Social Studies Academic Standards
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October 31, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Opposes Anti-American Academic Standards
Education Elite Do Not Speak For Parents & Taxpayers
EdWatch, a statewide parent/citizen watchdog organization that represents
over 30,000 members across the state of Minnesota, is reminding the
legislators and standards committee members that the public does not want
a re-play of the anti-American Profile of Learning standards. EdWatch
accuses critics of the draft of the new History and Civics standards of
"pushing a radical, politicized version of history and civics that
has been rejected by the public."
In response to recent criticism of the draft academic standards, a letter
from some University of Minnesota history professors calls for replacing
words like "cooperation, compromise and conflict" with words
like "conquest," "subjugation,"
"exploitation," and "enslavement" to characterize
America's history.
"The National History Standards, the National Standards on Civics and
Government, and the National Content Standards for Social Studies
represent content that the public objected to in the Profile of
Learning," stated Julie Quist, EdWatch Director. "These
standards present an out-of-the-mainstream anti-American world view."
When the U.S. Senate had a chance to vote on the matter in 1995, they
opposed the National History Standards 99-1. "The Senate viewed them
as a biased, distorted inaccurate view of history, EdWatch maintains.
"In spite of that, these same standards, with only cosmetic changes,
are being promoted again by a loud element of the educational elite."
"The same individuals and media outlets who supported the Profile of
Learning year after year want to put that same content back into
Minnesota's standards," continued Julie Quist. "The elections of
the last
few years set the stage for the 2003 repeal of the radical, anti-American
standards. Now some are trying to reverse those legislative actions."
EdWatch will be at Saturday's academic standards committee meeting to urge
the standards committee to focus the standards on knowledge more than
process, as the law dictates, and to focus on content that reflects the
patriotism that transcends political labels.
EdWatch (formerly Maple River Education Coalition) has rallied thousands
of citizens on the steps of the Capitol, at one time as many as 5,000, to
oppose the Profile of Learning over the past five years.
Contact Information: Julie Quist
651-646-0646 507-340-9486 (cell)
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EdWatch - 105 Peavey Rd, Ste 116, Chaska, MN
55318
651-646-0646 - edwatch@lakes.com
- (c) EdWatch - All rights
reserved.