MN 4th grade "Equity Survey"

News said it was sent to families emails and was optional? Looks like we have a parent with a bone to pick with the district. The parent of the student mentioned leads the "Concerned Parents and Community of ISD 748" Facebook group. I've coached HS ball, I know how parents get. They could have a bone to pick, but seems like national media is just looking for outrage porn. Let the parents and the district hash this one out. 

 
FrantzHardySwag said:
News said it was sent to families emails and was optional? Looks like we have a parent with a bone to pick with the district. The parent of the student mentioned leads the "Concerned Parents and Community of ISD 748" Facebook group. I've coached HS ball, I know how parents get. They could have a bone to pick, but seems like national media is just looking for outrage porn. Let the parents and the district hash this one out. 
Click to expand...


Students told not to tell or ask their parents about any of the questions.  Also told to not skip any questions even if theh didn't understand them.  You'd be okay with that precedent with your children?

 
Redux said:
Students told not to tell or ask their parents about any of the questions.  Also told to not skip any questions even if theh didn't understand them.  You'd be okay with that precedent with your children?
Click to expand...
I would not be okay with that. Like I said she could have a legit bone to pick. The district said the entire survey was optional. These things have a lot of he said, she said. I was saying it seems silly to take one thing, one parent said - and create national outrage. 

 
FrantzHardySwag said:
I would not be okay with that. Like I said she could have a legit bone to pick. The district said the entire survey was optional. These things have a lot of he said, she said. I was saying it seems silly to take one thing, one parent said - and create national outrage. 
Click to expand...


1 or 100, it doesn't matter.  If schools are teaching their students to not communicate with their parents concerning uncomfortable matters it's setting an increasingly dangerous precedent.

 
Redux said:
1 or 100, it doesn't matter.  If schools are teaching their students to not communicate with their parents concerning uncomfortable matters it's setting an increasingly dangerous precedent.
Click to expand...
Yeah if that's what happened, it was wrong. But the district said they wanted the surveys taken by the kids to be done without parent influence, and if parents didn't want their kids taking the survey, they could opt out. So again, something between a parent and the school district to work out - because if we take both sides at face value, then no one seems unreasonable...

 
FrantzHardySwag said:
Yeah if that's what happened, it was wrong. But the district said they wanted the surveys taken by the kids to be done without parent influence, and if parents didn't want their kids taking the survey, they could opt out. So again, something between a parent and the school district to work out - because if we take both sides at face value, then no one seems unreasonable...
Click to expand...


They don't want parental influence or teachers explaining questions they have confusion with because then they won't get the results they want.  4th graders answering survey questions they don't understand to yield "data"....gross.

 
I came to this thread fresh from filling out a survey from my healthcare provider, in which the questions didn't always fit the answers provided and there was no place to ask for clarification beyond a "Comments" section that will never get read by the people who cooked up the survey. 

A gradeschooler's view of race and sexuality might be very valuable from a sociological standpoint, but I would never wish this particular kinda horses#!t on a fourth-grader. 

 
Redux said:
1 or 100, it doesn't matter.  If schools are teaching their students to not communicate with their parents concerning uncomfortable matters it's setting an increasingly dangerous precedent.
Click to expand...
You're putting a lot of faith in the claims of a parent you haven't met. It'll be interesting to see what results from this, but I wouldn't take the parent or the school board at their word. I agree with @FrantzHardySwag this is mostly outrage porn by the media to get views/clicks.

 
No teacher or any other responsible adult should tell a child to keep something from their parents. Especially if it is an uncomfortable or complex issue. Thankfully, most teachers will not do this. Granted, there are plenty of bad teachers out there, and the linked article does not share both sides of the story. Further, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of the accuracy of this story:

1. We live in a time in which idiots like to generate faux outrage over anything having to do with race, diversity, or identity.

2. The story is relying almost entirely on the word of a fourth grader.

3. The source of this story is a British tabloid.

4. Redux is making a big deal out of it.

Additionally, fourth graders should certainly be involved in conversations about equity and diversity, but they should be whole-heartedly encouraged to talk to their parents about it. These topics need robust discussions both inside and outside the classroom. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
RedDenver said:
You're putting a lot of faith in the claims of a parent you haven't met. It'll be interesting to see what results from this, but I wouldn't take the parent or the school board at their word. I agree with @FrantzHardySwag this is mostly outrage porn by the media to get views/clicks.
Click to expand...


So you need more outrage to decide if you want to be outraged by it?  Or you could look at it with face value.  A 4th grade student explaining a ridiculous situation in front of the school, teachers and peers.

 
Ulty said:
No teacher or any other responsible adult should tell a child to keep something from their parents. Especially if it is an uncomfortable or complex issue. Thankfully, most teachers will not do this. Granted, there are plenty of bad teachers out there, and the linked article does not share both sides of the story. Further, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of the accuracy of this story:

1. We live in a time in which idiots like to generate faux outrage over anything having to do with race, diversity, or identity.

2. The story is relying almost entirely on the word of a fourth grader.

3. The source of this story is a British tabloid.

4. Redux is making a big deal out of it.

Additionally, fourth graders should certainly be involved in conversations about equity and diversity, but they should be whole-heartedly encouraged to talk to their parents about it. These topics need robust discussions both inside and outside the classroom. 
Click to expand...


This is a really eloquent way to say you agree but can't agree with me to save face.  Well done.

 
Back
Top