1 This is why I WILL make sure my children are home schooled, or at the very least, sent to private school!

2 The very fact that these school officials elected to allow his students to have continued exposure to the treasonous, whiney shite says they do not belong in positions where they can make decisions affecting the education of children of any age.

The more of this crap I see, Ogre, the more I am convinced that you're absolutely right about home schooling being the answer.

Of course, these same leftists that fought the voucher program would undoubtedly do their best to fight home schooling, as forcing anti-American propaganda on America's young is a major part of their agenda. They need to keep the kids where they are captive audiences at all costs.

What they're doing, essentially, is integrating Komsomol into the "3 Rs".

3 Ogre, I have to disagree with you somewhat. I do not know the whole story since I have never been in contact with Mr. Bennish or listened to other discussions from him. I have personal experience with his teaching method. I had a teacher who would take what was and is mostly still considered controversial sides in matters that were in the news, abortion for one. I believe this is a good way to teach. It make people stand for what they believe and voice their opinions for us all to see why people believe in what they do. In the end we all learned something about ourselves and what others think and why.

I must admit that some of Mr. Bennish’s statements do seem too left sided and thus should not be stated. Most of the statements from the tape are biased both in what he says and in many writers cutting. I have yet to hear the whole discussion since it is hard for me to find a whole reproduction of it online. (I wonder if anyone can help me there.)

Smoke Eater, I know several kids who went to private schools. Most went to religious based schools. Please make sure you choose one that is not religious based. The difference between public schools and religious private schools is a poor education but with the ability to quote the bible. Not all are bad but I have yet to hear of one that is good. Just be careful of which school you send them too.

4 Not a big fan of homeschooling. You don't know what is being taught and there is potential for all sorts of socialization issues.

5 I have never been a fan of home schooling either, but if your local schools are not good then it should be an option. I am a fan of public schools in the sense that every child should have a school to go too. I agree with Ogre and many others that there is too much fat in most public schools. I would like to see the schools be more independent than they are now. I really think that school boards and superintendants be elected by the people. I also think that all established school districts be cut and earn money on their own. Besides what is the PTSA really for anyway?

The only reason I don't like Ogre's view on public schools is good (k-12 mind you) is that it will become a matter of money not your child's ability.

6 Arbitor - I do plan to stay away from parochial school, and the front-runner in my mind is Country Day in the Arlington/Fort Worth area (north Texas). I have never heard a bad word about this school in any area. They do have sports, and while their program is not as "important" as it is to most public schools, they do stress that being only athletic or only book smart is not good, but being active, athletic, smart (street and book), makes for a well rounded person.

7 Sounds good to me. Shame I didn't live there. My school was somewhat like that though.

8 The moron on the government dole supported treason. He suggested that enemies of the US should "bomb North Carolilna." That's not instigating discussion, because he didn't invite discussion -- he actively suggested that others should bomb the US.

As for a tape, I know it's online, as I've heard it. I think Michelle Malkin has a link to it, I'll see if I can find it.

Jack -- the socialization issues about homeschooling are all dealt with -- they don't exist. It's an irrational fear that's spread by those who support government schools. By ALL measures in all tests, homeschool children are BETTER socialized than government school children.

As for the religious schools -- there are plenty that are absolutely top-notch because they DO teach academics instead of the pap that the government schools teach.

9 Oh, and don't forget, Arbitrator -- this was a GEOGRAPHY class! It doesn't require critical thinking to learn where the damn Amazon River is located!

10 I listened to the audio of TEACHER JAY BENNISH CAUGHT IN ANTI-AMERICAN RANT, with great interest. Also, with sadness.

My name is Michael Class. I live in the Seattle area with my wife and two children. I am a retired "dot-com" executive turned author, photographer, and publisher.

I was appalled at how some teachers presented American history to my children. My son and daughter learned that Thomas Jefferson had slaves—before they learned that he wrote the document articulating our rights and duties as free people. European settlers killed Native Americans with blankets infected with smallpox, they found out. That allegation upstaged the stories of courage, perseverance, and curiosity that defined the pioneers. My children knew that more than a hundred thousand people died when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, but they were not made to understand the moral context and the enormous scale of the conflict called World War II in which the atomic bomb story fit.

With a curriculum seemingly designed to instill guilt and shame, I wondered, how will my kids ever discover the lessons of history that inspire greatness and noble aspirations? Will they ever believe that they can make a difference? Will they have any heroes left at all? Then, I wondered: What would the heroes of America’s past say to the children of today?

I wrote, photographed, and published a book designed to set the record straight, to properly prepare our children for the future. My book is called Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame. 

In the book, my real-life son, twelve-year-old Anthony, time-travels into the great events of the 20th century. Digital photographic “magic” places Anthony in the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis with Charles Lindbergh, on the moon with Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, in the laboratories of Thomas Edison and Jonas Salk, and on Normandy beach on D-Day. It looks as though Anthony really did meet Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, FDR, Lou Gehrig, Charles Lindbergh, and Audie Murphy. And it’s all historically accurate: Even Anthony’s conversations with America’s heroes are based on things they really said. (See the photos: www.MagicPictureFrame.com)

While writing and photographing the book, I spoke with relatives of famous scientists and inventors, Holocaust survivors, award-winning biographers, and others who could help me ensure that the facts of the book were both accurate and vivid. 

But the book goes beyond a simple recitation of historical facts: the book presents the moral lessons of American history. The chapter about Lindbergh’s flight is really about choosing one’s destiny. The story of Lou Gehrig is one of a virtuous life. The chapter about Thomas Edison is really about business. The story of Apollo 11 is about wonder, taking risks, and courage. The story of Dr. Jonas Salk and the cure for polio is really about dedicating one’s life to a higher purpose. When Anthony “meets” his immigrant great-grandfather at Ellis Island in 1907, it’s really a story about what it means to be an American. Anthony’s observation of D-Day and the liberation of the death camps during the Holocaust is a testament to the reality of evil and the need to fight it.

The book is meant to challenge the young reader. Many adults will find the book challenging, too. Anthony COMPARES the people and events of the past with the people and events of his own time. Anthony discusses the nature of good and evil, right and wrong, war and peace, what it means to be an American, honor and discipline, success and achievement, courage and destiny, marriage and family, God and purpose. Anthony’s observations prompt serious discussion of timeless moral questions. Anthony challenges the reader to think critically - to see the modern world in the light of the lessons of the past. 

We can't afford to raise a generation of Americans who do not value their country, their heritage, and their place in the world. As Abraham Lincoln said: America is the "last best hope of earth."

Thank you.

Michael S. Class
Author / Photographer / Publisher

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame: An American History Book for Right-Thinking Parents and Their Children

-----------------------

E-Mail: class@MagicPictureFrame.com
Web site: www.MagicPictureFrame.com

11 Wow, that book looks great -- I think I shall have to order one! Thank you for stopping by, Michael.

12 I listened to his speech and I can see where he does keep pushing his words and not letting anyone speak. It also seems as though no one is willing to speak up until later on. He did say things that shouldn't have been said. I still think that if he involved the students more and didn't say that the US was "bleesed by God." Many of the things he said were true. The bombing of North Carolina did actually make sense if you think of it the way he stated. Later on he did a good job of explaining how people believe we are the "terrorist." The Irag Iran conflict was rather well do from a third party perspective. He also explained how we have supported and commited acts of terrorism but didn't state why. I feel he desensitized the 911 attack but explained why the world believes different things. He did try to teach the students from different views.

All in all I am like everyone else in thinking that this should not be taught in a World Geography class. It was brought up over the State of The Union speech relating to current events which involves the class alittle but went too far. If he was teaching a civics class or politics class it would be acceptable.

13 I will have to take a look at that book too.

As a big fan of history and a recent college grad I still remember history classes and high school kids and their reactions. I just want to let you know that most of the history taught today will be forgotten tommorrow. I hate to say that but it is true. As for the losing of heroes, my school only taught alittle bit about the grief from WWII and more about the war itself. Infact we had a German exchange student who said it was taught similar to how Germany taught their students. We were taught many good things about Washington, Franklin, and Lincoln. Unfortunetly, like I said most will be forgotten.

14 The whole "official" complaint was that he presented all this ideas as facts and presented nothing for the other side. Statements like "Others should bomb North Carolina" are just wrong to make.

And Geography. Wacko leftist. Period.

15 F***in' hippies.
If I wasn't a Christian I'd probably drive over and set that treasonous mother****er on fire.

Homeschooling rules, regardless of the made-up crap about it.
I hope we have much more of it in the future...

16 If you were Muslim, you'd be expected to set SOMETHING on fire.

17 Jack -- the socialization issues about homeschooling are all dealt with -- they don't exist. It's an irrational fear that's spread by those who support government schools. By ALL measures in all tests, homeschool children are BETTER socialized than government school children.

Ogre,

Sorry pal, I can't buy that argument. It is not an irrational fear to suggest that children who are homeschooled may have socialization issues.

It is not a given that it will happen, but it is a distinct possibility. The question is what kind of interaction do they have with other children. Are they exposed to others? Do they play with other kids?

What kind of background do their parents have? I know a lot of kids who were homeschooled who are better educated and more well adjusted than others and then I know some whose education is just abysmal.

Anyway, I'd be curious to see where you are getting your information. Not saying that you are wrong, but I am not just accepting it either.

18 I'll have to look around because I read a couple studies a couple years back -- sure, homeschooled kids might not be socially adjusted -- but so might other kids. The studies showed that by every possible measure that children who were homeschooled were better able to adjust socially than government schooled children.

And if you think about what goes on in government schools, I sure don't want children exposed to the "social adjustment" that goes on there.

Homeschool children typically interact with a large range of aged people, not just drones of their exact physical age.