I was doing some mental gymnastics about what to write for the last column of this semester. I had a few ideas rolling around until I read the local section in the Lincoln Journal Star on April 24.
The LJS is running a series of articles about candidates for the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education, and the story about Andrew Ringsmuth caught my eye. The headline boldly proclaimed: "Ringsmuth: It's time for LPS to get back to basics."
After jamming the heel of my palm into my forehead a couple of times, not believing what I just imagined I read to be accurate, I cleared my eyes and continued to investigate what this thirty-something, evangelical Christian, manager of technology, single man with no kids knows about educating children in the 21st century. Let's take a look.
According to the newspaper, Ringsmuth is "… a big proponent of core education, the three R's." By this, I assume he means ‘readin', ‘ritin', and ‘rithmatic.' Perhaps, Andrew, we should add spelling.
Apparently he also wants LPS students to learn how to diagram sentences because, in his words, "People can't write anymore." Andrew, I have to tell ya, when I was in high school I was forced to diagram sentences, and I hated it.
Do us all a favor and provide some scholarly research to validate your claims. I know for a fact that LPS always relies on well-documented, scientifically based research before it makes any decision impacting teaching and learning. Anecdotal evidence just ain't gonna hack it, big guy. Not in this district.
He is also concerned about "core" courses and how the "basics" are suffering as a result of "racial and cultural diversity." Gee, Andrew, would it not be great to not only get back to basics but also back to the antebellum South?
Andrew, you need to review state and local policies regarding multicultural education if your intent is to be a board member. In Nebraska, Andrew, we have something called Rule 10 (Approval and Accreditation of Schools) that requires school districts to infuse multicultural education into the curriculum.
Whether they do it or not is another question, but at least that is the law. Andrew, most of us are all the better for increased awareness of diversity issues such as race, gender, religion, age and ability.
Oh, by the way, don't plan on doing any school activity on Wednesdays because Ringsmuth wants to reserve the middle of the week for church functions. Is there any question about what hidden agenda motivates this chap?
Ringsmuth appears to be nothing more than a pawn in a larger game being played by those who ultimately wish to dismantle public education. He will be a sacrificial lamb in this election, and he probably knows it.
According to the article "The Religious Right in Education" by Jennifer Davis of the University of Maryland (1997), "The religious right has strongly opposed many aspects among public education. It fears the separation of church and state, (with the absence of school prayer), it fears diversity (which would incorporate gays and gay rights), multi-cultural education, sex education (excepting counseling of abstinence before marriage), gender equity programs, most self-esteem programs, and critical-thinking and problem-solving programs."
Ringsmuth's views are alarmingly consistent, and, according to the LJS story, he feels "there's too much emphasis on self-esteem."
Andrew, did you know that Lincoln Public Schools is working with the TeamMates mentoring program founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne? Interestingly enough, Andrew, this program joins with area churches (Is yours one?) with the focus on mentoring the youth of our community to "support and guide, build self-esteem, improve interpersonal relationships, assist with academics, and encourage graduation." So, Andrew, what is your problem with self-esteem? Are you aware of the number of studies that correlate student self-esteem with academic success?
Andrew, I am really having some difficulty understanding why you want to be on the LPS board if other than to subversively destroy public education in favor of some other model that conforms to your spiritual beliefs.
Hey, I have my gripes about some LPS decisions and policies, too, but your apparent attempt to impose extreme views in order to dismantle the very institution you allegedly wish to support is grossly deceitful.
Michael Baker is an Adjunct Instructor in the College of Education and host of local radio show "Room 101" on KZUM, 89.3.
As for Mr Baker, so called diversity, multi-cultural education (a big joke that actually insults and demeans minorities), sex education (except counseling of abstinence before marriage), gender equity programs, and all self-esteem programs along with critical-thinking and problem-solving programs are many of the reasons why our children at public schools continue to do so badly. Maybe you should try to address that instead of freaking out over some candidate who won't play lip service to the schools failure prone agenda.
Just which Christian values are you ytalking about? I can't find anything in our founding document, the Constitution, which could be construed as Christian. In fact, the Christian Bible contains opposition to freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and government by consent of the governed. It favors taxation without representation, corruption of the blood, and slavery.
Readin' and writin' indeed.
-------by the way, spell it heel ==not heal-- of the palm. back to basics, even in journalism.
Christian values whether you like it or not.