The message in this image is important: if our children do not know American history, and if they do not understand U.S. government, they may be doomed to oppression and mistreatment. If our children do not respect the Constitution, and appreciate the freedoms bestowed upon them and explained in the Bill of Rights, they could lose what we have. It is important for us all to vet our politicians, to have civil discussions about history (both romantic and ugly), and to defend our standards of life.
| Can teachers achieve the balance necessary between left and right? Is progressive the enemy, leading us down the road to tyranny and socialism? Is the GOP tyrannical, leading down the road to racism? How do teachers achieve a balance to teach the facts of history and government without swaying students in one way or the other? How do teachers teach difficult history, including the story of racism, slavery, and civil rights while maintaining respect for various leaders in history? Perhaps these are the questions that keep educators from teaching social studies, history, and civics. I would like to think that we will rise above the rhetoric and extremism of today's media and social media and teach our children to think for themselves. I have a dream that everything in the first paragraph above can be achieved while avoiding everything in the second. I do not want my students to be naïve concerning the things our founders provided for this nation. |  I noticed this image on a friend's social media feed. |
