Originally Posted by
mark blazejewski
Truly well said shortstuff, especially your comment "behaviors will put you on two different paths." That is exactly why I favor an all-inclusive, comprehensive approach to instruction.
With that said, just some early thoughts in response to some of the Petition-proposed remediation.
Although I am uncomfortable with the wording "at a minimum proportional...," I have no real problem with this idea. It merely increases learning, and that is a good thing.
IMHO, this proposal could be incorporated into required English courses, and on a high school level, perhaps could be offered as an exclusive elective.
As I stated on post #4, from a contradictory point of view, I have concerns with the harmonization of this demand with the stated demand for overall equality. I truly believe that such studies would be best applied through an expansion of existing curriculum; a graceful incorporation into a comprehensive teaching of American studies.
Absent such a blending, I would view the demand in a favorable light if it were offered as an 1/4 credit course semester course, provided that it is linked by requirement to a 1/4 credit semester course devoted to the colonial and subsequent white American experience.
As I envision such a Colonial curriculum, an emphasis would be given to the small family farmer, the artisans, the barrel makers, the blacksmiths, the general store operators, teachers, the clergy and their collective experience in building of the early communities.
Also, a course on the full colonial experience under British rule, including significant exposure to the hysteria of Salem Witch trials, and how those combined experiences influenced the shape of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
A similar comprehensive approach would focus on the post-Colonial white experience.
Again, the comprehensive approach to implementation, to me, would be preferable. Many of the demands, I believe, can be incorporated into existing American studies, Western Civilization, A and AC (at least that what we called it way back when), and Latin American studies.
I have a harder time with this one shortstuff, but perhaps the topics could be significantly incorporated into a World (Global) Studies discussion of, or offered as an elective course on, Marxist, Jacobin, and Socialist philosophies. However, such an expansion or elective offering must necessarily be counter-balanced with an equal mandate and available elective offering focused on Capitalism as a suggested, if not the desirable tool to circumvent what some perceive to be privilege.