Ah, the world we live in:
In a bizarre case of political correctness run wild, educrats have banned references to “dinosaurs,” “birthdays,” “Halloween” and dozens of other topics on city-issued tests.
That’s because they fear such topics “could evoke unpleasant emotions in the students.”
Dinosaurs, for example, call to mind evolution, which might upset fundamentalists; birthdays aren’t celebrated by Jehovah’s Witnesses; and Halloween suggests paganism.
Even “dancing’’ is taboo, because some sects object. But the city did make an exception for ballet.
[. . .]
Words that suggest wealth are excluded because they could make kids jealous. Poverty is likewise on the forbidden list.
Also banned are references to divorces and diseases, because kids taking the tests may have relatives who split from spouses or are ill.
[. . .]
Homes with swimming pools and computers are also unmentionables here — because of economic sensitivities — while computers in the school or in libraries are acceptable.
City officials also specified that test makers shouldn’t include items that are potentially “disrespectful to authority or authority figures,” or give human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects.
Terrorism is deemed too scary. Slavery is also on the forbidden list.
The story is about New York City, which doesn't have a monopoly on such touchy-feely nonsense, but does seem to take it about as far as it can go. Those who push the self-esteem agenda seemed determined to destroy students' ability to think critically about serious subjects. Heaven forbid they should ever feel bad about anything.
