Will, I agree and support your position that classrooms cannot be neutral per se. As people we are not neutral in almost anything we think or in some cases do, but there is a fine line between being objective and presenting facts and nuance, and teaching a partisan position. What positions do we support? Where do we draw the line? May teachers push a political view? A religious view? A State view? This is not a simple issue that is for sure, and we need people in positions of authority, such as a school principal, who possess knowledge of the law as it effects students and teacher rights and education, common sense and a real concern for children and young adults. There is a lot of work to be done.
I read yesterday about a Dr. who clinically died for 15 minutes and returned to share her NDE. During her clinical death, she experienced a life review. I won't go into the details but basically she had to be and feel the experiences of the other person. So if she said something unkind, she immediately had to feel the experience of being the person receiving the unkind words. This went on for quite a long time and it was very emotional for her both good and bad depending upon how she had treated someone else. I'm sure many don't believe in such a thing, but I do. Life is about empathy and if we can imagine being on the receiving end of any words or deeds, we would surely change our approach to life. This would change education, politics, religion, child rearing, on and on.Do unto others....
Appreciate your perspective very much, Will, especially today’s piece. Have always believed that we have to stand for something lest we fall for anything, AND what we stand for is important! Love, justice, respect, kindness, truth. A. Lincoln said, “History is not history unless it is the truth.” Thanks again, Will.
I think Bucks County is typical suburbia, it is to Philly what Westchester is to NYC. A lot of people who don't like the modern cities they live in - and yes the diversity that comes with it- move to the near suburbs. They can be pretty conservative, a lot of them. With a disproportionate share it seems of election deniers and anti-vaxxers ,too. Go figure.
Thank you, Will. The idea to not be silent when one sees or hears lies, abuse, cruelty, exploitation is not being "partial" but having the courage to name and say and defend and support what is true. Education and morality necessity questioning, thinking, speaking...otherwise those in power continually define "
reality. That's why the power to silence and ban and restrict in schools and libraries are always tools of control -- the playbook of authoritarian rule and fascism.... and that is why we need to name and protest.
As a retired school district administrator and adjunct professor, I agree wholeheartedly with Will's position. Thank you for giving voice to it. I can't help wonder what crippling lessons Spa Catholic students are learning from their parents' opposition to a homeless shelter bordering on their athletic field, separated by a fence.
Will, are you equating “the rights of gay and trans people to express themselves” with the extermination of Jews? If you go YouTube and search for “Elie Wiesel’s 1986 Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech” you will be able to hear the words you quote from his own lips.
You state that “the strongest effect of policies like this one is silence. Teachers unsure of their footing avoid controversial subjects, and students suffer from a safe and watered-down curriculum.” If that’s the case, why not give the Confederate viewpoint equal time and allow high school history teachers to present alternative ways of looking at World War II?
Many of the defendants at the Nuremberg trials of 1945 to 1946 attempted to justify their human-rights abuses by claiming there was little difference between the Nazi eugenics programs and the U.S. eugenics programs. There is a large gap between the taking of someone’s life and forced serialization, but smaller than the gap between “the rights of gay and trans people to express themselves” and extermination.
Will, I agree and support your position that classrooms cannot be neutral per se. As people we are not neutral in almost anything we think or in some cases do, but there is a fine line between being objective and presenting facts and nuance, and teaching a partisan position. What positions do we support? Where do we draw the line? May teachers push a political view? A religious view? A State view? This is not a simple issue that is for sure, and we need people in positions of authority, such as a school principal, who possess knowledge of the law as it effects students and teacher rights and education, common sense and a real concern for children and young adults. There is a lot of work to be done.
I read yesterday about a Dr. who clinically died for 15 minutes and returned to share her NDE. During her clinical death, she experienced a life review. I won't go into the details but basically she had to be and feel the experiences of the other person. So if she said something unkind, she immediately had to feel the experience of being the person receiving the unkind words. This went on for quite a long time and it was very emotional for her both good and bad depending upon how she had treated someone else. I'm sure many don't believe in such a thing, but I do. Life is about empathy and if we can imagine being on the receiving end of any words or deeds, we would surely change our approach to life. This would change education, politics, religion, child rearing, on and on.Do unto others....
Decent and respectful human behavior toward all is not indoctrination, nor is it political. It's that simple. To label it otherwise is malicious.
Very timely story. Truth is what student should expect and be given. The Right wants to put history in a box. Well done Will.
Appreciate your perspective very much, Will, especially today’s piece. Have always believed that we have to stand for something lest we fall for anything, AND what we stand for is important! Love, justice, respect, kindness, truth. A. Lincoln said, “History is not history unless it is the truth.” Thanks again, Will.
Thank you for this article. So true. Great comments. Gina
I think Bucks County is typical suburbia, it is to Philly what Westchester is to NYC. A lot of people who don't like the modern cities they live in - and yes the diversity that comes with it- move to the near suburbs. They can be pretty conservative, a lot of them. With a disproportionate share it seems of election deniers and anti-vaxxers ,too. Go figure.
Thank you, Will. The idea to not be silent when one sees or hears lies, abuse, cruelty, exploitation is not being "partial" but having the courage to name and say and defend and support what is true. Education and morality necessity questioning, thinking, speaking...otherwise those in power continually define "
reality. That's why the power to silence and ban and restrict in schools and libraries are always tools of control -- the playbook of authoritarian rule and fascism.... and that is why we need to name and protest.
You are right. I don’t think anyone can be neutral on these issues or they promote oppression.
Bravo!
As a retired school district administrator and adjunct professor, I agree wholeheartedly with Will's position. Thank you for giving voice to it. I can't help wonder what crippling lessons Spa Catholic students are learning from their parents' opposition to a homeless shelter bordering on their athletic field, separated by a fence.
Will, are you equating “the rights of gay and trans people to express themselves” with the extermination of Jews? If you go YouTube and search for “Elie Wiesel’s 1986 Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech” you will be able to hear the words you quote from his own lips.
You state that “the strongest effect of policies like this one is silence. Teachers unsure of their footing avoid controversial subjects, and students suffer from a safe and watered-down curriculum.” If that’s the case, why not give the Confederate viewpoint equal time and allow high school history teachers to present alternative ways of looking at World War II?
Many of the defendants at the Nuremberg trials of 1945 to 1946 attempted to justify their human-rights abuses by claiming there was little difference between the Nazi eugenics programs and the U.S. eugenics programs. There is a large gap between the taking of someone’s life and forced serialization, but smaller than the gap between “the rights of gay and trans people to express themselves” and extermination.