Crappy Curriculum
There are amazing curricula out there, for every subject under the sun from Art to Zoology. Granted some of it is pricey, but lots of it is affordable, some is even (shudder) free. Why is it that American teachers insist on using sub-standard crap for lessons? Why are American teachers proud of the shit they use? Nobody else points to a steaming pile of poo, inhales loudly, and declares it to be a bed of roses. Yet American teachers do.
Are we really that anti-intellectual? Are we really that stupid?
There are experts and scientists in every field (yes, even music) who have done (and are continuing to do) the research and *know* the best way to teach their subject. How to break down the knowledge and skills. How to sequence it. How to tailor it to different types of student. They are shouting their findings from the rooftops. Some are writing books with easy-to-follow lessons. Others are giving workshops and attending conferences for teachers. Yet the biggest consumers of these amazing resources?
Homeschoolers, that's who.
Now homeschoolers do not have any special enlightenment. They work hard to find the right materials to suit their students, and they listen to the experts, not the publisher's sales rep with the flashiest swag. Can't we teachers climb off our high horses and learn something from these dedicated parents?
Oh yeah, right. Teachers don't get to choose curriculum. Administrators do.
*headdesk*
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