From the "what the hell" files: Rialto Unified says Holocaust debate assignment will not be repeated

[theHandpuppet]

7. OP ED from the LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-rialto-schools-holocaust-20140508-story.html
The Holocaust mistake at Rialto schools is more than a glitch

(excerpt)
For one thing, this wasn't the work of a single teacher working in isolation. A team of teachers came up with the assignment, helped by the district's educational services division, the people who are supposed to be the experts on developing appropriate assignments. All of which says some scary things about how well Rialto's academic staff understand the new curriculum standards and how well they carry out basic instructional functions. If they could so thoroughly botch something this clear, what else are they teaching under the guise of Common Core?

Then consider that when the San Bernardino Sun first reported the story, the district's reaction was to defend the assignment.

"We want our students to engage in developing critical thinking skills," district spokeswoman Syeda Jafri told the Sun. Worse, school board member Joe Martinez reportedly wrote in an email to the paper, "This will allow a person to come to their own conclusions."

Sorry, Mr. Martinez, but people cannot come to their own conclusions about whether facts are facts. That is not critical thinking. Four times five equals 20; students don't get to make up their own minds about whether that's true....