Friday, March 21, 2014

how to make sure kids know nothing

the california high school exit examination is given to high school seniors prior to graduation. the california board of education has posted some guidelines on their website for things that the test should not contain. like this:


  • Violence (including guns, other weapons, and graphic animal violence) 
  • Dying, death, disease, hunger, famine 
  • War 
  • Natural disasters with loss of life 
  • Drugs (including prescription drugs), alcohol, tobacco, smoking 
  • Junk food 
  • Abuse, poverty, running away 
  • Divorce 
  • Socio-economic advantages (e.g., video games, swimming pools, computers in the home, expensive vacations) 
  • Sex 
  • Religion 
  • Complex discussions of sports 
  • Slavery 
  • Evolution, prehistoric times, age of solar system, dinosaurs 
  • Rap music, rock concerts 
  • Extrasensory perception, witchcraft 
  • Halloween, religious holidays 
  • Anything disrespectful, demeaning, moralistic, chauvinistic 
  • Children coping with adult situations or decisions; young people challenging or questioning authority 
  • Mention of individuals who may be associated with drug use or with advertising of substances such as cigarettes or alcohol 
  • Losing a job, home, or pets 
  • Rats, roaches, lice, spiders 
  • Dieting, other concerns with self-image 
  • Political issues 
  • Any topic that is likely to upset students and affect their performance on the rest of the test