The summer reading list for Gene Ponder's AP Government and Economics class at Spanish Fort High School in Alabama is causing some trouble.

Mr. Ponder filled his list with books authored by conservatives -- and libertarians. I know – right? Imagine that - a conservative public school teacher! Sweet mercy, America! Miracles do happen.

Mr. Ponder’s summer reading list was a bonus assignment and included writers like Ann Coulter and Mark Levin and Ronald Reagan and Thomas Sowell.

For the past 10 years, he’s instructed the students to spend a portion of their summer reading just one book on the list.

It was voluntary, not mandatory.

They could choose from books like “God & Government,” “Black Rednecks and White Liberals,” “Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto,” “FairTax: The Truth,” and “48 Liberal Lies About American History (That You Probably Learned in School).”

In other words, Mr. Ponder was providing the children with an alternative to the liberal propaganda that has saturated public school textbooks.

Well, you can probably guess what happened soon after the reading list was posted. The flat-tax hit the fan, as they say.

One local resident actually called the conservative authors “terrifying.”

Gulf Coast News Today reports critics complained about what they called the “perceived lack of diversity of ideas, as well as whether it met the reading levels required for a 12th grade AP class.”

If those kids were reading Mark Levin books, they were more than likely reading well-above the Advanced Placement requirements.

“The slant on this list is inappropriate and unbalanced,” one person wrote on Facebook – demanding a “more rounded reading list for these developing minds.”

The Baldwin County Board of Education got wind of the controversy and faster than you can say left wing censorship – Mr. Ponder was ordered to pull his reading list and cancel the assignment.

“Mr. Ponder’s reading list that is going around on social media has not been endorsed by the school system,” Supt. Eddie Tyler said in a statement. “The list has been removed by the teacher. Baldwin County Public Schools has a process to vet and approve reading lists so that a variety of sources are used. I expect all employees to follow our processes, procedures and policies.”

Yeah, right.

Why do I get the feeling the controversy surrounding Mr. Ponder’s reading list was more about politics instead of procedures?

Next year Mr. Ponder should have the kids read my book – “The Deplorables Guide to Making America Great Again.” That ought to give the youngsters a jaw-dropping dose of reality.

I'd recommend memorizing the chapter on how public schools have been transformed into left-wing indoctrination centers or in some cases – reeducation camps.


Todd Starnes

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion...er-reading-list.html

“The slant on this list is inappropriate and unbalanced,” one person wrote on Facebook – demanding a “more rounded reading list for these developing minds.”

Well, there ya go.

I'm sure the teachers on the board can testify that nothing a teacher does goes on without approval by their school administrators. That he's been doing this for ten years means something.

quote:

“Mr. Ponder’s reading list that is going around on social media has not been endorsed by the school system,” Supt. Eddie Tyler said in a statement. “The list has been removed by the teacher. Baldwin County Public Schools has a process to vet and approve reading lists so that a variety of sources are used. I expect all employees to follow our processes, procedures and policies.”

Yes... there is a process.
That's why all of the textbook writers lean to the left.

He ought to add Karl Marx to the list and say "See! Balance!"
They only have to pick one.
Well, I'd add Constitution of Liberty by Hayek as well....

Tell them all to read Common Sense - the pinkos cannot complain about that

Could understand this occurring in CA , but not AL.

Not literally "burning books", but figuratively doing so as the voluntary reading list goes up in smoke.

Are they so uncertain of their own beliefs that they cannot chance their children reading a difference of opinion and making up their own minds?

I read a lot of stuff that I didn't believe in or agree with in school. It's part of how I learned what I do believe in.

quote:

Originally posted by msfzoe:
Could understand this occurring in CA , but not AL.

This ^^^^^. I lived in Alabama for a number of years, and sent my kids to school there. Times have changed, I guess!!

Book banning. How Progressive.

They are infiltrating every state and school.
RMD

Wow, somebody said something on FB, and somebody wrote an opinion piece hawking his book that he believes should be required reading.

That whole story is shit. It is pieced together innuendo so that the author can hawk his book. The schools did not ban a thing. This kind of bait and click bullshit is what powers FB outrage.

Guys, you do realize that this is an OPINION piece, and not actual news, right?

A very interesting story nonetheless. From the "list" I find #18 particularly amusing.

In the article linked below are some amusing comments as well.

CNN Conservative Summer Reading List

"Inside the classroom, this is not the first time Ponder has incorporated his beliefs into the curriculum....The Baldwin County Board of Education Employee Handbook does not have a rule about teachers sharing political views with students or about incorporating politics into the curriculum. "

I find that a bit ironic.

Put up a list of "Banned Books" That include his list and others.. the kids will read all of them.

quote:

Originally posted by Zecpull:
Put up a list of "Banned Books" That include his list and others.. the kids will read all of them.

Banning books under the 1st Amendment is like banning certain firearms under the 2nd. But we've had this conversation.

CW

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
Are they so uncertain of their own beliefs that they cannot chance their children reading a difference of opinion and making up their own minds?

EXACTLY this. It is indoctrination, not education.

Competing ideas? Nope, just ban them.