Click on the link below, read article and watch video.
http://www.news10.net/news/article/150895/2/Questions-raised-over-lobbyists-influence-on-school-lessons
What do you think about this controversy? Should lobbying groups be able to influence your curriculum?
This conroversy on plasic bags is very interesting. I think that it was wrong to change the lessons in the curriculum and I dont see how anone could beleive it was even possible that the lesson was half way true. I think that it was also wrong for the lobbying groups to be influenceing the curriculum. Someone needs to put a stop to it.
ReplyDelete-Savanna Snyder Block 2
I never thought that the controversy between plastic bags and paper bags was ever a big enough deal for lobbyist to create false information to teach to kids. I think that it was wrong for them to change the curriculum just to put in false information. I also feel that it is wrong for lobbyist to be able to effect what is taught in schools just to benefit themselves. If lobbyists are trying to influence kids just to increase their financial wealth then who knows what else there doing.
ReplyDelete– Hunter Crawford
For lobbying groups to add information about their product in a school textbook is wrong. In my eyes textbooks are used to teach in positive ways and if there are false statements corrupting that, it would make me think about what is really true. It's opening the door to so many wrong possibilities, like (in an extreme case) telling kids that smoking is ok in a health book. I don't think Lobbying groups should be able to influence the curriculum because you need to let kids make decisions for themselves and not feed them lies.
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ReplyDeleteI never really thought about how lobbyists might be influencing the academic system, but after watching that video and reading that article, I really started to think about it. I can't believe that they would change that textbook for their own benefit! Textbooks are suppose to teach us kids the truth about whatever subject its on, not lies. I am fairly upset by this, and I hope it changes.
ReplyDelete-Alysia Laidlaw, Block 1
I would have never thought that this would of been such a big controversy. Lobbyist should not have put false information into school textbooks. When i read a information out of a textbook I believe is. I hope that I haven't received false information like this beofore. The lobbying groups should not put there information into school textbooks. It is wrong needs to be stopped and made sure it doesnt happen again!
ReplyDelete-Amber Tobiasz 2
I never knew that there was a controversy about using plastic or paper bags. This small problem had escalated to a huge controversy. I feel that lobbyist should not have put false information in our text books just to help themselves. This makes me wonder if anybody else has done this before and i have learned false information in another text me. This definitely needs to be stopped and banned forever!
ReplyDelete-David Campbell Blk 1
I was unaware that there had ever been a controversy of this magnitude over plastic bags, let alone a controversy at all. Because lobbyist groups feel that they can place whatever information they wish into curriculum is ridiculous. What is there possibly to gain by spreading ludicrous information? Someone must take a stand against these people and stop them from thinking they can manipulate our curriculum whenever and however they wish. I can hardly stop to think as to whether or not every textbook I have read over the past three years could also be completely false.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic with lobbyists and companies trying to influence and sway the students for there financial benefits. What they are trying to do are gain young supporters, I’m all for showing students two sides of an argument, but they clearly wrote a biased textbook to steer students into their direction.
ReplyDeleteChris Schmidt-
lobbyists should not be allowed to influence their thought and products into school textbooks. they are biased and are only thinking about their business and not what the kids should be learning
ReplyDeleteThis controversy was very interesting and I did not know it would be so big over just plastic and paper bags. I do not think it is okay for lobbyist to influence the children by putting false information in their text books. After spending so long on it, you might as well make it right. Whenever I read my text book from school, I believe every word of it because I do not know any better and neither do other students. This should of never happened and should be stopped.
ReplyDelete- Brittany Thomas
Of course this is terrible-- but frankly, what did you expect? One result of schools having federal funding is that curriculum is edited heavily before it is published to make sure it doesn't offend any minorities or various political players (like lobbyists). This is only an extreme case in that they actually lied, instead of merely leaving out important information or hand-picking words that that have the right connotations for their purpose-- in all other ways it is perfectly ordinary.
ReplyDeleteRead a textbook some time- for instance, my history book (I happen to have it near.) In the first paragraph, it tells how the East Timorese "had been waiting a long time" to have "a free land"- talking about the institution of democracy, of course. Do you notice how it's been colored to make democracy the only way to freedom? It goes on with how we "applaud as other countries embrace democracy" and how the Constitution has "inspired" others. All three words (applaud, embrace, and inspired) have positive connotations, which they are using to hammer into your subconscious how good democracy is. This can be done with any topic, when arguing for either side.
And now I sound like a conspiracy theorist or something, but seriously, textbooks are among the most biased, white-washed informational material there is.
So, to wrap it up, of course I think lobbyists shouldn't be able to influence our curriculum. But I also think they do, all the time. And I didn't mean to make my response so long, sorry, I guess I just got a little carried away.
I think that it is wrong for the lobbiests to have changed the cirriculum in any way shape or form. Students should be reducing the waste made by plastic bags, and finding new solutions, not being thought the advantages of a failing product by a company with finantial interest in it. I think it is wrong in every way.
ReplyDeleteTrever Nielsen block 1
This video was very interesting, it shows how much different groups try to influence public school's education. This argument over plastic bags is also very interesting because they can be very useful but also very bad for the environment. It really depends on how our population uses them. I think that they are not very good for the environment because most people don't recycle. If a bag can be created that is safe for the environment then should be taught in schools but as of right now the bad outweighs the good so teaching kids that plastic bags are good is wrong.
ReplyDeleteKyle Clayton Blk:2
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ReplyDeleteI don't think that lobbyists should be able to control what we learn. This new curriculum of theirs will change everything that we learn, how we learn it, and otherwise. If one pathetic plastic company thinks that it can change how we learn, I'd love to see it fail..
ReplyDelete--Bruce Johns--
-Block 2-
Well this just makes me wonder how much of the information in my other textbooks is actually true. If something like this can be lied about, who knows what else could be as well. And why wasn't the section looked over and proved wrong BEFORE it went into the textbook? But as for the controversy with paper/plastic bags, I was aware of it. My family actually uses our own reusable grocery bags because we do not want to contribute to harming the environment.
ReplyDelete-Kelly Harris blk 1
This was extremly wrong of the lobbyists to do. They put this false information in student text books for there benifits, making them highly selfish. Our student text books are created for us to learn and learn the true materials, not fake and false information.Even though it was over a small topic it is still important because it makes me and others question what other false information is put in our text books.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that lobbyists are attempting to influence students by placing false information into a textbook. I do not see why there is such a push to convince students that paper or plastic bags are better. It is also apparent that these lobbyists put this information in the textbooks for their own benefit. Paper and plastic bags are equally useful and recyclable it is up to the user what they do with them and the lobbyists should not be trying to convince people in using one or the other.
ReplyDeleteLobbyists should not be able to influence curriculum in textbooks. Textbooks are used to teach kids facts, not absurd information a company wants you to hear. As for the plastic or paper bag controversy people should just bring there own reusable cloth bags.
ReplyDeleteI am somewhat neutral on this subject. I think that textbooks are supposed to be factual, and therefore opinions are generally not needed.
ReplyDeleteBut to only show facts that contribute to one side of a controversy is just as bad, to me. There needs to be a balance, showing both the pros and cons of everything, including plastic bags. There are a few redeeming factors to them, including some of the things that were put into this textbook. A textbook's job is to inform a student, because then they can form their own opinion about a subject, rather than being weighed one way or the other by what they read.
-Gabi Roberts, Block 2
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ReplyDeleteI am surprised that lobbyists have the audacity to put this false information in textbooks. Textbooks should be used to educate students about the truth not to convince them which type of bag to choose. I hope that the book company edits out these lies or schools just flat out choose to boycott the books. Lobbyists should not target children or anyone for that matter for their personal gain.
ReplyDeleteDylan Scalzo Block 2
I do not find this extremely shocking, propaganda has been inserted into textbooks since forever. Big business that could possibly be threatened by a properly informed public would be hurt this is why they feed children (who dont know better) these lies. Its wrong and in the end it will hurt our society and it completely rules out all humanity when it comes to being honest. I hope that one day something will be done about this but for now we just have to use our own brains and judge everything that is said to us and decide what we believe and dont believe.
ReplyDelete~katie Richards~ block two
It doesn't surprise me that this argument has come up yet again. For years, people have been in controversy over this very subject. I see a lot of this in my everyday life, due to the fact that I work at a Raley's Supermarket. People come in the store all the time and share their liberal views of trashing the environment by using plastic bags. The way I see it, this argument will always be a problem. There are too many people in this world that "don't care" what you put their groceries in, whether it be a paper bag, a cloth/reusable bag, or god forbid, a plastic bag. I understand the efforts at trying to spread word of the dangers of using plastic bags, but I just don't see enough people getting on board to try and change the way our society does things. And I don't see how the curriculum needs to be changed either. But then again, we are taught Darwinism, so what is another concept based on a liberal viewpoint being taught in our schools.
ReplyDeleteIt is very wrong for lobbying groups to influence our curriculum. I feel this because they can change it to whatever they need for their own personal gain. Textbooks are made to educate kids and not to convince them whether they should use paper or plastic bags. Lobbying groups that do things like this are ruining our countries education system so they can be happy.
ReplyDeleteI think it is sad that it is not all that surprising that this controversy has come up. I also think it is very bad that instead of just the organizations that care about our environment and futures getting a say in our education, the companies and lobbyists that just care about personal gain and money also get a say in our curriculum.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important for kids to learn about the planet and how our actions our affecting earth but I do not think it is ok for lobbyists to put biased information into textbooks. Textbooks are a place for learning and growing but by putting biased information in them you are only learning one side of the story. I am very upset that this happend but not shocked. I am horrified that people would put wrong information in textbooks that could possibly corupt the future leaders of the world.
ReplyDelete-Janelle Rios, Block 2
It's not shocking that lobbyists have gone so far as to try and corrupt information in text books, as nearly everything from politics to the education system has been corrupted. However, that doesn't imply that it is just. Allowing students -who will someday make important decisions for the wellbeing of humanity- to be fed innacurate information is insulting and belittling to our intelligence both as students and citizens.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was wrong for lobbiests to put what they did into the textbooks. As the video showed there were sections showing pictures about how plastic bags are damaging and harmful to the environment. Having put what they did into the book can send kids a mixed message, and obvioudly that isnt what they wanted.
ReplyDelete-Ashley Wallington, Block 1
I think that, in certain instances, letting more common people and organizations influence curriculum might be a good thing when used to relay useful information about environmental safety to students and create more informed citizens. But, in this situation, when incorrect information was inserted by lobbyists, it was wrong for these textbooks to let false information to be published to benefit the profit of a plastic bag company. It is important to teach students what products are actually more environmentally healthy, but it angers me that textbooks are letting incorrect information be fed to students.
ReplyDeleteThis controversy over plastic and paper bags has really gotten blown way out of proportion over the past few years. I think that lobbyists should not be able to put one side of an argument in textbooks. If you put in one side of an argument you should also put the other side of the arguement in too, especially in educational books kids use to learn out of. They placed incorrect information into the textbook, which is putting wrong information into the childrens brain. Textbook companies should not allow false or misleading information get put into their books and not fully educate kids.
ReplyDeleteThis controversy between paper and plastic bags is an excellent example of why opinions involved in education are very dangerous. Besides the disturbing fact that a corporation influenced what was being taught to children, it is even more unsettling to realize that a passage in a book attempted to influence a person to choose one thing as being "better" than the other. Teaching anybody anything is about presenting cold, hard facts and allowing the student to reach their own conclusions. It is definitely not about presenting only half of a story, or presenting facts that are only favorable to one side of an argument. It may be impossible to completely remove the "human element" from education, but it still is possible to at least remove the influence of outside corporations offering large amounts of cash in return for influence in what is taught to students.
ReplyDeleteLobbying groups should not touch our curriculum. For them to go so far to get us students to believe something like that is appalling. This makes me wonder what else is influenced by lobbying groups and how much information in textbooks is misleading. Facts should never be altered and it is ridiculous to publish lies to get someone to believe something that may not be true, especially in elementary textbooks.
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ReplyDeleteI did not know that this was going on or even thought that this could be possible. I trust that all of the information i read out of a textbook is the correct information. I do not believe that they should be putting false information into students textbooks. I hope that i never come across this and i hope that all of the textbooks that have or had false information in them have been changed.
ReplyDeleteThis article was interesting, i had known a little about people arguing over which is better paper or plastic, but i would never have thought it would of become such a big controversy. many students trust and rely on the information that comes out of textbooks to help them understand the basis of their curriculum. it is not right for anyone to feel they have the right to put false information in a textbook released to students.the Lobbying groups should be made sure to stay away from the education system.
ReplyDeleteDelany Shinn Block 1
It was shocking how big of a controversey the decision paper or plastic could be. All students including myself believe and trust all information that is put in the textbooks. What if some that we have read has been false. Lobbying groups should be kept away from education. In all the textbooks there should be no false information especially that is released to schools for students to use.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Biles Blk. 1
Before i read the article i had no clue how big of a deal this whole thing really is. I personally think that it is totally wrong for lobbyist to be getting involved with our school curriculum. After knowing what they are doing it makes you question how many more miss leading things are being writen in our text books and not only that but what about the other areas that they are effecting our education? It makes me wonder what it would be like with out any of their influence at all? would it be as big of a difference as we think? I would be interested in finding out more information about this whole Lobbying problem.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I don't think lobbyist groups should be involved in the school system especially about plastic bags. The plastic bag has problems with decomposing too slow but paper also takes up a lot of tree pulp water and energy to make. So they both have problems. But I have a question. Mrs. Johnson why are we using blogs when a blog is about opinion. Science is not an opinion, we can do this in social science not chemistry. Also we should be learning about chemistry like the periodic table for example. Not about how lobbyist groups are changing the education system. So I think we should get on track with learning chemistry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for listening
Nathan LaFrance
Hi Nate,
ReplyDeleteIt is part of the science curriculum to give students the opportunity to think critically about issues related to science. The blogs will not be content-heavy but more about relevant issues related to chemistry. We are learning about the periodic table in class.
I found this article very interesting because I had no idea that there was so much controversy over the use of plastic bags in our society. I know we are asked whether we want paper or plastic bags in the grocery stores, but I never really thought too much about the reasons. I do not feel that lobbyists should be able to change anything regarding our school curriculum. It is not their responsibility. Lobbyists are a group of people interested in their own cause who seemed to have influenced the educational system for their own benefit. If it was that easy to allow lobbyists to put misleading information in our textbooks, then what will be next? As a student, I hope that what I am reading in textbooks is the truth and not a misconception.
ReplyDeleteJoshua Smith Block 2
I think that they should be able to influence what we learn. The world is changing, so obviously we need to be learning about the changes. If we keep getting taught the same lessons that people ten years ago learned, were not getting anywhere. Technology is improving, and we have to tech our upcoming generations about this stuff.
ReplyDelete-Danni Hicks(: Block 1(:
Im surprised that companyies would even think to do this and it would become such a big controversy. Lobbyists' should not put false information into school textbooks. When students read information out of a textbook they believe it is true because years and years of research and editing go into creating a historically correct textbook. I hope that students haven't received false information like this beofore. The lobbying groups should not put there information into school textbooks. This is just like saying teens should do drugs and drink alchohol in a health textbook is okay. It is wrong and needs to be stopped and made sure it doesnt happen again!
ReplyDelete- Sydney Bonino
I think the convroversy on bags is interesting. It is what I think a good thing to be doing. While most know that plastic bags are a negative thing in California, it is nice to have the opposing point of view in a textbook. Students need to be able to choose for themselves what is wrong or right. I don't think it's up to the state to decide that. Any errors in said textbook definitly need to be changed, but the parts about the price benefits and such should be kept up, I mean isnt that the reason we actually use plastic bags? Whether wrong or right, students deserve to understand the reasoning.
ReplyDelete-Madi Newman