"School should be an institute of education. Of learning, not a facility for student activism. "
I could not agree more, however, what is going on in the world today is history in the making & therefore education. It is the way it is being handled in our schools that is the problem, IMHO. I was in high school during the Kent State University slayings, which was the result of the Vietnam war & ROTC protest. My Government class teacher had an open discussion day about it. We all voiced our opinions on the students & the police. The difference back then is he did not force his opinion or ideology on us. He was not an activist teacher.
"which was the result of the Vietnam war & ROTC protest."
I'm sure that this was just an oversight and you were not suggesting that this is the reason for the war.
"..,however, what is going on in the world today is history in the making & therefore education."
Life is history. Events, whether it has an impact on us personally, within our community, nationally, or globally, is part of that history. To include current events in your social studies or history class that has a significant impact on society goes without saying. What took place in Seattle, and what is going on throughout our public schools in this country is anything but education, but rather indoctrination and propaganda.
To present an event in history/time and impose your ideology without an opposing view is not education. Although there was a so called pro/anti presentation in Seattle, that is not the norm in our schools. And it would appear that the panel was one sided, heavily tilting to the left.
The way in which your teacher addressed the tragic events that took place was educational. That was not 'activism'. That was a fair discussion on current topical studies. This event is just another sad commentary on the state of our public education system.