Anyone besides me remember Joe Friday and his request – Just the facts, ma’am. (not what he actually said).
I am writing this in reaction to an MPR piece on the race and history controversy at Pequot Lakes – a small Minnesota community.
I have not faced people who act like this in person so I struggle trying to understand the arguments they might make. My attitude toward education begins with the role of facts in understanding. Education cannot be about teaching a fantasy. Facts are facts in small town Minnesota or inner city Minneapolis. This labeling problem the right uses claiming a given social program is socialism or facts about racism are the equivalent of critical race theory use poorly understood concepts to stoke fear and anger. If the facts make you feel sad or ashamed such reactions could be appropriate. I want to understand what educators have argued and whether such positions reflect the facts as established by those with the appropriate expertise. I also want to know that those trying to influence what teachers teach acknowledge those same facts.