Posted on 01/25/2003 4:45:25 AM PST by chance33_98
Schools to Hold Anti-War Teach-In
By AMELIA HEAGERTY Contributing Writer Friday, January 24, 2003
The Berkeley Board of Education passed a proposal at its Wednesday meeting to stage a two-day event at the city's schools where students will be taught about peaceful solutions to a pending United States-Iraq war.
The resolution calls for students to be "well-informed of the root causes of war and the possible consequences of military action by their government."
Although no student or teacher will be forced to participate in the event, the school board's decision has already drawn criticism, even from some of the board's own members.
"This is a clearly political agenda, and there is no place for political agenda in our schools," said School Boardmember Shirley Issel, who cast the sole dissenting vote. "It would be ingenious for the supporters to be saying there is any neutrality behind this resolution."
The districtwide event will take place Feb. 5-6.
The resolution makes Berkeley the third Bay Area school district to enter the political debate about possible war in Iraq.
The San Francisco Board of Education passed a greatly watered down resolution at their Jan. 14 meeting. They had originally intended to pull resources from anti-war and peace groups but abandoned pacifist language, opting for a day of "discussion" about issues surrounding the brewing conflict in the Persian Gulf.
That same day, Oakland schools held a teach-in about a possible war with Iraq.
Precise plans for Berkeley's event have yet to be developed.
Jean Whittlesey, a science teacher at Berkeley Alternative High School, said the event will include peace education, activities about Middle East culture and provide forums for debate.
"For the little kids it's really more about learning about the culture of the Middle East—we're not asking them to decide," Whittlesey said. "And for the older kids its more like, 'what information do you need to make up your own mind?'"
School board members did not review the teaching material they approved—skirting normal procedures for major curriculum change, said Superintendent Michele Lawrence. Lawrence, as an unelected official, did not vote on the matter.
Board members saw a possible handout and book list—including titles such as "Count Your Way Through the Arab World"—but they did not look over the entire program.
"There is a significant precedent here, not on the curriculum, but on the way subject matter makes its way into our schools," Lawrence said. "There is not a lot of guidance in this resolution. I am very concerned."
Boardmember John Selawsky, sponsor of the "School Days of Public Education on Peace," resolution, acknowledged the event's political charge.
"If we can't bring up moral and ethical issues in our schools, then where can we?" Selawsky said.
Student Boardmember Andy Turner said that the event would be an enhancement, not a detriment, to existing curriculum.
"Education is not relevant if it's not based in the times," he said. "Students are interested in having a school-sanctioned environment to discuss issues they, and teachers, are discussing anyway."
Issel said the event was not in line with the district's policy on controversial speakers, which requires "reasonable and balanced" presentation on potentially controversial subjects.
Other members of the board argued that, since the event will be run completely by district employees who are exempt from the policy, the policy does not apply.
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Tne number one enemy of freedom in this country is the learning system, both colleges and Grade schools. These kids have spent a life time being indoctrinated into all kinds of PC and anti-american garbage.
Now, when they graduate, we wonder why they think the act the way they do!
Wake up America
...such as bomb making and killing of innocent bystanders...
Then I assume there will be conservative speakers who will detail Saddam's reign of terror, mass murders, torture chambers, & the effects of VX, Smallpox, mustard gas & dirty bombs on a civilian population.
That WILL be included.......won't it?
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