Did you know that Harvey Milk and Huey Newton were very important figures in early American History?

Even moreso than the likes of say Dr. Joseph Warren or Patrick Henry?

Did you know that the federal government is not actually a creation of the states and is therefore superior to them?

Did you know that the Southern Poverty Law Center is an unbiased and trustworthy source of information ?

Did you know that the MDE actually proposed expanding a study of Islam in public schools (despite the fact Christianity has been essentially removed from the classroom beginning in the 1960‘s)?

And my personal fav: Did you know that America was founded as a democracy?

Yeah, that one surprised me, too.

If the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has their way, THESE are changes that you might see in the K-12 curriculum in a classroom near you.

Unless you do something about it.

{Find out how after the fold}

A little over three years ago, the MDE and 27 other states started work on revising their science and social studies curriculums for grades K-12.

While the revisions for the science curriculum were adopted, there were some concerns over the social studies curriculum. The State Board of Education asked that the MDE form a committee from diverse backgrounds to review the material and make recommendations. Sen. Pat Colbeck, Judge Michael Warren from the Oakland Circuit Court, Erin Mersino from the Thomas More Law Center, David Kallman from the Great Lakes Justice Center, and James Muffett from the Citizens for Traditional Values were part of that review committee.

The aforementioned group’s recommendations were largely ignored by the committee.

A copy of their recommendations can be found here along with the new proposed social studies standards here.

It is important to note here that this IS NOT the final draft of the new curriculum. Before final approval the MDE is accepting public approval on the proposed standards. That input can just as easily make it into the Michigan Social Studies curriculum.

Typically, events like these receive very little, if any, attention.

But after the word got out that one Sen. Colbeck and…wait for it, Conservatives were allowed to have some input into the curriculum, that is when the fit hit the shan.

The progressive bunch went apoplectic once word got out who had a hand in changing the social studies curriculum and they want it changed back (or at least enough to show them in a favorable light).

So reader, I ask you this very simple question: Whom do you want telling the next generation what they should and should not know about how our system of government operates?

The five examples I gave above are just a small sampling of what they want to teach the next generation.

If you don’t see anything wrong with them…then do absolutely nothing.

If you feel differently, then I STRONGLY RECOMMEND either attending the last public listening sessions on this matter and making sure that you are heard, or submit your comments online.

They will be taking public comments at the following locations this week from 6:00 to 8:00pm:

June 26th – Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District
315 Armory Pl,
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
49783
(906) 632-3373

June 27th – Michigan Library & Historical Center
702 West Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI
48915
(517) 373-3559

June 28th – Kent Intermediate School District
2930 Knapp Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI
49525
(616) 364-1333

I should note that the online comments are nearly at capacity.

Yes, the fact that the online comments even had a limit surprised even myself.

Stay tuned.

 

*** CS made an excellent suggestion (and a good find). So to save everyone the time (the survey is too long as it is) contact the Board directly.

It has also been suggested to me via e-mail that since the cutoff for feedback is June 30th. It is important to highlight that fact as well ***