One Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2021, the White House released a report on American History called “The 1776 Report.”
The 1776 Report has caused a
stir because of the ongoing battle over perspectives on American slavery and
the implications for today’s racism. To meet the challenges of The 1776 Report, The 1619 Project, and a plethora of scholarship, educators will likely need conflict management skills.
Whatever views educators
may have about US history, it seems inevitable that some students and their
parents will hold sharply different perspectives on the events in history and
how those perspectives should inform current views on future laws and policies.
It is easy to see how sharp disagreements could lead to an uncomfortable
climate and difficulty having a civil discussion about different perspectives.
“The most common charge levelled against the founders, and hence against our country itself, is that they were hypocrites who didn’t believe in their stated principles, and therefore the country they built rests on a lie. This charge is untrue, and has done enormous damage, especially in recent years, with a devastating effect on our civic unity and social fabric.” (p. 10)
On page 17, school officials are advised of their moral duty.
“States and school districts should reject any curriculum that promotes one-sided partisan opinions, activist propaganda, or factional ideologies that demean America’s heritage, dishonor our heroes, or deny our principles. Any time teachers or administrators promote political agendas in the classroom, they abuse their platform and dishonor every family who trusts them with their children’s education and moral development.”
Not surprisingly, the report has generated controversy.
Following are a few links to media coverage revealing a range of responses.
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