Does the majority have a qualified right to use public
education as a way of transmitting its culture?
I hope I'm not being too dense, but we're talking abstractions here so a common wavelength can be elusive. I'll try to answer.
There's a certain amount of American culture implicit in my scheme. It implies that every voice counts, for example, and that we're fair and democratic. It also implies that we value education, ideas, hard work, accomplishment, and the freedom and energy to be creative. You can't get much more American than that. If we transmit that much culture to our kids, I think a pat on the back is in order.
We also transmit American culture indirectly in the teaching of factual subject matter. Obviously, schools would teach the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And world history. How many of these educated and reasonable kids we're producing would fail to figure out that they should be thankful and proud to be an American? Not many, I think. I don't think we have to "teach" Thanksgiving. It's a holiday from school. That, if nothing else, will make an impression on a kid. I don't know that it matters if the kid's family eats turkey or not, although knowing that turkey is the national Thanksgiving dish would be part of cultural literacy and kids need to be aware.
So if that's what you mean by using public education to transmit the culture of the majority, my answer is yes. I think it would be impossible to establish a school system without sanctioning and transmitting key elements of the majority culture.
If, on the other hand, you mean teaching the Ten Commandments or Creationism or how western civilization was founded in Africa or that gay is normal, to use two examples from each end of the political spectrum, I'd say absolutely not. I would put those in the expose rather than teach category.
I hope I've answered your question. Perhaps you'll share your answer, as well.
Karen |
