Government Rightwing Propagandizing to a Captive Audience, and Calling It … ‘History Class’
The school board proposal that triggered the [student and teacher] walkouts in Jefferson County calls for instructional materials that present positive aspects of the nation and its heritage. It would establish a committee to regularly review texts and course plans, starting with Advanced Placement history, to make sure materials “promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free-market system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights” and don’t “encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law.”
— Denver area students walk out of school in protest, Colleen Slevin and P. Solomon Banda, Associated Press, today
Yup. Straight out of the German Nazi, Stalinist and current Chinese government playbooks. Via Joe McCarthy. Definitely an instructive history lesson.
On that respect-for-authority thing, I’d love to know how this History curriculum will present the Revolutionary War. Presumably, the school board majority that is proposing this, and that will enforce it, will ask for input from King George III. But not from, say, George Washington, who’s spinning in his grave and really, really wants to be consulted but won’t be.
These are the people who are already insisting on their own laws of thermodynamics, biology, and economics, among other disciplines. You thought they’d leave history alone?
Really?
Almost forgot to mention – they have their own polling and sampling science too. Ask Eric Cantor. Or Mitt Romney.
The invaluable Charlie Pierce at Esquire http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/History_On_Trial provided a useful link to a press release here: http://jeffcoschoolboardwatch.org/?p=2313
I would suggest the school board get hold of some Hitler Youth instruction manuals to get a handle on how to present their ideas. Putin most likely has some instructional materials that would interest them.
There is really no need, except to dupe voters.
The All Volunteer force and massive unemployment mean the US don’t have to get young folks fired up with patriotism to go off and implement the PNAC agenda around the world.
Look at the hate screeds on Fox and tea party letters to the editor. Goebbels is already at work.
Spot-on, re Hitler Youth manuals, Dilbert. No need for them to try to reinvent the wheel.
When Pat Roberts accused the Dems earlier this week of pushing a “national socialism” agenda, he was confusing the Dems with his own party.