This week, an impressive list of scholars across the nation published a letter opposing the new framework for the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) exam in U.S. History. You can read the full letter here.
As you may know, millions of U.S. high school students take an AP U.S. History course and exam each year in the hopes of earning college credit. The new framework of the exam is designed to shape the course curriculum.
The scholars’ problems with the new framework include the following:
It takes away teachers’ previous freedom with the curriculum and “centralizes control, deemphasizes content, and promotes a particular interpretation of American history.”
The historical view it promotes “downplays American citizenship and American world leadership in favor of a more global and transnational perspective.”
The framework is organized around the theme of “identity-group conflict… while downplaying essential subjects, such as the sources, meaning, and development of America’s ideals and political institutions, notably the Constitution.”
It shifts away from the previous framework’s emphasis on American exceptionalism and national character in favor of an emphasis on “the formation of gender, class, racial and ethnic identities.”
Those with similar concerns are often met with the straw man argument that they wish to turn a blind eye to the past sins committed by Americans. Fortunately, the scholars anticipated this argument in their letter:
“We do not seek to reduce the education of our young to the inculcation of fairy tales, or of a simple, whitewashed, heroic, even hagiographical nationalist narrative. Instead, we support a course that fosters informed and reflective civic awareness, while providing a vivid sense of the grandeur and drama of its subject.”
The concerns raised in the scholars’ letter are not new to me. I brought up similar ones in an article last year on Minnesota’s U.S. history standards, which you can read here. I have provided these standards below:
Mass delusion is an important tool of oppressors because they can’t survive free expression. That’s why the First Amendment’s a target.
Nearly 100 years ago, Walter Lippmann wrote about “the manufacture of consent” in his classic work, “Public Opinion.” On the heels of that book, Edward Bernays penned a little volume called “Propaganda,” in which he stated that an elite would always be responsible for making the public aware of “new ideas” which the public would then act upon as the elite nudged them into it. Related, but more in-depth is Jacques Ellul’s 1962 book, “Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes.”
Political propaganda aims to mobilize the masses to move an agenda forward. That’s most effectively done when the masses are unaware of the process. It’s what “community organizers” work towards, whether they know it or not. Once the masses are mobilized to push for a cause, the propagandists’ goals can be put into law.
In fact, many newly propagandized ideas seem to have taken America by storm just in the past decade or so. Same-sex marriage is only one of those ideas. Transgenderism is now eclipsing that notion, and its propaganda techniques—wrapped in the language of civil rights—are getting Americans on board with the idea of erasing all sex distinctions in law, including theirown. It’s as though Americans are buying into a fast-talking sales pitch without being allowed to read the print, whether it’s large print or small.
There’s more on the horizon: a singles’ rights movement that promises to end legal recognition of all marriage. Then there is transhumanism, which includes a push to end “fleshism” by enacting laws that protect non-biological entities from discrimination.
Propaganda Is Directing Us Leftward
American conservatives are by and large clueless about propaganda methods and tactics. And it shows. There are virtually no conservative social psychologists around. You’d think once a liberal social psychologist hits the public over the head with this factsome on the Right would take notice and at least try to get clued in.
American conservatives are by and large clueless about propaganda methods and tactics. And it shows.
Meanwhile, the Left has been employing social psychology and depth psychology on the masses for decades. President Obama’s campaign staff was filled with social psychologists. In this context, those who believe conservatives can subsist on reason and logic alone are kidding themselves. It’s no wonder GOP leaders are caving on so many principles, and being absorbed so easily into the Left’s machine.
A lot of people are scratching their heads today, wondering how life got to be so surreal, so fast in the United States of America. Based on the silencing tactics revealedby the LGBT lobby, many observers are likely now thinking: “Gee, I thought marriage equality was merely a gay rights movement. I didn’t realize that fascism was part of that package.” The Great Unraveling continues at a rapid clip when slipping on a pronoun in these days of transgender rule could cost you your career or earn you massive social media rallies chanting “hater” at you.
Even benign reminders of the First Amendment—embodied in Religious Freedom Restoration Acts—are quickly dispatched by mob hysteria. One day a supposedly principled leader like Indiana Gov. Mike Pence promotes the RFRA, and the next day he folds and essentially signs on with the mob.
Even benign reminders of the First Amendment are quickly dispatched by mob hysteria.
There seem to be few independent thinkers left. But even they don’t seem to know what hit them. A woman getsbanned by her gym and labelled a bigot because she told management that a man—who she only later learned “identified as female”—entered the locker room while she was getting undressed. Comedians who dare tread into trans territory are shut down. Never before have the media and pop culture dictated in such a draconian manner how each and every one of us is supposed to think about identity. Our own identity.
The list goes on. The unrest and rioting from Ferguson to Baltimore seem to be happening on cue also, with media propaganda that urges it on. There is no real debate on the merits of policies that depend on a blind faith in man-made global warming: those who disagree are labelled “deniers.”
You may have heard that students are refusing to repay their federal student loans as part of a protest designed to pressure the government into forgiving their debt, Save Jerseyans.
The problem? College graduates and students who default on their loans can lose their paychecks, tax refunds, or a portion of their Social Security benefits further down the road. Not paying back that debt can also ruin their credit, making it difficult to buy a house, car or even land a job. Interestingly, a large percentage of these Federal loans are encumbering seniors. Around 3 percent of U.S. households that are headed by a senior citizen now hold federal student debt, comprised largely of debt they took on to finance their own educations according to the GAO.
These are people who went to college, earned a degree and made decent money during their careers.
The Rutgers-Camden Campus in Camden, New Jersey.
Graduates who earned master’s degree years ago have seen their finances dwindle away by illness, divorce, the cost of raising children, the housing bust, and the economic downturn and now want their loans forgiven because they can’t afford to pay them. The GAO report goes on to say that “[a]s the baby boomers continue to move into retirement, the number of older Americans with defaulted loans will only continue to increase.”
The cycle shows no signs of letting up. Younger graduates want a degree and have no problem doing whatever they need to do to obtain it, but now that it is time to pay the piper, they balk at the idea that they now have to pay back these loans. They say they can’t afford to pay the funds back because the economy is bad and they can’t get a good job. Well,Save Jerseyans, the economy has been bad for quite a few years now and I would think an educated person at some point would realize that their bills are getting higher and they need to stop accruing more liability and figure out how they are going to pay off their current obligations.
Breaking a widely touted promise to public workers isn’t illegal, New Jersey’s Supreme Court ruled last week. That’s good news for Gov. Chris Christie — and may be even better news for overburdened Garden State taxpayers.
Because it may prove a much-needed slap in the face that forces government-worker unions — who expected the court to back them — to return to the negotiating table.
The justices ruled Christie can’t be forced (absent voter action) to make his promised $2.5 billion payment this year to the badly under-funded (by $37 billion) pension system. That budget-buster would’ve forced massive layoffs and service cuts.
This was one of those promises that must be broken. Because pols can’t pat themselves on the back for making commitments that they have no idea how to pay for.
Which was pretty much the case with Christie’s 2011 bipartisan pension reform: It made real changes, but far short of the system-saving “model for America” he called it. The “fix” was just the first 100 yards of a marathon.
NEWARK, NJ — Back by popular demand, NJ TRANSIT announces the return of the agency’s Music in Motion concert series set to launch this evening.
Music in Motion is a community-based initiative that allows local musicians to perform in NJ TRANSIT station facilities. These performing artists are offering their talents while customers get a glimpse of the region’s up-and-coming talent as they traverse major stations and terminals.
Performances are held every Thursday and Friday from June 4th through August 28th between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Hoboken Terminal Waiting Room, Secaucus Junction Rotunda or Penn Station New York 7th Avenue Concourse.
Entertaining customers this summer are: Alex English, Bill Stone, Robert Quinn (Garden State Sax Quartet), Susyn Timko, The Foxfires, Rachel Menconi, Melanie Marie, Nathan Riehl (Sun Thief), Tim Gysin and Chris Brown.
Those who would like to audition for the upcoming 2015-2016 Music in Motion season, please e-mail [email protected].
A second breach of the Office of Personnel Management by hackers believed to be associated with China exposed sensitive security clearance information of intelligence and military personnel, officials confirmed Friday, potentially creating an intelligence disaster for U.S. spies stationed abroad.
“During the investigation into the cyber intrusion of OPM that compromised personnel records of current and former Federal employees announced last week, OPM along with its interagency partners became aware of the possibility of a separate intrusion affecting a different set of OPM systems and data,” a senior administration official said in a statement.
Officials investigating the OPM hack announced last week discovered the second breach on Monday, the official said.
“On June 8, as the investigation proceeded, the incident response team shared with relevant agencies that there was a high degree of confidence that OPM systems containing information related to the background investigations of current, former, and prospective Federal government employees, and those for whom a federal background investigation was conducted, may have been exfiltrated,” the official said. “Since the investigation is ongoing, we are in the process of assessing the scope of the information that has been compromised, but we expect OPM will conduct additional notifications as necessary.”
JUNE 14, 2015, 11:52 PM LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2015, 12:14 AM
BY LINDA MOSS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Six towns have been waiting a month for their shares of nearly $2.5 million in revenue from a new hotel-room surcharge, which replaced a controversial tax-sharing arrangement when Governor Christie signed a bill overhauling oversight of the Meadowlands District this year.
The overdue money is contributing to an atmosphere of confusion in the Meadowlands four months after the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority absorbed the state Meadowlands Commission, the agency that had controlled planning and development in the 30-square-mile district for nearly half a century.
The law, which Christie signed in early February, ushered in the most sweeping changes to the region’s power structure in decades. The governor said it would give the Meadowlands a much-needed economic boost, while opponents worried that it would result in overdevelopment of an environmentally sensitive area of the state.
But the absorption of the Meadowlands Commission’s functions by the sports authority is having unexpected financial repercussions for the 14 Bergen and Hudson county municipalities that have territory within the district.
JUNE 14, 2015, 11:24 PM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015, 11:32 PM
BY LINDY WASHBURN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
To the Democratic lawmakers who worked for months on a measure to protect patients from surprise medical bills and solve the problem of New Jersey’s uncontrolled out-of-network health care costs, it looked like momentum and public support were building.
They’d heard from all sides — hospitals, physicians, insurers and consumers — starting last fall at three public hearings. They worked over the winter with health-policy experts to produce a bill. After its introduction last month, they listened to feedback for eight hours on the day before a holiday weekend. They revised the measure in an effort to address concerns.
But last week, the Democratic sponsors couldn’t even get their bill voted out of committee in the state Senate when they failed to get the support of members of their own party. A hearing scheduled for today before an Assembly committee has been scuttled. Any action before fall is unlikely.
JUNE 15, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY LAURAN NEERGAARD
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |
WIRE SERVICE
Lyme disease makes the headlines but there are plenty of additional reasons to avoid tick bites. New research highlights the latest in a growing list of tick-borne threats — a distant relative of Lyme that’s easy to confuse with other illnesses.
A study released recently suggests a kind of bacteria with an unwieldy name — Borrelia miyamotoi — should be on the radar when people in Lyme-endemic areas get otherwise unexplained summertime fevers. It’s one of several diseases discovered to have links to ticks in different parts of the country — a reminder to become tick-savvy no matter where you live.
“People need to be aware of what tick-borne diseases are in their area,” says Dr. Peter J. Krause of Yale University, who reviewed the research. “And they should know how to avoid ticks.”
Meet the Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld – Monday, June 29th 4:30 – 7:30PM
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld will hold office hours for Ridgewood residents and business owners on Monday, June 29 between the hours of 4:30 to 7:30PM. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts and provide input to Roberta. These sessions will be scheduled at 15 minute intervals and will be held in the Court Room – on the Fourth Level of Ridgewood Village Hall. Please contact Beth Spinato at 201-670-5500, ext. 203 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome but should realize that the schedule may already be booked. We will announce the schedule for these meetings on a monthly basis.
(all timeframes and the order of agenda items below are approximate and subject to change)
7:30 p.m. – Call to Order, Statement of Compliance, Flag Salute, Roll Call – In accordance with the provisions of Section 10:4-8d of the Open Public Meetings Act, the date, location, and time of the commencement of this meeting is reflected in a meeting notice, a copy of which schedule has been filed with the Village Manager and the Village Clerk, The Ridgewood News and The Record newspapers, and posted on the bulletin board in the entry lobby of the Village municipal offices at 131 North Maple Avenue, and on the Village website, all in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.
7:35p.m. – 7:40 p.m. – Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board
7:40 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics; Correspondence Received by the Board
7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. – Memorializing Resolutions – Amendments to the Land Use Plan Element of the Master Plan: AH-2, B-3-R, C-R and C Zone Districts
8:15 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. – Reexamination of Master Plan and Development Regulations – Discussion of Historic Preservation and Environmental Protection Provisions
10:30 p.m. – 10:40 p.m. – Approval of Minutes: June 2, 2014; May 20, 2014
10:40 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. – Executive Session
Adjournment
In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work sessions, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings, which are always open to members of the general public.
Members: Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Nancy Bigos, Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, Charles Nalbantian, Richard Joel, Kevin Reilly, Wendy Dockray, Michele Peters, David Thurston, Isabella Altano, Khidir Abdalla
Professional Staff: Blais L. Brancheau, Planner; Gail L. Price, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher J. Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary
Recipient of Women’s Choice Award® for Providing Exceptional Patient Care and Treatment in Cancer Care
Ridgewood NJ, For the second consecutive time The Valley Hospital has been named a Women’s Choice Award® recipient as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care, acknowledging Valley’s dedication to providing exceptional patient care and cancer treatment care for women and their families.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year. This award signifies Valley’s commitment and passion towards an extraordinary healthcare experience for women and all patients. By carrying the Women’s Choice Award seal, Valley has joined an elite network of hospitals committed to a global mission to empower women to make smart healthcare choices.
“We are proud to be recognized as one of the nation’s best hospitals for cancer care for the second consecutive year,” said Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System. “It’s a testament to the priority Valley nurses, physicians and staff place on delivering high-quality, compassionate care to our patients and their families.”
A recent study from the Center for Talent Innovation showed that women make the majority of health care decisions for themselves (94 percent) and also make choices for others (59 percent). It also indicated that they often lack confidence in the decisions they are making due to hectic schedules, lack of reliable information and a general sense of distrust in the industry. More than half of women (53 percent) think they can get the best health information from the Internet, but 31 percent of these women do not trust the information they receive online.
“Now more than ever, the Women’s Choice Award seal serves as a validation to women that they are selecting the best hospitals for their own care and that of their family,” said Sharyn S. Lee, RN, MS, FACEHP, President of the Women’s Choice Healthcare Division.
The Valley Hospital is among the elite group of 331 hospitals who have earned the 2015 Women’s Choice Award by meeting the highest cancer care accreditation standards of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, as well as for their excellence in clinical performance with regard to patient safety measures, and for their high recommendation rate, a measure that is very important to women in choosing a hospital.
Studies have shown that each patient who is dissatisfied will inform up to 10 other people of this dissatisfaction (Health Administration Press). This evidence further exemplifies the important focus on keeping as many people satisfied with their care as possible.
“Women have many choices when it comes to cancer care, but now they can make informed choices based on rigorous evidence based criteria. As a cancer survivor who faced a challenging journey to recovery, I wish I had the Women’s Choice Award as a resource to spare me unnecessary fret and error,” said Delia Passi, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “When faced with cancer you owe it to yourself and your family to get the best treatment,” added Passi.
Richard Wolf, USA TODAY4:44 p.m. EDT June 14, 2015
WASHINGTON — The future of same-sex marriage and President Obama’s health care law hang in the balance as the Supreme Court’s 2014 term draws rapidly to a close this month. But those aren’t the only big issues on the justices’ plate.
Free speech and fair elections. Religious liberty and racial discrimination. Clean air and capital punishment. All await rulings over the next three weeks as the court completes action on 20 cases remaining this term. The next decisions will come Monday morning.
Here’s a look at the Elite Eight:
• Same-sex marriage. In a decision likely to come on the term’s last day — possibly June 29 or 30 — the court will decide whether gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry or whether state bans against same-sex marriage can remain in place.
Six cases from Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky have been consolidated for the court’s consideration. In them, 32 total plaintiffs are asking for the right to marry or to have marriages licensed elsewhere recognized in their home states. Most legal experts predict the court, led by Justice Anthony Kennedy, will rule in favor of the gay and lesbian couples.
Peter Spiegel in Brussels and Kerin Hope in Athens
Talks aimed at reaching an 11th-hour deal between Greek ministers and their bailout creditors collapsed on Sunday evening after a new economic reform proposal submitted by Athens was deemed inadequate to continue negotiations.
The breakdown is the clearest sign yet that differences between the two sides may be too wide to breach, increasing the possibility that Athens will not secure the €7.2bn in bailout aid it needs to avoid defaulting on its debts — including a €1.5bn loan repayment due to the International Monetary Fund in just two weeks.
Greek negotiators, including Nikos Pappas, aide-de-camp to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, left the European Commission only 45 minutes after entering.
A commission spokesman said there remained a “significant gap” between the sides, amounting to up to €2bn per year, and there was no longer time to reach a “positive assessment” of Greek efforts before a meeting of eurozone finance ministers on Thursday.
New York City Gay Men’s Chorus presents two opportunities to hear Tyler’s Suite, a new collection of songs honoring the life of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers freshman whose 2010 suicide brought national attention to the issue of cyberbullying. Tickets to both concerts available below.
“TYLER’S SUITE” features new music from composers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin); John Bucchino (A Catered Affair); Ann Hampton Callaway (Swing!); Craig Carnelia (Sweet Smell of Success); John Corigliano (Academy Award winner for The Red Violin); Nolan Gasser; and Jake Heggie (Dead Man Walking); and lyricists Lance Horne and Pamela Stewart.
A Concert for Tyler
featuring the NJ premiere of Tyler’s Suite
Saturday, June 27 7:30pm
West Side Presbyterian Church
6 South Monroe Street
Ridgewood, NJ
Click here to purchase tickets
