ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
THE 1776 FAIRY TALE CURRICULUM TAKES OVER SCHOOLS
Are you tired of your kids learning about the "real" America, with all its flaws and complexities? Do you want them to believe in a simpler, more patriotic version of our nation's past? Look no further than the 1776 Fairytale Curriculum!
Developed by Hillsdale College, a private Christian school known for its conservative values, this curriculum is the perfect antidote to critical thinking and historical accuracy. With lesson plans based on the principles of American exceptionalism, your kids will learn all about the good ol' days when men were men, women were in the kitchen, and slavery was just a minor inconvenience.
The curriculum covers all the important topics, from the colonial era (when brave settlers explored a land that was totally uninhabited by anyone else) to the Civil War (when noble Confederates fought for states' rights, not slavery). Your kids will love learning about the Founding Fathers (who were all white and Christian, obviously) and the Constitution (which was handed down by God himself).
But don't worry, this curriculum isn't just about brainwashing your kids into blind patriotism. It also includes primary sources like the Declaration of Independence and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, so your kids can see how far we've come since the good ol' days.
And if you're worried about your kids learning about uncomfortable topics like slavery or Native American genocide, don't be! The curriculum conveniently downplays or omits those parts of history, so your kids can focus on the positives. After all, who needs to learn about systemic oppression when you can just sing "God Bless America" and wave a flag?
But wait, there's more! If you act now, we'll throw in the Classic Fairytale Learning Test (CLT) absolutely free! This standardized test is designed to measure your child's reading, writing, and math skills, with a special focus on classical literature and historical texts. Because let's face it, who needs practical skills when you can recite Shakespeare and memorize the Federalist Papers?
The CLT is accepted by over 200 colleges and universities, mostly private or faith-based institutions. So if you want your kids to attend a school that shares your values (and maybe even offers a scholarship for CLT scores), this test is for you!
Of course, there are some downsides to the CLT. For one thing, it lacks the abundance of test prep materials and resources that the SAT and ACT offer. But who needs practice tests when you can just read Plato and hope for the best?
And sure, some critics might argue that the CLT presents a distorted or incomplete picture of America's past. But what do they know? They're probably just a bunch of liberal elites who hate America anyway.
So there you have it, folks. The 1776 Fairytale Curriculum and the Classic Fairytale Learning Test: the perfect way to ensure that your kids grow up with a healthy dose of blind patriotism and a complete disregard for historical accuracy. Because who needs truth when you have fairytales?
Pennsylvania school district requires social studies classes to incorporate right-wing propaganda https://popular.info/p/pennsylvania-school-district-requires
Florida poised to give students a new college entry test option https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/09/07/florida-poised-give-students-new-college-entry-test-option/
THE DEFT DIVE
FROM BING AI
The 1776 Curriculum
- - The 1776 Curriculum is a project of Hillsdale College, a private Christian liberal arts school in Michigan that is known for its conservative and patriotic approach to education. The curriculum is a collection of lesson plans for teaching American history, civics, and government to K-12 students, based on the principles of the American founding and the idea of American exceptionalism¹².
- - The curriculum covers topics such as the colonial era, the American Revolution, the Constitution, the Civil War, the Progressive Era, the World Wars, the Cold War, and modern America. It also includes primary sources, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, the Gettysburg Address, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The curriculum aims to provide students with a comprehensive and honest understanding of America's history, achievements, and challenges¹².
- - The curriculum is available for free online and has been downloaded by over 8,400 teachers and administrators across the country. It is also used by dozens of charter schools affiliated with Hillsdale College's Barney Charter School Initiative, which operates in 15 states. Some state and local policymakers have also sought Hillsdale's guidance or endorsement for their own social studies standards or curricula²³.
- - The curriculum has been praised by some conservative leaders and groups, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and Moms for Liberty, for offering a counter-narrative to the critical race theory and the 1619 Project, which they view as divisive and anti-American. They argue that the curriculum teaches students to love their country and appreciate its founding ideals²³⁴.
- - The curriculum has also been criticized by some historians and educators, such as the American Historical Association, for downplaying or omitting aspects of America's history that are less flattering or more controversial, such as slavery, racism, immigration, Native American genocide, women's rights, labor movements, and civil rights. They contend that the curriculum is ideologically driven and presents a distorted or incomplete picture of America's past³⁵⁶.
Bing, 9/7/2023
- (1) The Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum | K-12 American Classical Education. https://k12.hillsdale.edu/Curriculum/The-Hillsdale-1776-Curriculum/.
- (2) Hillsdale College’s 1776 Curriculum | RealClearEducation. https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2021/07/30/hillsdale_colleges_1776_curriculum_110614.html.
- (3) Hillsdale College is leading a conservative overhaul of K-12 education. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hillsdale-college-1776-curriculum-k12-education-conservative-rcna93397.
- (4) Hillsdale College is leading a conservative overhaul of K-12 education. https://bing.com/search?q=1776+Curriculum+criticism.
- (5) Historical Association Mixes Up Facts Attacking 'Patriotic' Curricula. https://thefederalist.com/2023/08/02/historical-association-cant-keep-facts-straight-in-attacking-curriculum-that-celebrates-american-patriotism/.
- (6) The Pennridge School District is considering Hillsdale College's .... https://www.inquirer.com/news/hillsdale-college-1776-curriculum-explained-pennridge-school-district-20230211.html.
- (7) Charter school program rewrites civil rights history. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/revealed-charter-school-program-favored-by-tennessee-governor-rewrites-civil-rights-history.
- (8) Pennridge educators warn they aren’t ready to teach a curriculum .... https://www.inquirer.com/education/pennridge-social-studies-curriculum-vermilion-hillsdale-1776-20230826.html.
- - The CLT is a standardized test developed by Classic Learning Initiatives in 2015 as an alternative to the SAT and ACT college entrance exams. The test assesses reading, grammar, writing, and mathematics skills, with a focus on classical literature and historical texts. The test aims to provide a more rigorous and comprehensive measure of academic formation, accomplishment, and potential, as well as a more edifying testing experience that enriches the mind¹².
- - The CLT is composed of three sections: verbal reasoning, grammar/writing, and quantitative reasoning. Each section contains 40 questions and has a time limit of 40 minutes. There is also an optional essay section that has a time limit of 30 minutes. The test is administered online or in-school, and the scores are reported within 10 days. The maximum score for the CLT is 120¹².
- - The CLT is accepted by over 200 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad, mostly private, liberal arts, or faith-based institutions. Some of the schools that accept the CLT are Baylor University, Biola University, Grove City College, Liberty University, St. Olaf College, Wheaton College (in Illinois), and Zaytuna College²³. However, the CLT is not widely accepted by most public or selective colleges, and it may be used more as a supplement than exclusively by applicants⁴.
- - The CLT has some advantages and disadvantages compared to the SAT and ACT. Some of the advantages are:
- * It offers a shorter and more convenient testing experience, with less time pressure and more flexibility in scheduling and location.
- * It engages students with meaningful content that reflects a holistic education and challenges them to think critically about Western culture and tradition.
- * It appeals to students who have been exposed to classical education or who share the values of the test.
- * It provides reliable feedback and connects students to a network of quality colleges that may offer scholarships or other benefits¹²⁵.
- - Some of the disadvantages are:
- * It lacks a plethora of test prep material and resources, as it is a relatively new test with far fewer takers.
- * It has fewer test centers and less standardization in its administration and proctoring.
- * It may downplay or omit aspects of America's history and culture that are less flattering or more controversial, such as slavery, racism, immigration, women's rights, civil rights, etc.
- * It may be ideologically driven and present a distorted or incomplete picture of America's past⁴⁶⁷.
- (1) Classic Learning Test (CLT) - Suite of Assessments for Grades 3-12. https://www.cltexam.com/.
- (2) Classic Learning Test - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Learning_Test.
- (3) Classic Learning Test (CLT) - Association of Christian Schools .... https://your.acsi.org/CLT.
- (4) CLT Practice Test (2023) - Mometrix Test Preparation. https://www.mometrix.com/academy/clt-practice-test/.
- (5) Comparing the CLT with SAT® and ACT® – Classic Learning Test. https://www.cltexam.com/compare/.
- (6) What is the CLT Test? Should You Take it? | CollegeVine Blog. https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-the-clt-test/.
- (7) Florida may become first state to accept a 'classical' alternative to .... https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-classical-alternative-sat-clt-desantis-ap-rcna95910.
- (8) Florida considers ‘classical education’ college prep test | Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article272526392.html.
- (9) Florida’s Adoption Of The CLT Reveals Testing Problems - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/akilbello/2023/09/06/floridas-adoption-of-the-clt-reveals-testing-problems/.
- (10) The Classic Learning Test aims to challenge the SAT - Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2019/10/21/classic-learning-test-aims-challenge-sat.
- (11) Should You Consider Prepping for the Classic Learning Test?. https://admissionsconsultants.com/college/the-classic-learning-test/.
- (12) Debating the Classic Learning Test - American Reformer. https://americanreformer.org/2023/06/debate-clt/.
- (13) undefined. https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=1122.