"RED-FLAG" RESTRUCTURING TERMS

Always use simple, clear language. The following is a list of terms often used by those involved in restructuring. The "definitions" were given to us by individuals opposed to restructuring. You can see why it pays us to use jargon-free language!

• Critical thinking. Learning to criticize your parents, question values
• Experimental. Anything that doesn't have hard data supporting its merit
• Outcome-based education. Teaching to the test
• Self-esteem. Therapy, people (teachers) not licensed to practice psychiatry performing therapy on kids; behavior modification, getting children to conform
• The nine common principles (developed by Theodore Sizer) — a manifesto
• Cooperative learning. One dumb kid learning from another dumb kid
• Working in groups. Turning the class into an encounter session, "discussion groups," students don't have to pay attention to the teacher
• Mastery learning. Teaching all children one limited task, making sure all of them can master the task, then testing them on it
• Whole language. Learning to look, see, guess—attempt to learn reading without "the proven phonics method" and traditional grammatical usage and form
• Global education. Attempt to eliminate patriotism; "telling children our country isn't the best, which is a lie"
• Teacher-as-coach. What are paying them for anyway? The teacher should be an authority figure, not a discussion group leader
• Decision making. Learning that it's okay to take drugs and not being taught that it's wrong and illegal; shouldn't teach decision making
• National curriculum. Socialist, Nazi sort of idea
• School-based decision making. Teachers have too much control, "no one's accountable," "against the Democratic process," makes the school board irrelevant

© Copyright 1991 by the education Commission of the States (ECS). Used by permission.