Colorado High School Students Protest History Curriculum Changes

[Boss 302]

ARVADA, Colo. – Hundreds of students walked out of classrooms around suburban Denver on Tuesday in protest over a conservative-led school board proposal to focus history education on topics that promote citizenship, patriotism and respect for authority, in a show of civil disobedience that the new standards would aim to downplay.

The youth protest in the state's second-largest school district follows a sick-out from teachers that shut down two high schools in the politically and economically diverse area that has become a key political battleground.

I found this part of the article interesting:

The proposal from Julie Williams, part of the board's conservative majority, has not been voted on and was put on hold last week. She didn't return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment Tuesday, but previously told Chalkbeat Colorado, a school news website, that she recognizes there are negative events that are part of U.S. history that need to be taught.

"There are things we may not be proud of as Americans," she said. "But we shouldn't be encouraging our kids to think that America is a bad place."

I know there are a lot of people on the left who believe the reason Muslims hate the US is because of our past and present foreign policy decisions. Some of us have seen this expressed by them quite often lately. Our first encounters with Muslims occurred during Jefferson's administration when Muslim pirates were capturing merchant ships from the US and European countries in the Mediterranean. They would keep the cargo and hold the ships and use the crews as slaves until a ransom was paid.

Granted there are events in the country's past like slavery and the treatment of Native Americans that haunt from the past, but should it be taught that we should still be ashamed of that today? If you had an ancestor that was a slave owner 200 years ago, should your family be ostracized for it today? Of course not as you had nothing to do with it.

There are a lot of things in our nation's history to be proud of, but it seems many want to focus on the negatives rather than the positives.

 

[Grey Colson]

They have permitted liberal bastions like Colorado go so far off the reservation that it will be like pushing a rope to gain back the ground that was lost. Not saying that they shouldn't try.

And I don't believe for an instant that muslims hate us for the past actions of our country. Anyone who suggests anything of the kind is just using it as an excuse for being the Godless heathens that they are.

 

[Boss 302]

They have permitted liberal bastions like Colorado go so far off the reservation that it will be like pushing a rope to gain back the ground that was lost. Not saying that they shouldn't try.

And I don't believe for an instant that muslims hate us for the past actions of our country. Anyone who suggests anything of the kind is just using it as an excuse for being the Godless heathens that they are.

As I said in another topic, the jihad goes back to the 7th century. As I stated earlier, our first encounters with Muslims were during the Jefferson administration and they were anything but friendly and peace loving.

 

[LisaC]

They have permitted liberal bastions like Colorado go so far off the reservation that it will be like pushing a rope to gain back the ground that was lost. Not saying that they shouldn't try.

And I don't believe for an instant that muslims hate us for the past actions of our country. Anyone who suggests anything of the kind is just using it as an excuse for being the Godless heathens that they are.

As I said in another topic, the jihad goes back to the 7th century. As I stated earlier, our first encounters with Muslims were during the Jefferson administration and they were anything but friendly and peace loving.

Boss should know, he was alive back then...

 

[stradial]

Have I mentioned that the wife is from Colorado? :whistle

 

[Boss 302]

They have permitted liberal bastions like Colorado go so far off the reservation that it will be like pushing a rope to gain back the ground that was lost. Not saying that they shouldn't try.

And I don't believe for an instant that muslims hate us for the past actions of our country. Anyone who suggests anything of the kind is just using it as an excuse for being the Godless heathens that they are.

As I said in another topic, the jihad goes back to the 7th century. As I stated earlier, our first encounters with Muslims were during the Jefferson administration and they were anything but friendly and peace loving.

Boss should know, he was alive back then...

I was with the Marines who rescued LTD in Tripoli.

 

[Grey Colson]

They have permitted liberal bastions like Colorado go so far off the reservation that it will be like pushing a rope to gain back the ground that was lost. Not saying that they shouldn't try.

And I don't believe for an instant that muslims hate us for the past actions of our country. Anyone who suggests anything of the kind is just using it as an excuse for being the Godless heathens that they are.

As I said in another topic, the jihad goes back to the 7th century. As I stated earlier, our first encounters with Muslims were during the Jefferson administration and they were anything but friendly and peace loving.

Boss should know, he was alive back then...

I was with the Marines who rescued LTD in Tripoli.

I've often wondered why they didn't spell the name of that city, EEE :dunno

 

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I find a biased conservative curriculum just as dangerous as a biased liberal curriculum.

That said, I don't think there is enough information here for me to make an intelligent decision about whether I agree with the students or not. However, this walkout was most likely initiated by adults.

 

[stradial]

I find a biased conservative curriculum just as dangerous as a biased liberal curriculum.

That said, I don't think there is enough information here for me to make an intelligent decision about whether I agree with the students or not. However, this walkout was most likely initiated by adults.

You could be correct, however back in 19...70 I think it was, we staged a sit in to get music played in the lunch room.
We won that one, if memory serves correct, Joy to the World was the 1st song played.

 

[Winchester]

I find a biased conservative curriculum just as dangerous as a biased liberal curriculum.

That said, I don't think there is enough information here for me to make an intelligent decision about whether I agree with the students or not. However, this walkout was most likely initiated by adults.

I was about to say the same thing. ANY censorship, regardless of beliefs or reasons, of history is wrong no matter how you look at it.

 

[Boss 302]

I find a biased conservative curriculum just as dangerous as a biased liberal curriculum.

That said, I don't think there is enough information here for me to make an intelligent decision about whether I agree with the students or not. However, this walkout was most likely initiated by adults.

I was about to say the same thing. ANY censorship, regardless of beliefs or reasons, of history is wrong no matter how you look at it.

It depends whether or not your censoring history or someone's interpretation of history. I've seen too many who wish to teach a distortion of history.

 

[honeybunny]

The new Advanced Placement U.S. History framework provides a list of key concepts.
Much of the disagreement centers on what’s in those 50 pages and what’s left out :

IN - Japanese internment camps.

OUT - The Holocaust.

IN - The Black Panthers

OUT - Martin Luther King Jr.

IN - Chief Little Turtle

OUT - Dwight Eisenhower

IN - Negative aspects of transcontinental railroad

OUT - Positive impacts of the project


http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/ticker/12870918-113/history-board-framework-colorado

 

[stradial]

The new Advanced Placement U.S. History framework provides a list of key concepts.
Much of the disagreement centers on what’s in those 50 pages and what’s left out :

IN - Japanese internment camps.

OUT - The Holocaust.

IN - The Black Panthers

OUT - Martin Luther King Jr.

IN - Chief Little Turtle

OUT - Dwight Eisenhower

IN - Negative aspects of transcontinental railroad

OUT - Positive impacts of the project


http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/ticker/12870918-113/history-board-framework-colorado

Japanese internment camps. - while not the best thing we ever did, it did keep those who were here to sabotage us from completing their missions (yes, there were some here for that purpose)

The Black Panthers - what else is there to say besides it is a violent terrorist organization that has killed people in their stated attempt to over throw our government (there, still time to discuss MLK and non-violence)

Chief Little Turtle - don't know a lot about him, he was against us, then he seemed to be for us

Negative aspects of transcontinental railroad - lots of people died building it, lots of people died at the same time that had nothing to do with building the railroad, now onto how it changed the country and the world for the better

 

[Madea]

A couple of years ago, while travelling through Cave Springs and seeing the "Trail of Tears" sign, I asked my children about it.

THEY.DIDN'T.KNOW.WHAT.IT.WAS.

I didn't let the opportunity pass, and we talked about it. (Hey, we still had another hour in the car. )) But I was disappointed they hadn't even heard of it before.

Quite frankly, they know more about Martin Luther King than ANY other historical character. Every grade discusses MLK every year. Funny, in all these years they've never discussed his philandering.

 

[ShoeDiva]

A couple of years ago, while travelling through Cave Springs and seeing the "Trail of Tears" sign, I asked my children about it.

THEY.DIDN'T.KNOW.WHAT.IT.WAS.

I didn't let the opportunity pass, and we talked about it. (Hey, we still had another hour in the car. )) But I was disappointed they hadn't even heard of it before.

Quite frankly, they know more about Martin Luther King than ANY other historical character. Every grade discusses MLK every year. Funny, in all these years they've never discussed his philandering.

Wow. I know when son was in school it was discussed. (4th grade. I even remember the teacher and project. ) ) I wish they would quit messing with the curriculum and what they will and will not teach. While you can not get in depth with all history (time constraints) you can at least touch on all the major aspects of historical events/people, good and bad.

I do agree with coverage of MLK is a little too much, but why should they discuss his philandering?

 

[Boss 302]

A couple of years ago, while travelling through Cave Springs and seeing the "Trail of Tears" sign, I asked my children about it.

THEY.DIDN'T.KNOW.WHAT.IT.WAS.

I didn't let the opportunity pass, and we talked about it. (Hey, we still had another hour in the car. )) But I was disappointed they hadn't even heard of it before.

Quite frankly, they know more about Martin Luther King than ANY other historical character. Every grade discusses MLK every year. Funny, in all these years they've never discussed his philandering.

We learned about the Trail of Tears in my 7th grade Georgia History class and then again in American History in the 9th grade.

 

[Madea]

My oldest did have a section on The Trail of Tears after that. I felt it was somewhat "glossed over".

And, each year (during their MLK time) I tell my kids he did some great things (although what he did has now been perverted IMHO) but it pains me that he's presented with an "on a pedestal" type status when in real life, he had some character flaws. Personally, it's not that big of a deal to me. His wife forgave his dalliances and I never elected him to an office.

And I remind the kids that we have to learn from history so that we don't repeat our mistakes. I was just making some observations.

 

[ShoeDiva]

My oldest did have a section on The Trail of Tears after that. I felt it was somewhat "glossed over".

And, each year (during their MLK time) I tell my kids he did some great things (although what he did has now been perverted IMHO) but it pains me that he's presented with an "on a pedestal" type status when in real life, he had some character flaws. Personally, it's not that big of a deal to me. His wife forgave his dalliances and I never elected him to an office.

And I remind the kids that we have to learn from history so that we don't repeat our mistakes. I was just making some observations.

:thumbsup

 

[lotstodo]

What disturbs me perhaps as much if not more is what they are teaching future HISTORIANS in college. If you think that High School teachers are liberal, well...