American public education is the envy of the world for its commitment to learning free from dogma. But, at its beginning there were concerns this public good might over time be subverted to serve religious or political ends. At present this subversion would bear the name Social Justice.
Self-congratulators prefer ignoring it, but SJ is political. Here’s a way to tell. Simply replace Social Justice with Algebra or Chemistry Justice. Sounds logically absurd, doesn’t it? Examined, such justice says it stands against another form of algebra or chemistry that is unjust, unacceptable and deserving of condemnation. The distinction is clear. Social Justice is political whereas Chemistry is not.
Any time and for whatever reason public education as we known it is turned into a tool of dogma two things can be said of it. It is a violation of the public trust and an abuse of authority.
But rather than dwell on the unprofessional misstep of legitimizing dogma in a daylong political event I prefer pointing to the opportunity educators, parents, and citizens have to return focus to the non-dogmatic. The politically inclined can continue to hail social agendas as educational much as Reagan era authorities claimed ketchup was a vegetable. Both are wrong. Political indoctrination is not education. The teaching of civics, government, and history, along with understanding the duties, rights, and responsibilities of a citizen has to be presented as free of political bias as possible. To fail in that is not acceptable in a free society.
Harry Drabik
Hovland
PS—A hearty hug and kiss to Jerry Hiniker for clearly linking Social Justice to regime change. He made my point better than I could have without this help.
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