Education - Fact or Fiction
The Amistad Commission is a state panel that determines if New York children are learning enough about African American Slavery, its effects on this country and how those African Americans that were here after have effected the country.I have a very big problem with this panel. I don't mind that people think it's necessary to teach more about slavery, that's their right. However, I do mind when the State is putting it's hand over our education system's curriculum. It's too communist or state-like for me. The school administrations and teachers should be deciding the curriculum, not the government. Soon we're going to be told what our children should learn and what they can't, what books they are allowed to read and those that are banned. Granted, that might be a little extreme, however, it has to start somewhere. And this is not the direction I want this country to go in. I want to be able to send my children to school and know that they are free to learn anything they want.
Furthermore, the Amistad Commission is allowed to have state-sponsored educational programs and training sessions for teachers. The members of the committee don't have to be academics, they don't have to have a specific background - although I'm sure they have guidelines - and they are politically appointed. Why don't we just bring hardball politics to school!? It's not like the children need to be shielded from such partisan bullying. Instead let's see if they can be used by one party or another as a playing card. That should be fun.
In all seriousness however, bringing politics to school is a sure way to get children to really distrust the government and those that run it. Besides funding, government should not be telling schools what to teach. Illinois and New Jersey have also passed the Amistad Commission into law. Only time will tell if this turns out to be a step in the Stalin direction. Let's hope I'm wrong.
posted by Snowbird @ 9:24 AM
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