Johnny, stop reading that. Right Now!

Crack history students at Westfield High School in Fairfax,Virginia, have a simplified task. They are to learn from teacher handouts, their private previous knowledge, and one, repeat one, book. 


The  teachers' rules are worth quoting. The reporter writes:



What did surprise some Westfield students and their parents was a sheet titled "Expectations of Integrity" included in the materials handed out by the three (advanced placement)  World History teachers. Their No. 1 rule discouraged random outbreaks of curiosity:

"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.''

Perish the thought of fertile young minds polluted by, say, a wander through Commanger's Documents of American History or Gibbons' take on the last centuries of imperial Rome.


Reporter Jay Mathews was taken aback and asked the  boss about it.


Westfield Principal Tim Thomas told me he will decide soon whether these rules are okay. He couldn't say much on the record, but gave me the impression that the teachers, who did not respond to my request for comment, were only trying to be fair. Some students have more help and resources than others. They should not be allowed to use materials classmates cannot get. 


We're indebted to the Tweaker at  Where Sometimes Things go Bang  for this find and for the pertinent "Just make sure no child gets ahead."


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I'm rather sure the publicity will move the teachers to hem and haw, "That's not what we meant."  I will then suggest they surrender their licenses to teach until such time as they have successfully completed a remedial course in basic expository writing.