On 12/20/2006 at 8:13:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
This is how a smart town teaches kids... _http://tinyurl.http://tin_ (http://tinyurl.com/yk9dts) Notice the goal is to instill values. All districts are bound by New Jersey's Core Curriculum Standards which include teaching about various cultures and values: _http://education.state.nj.us/njsdb/_ (http://education.state.nj.us/njsdb/) Two examples: 1. Acquire a basic understanding and appreciation of American traditions and values based on knowledge of history and of the development and functioning of the American constitutional system of government; 2) Apply an understanding of culture as an integrated whole that explains the functions and interactions of language, literature, the arts, traditions, beliefs and values, and behavior patterns. Still, I wish they would reinstate formal civics instruction; the Zogby poll, below, still irks me. No Bloods in Howell. Maybe not, but not a simple cause/effect as you imply. I suspect more of us are victims of white-collar crimes and rip-offs originating from boardrooms in the hinterlands than we are of violent street crime. You'd be hard pressed to prove that any sector of our society has a monopoly on virtues and values. On this longest night of the year, Peace and Good Will to All. ---------------------------------------------------- 74 percent of Americans knew the Three Stooges, Larry, Curly and Moe, by name; only 42 percent could name the three branches of our government. 77 percent could name two of Snow White's seven dwarfs while only 24 percent of Americans could name two United States Supreme Court justices. Zogby Poll: _NYC; Good Thing We Citizens Aren't Tested - New York Times_ (http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F30915F7345A0C768CDDAB099 4DE404482) (http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F30915F7345A0C768CDDAB0994DE404482)