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Haiku Poems! Allah! Oh My!

Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
11,578 views1
[FONT=&quot]Thank you WZEP for reporting on this Walton County educational news gem. :lolabove: When I saw it in my inbox, I thought it was a joke. About as sad as it is hilarious.

Haiku Poem About Allah Causes Concerns For Parents[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]On a social media site, local parents have posted a picture of a classroom assignment where the student was given an example of a Haiku Poem. Some parents have expressed concern as the example given said, “After studying ancient Persia and discussing contemporary ideas in world cultures, the example said, Allah is the one; Praise to him they all will cry; Islam is our life.” The picture posted to social media site is below. It contains changes made by a student.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]A parent of a student said, “After talking with my son about his day at school, he wanted to show me a paper from his history class. This is a 10th grade world history class at Walton High School. She says students were instructed to write 4 haiku poems and this is the example they were given. WZEP has also heard from others who verified the classroom assignment.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]We asked Walton Superintendent Carlene Anderson about the assignment and if this was indeed part of the coursework. We also asked if other religious figures have been used. In the past the Judeo Christian beliefs have been taught as part of history assignments.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Kay Dailey. Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction with the Walton County School District says Superintendent Anderson made her aware of the concern shared by a Walton High School parent earlier in the month. She went to WHS and talked to the teacher of the student and another who teaches the same course as well as Principal Hughes.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Dailey says she looked at the textbook used for the World History course. She explains that these are Next Generation Florida Standards and unrelated to Common Core. However, Dailey says it is a World History course and must be taught based on course code descriptions for this course. World History teaches students historical events, customs, religions, and cultures.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Dailey says the class assignment to write Haikus used an example that referenced a historical figure and a religion. She says the assignment was not about religion nor was religion discussed. Haikus are typically used for cross curriculum instruction. Dailey says the poems are powerful tools because students can easily read, they can easily be understood and can easily be deconstructed.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Scholastic.com says a Haiku is a form of poetry, first made popular in Japan, which has become appreciated around the world. Haiku poets are challenged to convey a vivid message in only 17[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]syllables. In Japan these poems are valued for their simplicity, openness, depth and lightness.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Structural Rules:[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]• Use exactly 17 syllables[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]• Syllables are arranged in three lines of 5-7-5[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]• Avoid similes and metaphors[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]• Refers to a season of the year[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]What is a Haiku about? Haiku poems can describe anything, but are seldom complicated or hard to[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]understand. Almost all Haiku has a dominant impression, or main idea, that appeals strongly to one of the five senses.

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[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]https://sites.google.com/site/wzepam1460/

Replies

69
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#54
Dang I would give anything to be there. The entertainment value alone of this ridiculousness is worth the drive to DeFuniak. As Bonnie McQuiston was quoted in last week's Herald, we can't have that bad multiculturalism come to Walton County! So sad that there are people in our community that think that way and still have some sort of influence on anything.
Andy A avatar
Beach Fanatic
#55
I guess you and I agree once again, Jdarg. As long as the Haiku poem is taught as a matter of history and not a matter of religion it is information that should be available to students. School is about learning all facets of subjects. Then, people can use their innate intelligence to determine what they believe and support.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#56
I guess you and I agree once again, Jdarg. As long as the Haiku poem is taught as a matter of history and not a matter of religion it is information that should be available to students. School is about learning all facets of subjects. Then, people can use their innate intelligence to determine what they believe and support.

It is possible to learn about different religions, including Christianity, and not promote one over the other. It is very shortsighted and limiting to think our children will exist in an all white and Christian world, or for that matter, America. We are now truly the melting pot that we always bragged about being.

Edited

Dawn avatar
Beach Fanatic
#57
It is possible to learn about different religions, including Christianity, and not promote One over the other. It is very shortsighted and limiting to think our children will exist in an all white and Christian world, or for that matter, America. We are now truly the melting pot that we always bragged about being.

Unless you are a the Walton COunty Fair
Banned
#58

Carlene is the one

Re-elect her will cause all to cry

School Leadership is lacking
​

you're as informed and talented at Haiku as all other subjects you comment upon
Andy A avatar
Beach Fanatic
#59
It is possible to learn about different religions, including Christianity, and not promote one over the other. It is very shortsighted and limiting to think our children will exist in an all white and Christian world, or for that matter, America. We are now truly the melting pot that we always bragged about being.

While I agree with what you say, I have some additions. It is also shortsighted to believe that parents should not attempt to instill their core values in their children over what they may be exposed to at school. We have always been a melting pot. The difference between immigration in past years and now is that when we were a melting pot in earlier years, it was because of legal immigration. You cannot argue with the fact that now days, not so much, to the detriment of our American immigration system. It needs to be brought back to what it once was.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#60
I too loved simpler times, but I am a realist.
John G avatar
Beach Fanatic
#61
If memory serves Danny (I'm not senile yet) there were pictures of you in uniform overseeing prisoners putting a new roof on a local church in DFS.

Christmas Reflections is a private enterprise not a non profit and State Statue is clear about prisoners being put to use for PUBLIC WORKS ONLY!

Most people don't mind ignoring the law when it furthers "Christian" agendas.


P.S. Quinn McMillan use to lead the prayer at football games at WCHS until the ACLU came in and said it would stop immediately. Then the "movers and shakers" in DFS got a little more cunning about how prayer was orchestrated via those same football games and would have students lead them across the taxpayer funded public address system. That was stopped also.

Basically what you're telling me is that its ok to ignore the law if it offends Christians but not other religions.

I thought it was Bobby Butler...

As for reflections, I agree with you.
John G avatar
Beach Fanatic
#62
you're as informed and talented at Haiku as all other subjects you comment upon

Where's your Haiku?
Banned
#63
Where's your Haiku?

You're not worth the waste of time, plus you wouldn't know what one is anyway as you have proved.
Andy A avatar
Beach Fanatic
#64
Seaducer, I, for one, am glad to see you back! You provide a little spice to otherwise dull areas.
Banned
#65
Seaducer, I, for one, am glad to see you back! You provide a little spice to otherwise dull areas.

thanks, it's fun watching paper tigers crumble and the ones who feel "protected" run for protection when challenged

I only wish I got to spend more time here at home to poke the bloated sanctimonious balloons
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#66
I feel sorry for the failures that call themselves parents who's children can be swayed by the schools.
Kurt avatar
Admin
#67
From WZEP AM 1460

...
Jeselnik says there are 9 that focuses on Islam, 8 on Christianity, 4 on Judaism and 1 on Shinto to learn what each is. The standards look at how religions are shaped, how does it contribute to the culture of the region, the roles of “The Church” in cultural history and how they reflect governmental structures.

The unit in question actually dealt with China and Japan, not Islam. It discussed medieval Japanese culture including the widespread use of kabuki theatre and haiku. The student was to write four haiku poems, two on the topic and two on anything they want. Jeselnik said this was a way to allow students to learn through different styles. He told the Board the use of assignments like haiku allows students to learn in a way to help memory. There were numerous examples in a resource book and in the textbook. There were other types of poetry including limericks and rap songs. The example was one of 18, with 16 on U.S. history and one on the slave trade.

Board member Dennis Wallace said he appreciated the amount of details and thanked Dr. Jeselnik. Member Mark Davis asked if these were part of the new standards, Jeselnik said no, these were from older ones, the Florida Standards. Anderson said the Florida Standards are from the state and they are required to teach them. Social studies is not yet under the new Florida Standards. The course is not Common Core. Kay Dailey said there is an 85% match between the Next Generation Standards and Common Core.

Resident Gordon Porter said the information did not address their objection. He said it is the statement on Islam, not the use of a haiku. He said he is opposed to Islam being taught in school when they can’t say something about Christianity. He said it is the statements, not the form of poetry. Porter said Islam has declared war against the U.S. and he opposes anything that says Allah is greater than God. Corrine Porter noted that Islam had nine points in the standards, while Christianity had less. She said we should not be encouraging young people to embrace Islam.
m1a1mg avatar
Beach Fanatic
#68
I can't believe that it is 2014. It feels so 1950ish.
Misty avatar
Banned
#69
We definitely live in a free society and let these whack jobs live and work among us.

America is the greatest country on earth. :D
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#70
Again it's the parents of the Superintendent candidate who doesn't live here just yet, wasn't that the fear of the referendum that "outsiders" might come in?

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