I want to express my concern about textbooks being considered by the Alabama Textbook Committee for English/Language Arts. I have specific concerns about the texts from one particular publisher. As a retired English/Language Arts teacher, I am familiar with this company and many included writings and/or authors. These selections and topics are directly aligned with the Obama Administration’s Race to the Top and the curriculum designated for Common Core Standards.

As one who believes in teaching students to think critically and process, synthesize, evaluate, and apply information, I tried to find some value in the reading selections and writing prompts. However, I could find no worth whatsoever. The literary content has a VERY liberal bias. Much was persuasive to the point of indoctrination, not objective forms of evoking critical thinking skills.

I am very disturbed by the fact that included are attacks on Christianity; encouragement of terrorist entities and beliefs; liberal feminist views and attacks on traditional gender roles; promotion of permissiveness toward illegal immigration; an acceptance and encouragement of pro-choice viewpoints; promotion of tolerance and acceptance of LGBT lifestyles; and anti-American sentiments.

As citizens of Alabama, we need to address this IMMEDIATELY. A hearing will be held on September 10. However, we need to send letters to Governor Bentley protesting this adoption by one of the following means:

Governor’s Office Mailing Address

State Capitol, 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36130

Email to: http://governor.alabama.gov/contact/contact_form.aspx

Lisa A. Harris

Alabama Federation of Republican Women Education Chair

Join the Trojans for a

Kick-Off celebration

We would like to invite all of the CHHS Trojan Family and Supporters to come to our 2012 Fall Kick-Off Celebration on Thursday, August 30, 2012. We will celebrate all of our student athletes and band members who have worked so hard this summer to represent our school, community, and families. The celebration will be held on the front lawn of the high school from 4:30 – 7:30.

We will be entertained by the Blue Machine and will recognize all of our student athletes. Cross-Country, football, volleyball, cheerleading, and the “Blue Machine” will be honored at our celebration. We will have “Trojan” sprit-wear, merchandise, and pride-packs available for all of our Trojan faithful. Our booster-clubs will be in attendance with information to join and support our students.

Come out and enjoy the sounds of the season. We will also have hamburgers, hot-dogs, and drinks as we get ready for a great year. See all of you Thursday and remember …

“It is a Great Day to Be a Trojan!”

Dr. Boyd English

Principal

Charles Henderson High School

 

Students’ scores should shame Alabama into action

For decades, citizens of Alabama have been humiliated by nationally published statistics depicting our state as being at the very bottom in education.

Not only is this stigma troubling for every taxpayer, it handicaps our graduates entering the job markets out of state.

One would expect that after 20 to 30 years of opportunity, our leadership could have made significant progress in reversing this trend.

Apparently, this is not to be! In a report published August 21, 2012, the parent organization that administers the American College Test (ACT) to graduating high school students in Alabama, revealed that 31 percent of 2012 graduating seniors did not meet minimum acceptable scores for college entrance in the four measured major fields of English, Math, Reading and Science!

Another 19 percent met only one of the four benchmarks. Only 18 percent of all tested students met all four benchmark scores.

More disturbing, however, of state black students, only 38 percent of English, 10 percent of Math, 22 percent in Reading and only 6 percent of Science scored in the acceptable range for today’s college environment expectations.

One does not have to be extraordinary intelligence to know that in today’s world of technology, these kids face a dismal future when only 10 percent in Math and 6 percent of Science are capable of doing college work!

Where have we gone wrong in Alabama? Is it staffing, administration, or does it have more to do with priorities?

We must all agree that surely it is not for a lack of funding. Our legislative leadership have had ample time to address this issue and reverse our stigma and trends.

For heavens sake, lets stop criticizing charter schools if they work!

We should all be ashamed of how we ourselves were left behind and to allow today’s kids to lag behind in education is unthinkable and unforgivable.

–

James W. Anderson

Talladega