To the editor:

I am writing to raise awareness and express concern over proposed changes to the state’s social studies curriculum being proposed by the education committee of the Mn Dept of Education. The changes as proposed remove parts of the curriculum, particularly history, and increase focus on things that divide people into sub-groups: identity politics.

The changes move Minnesota into the realm of teaching “critical race theory,” which is a very divisive and wrong approach to teaching our children. This is not a positive move for educating our children or improving race relations, or education in general! I think we should focus on the things we hold in common, things that bind us together as a nation, rather than divide. Our national motto is ‘E Pluribus Unum’ after all.

Reviewing the proposed standards reveals several concerning omissions, and additions, in both topics and tone. Some examples: (1) WW I and WW II are no longer included; (2) The Holocaust is missing; (3) The runup to the American revolution is diluted, as is the runup to the Civil War; (4) The core documents that form the bedrock of our government are minimized. These are things that define our country today and need to be understood by students so they can interpret the world they live in. As proposed, the new standards are very light to non-existent on the core values, history and the thinkers who developed the canon of Western Civilization within which our nation exists today. These form our foundation, and without a strong foundation a house cannot stand. Why would you ever consider removing them?

Core values are the things that we can agree on, no matter our race, religion or country of origin. Our national purpose is to continue the effort “to create a more perfect union”. Critical race theory and identity politics will not bring unity. Why should our children be “shamed” for the color of their skin that they have no control over? Isn’t this what the Civil Rights Act was about? Core values and goals are worth defending. To paraphrase Edmund Burke, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.”

Let MDE know what you think! Both the committee and the commissioner need to hear from you before March 25th (next meeting date). The e-mail addresses to contact MDE are: mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us and

mde.commissioner@state.mn.us or call them at 651-582-8406.

Bernadette Berger

Gibbon