As headlines go, WaPo had a delicious one on a Jay Matthews story yesterday:? Curiosity is Banned at Westfield High
(The NY Times has a great one this morning as well, though not related to education: In a Schizophrenic's Trial, Both Sides Agree)
The Westfield saga is one of those hell of good intentions stories. Parents at the school in Fairfax County, VA., which Matthews describes as ?one of the largest and most competitive public schools in America,? received a memo titled, ?Expectations of Integrity,? handed out by AP World History teachers.
?Their No. 1 rule discouraged random outbreaks of curiosity,? says Matthews, who quotes the memo:
You are only allowed to use your OWN knowledge, your OWN class notes, class handouts, your OWN class homework, or The Earth and Its Peoples textbook to complete assignments and assessments UNLESS specifically informed otherwise by your instructor?. You may not discuss/mention/chat/hand signal/smoke signal/Facebook/IM/text/email to a complete stranger ANY ?answers/ideas/questions/thoughts/opinions/hints/instructions.?
What's next?? P.E. classes without exercise?
?Peter Meyer, Bernard Lee Schwartz Policy Fellow
