Because society at large has abdicated responsibility for the nurture of their children to government, generations are being produced that are “intellectually independent” of the principles that make us free. I wonder why that's happening…

Once again, as well, you would very much like to ignore all of the things ASD does right in order to focus on your grinding axe. I have never seen a school district more concerned about listening to its stakeholders. In my experience, parents concerns and rights are paramount, and the district tries very hard to meet the needs and wants of its community. I could offer you examples of books being removed from district libraries because a tiny minority of parents found something objectionable about the content (even if the overwhelming majority of parents were confused as to what the books contained that was offensive). I could point you to policy meetings that involve very heavy parental input. I could point you to high school community council meetings where parents and students take part in determining where and how money is spent; how the school policies are created, interpreted, and enforced; and what kinds of curriculum is taught.

I know I'm probably talking to a wall, so I'll finish up. You and your group have an agenda. Why is it only now that you seem to have this desperate semantic problem with the district's mission statement (taking into account that the statement has been in place for years)? Most of us in this area are concerned with the way our country is currently being managed. Most of us in this area are alarmed with the rate at which government is expanding. We don't like seeing socialist trends encroaching ever more into our capitalist structure and we want to fight back against them. However, as Nietzsche said, “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.” Stop taking out your frustrations on one of the most conservative school districts in the state (if not the country). ASD is made up of fine, patriotic Americans. The vast majority of its people believe in the constitution, freedom, capitalism, and all of the other ideals that have always made America great. They want success for your children. They are your friends and neighbors, not your enemies. If you want private schools, vouchers, more home schooling, or even just policy changes, great. Fight for what you want in the political arena or in board meetings. Stop using the sneaky and contrived back-door methods of name-calling, mud-slinging, and inflammatory accusations in the media.

Also, your comments here are either carefully worded or just incorrect. Yes every parent has the *right* to be “fully” responsible, but some do abdicate that right and abuse their children. Nobody has said carrying a child to term “qualifies” parents to take care of a child. It's their natural God-given right to do so, but clearly, not all are capable of that.

When John Goodlad writes that schools must “enculturate the young into a social and political democracy,” we shouldn't dismiss that phrase when a school district casually puts their own interpretation on it. If Goodlad has an agenda, which he clearly states he does, then if the district uses his philosophy and implements the agenda unknowingly, they are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

I just posted a John Taylor Gatto audio file which I really encourage you to listen to, but also, if you want the whole story about what's going on with this, please click the upper right link to the “Democracy media frenzy.” If we still disagree, fine, but that's a much more complete picture.

And when did it become extreme to insist that our educators are correctly educating? Go ahead and ask your neighbors, and their kids, if we are a Republic or a Democracy…. See what they say. Despite the fact that we have good teachers, somehow we are producing generations that are “intellectually independent” of the principles that made us free. I wonder how that happened…

And when did it become extreme to insist that our educators are correctly educating? Go ahead and ask your neighbors, and their kids, if we are a Republic or a Democracy…. See what they say. Despite the fact that we have good teachers, somehow we are producing generations that are “intellectually independent” of the principles that made us free. I wonder how that happened…

As far as the topic at hand, though, anyone who actually believes that Alpine School District is a subversive socialist organization trying to undermine local parents needs to have their logic called into serious question. Most of the people who work for Alpine School District ARE local parents (including the board and administrators). Many (if not most) were raised in the very culture that has now branded them domestic enemies. Please.
Research your logical fallacies, too. Because I take one or two ideas from another person, does that mean that I agree with that other person's philosophy? Does it mean that I agree with all of their ideas? Of course not.
Honestly, the agressive and hostile way people are reacting to the district illustrates that those people are the ones with an agenda. Cherry picking loosely implied socialism while completely ignoring the excellent academic and social outcomes that the district produces on a daily basis is a nice way to promote anti-education propaganda, but it doesn't have much to do with the truth. I challenge those concerned to find communist or socialist agendas being taught in classrooms. If it is happening, it is isolated and happening without district awareness or approval. Teachers found to be promoting any political ideology are reprimanded or worse. ASD teachers teach the core like the teachers in any other district in the state. The teachers and administrators are only interested in one thing: giving their students the best education possible so that those students will be successful and our great country will grow stronger. The current hostile groupies will have a difficult time finding any teacher or administrator that does not fully support the Constitution of the United States. Perhaps they should educate themselves a little. They should go talk to some teachers on a one-on-one basis, go speak to administrators, go visit and observe a class or two, and take a close look at the academics. They should talk to the students, for heaven's sake. Do those students spew anti-American socialist propaganda after graduating from the district's high schools, or do they love their country as much as their parents taught them to? Stop listening to extremists with agendas and start finding out the truth for yourself. Take back your intellectual independence. That's what educated people do.