Curriculum Abuse: What Parents Can Do A Pocket Guide For The PTA Battleground (IP-7-1990)

April 16, 1990

Issue Paper

By Arnold Burron

A mother has been granted time on a school board agenda to speak about her elementary schools reading program.
She is concerned that children are not learning basic word attack skills. She knows it is important to present her case
effectively since the last critic of the reading program was publicly humiliated. She wants to have up-to-date
information and to exert maximal impact. What does she do?
A father learns that his daughters eighth grade class is scheduled to see the film, The Living Body: Shares in the
Future, as a part of a sex education unit. He has been told by a friend who is a teacher that the films introduction shows
an adolescent boy and girl, nude from the waist up, holding hands and facing each other. This parent is upset and
wants to protest the showing of the film. He remembers, though, that the last parent who protested was stonewalled by
the school administration, and he wants to be more effective. What does he do?
The well-documented politicization of the American public school classroom, the rising clamor for special attention by
a growing number of increasingly vocal constituencies, and the obvious introduction into schools of attitudes, values,
methods, and activities that dont reflect what many community members desire -- all these trends have brought parents
into collision with educators more frequently in recent years.
Acts of commission or omission which seem to betray the trust and authority delegated to public education from
voters, taxpayers, and families, can be summed up in the term curriculum abuse. Of course, whether an abuse has
actually occurred is often a subjective question, a judgment in the eye of the beholder. Some parental concerns are
valid, some not, and even certain valid ones may stand a better chance of being solved if confrontation is avoided in
favor of other remedies.
We offer this pocket guide on seven of todays hottest instructional concerns with a dual aim -- to suggest how parents
can exert a constructive influence and to smooth the road for educators when their good-faith actions (correct or
mistaken) are met with backlash.
For each issue, after summarizing the typical allegations, we attempt to add perspective through facts, then probe some
ramifications, recommend a corrective approach, and map the best avenues of influence. If struggling with a
curriculum controversy where more heat than light is being generated (whichever side of the battle line you are on),
this simple analytical approach is for you.
Issue Concerns/ Facts Ramifications Recommended Avenues of
Allegations Action Influence
Phonics Critics allege: 1) Illiteracy is a Challenges Become Professors of
Schools not sociological detract from informed. university
teaching problem, as well addressing Consult teacher-
children to read. as an serious issues specialized education
Look-say, sight- educational practices library courses in
word reading problem. eroding the references on reading.
produces very reading
illiterates. 2) All reading foundations of instruction, In-service
Phonics the approaches the Republic. research, testing, coordinator of
method by incorporate and Reading school
which reading phonics. Result: Critics Education districts.
should be strain at a gnat, Organizations. Reading
3) No single, swallow a coordinators
taught. Schools best way to
have camel. school
teach reading. districts
abandoned
phonics. 4) Allegations
based on
misinformation

Secular Critics allege Examination of Indoctrinated Expose Newspapers.

Humanism, that biased curricula students, with curricular
Globalism curricula substantiates moral content. Talk-shows.
promulgate: validity of some paralysis. Teacher-
concerns. All Ambivalence Document
-Values charges. education
areas of on moral issues, courses,
clarification; curriculum are with
i.e., no -Demonstrate universities
pervaded. Some unchallenged ramifications.
absolutes; teachers are acceptance of Parent
situation ethics- operating in U.S. culpability -Seek Teacher
World ignorance, with as imperialist, representation Group
government unthinking uncritical on local boards
 taught. Schools swallow a coordinators
best way to camel. school
have teach reading.
abandoned districts
phonics. 4) Allegations
based on
misinformation

Secular Critics allege Examination of Indoctrinated Expose Newspapers.

Humanism, that biased curricula students, with curricular
Globalism curricula substantiates moral content. Talk-shows.
promulgate: validity of some paralysis. Teacher-
concerns. All Ambivalence Document
-Values charges. education
areas of on moral issues, courses,
clarification; curriculum are with
i.e., no -Demonstrate universities
pervaded. Some unchallenged ramifications.
absolutes; teachers are acceptance of Parent
situation ethics- operating in U.S. culpability -Seek Teacher
World ignorance, with as imperialist, representation Group
government unthinking uncritical on local boards
-Moral acceptance of acceptance of of education, Textbook
equivalency textbook world textbook Selection
among nations content. government, selection committees *
-Death social welfare, committees,
education Curriculum
unilateral curriculum
-Tolerance as an committees *
disarmament. committees,
absolute Rejection of teacher -Personal
-Collectivism traditional selection contact with
-Cooperation, concepts of committees, teachers.
not competition patriotism, teacher
-U.S. sexual evaluation
culpability for morality. committees.
international Antimilitary,
problems anti-capitalist -Communicate
-Sexual attitudes are concerns to
permissiveness engendered. teacher on a
-Peace through one-to-one
negotiation, not basis.
strength
-Conscious
conspiracy to
subvert
capitalism &
individualism,
impose
socialism.
*Very Effective

Issue Concerns/ Facts Ramifications Recommended Avenues of

Allegations Action Influence
Censorship: Opponents Issue is neither Some material l) Assert Textbook-
allege censorship nor is clearly accuracy in curriculum
School thought- selection. All develop terminology. committees,
Materials control, and educators censor/ mentally (The public
loss of select (e.g., War and inappropriate, pejorative-- schools.
vehicles for Peace is inappropriate its availability censorship, v.
teaching for beginning reading untenable, its the
critical instruction.) use ameliorative,
thinking. academically, selection has
Proponents Issue that of emotionally, distorted the
allege identifying/defending or spiritually issue.)
unbridled criteria for selection. detrimental.
promulgation Selection does not 2)Develop and
of amorality, preclude opportunity assert tenable
insidious for critical thinking. criteria for
erosion of selection.
traditional 3 )Examine/
values. revise schools
Materials
Reconsideration
Policy
Bilingual Mostly focuses l)Research does not l)Resources 1) Provide ESL -
Education on necessity substantiate efficacy are diverted (English as Legislatures
for instruction of bilingual from other Second
in Spanish, education. areas of Language) -Teacher
especially in curriculum. instruction for certification
early grades. 2 )Metropolitan adult section,
Proponents school districts teach 2)One constituency State Dept.
allege children children minority is 2)Provide total Ed.
 insidious for critical thinking. criteria for
erosion of selection.
traditional 3 )Examine/
values. revise schools
Materials
Reconsideration
Policy
Bilingual Mostly focuses l)Research does not l)Resources 1) Provide ESL -
Education on necessity substantiate efficacy are diverted (English as Legislatures
for instruction of bilingual from other Second
in Spanish, education. areas of Language) -Teacher
especially in curriculum. instruction for certification
early grades. 2 )Metropolitan adult section,
Proponents school districts teach 2)One constituency State Dept.
allege children children minority is 2)Provide total Ed.
will fail unless representative of up favored, immersion in
to 42 different dozens of -Boards of
compensatory English. Education
programs languages,* yet few other 3)Provide
provided, and multilingual minorities volunteer -University
that detractors programs are offered. ignored. multilingual lay Colleges of
are guilty of 3)Limits tutors for all Education
discrimination. teacher transitional
students. -
Opponents cite recruitment Community
parameters. 4)Require
successes of teacher in- Action
Asian- 4 )Hispanic service in Networks
Americans critics allege multicultural
without perpetuation sensitivity.
compensatory of inferiority
language on part of
instruction. educators and
clientele.
*Denver Public Schools

Issue Concerns/ Facts Ramifications Recommended Avenues of

Allegations Action Influence
Sex Proponents No direct Emphasis on l)Identify, for -Curriculum
Education claim acute statistical safe sex and students, agencies committees
and necessity relationship birth control from the private
attested to by establishing provides de sector which address -Textbook
School- high level of efficiency of facto accept controversial sex- selection
Based sexually, sex education ance, by related issues. committees
Clinics transmitted in reducing authority
2)Mandate that -Talk shows
diseases, teen teenage figures, of and other
pregnancy. pregnancy; premarital sex, schools provide
outside speakers mass media
Opponents some studies and, in extreme
claim support an cases, approval representative of a -Legislature
promulgation exactly of desirability broad spectrum of
of immorality opposite of premarital opinion to discuss
resulting from relationship. sex. Abstention sex-related issues.
schools and virginity
ostensible Dissemination are regarded as
position of of information abnormal.
moral on birth
neutrality, control is, to
schools some sectarian
sponsorship of groups,
in-school violative of
clinics moral
dispensing neutrality.
birth control
and safe sex
information.

Prayer in Proponents l) Generic 1)Controversy l)Institute a moment -Home and

the Schools allege prayer, detracts from of silence for church
godlessness in excluding focus on reflective thinking.
the schools. Christ, is critical issues, -Legislature
Claim offensive to such as 2)Publicize the fact
separation of many Globalism, that private prayer is
church and Christians. Secular permissible under
state is a red Humanism. current law.
herring, not a 2)Christ-
inclusive 2)No audible 3)Shift focus to
condition values-education, sex
intended by prayer is prayer will
offensive to satisfy all education, other
Founding substantive issues
Fathers. non-Christians. factions.
more directly bearing
 in-school violative of
clinics moral
dispensing neutrality.
birth control
and safe sex
information.

Prayer in Proponents l) Generic 1)Controversy l)Institute a moment -Home and

the Schools allege prayer, detracts from of silence for church
godlessness in excluding focus on reflective thinking.
the schools. Christ, is critical issues, -Legislature
Claim offensive to such as 2)Publicize the fact
separation of many Globalism, that private prayer is
church and Christians. Secular permissible under
state is a red Humanism. current law.
herring, not a 2)Christ-
inclusive 2)No audible 3)Shift focus to
condition values-education, sex
intended by prayer is prayer will
offensive to satisfy all education, other
Founding substantive issues
Fathers. non-Christians. factions.
more directly bearing
Opponents 3)No prayer is 3)Irreverent upon character
claim offensive to prayer more development/attitude
establishment religionists. destructive to formation, such as
of religion. pro-prayer issues of concern
4)No evidence objectives than under Globalism and
establishes link no prayer at all. Secular Humanism.
between school
prayer, 4)Institution of
improved prayer could
behavior. lead to
assumption
5)Only that values
audible, have been
official prayer taught, and
is proscribed in need no further
school. Prayer inclusion in
is available to curricula.
all students at
all times.

Issue Concerns/ Facts Ramifications Recommended Avenues of

Allegations Action Influence
Religion: Proponents assert l)Study of l)Exclusion of l)Evolution -Textbook
Creationism that prohibition of religion in religious must be taught selection
vs. Bible religious study/ school is legal, literature as theory, not as committees
Reading Bible reading/ practice of creates a de fact. Both
creationism religion is facto bias supportive and -Curriculum
constitutes illegal. against detractive data committee
irreligion, or an religion, must be -Media
anti-religious ethos. 2)Bible prejudices presented.
reading is selection
Opponents claim children to committees
separation of church allowable if regard it as 2)Existence of,
and state precludes tenable unworthy of and fact of -Legal
a creationist curricular attention. proponents of system
emphasis. rationale are other theories
fraught with 2)Presentation must be
problems of evolution as presented.
including: fact occurs
when it is the 3)Creationism
a) which only theory must not be
religions presented. The ridiculed or
version? school subjected to
provides a criticism.
b) which
denominations cloak of 4)Bible should
interpretation? credibility. be studied as
literature.
Religious
literature
should be
available as
legitimate
reading
material.
 Issue Concerns/ Facts Ramifications Recommended Avenues of
Allegations Action Influence
Religion: Proponents assert l)Study of l)Exclusion of l)Evolution -Textbook
Creationism that prohibition of religion in religious must be taught selection
vs. Bible religious study/ school is legal, literature as theory, not as committees
Reading Bible reading/ practice of creates a de fact. Both
creationism religion is facto bias supportive and -Curriculum
constitutes illegal. against detractive data committee
irreligion, or an religion, must be -Media
anti-religious ethos. 2)Bible prejudices presented.
reading is selection
Opponents claim children to committees
separation of church allowable if regard it as 2)Existence of,
and state precludes tenable unworthy of and fact of -Legal
a creationist curricular attention. proponents of system
emphasis. rationale are other theories
fraught with 2)Presentation must be
problems of evolution as presented.
including: fact occurs
when it is the 3)Creationism
a) which only theory must not be
religions presented. The ridiculed or
version? school subjected to
provides a criticism.
b) which
denominations cloak of 4)Bible should
interpretation? credibility. be studied as
literature.
Religious
literature
should be
available as
legitimate
reading
material.

ARNOLD BURRON is a professor of education at the University of Northern Colorado and a senior fellow of the
Independence Institute. He is the author of seven books and host of a weekly radio program on current issues.
EDITOR of the Independence Issue Paper Series is John K. Andrews, Jr., president of the Institute.