New York High School Apologizes For "Think Like A Nazi" Assignment

[Initech]

Think like a Nazi, the assignment required students. Argue why Jews are evil.

Students in some Albany High School English classes were asked this week as part of a persuasive writing assignment to make an abhorrent argument: "You must argue that Jews are evil, and use solid rationale from government propaganda to convince me of your loyalty to the Third Reich!"

Students were asked to watch and read Nazi propaganda, then pretend their teacher was a Nazi government official who needed to be convinced of their loyalty. In five paragraphs, they were required to prove that Jews were the source of Germany's problems.

The exercise was intended to challenge students to formulate a persuasive argument and was given to three classes, Albany Superintendent Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard said. She said the assignment should have been worded differently.

"I would apologize to our families," she said. "I don't believe there was malice or intent to cause any insensitivities to our families of Jewish faith."


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/School-apology-Think-like-a-Nazi-task-vs-Jews-4428669.php#ixzz2QOHLuEY4

Glenn Beck would know a thing or two about this!

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I was a teacher for a while

and I loved coming up with assignments that made the students work, think, and learn. And although this assignment would have done that, it was the stupidest possible idea ever!

[siligut]

2. Nazi propaganda was very effective

Though it would've been in German and the English translation would lose power, I wonder about the effects it could have on the developing mind of a high school student.

Of course the student would be thinking about the assignment but the subconscious mind could still be programmed. Since this is the weird news forum, I think it is safe to say it is believed by some prominent psychologists that Hitler used hypnosis in his speeches.

How often does this sort of idiocy on the part of teachers not make the news?