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PIONEER PRESS REPORT
Posted on Tue, Sep. 23, 2003
Proposed school standards draw fire
BY JOHN WELSH
Pioneer Press
Minnesota's new proposed standards in science and social studies were
criticized from all sides Monday night in a contentious meeting that drew
nearly 300 people.
Many of the sharpest criticisms were for the social studies standards,
which were described by many as biased toward a right-wing agenda and
badly written. But the science standards also drew several opponents,
including those who thought they placed too much emphasis on
evolution as the origin of life.
More than three dozen people spoke at the meeting at St. Paul Central High
School, and the meeting lasted well beyond its scheduled two hours.
The meeting was the third of 14 to be held across the state through
next month before the state Department of Educationsubmits its final draft
to the Legislature in February.
"These standards must be rejected,'' said Paul Spies, a Minneapolis
parent and a co-founder of a new group opposing the social studies
standards. "They are too numerous, too Euro-centric and too
politically biased.''...
..."There is a real disconnect from what we hear from parents and
what we hear from educators,'' Yecke said. "Parents are more grateful
of the emphasis on patriotism and the founding documents'' found in
the social studies standards.
Yecke repeated throughout the meeting that the standards were preliminary.
After similar public hearings and input from lawmakers, standards in math
and reading this spring were cut by a third before being approved.
If it appeared that some liberals hated the social studies standards, it
looks like some conservatives dislike the science standards. The draft
document puts a strong emphasis on evolution, prompting several
speakers to raise concerns. "I was disappointed to see evolution
taught as fact,'' said Meg Rattei of Roseville. "It is a biased
theory, not a fact.''
But not all of the speakers were throwing darts. Buffalo parent Al
Winters, who was on the citizens committee that developed the language
arts standards, said the new standards were rigorous and appropriate.
"Understanding historical events and knowing the important people who
influence history is crucial to defining our national identity and
maintaining our culture and values,'' he said.
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