There is lot of conversation about what kids should have in their curriculums, and in what grades. A lot of talk about such things as diversity, inclusion, racism, sex education, political content, and such.
A few points on this:
1. In 2015, the OECD tested 15-year-old students around the world. China scored above the USA in Math and Science. The US was even with China in Reading.
2. Children under 18 are the responsibility of their parents or guardians, not the school board or teacher’s union.
3. School should primarily focus on interactive social skills (team player, participation, public speaking, school plays and clubs, reading, writing, mathematics, science, language, history, sports, and hands-on skills, and critical thinking skills.
4. Curriculums for each grade is not standard between school districts, counties, states, public and private schools.
5. Politics, religion, critical race theory might be better taught in the college years where students have developed reasoning skills and good judgement.
School-age children make friends, learn social skills, and develop their knowledge basics and enjoy life and have fun and become well-rounded. It is not the job of schools to teach liberal, conservative, or progressive ideas or subjects to young minds. We see this in totalitarian governments, which gave a big push to WWII.
Subjects covering sexual activities between the sexes, diversity, inclusion, cancel culture, denouncing the family unit, racism, and politics have no place in formal education because, depending upon what age, and the mental development of the child (girls develop mentally earlier than boys) there can be inappropriate deduction made from such teachings, where students are under the care of their parents or guardians and have not yet achieved the mental ability to arrive at a rational interpretation for someone their age.
Kids in elementary school don’t care about skin color unless exposed to it from parents or other adults, social media, or cable and tv that promotes it as something to be reckoned with. They would not fully understand all the implications of a decision made based on this learning that may not be unbiased. Parents and students don’t know who wrote the text books or developed the lesson plans.
There could be a case made for having all text books in all schools, public and private, online or home-school, be standard for all for core classes and that national standard tests to validate proficiency. The reasoning behind this approach is:
· We need to complete with the world tomorrow
· The same education is given to all races and all regions
· Eliminates, going forward, claims that certain groups did not have access to good education
The “touchy-feely, don’t upset a student by testing, are not moving the country, the student, of the STEM careers going forward. The rest of the world is moving past the USA in education
Keep in mind, race is a fact of humanity. Each race that exists, will continue to exist or blend with others over time. This is the way it has been for generations in most countries. There are no borders on race. No gender only race. Only race in common is the human race. Accept it. There is no need to promote or suppress any race to any other race or put these ideas in the minds of children!
Possible solutions to avoid your child from being exposed to political/radical ideas
Run for the school board – influence curriculum
Approve the class curricula (PTA joint venture – exclude school board
Home school your child
Move your child to a private school
Enroll your child in an online school
Open your own private school