Words of a Feather
Dear Renowned Rex,
My son’s 3rd-grade homework has me annoyed. The assignment? Learning the names of animal units. A gaggle of geese, a herd of antelope, a colony of bats, etc.
For vultures, the correct answer was listed as a committee of vultures.
That is incorrect! Vultures are a committee only when settled on the ground. They’re called a kettle of vultures once in flight, and a wake of vultures while picking at a carcass.
Why three different terms? I do not know. But facts are facts!
I contacted his teacher. It escalated to the principal. Now I have a call in to the superintendent.
Dumbing down knowledge for simplicity’s sake is not allowable by me.
Is this an instance of having high standards, or am I too nitpicky and pedantic?
Signed,
Being Exacting About Knowledge
Dear BEAK,
For questions relating to mathematics, I would certainly agree with your position!
The answers need to be achieved and expressed in precise terms.
For an elementary school homework lesson? A tad more leeway is robustly allowable.
I am no educator, but I view this exercise as a way to start exploring the animal kingdom. To ignite young minds with joy and wonder! To teach them that animals have classifications, which later on leads to taxonomies.
All worthwhile endeavors! Even if not every appellation of vulture is duly represented.
My larger concern is your way of seeking a resolution. For this is not an injustice. This is not a human rights issue.
To keep escalating the matter until you get what you want?
Your child is learning from this, most assuredly. Something far more erroneous than an omitted fact.
I applaud your concern for education. You are an involved parent.
Both traits are worthy of praise.
Take caution, though, to aim more toward the way of the wise owl, lest someday you become nothing but a silly goose.
Counterpoint commentary by …
Shandoleesa, Mistress of the Trapeze
I learned most of my skills under the tutelage of a strong taskmaster.
Boss Cardiñal was strict and demanding. He never once handed me a “participation trophy.”
These children can learn only one designation per animal group? Forgive my eyebrow for cocking in scoff.
A lesson in failure is what I’d call it. Precision is the precursor of greatness. Difficulty level should be of little concern in the quest for excellence.
The same advice does apply to you as well. For teachers in school cannot teach everything, surely we know that.
The time you spent pestering? That is time when you could have been useful.
Teach your child to learn all three of the vulture groups; teach them that the school requires only one; teach them that it can be worthwhile to go beyond the basics.
Give their mind as much nourishment as you can.
A hungry student will keep learning until there is no meat left on the bone.
