Sara S
04-28-2013, 06:28 AM
My friend sent me this:
The post link: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10022766628
The post:
I couldn't believe the homework my daughter brought home...
I was sifting through my daughter's completed homework the other day and I was pretty shocked. She is
thirteen and in seventh grade in public school.
She had a six-page completed assignment that was lists of questions about GMOs. The first sheet was questions
and fill-in-the-blank questions about genetically-modified crops. What is a genetically modified crop? How
long have genetically modified crops been around? General questions.
The next two pages were about the value of genetically altering foods. My child had obviously filled in the blanks according to the information that was fed to her. Genetically modified crops were positioned as revolutionary and wonderful. These kids were taught that GM crops save many people from starvation and make it possible for crops to withstand pests and harsh conditions--thus increasing our food supply and helping people obtain nutritious food--some of whom would likely starve.
GM foods were positioned as wonderful, amazing and a panacea to world hunger. GMs were said to increase food supply and ultimately reduce food costs for everyone. YAY! Genetically modifying foods helps your moms and dads save money at the grocery store!
There was also a lab portion of this packet. Kids were provided with seeds. Some of the seeds were GM seeds. Others were not. They were supposed to grow them and report the differences in plants. My child wrote down that the GM plants were healthy and the non-GM plants were unhealthy and often damaged or eaten by pests.
I looked the bottom of the packet and saw--on each page--Trademarks and Copyright information. The information was written by and provided to the schools by Pioneer Hi-Bred--one of the world's largest "Big Ag" seed companies. So--not only was my child being subjected to this propaganda--the propaganda in question was being supplied by this corporation!
There was one paragraph in this packet on "concern" that some people have about GM food. However, it was a total whitewash and there were NO major contentions listed. Nothing from the other side.
Am I overreacting, as a parent, to find this totally inappropriate for a public school to teach only one side of this issue--and also to allow Pioneer Hi-Bred to provide the teaching materials? I worked in PR/media relations for 10+ years and it's obvious what they're doing--attempting to create a positive image of GM crops in young children!
My daughter is a straight-A student, very progressive and a thinker. We discuss many political, educational and scientific issues with our kids. However, we haven't spoken about GM foods. I asked her what she learned and she proceeded to tell me how GM foods were "a miracle" and how fantastic they were, and helpful to our world. She had been propagandized, in my opinion.
My husband and I are in the process of doing a bit of "home schooling" on this issue. We are finding information online, and we will be providing a "lesson" to provide the other side. We plan to give her the "other side" and more importantly, we want to use this experience as an opportunity to teach her about propaganda and the importance of research and critical-thinking skills when faced with information and the opinions of others.
But seriously. Can you believe this?
__________________________________________________________________________
(There were 36 responses at the link downthread, I haven't read them yet...)
The post link: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10022766628
The post:
I couldn't believe the homework my daughter brought home...
I was sifting through my daughter's completed homework the other day and I was pretty shocked. She is
thirteen and in seventh grade in public school.
She had a six-page completed assignment that was lists of questions about GMOs. The first sheet was questions
and fill-in-the-blank questions about genetically-modified crops. What is a genetically modified crop? How
long have genetically modified crops been around? General questions.
The next two pages were about the value of genetically altering foods. My child had obviously filled in the blanks according to the information that was fed to her. Genetically modified crops were positioned as revolutionary and wonderful. These kids were taught that GM crops save many people from starvation and make it possible for crops to withstand pests and harsh conditions--thus increasing our food supply and helping people obtain nutritious food--some of whom would likely starve.
GM foods were positioned as wonderful, amazing and a panacea to world hunger. GMs were said to increase food supply and ultimately reduce food costs for everyone. YAY! Genetically modifying foods helps your moms and dads save money at the grocery store!
There was also a lab portion of this packet. Kids were provided with seeds. Some of the seeds were GM seeds. Others were not. They were supposed to grow them and report the differences in plants. My child wrote down that the GM plants were healthy and the non-GM plants were unhealthy and often damaged or eaten by pests.
I looked the bottom of the packet and saw--on each page--Trademarks and Copyright information. The information was written by and provided to the schools by Pioneer Hi-Bred--one of the world's largest "Big Ag" seed companies. So--not only was my child being subjected to this propaganda--the propaganda in question was being supplied by this corporation!
There was one paragraph in this packet on "concern" that some people have about GM food. However, it was a total whitewash and there were NO major contentions listed. Nothing from the other side.
Am I overreacting, as a parent, to find this totally inappropriate for a public school to teach only one side of this issue--and also to allow Pioneer Hi-Bred to provide the teaching materials? I worked in PR/media relations for 10+ years and it's obvious what they're doing--attempting to create a positive image of GM crops in young children!
My daughter is a straight-A student, very progressive and a thinker. We discuss many political, educational and scientific issues with our kids. However, we haven't spoken about GM foods. I asked her what she learned and she proceeded to tell me how GM foods were "a miracle" and how fantastic they were, and helpful to our world. She had been propagandized, in my opinion.
My husband and I are in the process of doing a bit of "home schooling" on this issue. We are finding information online, and we will be providing a "lesson" to provide the other side. We plan to give her the "other side" and more importantly, we want to use this experience as an opportunity to teach her about propaganda and the importance of research and critical-thinking skills when faced with information and the opinions of others.
But seriously. Can you believe this?
__________________________________________________________________________
(There were 36 responses at the link downthread, I haven't read them yet...)