Schools telling kids that vaping is worse than smoking

[bigdancehawk]

It's particularly appalling that Scholastic's notion of "critical thinking" involves having the students regurgitate this propaganda. These are same kids who, when they graduate, will be unable to complete the phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of __________."

 

[Ceejay0875]

As a homeschooling mum some days I watch the yellow bus brigade drive by and think "I could have it so much easier. Why am I doing this again?" And then a few minutes later I come across something like this and remember "Oh yeah, this is just one of the many reasons why."

But seriously they are really out of control with all the propaganda. I feel for anyone who has to deal with them.

 

[zoiDman]

It's particularly appalling that Scholastic's notion of "critical thinking" involves having the students regurgitate this propaganda. These are same kids who, when they graduate, will be unable to complete the phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of __________."

Perhaps the Most Important and Immutable Rules of Critical Thinking is to Never Except Anything as a Truth without Verifying for yourself that in Fact it Is.

 

[Von Vape]

Perhaps the Most Important and Immutable Rules of Critical Thinking is to Never Except Anything as a Truth without Verifying for yourself that in Fact it Is.

EXACTLY!
Sadly, it's just so much easier these days to be Sheeple. Still need to go back and read the "answer" sheet to see what Scholastic believes to be the CORRECT answer. Wouldn't want our children to think any differently than we WANT them to, right??? Gotta keep 'em on the RIGHT path. (Yes, sarcasm )

Von vape

 

[Von Vape]

I had to stop! It's all so maddening. When I got to the word definition pages and saw that they claimed the definitions given for selected words in the article came from Merriam - Webster, I grabbed mine. Yes, that's correct, I own an analogue dictionary!
As expected, their "definitions" aren't even close to those of Merriam - Webster. In fact some of the words don't even exist, such as, "priming effect". Admittedly, this is a Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, copyrighted 1984, but still........ "Let's just make it up as we go, nobody will take the time to think for themselves or FACT check. It's the 21st. century for Pete's sakes!"

My question now is; Who decided this needs to be part of the curriculum to begin with? We don't have kids but I haven't heard any of our friends mention, "Hey, the school board informed us they are going to include "The Dangers of E-Cigs" in our kid's health classes." Scholastic has obviously put a lot of effort into training the nations children to think the way someone wants them to think. If we did have children, I'd sure want to know who gave them the authority to mold my child's mind to THEIR way of thinking. As I said in an earlier post, it's time we demand that political opinion and personal points of view be removed from the class room.

My ,
Von vape

 

[Ibitz]

These are quotes from the school lesson

(In fact, recent research suggests a link between teen use of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes)

(And although most states prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to people under the age of 18, more and more teens are using them. In fact, recent surveys2 show dramatic increases each year in the number of teens who have tried an e-cigarette in their lifetime, as well as in the number who have used them in the past month. This is at a time when smoking tobacco cigarettes is at an all-time low among middle and high school students.)

The first one: Yes there is a link....tobacco smoking teens are switching to e-cigs not the other way around.
The second quote: The reason smoking tobacco cigarettes is at an all time low is because...see my answer to the first one

I haven't read the whole thing yet so won't comment further at this time

 

[Verb]

I've never heard of "scholastic." How widely is their content used?

I will be writing them to voice my displeasure of their bastadization of the phrase: scientific understanding. With my credentials, I should hopefully get a reply.

 

[Ceejay0875]

I've never heard of "scholastic." How widely is their content used?

I will be writing them to voice my displeasure of their bastadization of the phrase: scientific understanding. With my credentials, I should hopefully get a reply.

"Scholastic" is a company that publishes a number of things. I remember way back in elementary school I believe it was them started publishing a 2-4 page "newspaper" called "Weekly Reader" and it was "great" because it was a newspaper for kids. They also publish a number of children's books. If memory serves the way they used to do it is the schools would send home a flyer every month or so where the parents could order cheap, affordable storybooks for their kids. I shudder when I think about some of the propaganda they've probably embedded in these stories. I'm not sure but they may also publish textbooks. I'm pretty sure their content is common in the public schools...

 

[puffon]

I think schools need to get back to teaching the fundamentals.
Was watching "Waters World" the other night.
Only 1 out of 6 Harvard students, knew who the Patriots fought in the Revolutionary War....

 

[kbeam418]

Yes they've been saying that nicotine leads to drug abuse for a while. Which is the biggest load of bull I've heard because most of the drug users I know DON'T smoke! I'm sick of the school system in this country that just pulls stuff out of thin air and says it %100 true. What about the studies that show nicotine might prevent Alzheimer, helps people focus, and reduces stress? Nah let's just give them our side of the story.

 

[kathi17]

As a homeschooling mum some days I watch the yellow bus brigade drive by and think "I could have it so much easier. Why am I doing this again?" And then a few minutes later I come across something like this and remember "Oh yeah, this is just one of the many reasons why."

But seriously they are really out of control with all the propaganda. I feel for anyone who has to deal with them.

If I had a school aged child now, I definitely would home school. My son and daughter-in-law are so fed up with common core, as well as having their kids taught values that aren't heir own. Unfortunately, in order to live in a nice, relatively safe neighborhood, they both have to work. My daughter-in-law doesn't have the temperament to home school anyway, even if they could afford to be a one income family.

This kind of stuff started happening right around the time my son graduated from high school. I was lucky that he got out of school before they indoctrinated him. I guess it's part of the reason he knows exactly why vaping is being demonized. He was in school when kids were encouraged to figure things out for themselves.

 

[kathi17]

I've never heard of "scholastic." How widely is their content used?

I will be writing them to voice my displeasure of their bastadization of the phrase: scientific understanding. With my credentials, I should hopefully get a reply.

According to everything I can find on the internet, they are supposed to be in 90% of US schools.

 

[kathi17]

"Scholastic" is a company that publishes a number of things. I remember way back in elementary school I believe it was them started publishing a 2-4 page "newspaper" called "Weekly Reader" and it was "great" because it was a newspaper for kids. They also publish a number of children's books. If memory serves the way they used to do it is the schools would send home a flyer every month or so where the parents could order cheap, affordable storybooks for their kids. I shudder when I think about some of the propaganda they've probably embedded in these stories. I'm not sure but they may also publish textbooks. I'm pretty sure their content is common in the public schools...

All of what you stated is what I know of them. Weekly Reader was originally published by Reader's Digest, but Scholastic bought them out.

Scholastic seemed to be a good company a few decades ago, when they basically just offered low cost books for kids, but now, they have become huge, and from what I have been reading about them, I don't have a lot of respect for them any more.

 

[ScandaLeX]

Perhaps the Most Important and Immutable Rules of Critical Thinking is to Never Except Anything as a Truth without Verifying for yourself that in Fact it Is.

Buuuut it's incredibly hard for young children to adopt this when the stuff they're being told as truth is coming from teachers.

 

[Ceejay0875]

If I had a school aged child now, I definitely would home school. My son and daughter-in-law are so fed up with common core, as well as having their kids taught values that aren't heir own. Unfortunately, in order to live in a nice, relatively safe neighborhood, they both have to work. My daughter-in-law doesn't have the temperament to home school anyway, even if they could afford to be a one income family.

This kind of stuff started happening right around the time my son graduated from high school. I was lucky that he got out of school before they indoctrinated him. I guess it's part of the reason he knows exactly why vaping is being demonized. He was in school when kids were encouraged to figure things out for themselves.

I understand completely. Homeschooling isn't for everyone but I am grateful that I am able to do it. Financially we do live in a nice place but we don't have any extras. I tell the boys they will have to take care of me in my old age because my husband's working himself to death so we can do this.

 

[Ceejay0875]

All of what you stated is what I know of them. Weekly Reader was originally published by Reader's Digest, but Scholastic bought them out.

Scholastic seemed to be a good company a few decades ago, when they basically just offered low cost books for kids, but now, they have become huge, and from what I have been reading about them, I don't have a lot of respect for them any more.

Yeah I looked them up on wiki after I posted. I guess Readers Digest did the Weekly Readers when I got them but once my kids were school aged and I was looking into curriculum to use for them it was all Scholastic. Now whenever I see or hear the name Scholastic I see red.

 

[zoiDman]

Buuuut it's incredibly hard for young children to adopt this when the stuff they're being told as truth is coming from teachers.

Maybe I'm Old School?

But Critical Thinking is many times Best taught at Home verses in a Classroom.

Kids need to go to School to get an Education. But that Education should Not Stop the moment they leave the School Grounds.

 

[kathi17]

Maybe I'm Old School?

But Critical Thinking is many times Best taught at Home verses in a Classroom.

Kids need to go to School to get an Education. But that Education should Not Stop the moment they leave the School Grounds.

The problem with that, as far as what I am seeing with my grandchildren, is that it is very confusing for them. They are supposed to respect their teachers, and believe that what they are teaching is the truth, then when they get home, their families tell them something completely different. Can you blame them for being confused?

Schools telling kids how to think is so wrong, and I hate that this country has stooped so low as to believe that it is right.

 

[zoiDman]

The problem with that, as far as what I am seeing with my grandchildren, is that it is very confusing for them. They are supposed to respect their teachers, and believe that what they are teaching is the truth, then when they get home, their families tell them something completely different. Can you blame them for being confused?

Schools telling kids how to think is so wrong, and I hate that this country has stooped so low as to believe that it is right.

And therein lies a Huge Problem. Because there is No Way that a Child of your Grandchildren age would not be Confused.

But given this Particular situation, couldn't the Level of Confusion have been Minimized, or in many cases Not Caused, if the Teacher had just Explained what e-Cigarettes are for the Vast Majority of people who use them? And that is Harm Reduction over Smoking.

If a School is going to Engage in the Topic of e-Cigarettes, shouldn't they AT LEAST be telling their students the Entire aspect of e-Cigarettes? And what is the Main Reason that Adults use e-Cigarettes, because they Can't Quit Smoking. And that e-Cigarettes represent a Significant Reduction in Harm to someone who Smokes.

Sometimes not telling the Entire Story to a Child can be Worse than Lying about a Small Portion of it.

Also, Telling a Child about All the Dynamics and Factors that are involved in something like e-Cigarettes Promotes Critical Thinking. Because the Child is now given Contrasting Concepts to Weigh and Prioritize.

And a Children can start to understand the concept that sometimes (most times) in life, there are Not Clearly Defined "Right vs. Wrong" answers to many situations. More a accounting of Goods outweighing Bads. And Visa Visa. This also helps to form Judgmental Skills which are Hard to Teach out of a Book.

 

[DC2]

Schools telling kids how to think is so wrong, and I hate that this country has stooped so low as to believe that it is right.

If schools taught kids "how" to think that would be great.
But instead, they are teaching them WHAT to think.