You’ve got to check this out. A high school journalism class created a rap video about saving the whales. You want to know what’s wrong with public education look no further than this.
There’s so many problems here.
One – A journalism teacher is teaching her students about liberal issue advocacy. Well, that pretty much sums up most of the problems with journalism nowadays.
Two -A journalism teacher is cool with “Free Dem Walez” as passable English? Teachers are supposed to teach proper English (especially in a journalism class), not accept student’s way of speaking and spelling.
Three – Listen to this teacher introduce her video by saying “I was always taught that whales and dolphins were safe and happy living in captivity. I don’t believe that anymore. Neither do my students.” She’s indoctrinating her students to accept her beliefs. She has a certain point of view of things and she forces it on the students. And instead of teaching the students…I don’t know…something about JOURNALISM she instead uses class time to teach her students about how whales and dolphins are abused.
Four – The fact that the school not only saw nothing wrong with this misuse of taxpayer money but actually contacted the media to highlight this as a shining example of their work tells you everything you need to know why our public education system is failing.
HT WESH
April 28, 2010 at 5:31 pm
How is a rap song journalism? Reason 9,578 to homeschool.
April 28, 2010 at 5:43 pm
It's actually quite the tip of the hand. That is, if any one is so naive to believe journalism is about reporting facts and not advocacy.
April 28, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I can't judge the entire curriculum based on this.
What if they voted on what the cause would be?
Free the Whales is relatively uncontroversial (and I don't associate it as a liberal cause at all)….I would get upset over something like a pro-choice advertisement.
I don't see a problem with the language as a part of an entertaining video. If she is accepting written assignments with this language then it is a problem, but if the assignment was simply "create an entertaining and informative video" then they succeeded.
April 28, 2010 at 6:36 pm
It's not just public education. I work at a Catholic high school, and creative projects like this are standard fare for students to "show what they know", especially for students who are "just not good test takers". Leftist advocacy is not restricted to journalism classes, either: leftism is the curriculum, and math, science, English, religion become so many particular ways to indoctrinate students into leftist ideology. Lesson and curriculum choices are made with the deliberate intent of teaching leftism.
April 28, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Hmm. Wonder how a video to "Save the 2nd Amendment" would do?
Yeah, it's a stupid question. Just a compulsion of mine. Sorry.
Best bumpersticker seen on rescuing Shamu & Co.; "Save The Whales, Collect The Whole Set!)
April 28, 2010 at 7:21 pm
I guess this means that Michael Jackson (RIP) became a journalist when he released his "Heal the world" song or perhaps as early as "We are the world"? I only watched about a minute of the video, but I'd like to see a writing sample of those 4 young men's writing.
April 28, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Funny how this came out shortly after a woman in Sea World was killed by a killer whale in the same city… just sayin'
April 28, 2010 at 9:00 pm
I'm wondering if next they'll do a video advocating outlawing bug zappers. I mean, mosquitoes and gypsy moths deserve life and happiness too.
April 28, 2010 at 9:48 pm
So did everyone on this 'blog vote in the last school board election, hmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Passivity is the enemy.
So are "Teen Masses," but that's another story.
April 28, 2010 at 9:51 pm
I cannot disagree more with this article, as a teacher who has to maintain positive relationships with students on a daily basis.
And rap IS a form of English that uses poetic techniques that are centuries old.
April 28, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I would have thought that at least the "message" ought to be discernable.
The girls at the mic were singing something like "they should be happeeeeeeee" but other than that I didn't catch a word.
I know this wasn't a Pop Idol audition ( though it looked like one of the out takes) at least they had a tune, the poor boy in the hoodie, alone at the mic reading the words has the most execrable voice, he was particularly hard to understand. He looked really uncomfortable. It seems mean to have filmed him and put him on youtube.
The giant stuffed whale toy in front of the teacher amplified the childishness.
This teacher is just making an eejit out of her "journalism" students.
April 28, 2010 at 9:59 pm
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April 28, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Agree with Anonymous at 4:51PM, and I would add, there's more than likely a little racism behind this complaint. "Proper English"? Yes because rap music is just like writing formal essays.
Or maybe you just don't like black people music.
And I like how wildlife conservation is somehow only a "liberal advocacy issue". I guess that means conservatives are on the side of killing things and wrecking the planet…?
That's almost as absurd as saying Christians are a "creative minority", or a minority of any kind for that matter.
April 28, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Anonymous
As a teacher, what would you say the students are learning here that is relevant to the business of journalism?
April 28, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Eshto
"rap music is just like writing formal essays."
You have got to be kidding.
Attitudes like this in education cripple rather than unlock the potential of young black people.
"Or maybe you just don't like black people music."
This is a journalism class.
April 28, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Eshto… considering most conservatives are against abortion, I guess we're not on the side of killing important things. I'm all for Willy and Flipper to be happy but sorry, humans come first.
April 28, 2010 at 11:29 pm
I actually have to say that "Language Arts" is about more than teaching "proper English". No one would deny the impact of say, Mark Twain, who clearly used a non-standard variety of American vernacular in much of what he wrote. Various forms of drama, from Shakespeare to Stephen Sondheim, make extensive use of a wide range of registers, dialects, wordplays, etc. Even looking at the field of "infotainment", which is what this video is trying to be, there's a very different linguistic style to reporting for a National Geographic special than for a Steve Irwin program, but it's important for people to be able to understand, and even express themselves by using, different standards of English.
That being said, this particular example does NOT hold up to scrutiny as a well-applied use of a non-standard register.
April 28, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Because this kind of thing passes for education, that's why so many young people were easy prey for the slick Obama "Yes We Can" campaign videos made by celebrities. All entertainment and emotional appeals. Students believe that this kind of thing actually delivers a solid message. They don't know what a rational argument is, much less a substantial rebuttal. The more entertaining or creative video wins in their minds. Truth? What is truth?
April 29, 2010 at 1:48 am
My name is Jamie Aquino and I am the teacher in the video. After reading so many positives, I came across this website with so many negative comments, and felt compelled to write my thoughts. First of all, the song and video was not done in my class or was part of my curriculum. My environmental project is an outside project that my students work on in their own time. They did everything after school and on the weekends. I didn't tell them what to say or write, they did that on their own. The title was selected for a reason, we are trying to reach out to young people and they get those words and the rap style of music. We just want to give another side of an issue – nothing more. All I can say is at least my students care about the environment, and marine mammals and about something. So many young people in this world don't care and are getting into trouble. My students are trying to do something. So you can critique the video and the song all you want. I am proud of my students for taking a stance, giving up countless hours of their own personal time and working together on something that matters to them. I hope you consider my words and think twice before you post any more negative comments about what my students are doing.
April 29, 2010 at 2:23 am
With all due respect are you really trying to tell us that no classtime at all went to teaching these students about the alleged abuse of animals? And their work on this video has no effect on their grade whatsoever?
Doesn't it also strike you as odd that the "stance" your students took lines up exactly with your strongly held views.