Politicians, faith and education

 "We do a disservice to children when we shield them from the truth, just because some people think it is painful or doesn't fit with their particular views," Duncan said in a statement. "Parents should be very wary of politicians designing curriculum."

 

Should school educational programs and text books be reviewed and updated? Yes. Should educational models be reviewed, revised and updated? Yes.

 

Should political or faith based views be the standard for those updates, revisions and reviews? No. However who is to say who is correct? There becomes the problem.

 

Am I so sure that my opinion is not, at least in part based on my own political views? No of course not. It is part of the human condition to be guided by what you hold as important in your life. With that said, I strive to keep those views, and opinions to myself; well, as much as that is possible.

 

I found it interesting this year as our 7^th grader learned about a range of faiths in (public) school, besides political opinion and an interesting historical take on our country. Much of which I personally did not agree with, but after reading the entire book I realized that it was and is part of our culture and world history. Of course with each chapter it gave us room at home to add to the conversation, opening the door with questions to allow him to form his own opinion. Not our opinion. We took the parenting role of “food for thought,” instead of giving him our way of thinking as the correct way of thinking. Trust me, he doesn't want to agree with our thinking on anything! He's 13 and has assured us that he knows everything and we know nothing.

 

Which brings me back to the role Texas politicians played. Teaching is the method to guide a mind, and educate on something that may be new to an individual or group. Doctrine disguised as an educational model removes the ability to guide, and educate replacing it with the “acceptable way to think.”

 

We all do not, and should not agree on every subject, idea, belief, political ideal. It would be a very boring world if we all did. But, at least in the United States, which also includes Texas we are given, at least on paper the right and freedom to ask questions and form our own opinion. A little of that was taken from our children, regardless of where you live. I don't want to be the one that says what should be in the text books, but I surely do not want the text books to educate my children on what is the acceptable way of thinking, or what is the acceptable remembrance of history.

 

School should not be Democrat or Republican, one faith over an other. Our children will form all that on their own, just as we all have done. They don't need a political party or church to do that for them.