10 Things We’ve Learned from the Continental Press Homework Assignment

(Written in response to a Baltimore mother’s protest, as reported by WBAL-TV, about a school book, produced by Continental Press, with a 4th Grade homework assignment that asks students to imagine that the four jacks in a deck of cards are about to rob a house. The reading assignment even includes dialogue encouraging an escape from the police.)

• Our worse fears are true… Crime IS being sanctioned and taught in the public school system!

• Someone in Baltimore City Public Schools has either an inappropriate sense of humor or some very low morals.

• At least one parent in Baltimore is showing an interest in their child’s homework.

• Distributing a coaching book to parents to help them understand the assignment was not enough.

• The fact that four “jacks” instead of “queens” are the subject of the assignment could be an argument for gender or transgender discrimination.

• Book burning may not be such a bad idea.

• We should be worried that the Grand Theft Auto video game is being used in driver education class.

• The people at Continental Press like card games.

• Because robbery is already being taught in 4th Grade, kids will be better prepared for murder and rape assignments in high school, followed by global terrorism in college.

• Dick and Jane are dead and gone.