Catherine Ross: “Freedom of Speech is the Engine Oil of Democracy

ou may remember a little controversy in Hanover County, Virginia. Last January, the district implemented new policies requiring teachers to notify parents before using any materials in the classroom that might be considered "controversial." The move was prompted by complaints about the use of the filmThomas Friedman Reporting: Searching for the Roots of 9/11, which included Muslim perspectives, in Hanover High School in the fall of 2014.

The new policies have put what some consider a stranglehold on teachers and left a chill in the classroom, and led to the creation of the student-led group HSFOIL — Hanover Students for Freedom of Information and Learning. HSFOIL has been actively speaking out to the media and at school board meetings over the last year to urge a reversal of the policies and ensure academic freedom. Recently, their work has prompted a review by the district, but it's now been put on hold thanks to the passage of HB516 in the Virginia legislature.

HB516, which would require all schools in the state to send parental notification home about any material deemed "sexually explicit" and offering "nonexplicit" alternatives, now sits onGovernor Terry McAuliffe's desk. With such first-hand experience on how rules like this can harm learning, HSFOIL sent the following to Governor McAuliffe:

The story of how HB516 came to be is eerily similar to the story in our very own Hanover County. A parent rejected the use of the book Beloved in the classroom due to a scene where a slave girl is raped by two school boys. While rape is yes, an extremely sensitive topic, it is still a real thing. We can’t continue to shield our students from the truths of the world in the fear of what? That they might get the wrong idea?

Let me ask: where is a student more likely to get the wrong idea—in the classroom, in a piece of literature, under a teacher’s supervision, or out in the real world, where no such supervision exists? Why not use education to our advantage? Educate students about controversial topics and discuss with them what is right and what is wrong. Give our maturity the benefit of the doubt for once! 

Controversial materials greatly enhance a student's education, they do not hinder it. Allowing a vocal minority of parents to shield students from controversial topics hurts no one but the students themselves. Our students should be well-rounded and intellectually competent in all great works of literature, despite the “evils” the pieces might hold. Evils will exist in the world no matter if we shield our students from them or not, but it is much better for students to experience them for the first time in a book, rather than in real life.

If a parent opposes the use of an entire book, how is a teacher to assign continual alternative assignments? Teachers will be slowly waned from teaching sensitive material, eliminating them from the classroom as a whole. This is why HSFOIL urges the veto of HB516, and ask all those who agree to do the same. 

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Coalition to Virginia Governor: Veto the ‘Beloved’ Bill

A coalition of free speech groups sent a strong message to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe: Veto HB516, a bill that poses a distinct threat to public education and the freedom to read.

The legislation has been called the "Beloved Bill," because it was inspired by one parent's failed attempt to have the Toni Morrison novel removed from her son's AP English class. The bill would require the state's public schools to notify parents of any “sexually explicit content” in instructional materials and to provide “nonexplicit” alternatives by request.

The March 8 letter–signed by the American Booksellers for Free Expression, Association of American Publishers, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, National Council of Teachers of English, the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Children's and Young Adult Book Committee of PEN American Center– argues that HB516 "would prejudice educationally valuable content, undermine the quality of public education in Virginia, and contravene important First Amendment principles."

How the state would determine which content might be considered "sexually explicit" is unclear, but it is reasonable to assume that the label could apply to scores of classic works of literature. The bill also undermines core educational principles that guide teacher selection of literature. Allowing parents to "opt out" will inevitably affect all students, as many instructors might reasonably choose to avoid teaching material that would fall under the "sexually explicit" standard. 

And the bill threatens established First Amendment principles: "If the proposed legislation results in the removal of material solely to satisfy those who object to its content, it could inadvertently expose school districts to liability for violating the First Amendment rights of other students."

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Hanover Students Stand Against “Beloved Bill” in Virginia

You may remember a little controversy in Hanover County, Virginia. Last January, the district implemented new policies requiring teachers to notify parents before using any materials in the classroom that might be considered "controversial." The move was prompted by complaints about the use of the filmThomas Friedman Reporting: Searching for the Roots of 9/11, which included Muslim perspectives, in Hanover High School in the fall of 2014.

The new policies have put what some consider a stranglehold on teachers and left a chill in the classroom, and led to the creation of the student-led group HSFOIL — Hanover Students for Freedom of Information and Learning. HSFOIL has been actively speaking out to the media and at school board meetings over the last year to urge a reversal of the policies and ensure academic freedom. Recently, their work has prompted a review by the district, but it's now been put on hold thanks to the passage of HB516 in the Virginia legislature.

HB516, which would require all schools in the state to send parental notification home about any material deemed "sexually explicit" and offering "nonexplicit" alternatives, now sits onGovernor Terry McAuliffe's desk. With such first-hand experience on how rules like this can harm learning, HSFOIL sent the following to Governor McAuliffe:

The story of how HB516 came to be is eerily similar to the story in our very own Hanover County. A parent rejected the use of the book Beloved in the classroom due to a scene where a slave girl is raped by two school boys. While rape is yes, an extremely sensitive topic, it is still a real thing. We can’t continue to shield our students from the truths of the world in the fear of what? That they might get the wrong idea?

Let me ask: where is a student more likely to get the wrong idea—in the classroom, in a piece of literature, under a teacher’s supervision, or out in the real world, where no such supervision exists? Why not use education to our advantage? Educate students about controversial topics and discuss with them what is right and what is wrong. Give our maturity the benefit of the doubt for once! 

Controversial materials greatly enhance a student's education, they do not hinder it. Allowing a vocal minority of parents to shield students from controversial topics hurts no one but the students themselves. Our students should be well-rounded and intellectually competent in all great works of literature, despite the “evils” the pieces might hold. Evils will exist in the world no matter if we shield our students from them or not, but it is much better for students to experience them for the first time in a book, rather than in real life.

If a parent opposes the use of an entire book, how is a teacher to assign continual alternative assignments? Teachers will be slowly waned from teaching sensitive material, eliminating them from the classroom as a whole. This is why HSFOIL urges the veto of HB516, and ask all those who agree to do the same. 

Read More

Virginia “Sexually Explicit Content” Bill Undermines Public Education

A Virginia bill that would require public schools to notify parents of "sexually explicit content" and offer "nonexplicit" alternatives poses a profound threat to public education and First Amendment principles, according to a coalition of free speech organizations.

The letter to Virginia Senate Committee on Education and Health from the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)—signed by the National Council of Teachers of English, American Booksellers for Free Expression, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and the Children’s and Young Adult Book Committee of the PEN American Center—argues that the bill poses serious concerns. By singling out “sexually explicit content," it "relies on a standard that is both over-inclusive and vague…. titles as varied, valuable, and time-honored as Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl, Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, and most works by William Shakespeare could be flagged."

The letter also points out that providing "nonexplicit" alternatives "raises the potential for multiple different assigned materials in a single classroom, impeding teachers' efforts to foster discussion while imposing on them an unnecessary administrative burden." And the bill raises serious constitutional concerns: "If the proposed legislation results in the removal of material solely to satisfy those who object to its content, it could inadvertently expose school districts to liability for violating the First Amendment."

For these reasons, the organizations encourage members of the committee to vote against HB516.

Read More

Coalition to Virginia Governor: Veto the ‘Beloved’ Bill

A coalition of free speech groups sent a strong message to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe: Veto HB516, a bill that poses a distinct threat to public education and the freedom to read.

The legislation has been called the "Beloved Bill," because it was inspired by one parent's failed attempt to have the Toni Morrison novel removed from her son's AP English class. The bill would require the state's public schools to notify parents of any “sexually explicit content” in instructional materials and to provide “nonexplicit” alternatives by request.

The March 8 letter–signed by the American Booksellers for Free Expression, Association of American Publishers, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, National Council of Teachers of English, the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Children's and Young Adult Book Committee of PEN American Center– argues that HB516 "would prejudice educationally valuable content, undermine the quality of public education in Virginia, and contravene important First Amendment principles."

How the state would determine which content might be considered "sexually explicit" is unclear, but it is reasonable to assume that the label could apply to scores of classic works of literature. The bill also undermines core educational principles that guide teacher selection of literature. Allowing parents to "opt out" will inevitably affect all students, as many instructors might reasonably choose to avoid teaching material that would fall under the "sexually explicit" standard. 

And the bill threatens established First Amendment principles: "If the proposed legislation results in the removal of material solely to satisfy those who object to its content, it could inadvertently expose school districts to liability for violating the First Amendment rights of other students."

Read More

Hanover Students Stand Against “Beloved Bill” in Virginia

You may remember a little controversy in Hanover County, Virginia. Last January, the district implemented new policies requiring teachers to notify parents before using any materials in the classroom that might be considered "controversial." The move was prompted by complaints about the use of the filmThomas Friedman Reporting: Searching for the Roots of 9/11, which included Muslim perspectives, in Hanover High School in the fall of 2014.

The new policies have put what some consider a stranglehold on teachers and left a chill in the classroom, and led to the creation of the student-led group HSFOIL — Hanover Students for Freedom of Information and Learning. HSFOIL has been actively speaking out to the media and at school board meetings over the last year to urge a reversal of the policies and ensure academic freedom. Recently, their work has prompted a review by the district, but it's now been put on hold thanks to the passage of HB516 in the Virginia legislature.

HB516, which would require all schools in the state to send parental notification home about any material deemed "sexually explicit" and offering "nonexplicit" alternatives, now sits onGovernor Terry McAuliffe's desk. With such first-hand experience on how rules like this can harm learning, HSFOIL sent the following to Governor McAuliffe:

The story of how HB516 came to be is eerily similar to the story in our very own Hanover County. A parent rejected the use of the book Beloved in the classroom due to a scene where a slave girl is raped by two school boys. While rape is yes, an extremely sensitive topic, it is still a real thing. We can’t continue to shield our students from the truths of the world in the fear of what? That they might get the wrong idea?

Let me ask: where is a student more likely to get the wrong idea—in the classroom, in a piece of literature, under a teacher’s supervision, or out in the real world, where no such supervision exists? Why not use education to our advantage? Educate students about controversial topics and discuss with them what is right and what is wrong. Give our maturity the benefit of the doubt for once! 

Controversial materials greatly enhance a student's education, they do not hinder it. Allowing a vocal minority of parents to shield students from controversial topics hurts no one but the students themselves. Our students should be well-rounded and intellectually competent in all great works of literature, despite the “evils” the pieces might hold. Evils will exist in the world no matter if we shield our students from them or not, but it is much better for students to experience them for the first time in a book, rather than in real life.

If a parent opposes the use of an entire book, how is a teacher to assign continual alternative assignments? Teachers will be slowly waned from teaching sensitive material, eliminating them from the classroom as a whole. This is why HSFOIL urges the veto of HB516, and ask all those who agree to do the same. 

Read More

The Gold Mine Trilogy Study Guide

ABOUT THIS ITEM

Michael Ballé and his father Freddy have written three novels that form a trilogy of lean discovery. This companion study guide will help you and your team explore together the novels and their lean principles, tools, and insights to more deeply understand and adopt kaizen spirit into your daily work. Lean is very much a journey of learning—we hope this guide helps you navigate yours.

The guide is designed to work through the books one chapter at a time. The material is structured to support a regular cadence of team discussions. Each chapter section contains:

1. A chapter summary.
2. Author explanations of the significance of each chapter and how specific tools embody specific lean principles.
3. Key ideas contained in the chapter.
4. Reflection questions to guide your conversations.

Publisher:  Lean Enterprise Institute, Inc.

ISBN-13:  978-1-934109-50-2

ISBN-10:  1-934109-50-2

SKU:  9502

Publication Date:  October 12, 2015

Number of Pages:  144

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Victory! This One Summer Back on Library Shelves

NCAC received word today that district officials in Seminole County, FL, have restored Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki's award-winning graphic novel This One Summer to the open shelves of three of its high school libraries.

In February, the school district restricted access to the book at the high school level, placing it behind the circulation desk, after the mother of a third grader complained. At the time, the district acknowledged that the novel is a "teen reader," but required parental permission just the same. And did so, by the way, in violation of district policy, which required a review process.

As we noted in our February 16 letter, restricting access to a book with such acclaim and literary value only hurt the students of Seminole County.

We're glad to hear the district agrees.

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A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

What can I say? This is the best book I’ve read in eight years. If you are feeling in the mood to have your entire brain/heart/life be dominated by the most soul-wrenching, endlessly inspiring story of friendship, trauma, aging, loyalty, healing, and human expanses/limitations of the century, then you should probably cop this joint.
Angel Nafis is the author of BlackGirl Mansion

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Corel Draw Learning Tutorial Urdu Book Download in PDF

Corel Draw Learning Tutorial Urdu Book Collection Download in PDF, CorelDraw with its extensive text-handling & precision drawing features is the ideal tool for virtually an design project from logos & product packaging to technical illustrations & advertisements. In just a few years, CoreLDraw has become a largest selling graphics software in the world.

Thanks for who create this book in urdu and make PDF, All the books posted here are just for educational purposes only. If you like the books please support the writers/poets and buy the Original hard copies. Respect our work, Read more about this software CorelDraw Tutorials,Learn CorelDraw,What is Corel Draw

Download: 

Download Link on Rapidshare.com

Download Link on Mediafire.com

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Nazriya e Irtiqaa Aik Faraib by Haroon Yahya

Nazriya e Irtiqaa Aik Faraib by Haroon Yahya

24 MB

 Don't walk as you are king, walk as you don't care who the king is....!!

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Corel Draw Graphics Suit X5 Urdu By Abdul Malik

Corel Draw Graphics Suit X5 Urdu By Abdul Malik

8 MB

 Don't walk as you are king, walk as you don't care who the king is....!!

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