TURNING POINT!

This is the "Robert Bork Moment" for the Dems, galvanizing them and uniting them and firing them up like nothing else.

I believe everything will be turned upside down for the GOP from here on out. The "Wizard" has been exposed and nothing can put the toothpaste back in the tube, if you will.

[glitch]

24. Ouch! That's gotta hurt somebody at ABC/Disney.

This plus the lawsuits being threatened and the other huge cracks opening in the seams of their juggernaut is making me smile.
I just hope when their propaganda fails they don't go into their more material "reality creations". Those won't work either, but they may be too stupid to see it.

[samsingh]

25. high ratings on this movie will not generate revenue for abc

and will spur debate that will be bad for those truly responsible.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

27. Be skeptical--consider the CALENDAR--it's a long way from words on a "com"

website to actual classroom discussions of controversial and intellectually challenging material. Sure, a few hundred VERY conscientious and independent teachers nationwide will use the revised guide on their own accord. But there'd still be a majority of public schoolkids not exposed to the revised Scholastic material even if it were on thousands of k-12.edu sites, and even if thousands of principals held faculty meetings weeks in advance to plan classroom discussions.

Since it's after 3pm on a Friday, and the broadcast begins this weekend, IMO there's NO CHANCE this will be implemented with millions, or even hundreds of thousands, of kids next week.

[Karenina]

39. THIS is the point that so many fail to grasp.

Scholastic participated in this *YOUTH PROPAGANDA FEST eyes wide open. They accepted the role as the indoctrination arm of the neo-cons. They MUST BE HELD TO ACCOUNT by the parents of the children they were so willing to poison with lies. Their pathetic CYA should be ignored and their bottom line HIT HARD.

[immoderate]

43. I'm with you here. Scholastic looks venal.

It's like, "Oh you caught us with our pants down -- well, we're just demonstrating what NOT to do with your pants. That was our intention all the time."

They looked more graceful bowing out. Now they have snatched ignominy from the jaws of deceit.

--IMM

[Karenina]

48. I read Scholastic in elementary school.

That was 50 (count 'em) years ago kids. They've always had a bias. In former times it was MUCH MORE SUBTLE. When my children started reading their publications, I had to point them out. A cursory examination of the difference between JFK and Reagan reporting is enough of a hint. At this juncture, they threw the dice at becoming the NUMERO UNO propaganda arm of those their big cheeses believe are "in position." They have betrayed the trust placed in them for so many decades and get NO FREE PASS from me.

HIT. THEIR. BOTTOM. LINE.

[immoderate]

52. My recollection is that they always did a lot of flag waving.

When I was a teacher, I didn't use their products. I taught math. I had a friend who contributed articles to their Math Magazine. That magazine was kind of mediocre, except for my friend's articles of course.

As an elementary student, we got their competitor Weekly Reader, which wasn't any better.

--IMM

[mwb970]

59. My letter to Scholastic.

I am trying to understand your plans to make the upcoming ABC 9/11 "documentary" a part of the education of our young people. This program has been shown to be biased and filled with inaccuracies.

Aren't our kids dumb enough already without Scholastic taking an active role in misleading them about events of current history?

A recent poll shows that 42% of Americans believe that Saddam Hussein was personally involved with 9/11. As you must know, this statement is categorically false. Then why do 42% of Americans believe a false statement about recent history? Because of the efforts of our dishonest government (Bush just mentioned the Saddam-9/11 "link" again last month), aided and abetted by right-wing-dominated media giants like Disney and ABC. And now Scholastic wants to sully its reputation by subjecting our children to false, right-wing propaganda in our public schools? For shame.

You have lost your way. You are making a terrible mistake and doing a terrible disservice to our country and its young people, which are its future. We expect better from you.

[Karenina]

101. SUPER!!!

:thumbsup:

[kenfrequed]

99. Of course

I would read James Lowder's "Lies my teacher told me" He points out textbook bias in his book. Scholastic (and most of these companies) tend to market towards Texas ensuring all of their books will get that sort of regional bias.

Add to that things like the American Legions statements about the purpose of civic education and you get a pretty gloomy picture of how effective our schools can be at raising the level of debate.

In any case I am not terribly surprised.

Perhaps though progressives and moderates will wise up to what is being taught in school outside of biology and try to get curiculuum that focuses on the challenge of America rather than a constant positivist curve with all problems already solved.

[mdmc]

28. Time to post a Richard Robinson appreciation thread

:kick:

[Jacobin]

29. So, now this is a 'Where In the World Is Carmen SanDiego' game?

:rofl:

:rofl:

These people are slow on the uptake

[gkhouston]

30. I know we have some DUers in their teens

and we've got lots of DU parents with kids in high school. I'm looking forward to hearing about what's actually happening in classrooms across the country in the next week...

[Dems Will Win]

31. kick

[citizen snips]

33. I have not heard a damn thing about it at my school.

which is a good thing.

[The_Casual_Observer]

35. Why don't they give this up already?

This looks like the most saccharine whitewash cover your ass school administrator politically correct bullshit deal yet.

[immoderate]

44. Exactly right!

They shoulda quit while they were ahead.

--IMM

[Eric J in MN]

36. What is the best way to thank Scholastic? NT

NT

[Karenina]

46. Serious PAIN in their profit column.

They're NOT SORRY about anything other than being caught. Their Plan B (for BULLSHIT) is now in effect.

[MADem]

109. Light their materials on fire in front of schoolhouses, perhaps?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2819174&mesg_id=2819174

[LuckyLib]

37. "What are the scenes that were altered or did not happen? "

Isn't that trying to prove a negative? And teachers are going to arm students with the counter-information they need to do the research to challenge what they have watched? America's busy teachers, coming off their first week of classes in many communities, just happened to see that P.S. memo stuffed in their mailboxes today. Sure.

[Lorien]

41. Not surprising. I've worked with Scholastic HQ, and everyone I've met

there has been fairly liberal, as are most New Yorkers. The real question for me is "how did the original guide get up there in the first place"?

[seabeyond]

45. i dont buy be sceptical. i believe this is sincere. they listened,

they thought and they said sheeeit...... fuck abc.

i really believe they took the partnership with abc without much thought. i am hoping anyway. that is why i was so concerned about the partnership. i could see the schools and teachers following along, without much thought too. it has become common and easy and accepted to bash, diss, ridicule, blame dems.

this is why it was so important for all to stand up to this obvious manipulation of us, the people.

i believe scholastic woke up. and there can be no better atonement, nor fight in our battle than scholastic turning it on abc and say look. look for the lies and why, who.

this is important because, i called superintendent with this on thursday morning. we talked. she said she would investigate. i called her at 4:30 to let her know scholastic pulled it and would put up new lesson. she thanked for the update. today i called and asked her to go into scholastic and read what they had to say. she thanked me. she said, you called yesterday and i did not have a clue what you were talking about, but i went home and i started hearing it on the tv and news, radio, everywhere. and i knew what they were talking about. she says it was just amazing what was happening with all this.

and scholastic addressed this just how this woman and i concluded our call on thursday. how our children needed to be informed, and challenged to look for the truth and be aware.

i say thnaks scholastic. your move was a big part in this whole movement in the last three days. a thank you. and i hope they earn my trust and thanks.

[Dems Will Win]

47. Everyone should be aware that Scholastic did not have a

partnership with ABC, they just saw the movie was happening and trusted them, and then the right-wing film conspiracy happened. Scholastic just created materials for teachers to use on the 9-11 Movie and accepted that they really were following the 9-11 Commission Report.

Scholastic felt it was the best way to use the 5-year 9-11 anniversary as a learning experience.

The interesting thing about all this is that now it is suddenly OK in the media to talk about 9-11 more, about what led to it.

[seabeyond]

50. partnership,not in the making, but joining to present to students

and yes, i think they just accepted they were following 911 commission. which was our concern with the amercian people. that is how it is promoted.

[ShortnFiery]

58. Scholastic needs to trash the "study guides" and no longer recommend

that grades 9-12 view it. They should NOT discuss FICTION in civics or government classes. It would be like studying "The Civil War" from the perspective of the author within the "Gone with the Wind" novel.

It is NOT, I repeat NOT educational. It is DRAMA. If they follow through with study guides, the boisterous right wing kids will shout down the others with the "visual argument" in the film and state, "That's still under dispute."

This is so wrong of Scholastic. This Docudrama should NOT be used in an educational setting. Hello! Can we say DRAMA? FICTION? :grr:

[Chimichurri]

49. this is a terrible "clarification" this sentence

some of the political figures who lived through the period say are misleading and inaccurate

and this:

The Path to 9/11 is viewed by some as political and partisan

I'm not at all satisfied by this. Anyone who is, is foolish to be placated by such weak caveats.

[Polemicist]

53. Broadcasting of fictional propaganda is never good...

While Scholastic's change is a positive one, airing of a fictional reading of an important historical event, one that is central to an upcoming election, and one that has never before been broadcast on American TV, can never, ever be a good thing.

We shouldn't have to defend the Clinton Administration (and all Democrats) against these false attacks. Schoolchildren shouldn't be exposed to lies posed as truth. ABC should not broadcast this film and will pay a heavy and ongoing price for their partisanship and immoral behavior.

Scholastic, however, seems to be trying to set things right. They are already entrapped in this ABC disaster, for whatever reasons and/or poor judgement by those as Scholastic who made the decision to participate in this fictionalization of 9/11. To pull out after already having presented study guides to students might have been the worse position for them to take. As some teachers already had the biased study guides in their possession and would use them. Instead, they are trying to place new study guides in the hands of instructors that will shift emphasis to the national debate on the accuracy and propriety of this broadcast. Perhaps that's better than a withdraw, after Scholastic already had made the mistake to participate.

[MikeE]

57. Teaching kids to identify it as propaganda is good though

As a trainer myself and a composer, I have always had issues with both censorship and the disappearance of teaching people how to view art, be it books, film, paintings, music, whatever, (we can thank the repugs for that too, with all the cuts to art in the schools beginning in the 80's and the emphasis on technical degrees in higher education, to teach the vast majority of people to be good corporate workers). The fact is that there will always be people trying to spin stuff. The only reason that they have gotten away with it for so long s that people can't see it. I'm glad that at least a step was taken, (regardless of how self serving it may be or appear to be), to teach kids how to watch something.

[133724]

54. This is the part I like!!!!

Directions:

1. Have your students select a scene from The Path to 9/11 miniseries, such as the depiction of the USS Cole bombing in Yemen. Instruct your students to write a brief summary of the event as shown in the miniseries.
2. Then have students visit http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/index.htm to download a free copy of the 9/11 Commission Report. Students should search the report for information pertaining to the same event they selected in step 1.
3. Once the students have found the information in the 9/11 Commission Report, have them compare the depiction of the event in the miniseries to its representation in the report.
4. Have students consult a second print news source for another example of how the event is portrayed in print media versus the miniseries and report.
5. Have students summarize their comparisons in a short essay. Remind them to include specific examples from the miniseries and the report as they write their essays.
6. Have students consider these questions: Are there matters of dispute in the docudrama? Does the scene you researched portray events that conflict with the 9/11 Commission Report or additional news source? Does it portray events that reflect the information in the 9/11 Commission Report?
7. Ask for volunteers to share what they have discovered about the similarities and differences between how the event was depicted. Lead a class discussion or debate about whether or not The Path to 9/11 is an accurate representation of the events described in the 9/11 Commission Report and additional news source.
8. As part of this debate, have your students consider if they feel that event depicted in the scene they have chosen was a contributing factor for the terrorist attacks and why. Possible discussion or debate starters include: Contrast these feelings and insights with other sources. Has the publicity surrounding the docudrama affected your perspective of the events depicted in the scene you have chosen.

http://content.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplan.jsp?id=424

[Red Right and BLUE]

55. There's something good. Nice! eom

[ShortnFiery]

56. This is B.S. and I'm not going to ask my children to watch it ...

My daughter is in Junior High but she does not want to watch FICTION visually portrayed as factual!

Why is Scholastic recommending that children view this DocuDRAMA?

What's next, reading Historical Novels and then weeding through all the inaccuracies?

This is WRONG. I would encourage other parents with children in K-12 to *refuse* to participate in what is essentially a Republican Sponsored Fictional Depiction of 9-11.

This DocuDrama is NOT educational but only serves those who wish to spread disinformation and lies about 9-11. The TRUTH is out there and should NOT be dismissed for the sake of a "good drama."

I will do my BEST to boycott all things Scholastic, ABC and Disney in the future. Let me pre-empt the "kill-joys" who will whine that it won't matter. It matters a great deal, to me and my beloved family. :thumbsdown:

[LynneSin]

63. Scholastics is doing good with their new teaching materials

Hell, German Teachers should have been teaching this to their kids back in pre-WW2 Germany.

The problem is Scholastic put the material out there before they realized the controversy. Knowing that some teachers already pulled the material and prepared classes, they provided new materials to be used, materials to teach the children about critical thinking and how the media uses it's powers to misrepresent the truth.

I'm really just hoping that teachers ignore the movie and not encourage their students to watch it. But for those who already started down that path I hope they provide the new material and teach the students that not everything they see on TV is real and that even docudramas can be used to influence people into a distorted truth.

[Wretched Refuse]

60. The long and winding Path to 9/11

Well, could not we go further back in our time machine and ask:
What the hell did George Bush I do to stop Osama? I mean why not do that? He had the whole middle east in his grubby little hands back in 1991, so why not take him out right then either?

Now HERE is a concept for y'all,

It has struck me that this "non-issue" (really if you think about all the treason this admin is doing, this is a non-issue) is REALLY the DLC re-asserting itself as the controller of ALL things Democrat.
I mean it is all a Clinton (+administration) face saving thing that now supposedly ALL god Dems come to the aid of their "fearless leader." Well, it really is sapping our "vig" on other more important issues.

So, I have stayed outside the blogosphere on this one, except for the few phone calls to ABC radio to gnash my teeth on the air, with the likes of Levin (the Zionist) and the new idiot (Jerry) last night taking over Laura Ingram's 8-10 slot in the NY ABC market.

Screw Disney and ABC, they were the next to fall to the nazis after Fox anyway, everyone knew that. I believe that ABC is also stirring the pot to get all good Dems back into the DLC fold, as Hilary was starting to get REALLY antsy at the calls to debate Tasini and with Lamont, and the Screw the DLC push happening as of late, I feel this is the motive for the over-hype of this non-issue.

This all just another Corporate-control of our sense of "what is important."

[Lasher]

64. Why not pass out packs of cigarettes to the kids?

After all, there's a warning label on every pack.

[ClevelandSportsCurse]

67. Perfect analogy n/t

[AZBlue]

89. That would only be a perfect analogy if

you also asked students to research the diseases and deaths caused by cigarette smoking, asked them to come up with reasons cigarette companies might want to mislead them, ask them to look at the addictive ingredients in cigarettes and how hard it is to quit, and then asked them if they'd like a light.

That's a perfect analogy.

[Dervill Crow]

65. This will work for kids who already know the truth.

Kids who have been raised in households where Clinton has been blamed for everything including the Great Fire in London will probably not recognize any inaccuracies.

Too little, too late.

on edit: Okay, should have read further before the knee jerk reaction, but I tend to be pessimistic before I've had my coffee. We can hope that there are teachers who actually use this as a tool to teach kids critical thinking, but I am seriously afraid they are too busy trying to teach to the tests required by the schools these days. (Not the teachers' fault, just the way it is.)

[Hugin]

68. So, Scholastic is encouraging students to practice Scatology?!?!

This tips it...

[BootinUp]

71. Nothing new about having kids read major media stories

and discuss them. I think this effort is positive in that it highlights the controversy over the movie.

[Hugin]

72. While they're at it they can hand out cigarettes...

The kids can read the warning labels.

It amounts to the same thing.

Scatology is not what we send kids to school for...

[BootinUp]

76. If the class is on politics

then you have to equip the students to make political judgements. Not just tell them what is rigth and wrong. Science or Health is a different matter where you have certain established facts that are derived from reviewed papers by the scientific community. THere is no equivalent to that in the poltical arena.

[BootinUp]

75. deleted

[Hubert Flottz]

77. We should vote against any school board member who lets these

lies be told in our schools and does not protest it in public.

[opihimoimoi]

119. Piss on them....GOP Board Members who lie to our kids.

[cboy4]

78. I'm pleased to hear this naturally, but I still think it's disturbing that

Scholastic was going to try to get away with the original material.

Never-the-less, love the "highly" controversial wording in the letter! :thumbsup:

[McCamy Taylor]

80. Public protest works--Dems should do it more often.

:dem:

[Hulk]

82. Hogwash BS....burn the materials and the tapes!!

How stupid is this? Have students discuss the inaccuracies of this piece of propaganda? How absurd! How about they use Fahrenheit 9/11 as a study tool, and do the same with it?
Has this world gone crazy?

[AZBlue]

83. I've praised Scholastic in other threads on the new Curriculum Guide.

If those above in this thread who are still criticizing Scholastic would actually take a moment to read the Guide (it's not even that long) they would see it:

- Asks students to do their own research on the history and events relevent to the mini-series
- Teaches students about media bias and even asks them to look at one particular topic as covered by different media outlets
- Asks them to reach their own decisions.

I see no problems with that at all. Isn't that what we wish more American citizens/voters would do??

[BuyingThyme]

88. You don't understand.

Nobody will read the ridiculous instructions. The teachers will just show the film when they have time to kill. The students will just drink it up. This is a crime.

Don't you remember being in school? It hasn't changed.

[AZBlue]

90. I work with teachers every single day - on their Curriculum.

Let me tell you one thing I know - they will read it all the way through.

They have to - curriculum is such a push in all states now that they must make sure everything they do is supported by their state's standards. They have to read through and research anything they do.

So, actually, I do understand.

[BuyingThyme]

92. I'm shocked by your ignorance. Really.

[AZBlue]

93. Are you a schoolteacher? Do you work with teachers?

I do. Here's more info than you deserve: I sell them curriculum & Educator Guides. Have done it, very successfully I might add, for over 5 years. And, actually, I don't just talk and work with teachers - I work with principals, superintendants, curriculum directors, district personnel...if they work in the school system in any way related to curriculum, they work with me.

So, I'm pretty sure I know how teachers approach thier curriculum, lesson plans and Educator Guides. But thanks.

[BuyingThyme]

95. No, that's why I'm shocked. Let me ask you something:

Do you know what a docudrama is? And, if so, how can you stand by Scholastic while they openly explain that the "docudrama" contains falsehoods, fiction, etc. That makes no sense. They've been given ample opportunities to stop lying, but have refused.

If you are confused, it's because you think you know what the word docudrama means, but you actually have no idea.

Scholastic is committing a fraud. They are the worst kind of criminals known to democracy. They are rewriting history. I am shocked that you are unable to understand this, particularly while you claim to represent educators. It's not that we have different opinions; it's that you don't understand.

[AZBlue]

96. You need a dictionary. And, to focus your anger at the acual villian.

DOCUDRAMA: doc-u-dra-ma  /d-kyə-dr-mə, -dræmə/ Pronunciation Key -

–noun Television. a fictionalized drama based primarily on actual events.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=docudrama

Bolding mine. By its very meaning, it doesn't have to be factual.

DRAMA: dra-ma  /dr-mə, -dræmə/ Pronunciation Key -

–noun 1. a composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character, esp. one intended to be acted on the stage; a play.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=drama&x=55&y=11

Don't see the word "fact" anywhere in there.


Yes, ABC is wrong for showing the show. But, Scholastic isn't supporting their lies. I bet you haven't even read the Educator Guide, have you? So you are arguing about something you don't know anything about - or understand.

Oh, and stop telling me I don't understand...especially since I understand a heck of a lot more than you do. If you want to discuss this any further with me, you'll have to come up with something more than repeating the same phrase ("you don't understand, you don't understand..."). Or are you another one of those who just wants to argue? You've changed your argument here already, so I'm not sure. I'm not interested in participating in a bitchy exchange just for the purpose of being bitchy, if that's what you're after, sorry.

[BuyingThyme]

98. You are now using fallacies. Again I am shocked.

You knowingly posted the phrase "actual events," then proceeded to insinuate that you didn't see anything about facts. And, of course, the link you provided does use the word fact. Why did you do that? Is this what educators do? (We call it dishonesty.)

And, if you had any comprehension at all, you would understand that I have been making references to the so-called Educator Guide, as well as Richard Robinson's lies about it. Had you read the so-called Educator Guide carefully, you might have caught my references to it.

Anyways, I'm going to explain something to you. The word docudrama is a combination of documentary and drama. Their is no inherent fictional component in either. And they only reason dictionary.com uses the word fiction in their definition is because the process of movie making requires that gaps be filled in order to create a final product. (That's why they stuck the word primarily in there -- thanks for highlighting it for me.) That does not mean that they can create their own version of events and call it a docudrama. Well, they can, but neither they nor Scholastic should be given a pass for doing so.

I'm glad I have an opportunity to explain all of this. Do you have any other questions?

[AZBlue]

116. Yeah, I have a question.

How do you get dressed in the morning by yourself? :dunce:

Sigh. Looks like I have to press the ignore button. I hate doing that. Really do.

[BuyingThyme]

125. Sorry for being so truthfull.

[kenfrequed]

100. I'm sorry but I still see problems with this.

It is a matter of focus. By making this film the primary proposition in the context of a classroom you create a difficult situation for educators and students.

If children are being asked to watch the film at home then their parents will be forced to watch it or worry as to whether they are failing the education of their children.

I do not know how the miniseries could NOT be the central focus and placing that focus on the right wing is definitely wrong.

Merely stating repeatedly that it is a docu-drama does not serve history or education very well. Considering the dialog is contorted and invented so thoroughly the line between "Docu-drama" and Historical fiction is probably breeched. A reasonable student can be told that Johnny Tremaine is a work of fiction and be capable of understanding this. But the immediacy of the events in this movie, compounded by the fact that it is purely a work of propaganda suggests to me that it might be difficult to work with.

Considering that this film is designed to sway over adults how good an idea is it to put it in the classrooms?

[Name removed]

102. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AZBlue]

114. I'm neither one.

And extremely offended by your calling me that.
Why must you always turn to defamation and insults? Are you stalking me? I've never encountered anyone on this board as much as I have run into you. Isn't that against the rules?
Try using facts instead. But you'll have to try it with someone else. Thanks to the iggy button, I won't play your little game anymore. Buh bye.

[kenfrequed]

124. A pity

It is a pity when someone has to resort to such idiocy (I am obviously speaking of the person deleted.)

That said I think it would be nice to see you respond to a more substantive argument-mine.

[LWolf]

117. Scholastic is not providing a live feed,

or a dvd, or other means to actually show this "docudrama" in the classroom. They are providing a study guide, not film footage.

No one is required to watch the film. No teacher is required to ever visit the scholastic site, or to use any of their materials. Scholastic does not make curricular decisions for schools. Teachers do not decide that they need to discuss what kids watch on tv at home because Scholastic gives them free materials. Teachers may choose to look at materials, and then make a professional decision about whether, and how, to use them.

[BuyingThyme]

126. That's a fascinating perspective. You believe they're sending

out the study guide for the movie because they don't want people to study the movie?

I don't know how to respond to that.

[LWolf]

127. It's not what I believe.

I'm just stating a fact. Scholastic didn't produce the movie, and is not distributing the movie to schools. Scholastic is providing a "study guide." While I think they would have been better off staying away from this project entirely, the "revised" version of the study guide is not bad, from this teacher's perspective.

It is commonplace for different organizations to send free materials to schools. Over the years I've received many free videos and accompanying "guides" and "lessons." I've never used any of them, although I've kept some videos with worthwhile content. Those videos are still waiting to be shown in my class, years later, because I don't spend too much class time in front of a screen. By the time I get around to using them, the vcr will be extinct, lol.

Scholastic has all kinds of lesson plans, etc. on their website. They are all free to download and use. I've never used any. I generally don't need commercial publishers to decide how to organize curriculum for me. They are the largest and/or most frequently used publisher when it comes to kidlit, and they have a large presence in schools with various programs. Other publishers do the same.

Those are all facts; it has nothing to do with what I believe about motive. I tend to view all large corporate organizations with skepticism, and don't offer up any trust about their motivations. In most cases, Scholastic's motivation, much like Microsoft's, is to control the market. In Scholastic's case, the youth literature/school market. Are they also politically motivated? Undoubtedly. Did they knowingly intend to encourage schools to focus attention on a propaganda piece for political purposes? Possibly. If so, they're now running backwards in order to protect the primary motivation, controlling the market. The revised "study guide" asks good questions. I might use something like it to examine a different piece of propaganda from the past; one that isn't affecting the outcome of current events.

[tpsbmam]

106. Not buying it.....

Sorry, I'm not buying. This is a significant improvement, no doubt. But really....did they distribute Fahrenheit 9/11 to schools and then hand out a study guide? Nope, not buying.

[MADem]

107. See this thread--Scholastic bullshits public with phony lesson plan

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2819174&mesg_id=2819174


As I said elsewhere, I think the kiddies oughta take all of those SCHOLASTIC materials out to the playground, pretend they are valid intellectual works, douse them with lighter fluid, and BURN THEM....a little reenactment of FAHRENHEIT 451...and THEN they can have a little discussion about the difference between PROPAGANDA, which the PATH TO 911 is, and CENSORSHIP, which FAHRENHEIT 451 deals with!

Then they can learn about BOYCOTTS, when they stop purchasing DISNEY products and services!!! They can compare their efforts to those of ROSA PARKS...how's THAT for a lesson plan? Or, they can play "BUSH FOR A DAY" and toss the Constitution and Declaration of Independence on the fire, and write an essay about how they'd go about being America's Dictator!

Much better use of their time than spending six commercial free hours over two nights getting "concrete ass" in front of a TV....

How many kids assigned this shit would actually watch? Betcha damn few--it's football, the XBOX, the telephone to chat with friends....ANYTHING but watch this turd of a show. They'd peck through the internet, or find a scene on YOUTUBE, but they wouldn't sit through the whole thing. And they SHOULDN'T.

Why?

Holding them prisoner in front of a TV screen pumping propaganda is bad enough, but TORTURE is proscribed in the GENEVA Conventions!!!

[tpsbmam]

111. Now that's teaching!

Now THAT makes more sense to me! Just not buying this crap -- they're still distributing the movie and how teachers choose to teach about it will be up to them. It's a load of BS if you ask me.....I like the suggestions at the other thread much better.

[LWolf]

123. This is simply not true.

Scholastic is not distributing the movie. They produced a study guide, and made it available. After complaints, they revised the study guide. No one is distributing the movie to schools.

[opihimoimoi]

118. Bwahahaha did I hear the words? UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES???

More Classroom Teachers will get into the project....WHAT WENT WRONG TO A WELL PLANNED MOVIE DESIGNED TO FOOL? Pick the parts designed to FOOL. I love it

[Yukari Yakumo]

121. Backpedal Backpedal Backpedal

Scholastic realizes this will probably get ugly. And maybe it isn't what they paid for either. Either way, they're definitely looking for a way out of the mess while saving face.