Disney is going too far!

[shellybaxter]

Dumbing it down for kids it what it is. I would hope all educators would raise the bar and explain things the way they are. If you are going to talk about St. Patricks day, at least respect it enough to get it right.

Oh and please tell me that the word leprechaun is not now being Americanized into "lepracon" to make it simpler for children to spell?

Nope - its just that I have dyslexia and can't spell. As for dumbing it down - these are children under five. I was not suggesting that they never be told about St Patricks Day - just that they are far more equiped developmentally to understand the shamrock shape and color than the rather abstract and complicated legends that surround the holiday.

I still believe that Mickey Mouse Club House was being developmentally appropriate for their age group.

 

[CinderellasSister]

Nope - its just that I have dyslexia and can't spell. As for dumbing it down - these are children under five. I was not suggesting that they never be told about St Patricks Day - just that they are far more equiped developmentally to understand the shamrock shape and color than the rather abstract and complicated legends that surround the holiday.

I still believe that Mickey Mouse Club House was being developmentally appropriate for their age group.

Dumbing it down for kids is exactly what you're doing. Explain the truth, that's what educators are supposed to do. Making things stupid for kids makes them grow up into stupid adults who have to be told things like "the coffee in this cup is hot" or "don't give a plastic bag to an infant". This world certainly doesn't need more people with no common sense.

 

[shellybaxter]

Dumbing it down for kids is exactly what you're doing. Explain the truth, that's what educators are supposed to do. Making things stupid for kids makes them grow up into stupid adults who have to be told things like "the coffee in this cup is hot" or "don't give a plastic bag to an infant". This world certainly doesn't need more people with no common sense.

No actually what we're doing is giving children a good developmental foundation so that they don't need dumbed down education. Early Childhood Education is about where a child is developmentally; what they are ready for. what logically comes next on their developmental continuum. A study was completed on children and when they learn to tie their shoes. They first tried to teach 3 and 4 years olds to tie their shoes; it took more than 20 hours on average for them to learn. They weren't ready yet. They then taught children ages 5 and 6, judged to be ready for the task and that took 45 mins on average.

It is far more appropriate for a good preschool teacher to use their knowledge of development to determine the level of cirrculum needed for individual children (as in child development) than for the government to determine a level of cirrculum based solely on a child's age.

 

[ZeroToHero]

No actually what we're doing is giving children a good developmental foundation so that they don't need dumbed down education. Early Childhood Education is about where a child is developmentally; what they are ready for. what logically comes next on their developmental continuum. A study was completed on children and when they learn to tie their shoes. They first tried to teach 3 and 4 years olds to tie their shoes; it took more than 20 hours on average for them to learn. They weren't ready yet. They then taught children ages 5 and 6, judged to be ready for the task and that took 45 mins on average.

It is far more appropriate for a good preschool teacher to use their knowledge of development to determine the level of cirrculum needed for individual children (as in child development) than for the government to determine a level of cirrculum based solely on a child's age.

I will add to this: I'm a psychology major, and I don't know if any of you know who Piaget is, but he's a famous child psychologist. Here are my notes from his description of what a 2-7 year old will function at, on average:

Piaget's Stages of Development
2) Pre-operational Stage (Age 2 → 7)
-Symbols
-One Relationship at a time
-Language leaps (By end of stage, words = symbols)
-Symbolic Play/Animism - Imaginary Friend

As you can see, they're at a symbolic stage, and cannot make multiple comprehensions of one thing. You cannot give a child the color green and a three-pronged leaf and explain that this is how we celebrate this holiday that may or may not be true about this guy from a really long time ago who did this thing with snakes, and that's why Mom and Dad are putting green food coloring into their drinks tonight. See how little that makes sense already? So. Shamrock Day it is.


And rebecca and deej, my family's friend lived in Ireland for 30 years and was the one who told me that they don't celebrate it over there. I don't think she's lying to me. It is possible that things have changed drastically in the past few years.. but not entirely likely.

I think that it was an Irish pub in a different country might have been the reason - maybe they were there because it's celebrated more in London than Ireland? Who knows. I haven't been during St. Patrick's Day myself to know firsthand.

 

[SatninDis]

delete

 

[Cricket2]

I'm laughing because you haven't even brought up the "Happy Thanks A Bunch Day" episode yet.

They do have an Easter and Christmas episode though and don't PC those at all.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

They do have an Easter and Christmas episode though and don't PC those at all.

Well... The Disney florist no longer sells Christmas trees. They are now "holiday trees".
I have wrote Disney on a couple of occasions saying I didn't like that practice.

MG

 

[rebecca06261]

A study was completed on children and when they learn to tie their shoes. They first tried to teach 3 and 4 years olds to tie their shoes; it took more than 20 hours on average for them to learn. They weren't ready yet. They then taught children ages 5 and 6, judged to be ready for the task and that took 45 mins on average.

After 20 hours, the 3 year old was still 3 years of age... he was able to successfully able to complete this task 2-3 years ahead of the 5-6 year olds.
Based on that standard, the 5-6 yo would then be considered developmentally delayed.

 

[shellybaxter]

After 20 hours, the 3 year old was still 3 years of age... he was able to successfully able to complete this task 2-3 years ahead of the 5-6 year olds.
Based on that standard, the 5-6 yo would then be considered developmentally delayed.

I will have to respectfully disagree. The study findings showed that, while you can use repetitive teaching techniques to drill information into a child it is not necessary. If you simply wait until the child is ready they will learn much faster. Do you really think the three year olds were excited about tying their shoes after 20 hours of instruction? And how frustrated do you think they became during the process?

 

[Pecobill]

I will have to respectfully disagree. The study findings showed that, while you can use repetitive teaching techniques to drill information into a child it is not necessary. If you simply wait until the child is ready they will learn much faster. Do you really think the three year olds were excited about tying their shoes after 20 hours of instruction? And how frustrated do you think they became during the process?

My parents taught me how to do everything rather early.I also knew the true meanings of all holidays by the time I was 5.Because of my parents teaching me early I did a lot better than anyone else at my school.I had a 4.0 gpa in high school,1500 SAT score,88 ASVAB score,and I aced the FCAT.I was homeschooled for k-8th grade.In the 9th grade I started going to a public school and I instantly out did most people in the school.The reason I did so well is that my parents pushed me hard to do well.They didn't try to make it easy on me or wait till the state said I was ready.They started me as soon as they could,which I'm very thankful for.

 

[shellybaxter]

My parents taught me how to do everything rather early.I also knew the true meanings of all holidays by the time I was 5.Because of my parents teaching me early I did a lot better than anyone else at my school.I had a 4.0 gpa in high school,1500 SAT score,88 ASVAB score,and I aced the FCAT.I was homeschooled for k-8th grade.In the 9th grade I started going to a public school and I instantly out did most people in the school.The reason I did so well is that my parents pushed me hard to do well.They didn't try to make it easy on me or wait till the state said I was ready.They started me as soon as they could,which I'm very thankful for.

It sounds like you have a high intelligence and that you were probably ready for the education your parents gave you. The individualized education available through good home schooling is great. Planning for individualized education is a cornerstone of good early care and development programs (birth to 5). Unfortunately its not emphasized once a child reaches the K-12 system.

As a preschool teacher my job is to design a cirriculum that is age appropriate for the entire group (i.e. Shamrocks and the color green for St. Pats) and then enhance the learning for students who are ready for more. Some might show a lot of interest in the holiday and then I would talk with them about the more abstract legends. However, some might struggle with the concepts of shapes and color. I have to plan for them too. Pushing is not the answer. Pushing a child who is not ready will frustrate them and cause them to give up on learning. Wouldn't that be a shame at age 3.

I was schooled in the public school system. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in 3rd grade. Due to my disability I was a child who struggled with some concepts. However, I graduated from university with a 4.0 GPA. I am 3 courses away from finishing my Masters Degree and I currently have a 3.97 GPA (one A-). This is at Gonzaga University - a pretty good school.

I believe that our differing experiences, both with positive outcomes, go to show that individualized education is important and understanding the developmental level of a child is critical.

 

[racefanof88]

It sounds like you have a high intelligence and that you were probably ready for the education your parents gave you. The individualized education available through good home schooling is great. Planning for individualized education is a cornerstone of good early care and development programs (birth to 5). Unfortunately its not emphasized once a child reaches the K-12 system.

As a preschool teacher my job is to design a cirriculum that is age appropriate for the entire group (i.e. Shamrocks and the color green for St. Pats) and then enhance the learning for students who are ready for more. Some might show a lot of interest in the holiday and then I would talk with them about the more abstract legends. However, some might struggle with the concepts of shapes and color. I have to plan for them too. Pushing is not the answer. Pushing a child who is not ready will frustrate them and cause them to give up on learning. Wouldn't that be a shame at age 3.

I was schooled in the public school system. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in 3rd grade. Due to my disability I was a child who struggled with some concepts. However, I graduated from university with a 4.0 GPA. I am 3 courses away from finishing my Masters Degree and I currently have a 3.97 GPA (one A-). This is at Gonzaga University - a pretty good school.

I believe that our differing experiences, both with positive outcomes, go to show that individualized education is important and understanding the developmental level of a child is critical.

I must ask then, if holding the childen back, that are developmentally ready to advance, because a few are not "getting it" is not dumbing down what would you call it? Education is about teaching someone something new, not just letting them run around in circles building on what little they already know.

This is why I homeschool. I do not want my child to be held down, because a few in the class are just not getting it. Education is supposed to be about bringing people up to a higher level, not bringing someone of a higher level DOWN because we don't want little Tommy feeling bad because he didn't know the right answers.

These are the fundamentals that have sunk the American education system.

 

[shellybaxter]

I must ask then, if holding the childen back, that are developmentally ready to advance, because a few are not "getting it" is not dumbing down what would you call it? Education is about teaching someone something new, not just letting them run around in circles building on what little they already know.

.

In early care and development (birth to five) we do not hold children back. We start with a baseline of developmentally appropriate activities and then enhance the activities with individual children as they are ready to move forward. While I think we agree for the most part - I disagree that learning is not a building experience. All learning begins with a foundation (reading begins with letters and alpha sounds, rthyms, teaching the eye to track from left to right, and even just learning to enjoy books by being read to.) and then progresses.

 

[nmdisfans]

Change it to Getting Lucky Day

Awesome! I was thinking of Lucky Charms day, but I guess that's copyrighted already.

 

[karrit2000]

We had a local school principal on Long Island who decided that the students were not going to be allowed to celebrate "St. Patrick's Day" this year in her school and sent a letter home with all the students. She said the day was to be referred to as "Heritage Day" and they would be celebrating everyone's nationality/ethnicity/heritage. Parents were up in arms, lawsuits were set in motion, the school board intervened and St. Patrick's Day was celebrated. Principal is in trouble big time over this one.

 

[chicagoshannon]

We had a local school principal on Long Island who decided that the students were not going to be allowed to celebrate "St. Patrick's Day" this year in her school and sent a letter home with all the students. She said the day was to be referred to as "Heritage Day" and they would be celebrating everyone's nationality/ethnicity/heritage. Parents were up in arms, lawsuits were set in motion, the school board intervened and St. Patrick's Day was celebrated. Principal is in trouble big time over this one.

Does this school still allow Christmas and Easter celebrations? I would hope that if they're allowed to celebrate St. Patrick's day that they would still be allowed to celebrate the other Christian holidays also.

 

[CinderellasSister]

These are the fundamentals that have sunk the American education system.

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

As a preschool teacher my job is to design a cirriculum that is age appropriate for the entire group (i.e. Shamrocks and the color green for St. Pats) and then enhance the learning for students who are ready for more. Some might show a lot of interest in the holiday and then I would talk with them about the more abstract legends. However, some might struggle with the concepts of shapes and color. I have to plan for them too. Pushing is not the answer. Pushing a child who is not ready will frustrate them and cause them to give up on learning. Wouldn't that be a shame at age 3.

But what if just taking a little longer to explain a concept to the ones that are struggling will make them understand? Aren't you then selling them short? Not giving them the opportunity they deserve based on personal opinion? How do you explain Christmas, by calling it green tree day? Or explain Hanukkah as candle day?

 

[racefanof88]

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!


But what if just taking a little longer to explain a concept to the ones that are struggling will make them understand? Aren't you then selling them short? Not giving them the opportunity they deserve based on personal opinion? How do you explain Christmas, by calling it green tree day? Or explain Hanukkah as candle day?

 

[shellybaxter]

We will have to agree to disagree. I've explained the tenents of qualiy early care and development. Another poster was kind enough to explain some of the thoery behind it. Mickey Mouse Club House was being developmentally appropriate when they had Shamrock Day which may or may not have been the reason behind their programing decisions. I will never agree that pushing children to the point of frustration is a good way for them to learn.

 

[KYMickey]

We had a local school principal on Long Island who decided that the students were not going to be allowed to celebrate "St. Patrick's Day" this year in her school and sent a letter home with all the students. She said the day was to be referred to as "Heritage Day" and they would be celebrating everyone's nationality/ethnicity/heritage. Parents were up in arms, lawsuits were set in motion, the school board intervened and St. Patrick's Day was celebrated. Principal is in trouble big time over this one.

And well he should be! We've got to quit trying to be so politically correct at the expense of our heritage. There's nothing wrong with Saint Patrick's day, Saint Valentine's day or any of the other longtime holidays. These and many other things developed during the forming of our heritage and are thus part of it. Leave them alone and get over it. You as an individual don't have to celebrate it but don't try to change it and ruin it for those and enjoy it for what it is.