What Is Wrong With This Picture?

January 20, 2010 — My most recent blog concerned the debate that is going on right now in the Texas State Board of Education concerning revisions to the social studies curriculum taught to our children. To briefly and generally summarize, the debate is centered on a push to have the curriculum take a more theocratic slant toward studying history. It is my view that the study of history needs to be based on fact regardless of whatever ideologies, environmental factors, or whatever have had influence. Keep in mind that revisions decided upon will have an affect for at least 10-years.

Yesterday, while substitute teaching for a 7th grade English teacher at a local middle school, I had cause for further concern about what is going with the state board of education and revisions to social studies curriculum. In every class I teach I take a few moments to give the students a brief overview of who I am. I figure it is important because here I am a stranger in their classroom and they have the right to know a little about me. This always includes that I am a 22+ year veteran of the U. S. Navy and that I am very proud of that fact. This always leads to some questions about my experiences while in the Navy and of course I like to talk about those experiences. So, yesterday came the question from one student in this form, "Were you at Pearl Harbor?" I literally stopped for a moment and then quickly answered back with a question of my own (is it fair to do that), "How old do you think I am?" This then led to me asking this student when Pearl Harbor took place. He did not know and guessed something like 1954. Two other students chimed in with responses not even close (one in the 60's and the other in the 70's).

So, what is wrong with this picture? Here we are talking about one of the major events of the 20th Century, an event that had and still has great meaning in the history of this country and of the world. These three students did not know when this world shaking event occurred. I asked further if they had studied about Pearl Harbor in school. The answer was yes. Well they must have not been paying attention that day in class (a distinct possibility) or possibly the curriculum is lacking in emphasis.

Here is my point: If even one student does not know when a significant event in the history of this country and the world occurred, then how can they understand how we have gotten to where we are today and where we need to go in the future...after all these students are the future of this country. Revisions to curriculum which should most definitely include a study of this event in our history should be dealing with the facts and not be influenced by any one particular viewpoint. We must remember that this is the future if this country we are dealing with here...it's what really matters!