Christian parents in America are baffled by the rude, and even violent behavior of some young people on college campuses as they protest conservative speakers, capitalism, the military and police. There is an increasing approval of socialism and communism by young voters, in spite of the obvious failures of communist countries. Veterans who sacrificed much to ensure that America remains a free nation look in utter amazement at the lack of respect for America’s heroes. Did these ideas originate on college campuses or did they begin much earlier in our elementary and high schools?
Robert Knight believes it is the latter case. He writes in The Washington Times (June 10, 2013) that there is an increasing animosity toward America and free market capital among many younger Americans. He references author William J. Federer, who says this is no accident, but is the result of conditioning in both the elementary and secondary schools that continues into universities.
Could it also be that Common Core plays a role in shaping how students view our Christian and conservative ideas? That is exactly what Terrence O. Moore maintains in his book, The Story-Killers: A Common-Sense Case Against Common Core. Moore, a former professor of history at Hillsdale College and a national leader in the classical school movement, says the Common Core standards “take away the ‘great stories’ of our heritage of Western civilization and Christianity, and replace them with post-modern cynicism and political correctness.”
Moore maintains that the world’s great classic novels are much more than books to read for entertainment; they are what shape our view of the world. They present villains, who are controlled by selfish greed, lust for power, hatred, and cowardice, as well as heroes, who exhibit courage, lofty enduring goals, and self-sacrificing love. They also include ordinary men and women who struggle with both good and evil desires. When students read the great books, they begin to recognize how life is lived in the novels, as well as how character matters in their own lives.
Moore sadly notes that selections of the classics, when included in a lesson, are often no more than a few selected pages that are covered in one day; if a conservative viewpoint is presented, it may be compared with a modern author who has a liberal viewpoint. He further notes that time for good reading is wasted on nonproductive or boring projects and is being squeezed by increasing amounts of “Information Texts.”
The historical documents that are studied in class should give students a greater appreciation for the American form of government. However, omissions, interpretations by liberal authors, and an emphasis on America’s weaknesses can portray America as an evil nation that promoted slavery and oppressed women and minorities. The same documents can also portray America as an exceptional nation that provides leadership without concentrating power in the hands of a single king or a dictator. The Founding Fathers had had enough of kings who took away their rights to worship freely, assemble, express their beliefs publicly, and make their own rules for living. They left us the gift of a Constitution that allows amazing freedoms and a balance of powers that other countries long for.
It is right for students to see the things that are and once were injustices in America. However, it is a mistake to give students such an extremely hypercritical view of America that they fail to fully appreciate the benefits of our Constitution and our system of government or become hostile to the ideas of family, America, and Christianity. Ultimately it is up to parents to stay informed and see that these three foundations remain intact and undamaged.
References: The Story Killers by Terrence O. Moore
You Tube: Story-Killers: How the Common Core Destroys Minds and Souls