professor13
The One with the Wyvern Eye
What makes us human? I personally believe it to be deeply rooted in our capacity to appreciate and culture the arts (such as music, theatre, graphical arts, etc.). Well... if the Florida legislature has their way and the Florida Board of Education continues to pass legislation like it did just recently, art will be a mystery to youths until graduating high school.
Let me explain. In a tragic case of the "God Complex" (that little conception some people get that they are indeed the all powerful creator of the universe), the Florida Board of Education managed to pass something called the P.E. Amendment for elementry level public schools. The legislature decided that it was obviously the role of the school to 'cure' children of obesity and not the previously held notion that it was the role of parents. Thus, it is now required for elementry students to take two P.E. courses a day.
"But Professor13!" you say, "This just means the legislature is taking an interest in the health of the children! Surely there is no harm in a little more exercise?!" True enough, if the only thing that would be sacrificed were a few calories.
Unfortunately, room must be made in the funding for schools for this 'benevolent' law. The 'logical' answer? Go ahead and take this time to wipe the excess sarcasm from your ear. Ears good and clean? Excellent, listen. The amendment, to fund this policy, has cut ALL the arts programs in public elementry schools. No more art. No more music. Goodbye originality. After all, kids don't want to be creative, they want to be carbon-copy learners of multiplication tables, while sitting on their marvelously fit bottoms (sorry, did it again. Clean up, I'll wait).
If this weren't enough, in March they will be voting to get the P.E. Amendment passed for the Middle School level, and afterward, highschool. In short, if you want a kid that can think outside the capabilities of a calculator, do yourself and the kid a favor, don't have him/her in the Sunshine... I mean, Standardized State, Florida.
Let me explain. In a tragic case of the "God Complex" (that little conception some people get that they are indeed the all powerful creator of the universe), the Florida Board of Education managed to pass something called the P.E. Amendment for elementry level public schools. The legislature decided that it was obviously the role of the school to 'cure' children of obesity and not the previously held notion that it was the role of parents. Thus, it is now required for elementry students to take two P.E. courses a day.
"But Professor13!" you say, "This just means the legislature is taking an interest in the health of the children! Surely there is no harm in a little more exercise?!" True enough, if the only thing that would be sacrificed were a few calories.
Unfortunately, room must be made in the funding for schools for this 'benevolent' law. The 'logical' answer? Go ahead and take this time to wipe the excess sarcasm from your ear. Ears good and clean? Excellent, listen. The amendment, to fund this policy, has cut ALL the arts programs in public elementry schools. No more art. No more music. Goodbye originality. After all, kids don't want to be creative, they want to be carbon-copy learners of multiplication tables, while sitting on their marvelously fit bottoms (sorry, did it again. Clean up, I'll wait).
If this weren't enough, in March they will be voting to get the P.E. Amendment passed for the Middle School level, and afterward, highschool. In short, if you want a kid that can think outside the capabilities of a calculator, do yourself and the kid a favor, don't have him/her in the Sunshine... I mean, Standardized State, Florida.
