Politicking In The Classroom Not Acceptable

Teaching social studies and political material in a high school has got to be a delicate job.

Teachers have to make sure the material is presented in a balanced manner or parents may complain about perceived political bias in the classroom. Unfortunately for Manitoba teachers, some “social studies” curriculum material from the Department of Education looks more like “socialist studies” propaganda. Look at the Grade 12 Social Studies material online and you’ll find the government recommends teaching children that food for your pets and make-up are “luxury items” rather than simple pleasures enjoyed by the masses. And here many parents thought it was a good thing for their son or daughter to have a responsibility such as feeding Fido each day.

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Oddly enough, the government thinks corporate “greed” is something kids should learn about but there doesn’t seem to be anything in the documents about “union greed.” Apparently it only works one way. Keep scouring through the government’s material and you’ll see teachers are encouraged to teach students about “workers’ rights” and union history. This information is found in a section with a big “One Big Union” image. However, there is also nothing in the material about the importance of having a strong business sector. You know, the part of the economy that provides jobs to millions of people and pays billions in tax dollars each year to support government services? The authors did find room to teach students about the evils of “consumerism” and suggested students could organize “anti-fashion shows.” Parents working at ‘trendy’ stores have got to love that part. The material also encourages teachings about how the media can “control” citizens. Few would doubt the idea the media influences consumer behavior and peoples’ opinions on different matters, but to say the media “controls” you is the language of the tin-foil hate crew. The whole “control” claim does fit nicely with the socialist, let’s all go occupy something mindset though. Speaking of “occupy,” one document notes “activists can adopt a wide range of tactics in achieving their goals, ranging from lobbying, press declarations, and referenda to demonstrations, petitions, occupations, rallies, marches, hunger strikes, blockades, boycotts, and sit-ins.” Organizing more blockades and occupations – key skills employers are always clamoring for kids to learn right? Oddly enough, there is nothing in the documents about ways the government tries to control people by throwing money around. Convenient. The documents are also littered with “social justice;” a kumbaya catch phrase used overwhelmingly by socialists and parties such as Manitoba’s NDP to push their big government agendas. Talk to people in the centre or free-market leaning folks and you’ll rarely hear them use the same language. But perhaps the most obvious bias in the materials is the section that includes links to sites teachers could use as references. People are encouraged to visit the B.C. Teachers Federation’ssite (union), Greenpeace and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The latter being a socialist think tank that regularly recommends big tax hikes and more government control. Someone in government needs to explain how such bias is seeping into the classroom. Even better, someone needs to teach the government that’s just not the place for it. Colin Craig is the Prairie Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation