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American Exceptionalism Trumped by Climate Change
Eagleye Blog ^ | October 30, 2012 | Bethany Stotts

Posted on 10/30/2012 2:39:18 PM PDT by eagleye85

The Nebraska Board of Education is taking the advice of a historian who considers “American Exceptionalism” too political of a term to include in Nebraska social studies. Removing this concept from the curriculum, educators have instead added climate change to the list of geography topics.

“I personally would be wary of the term ‘American Exceptionalism.’… It has become extremely politically charged in recent years, and could convey unintended baggage,” Jeremy Stern wrote in an email to the staff at the Nebraska Department of Education, according to World-Herald staff writer Joe Dejka.

Dejka reports that “[Stern] suggested something more neutral, such as ‘the American journey.’”

Stern also suggested that climate change be taught at earlier ages. “Though I recognize that there may be political pressures not to do so, these are questions today’s children will regularly encounter from an early age,” wrote Stern.

“Jeremy Stern, a history consultant who had reviewed Nebraska’s current standards as part of an earlier report for the Fordham Institute on all states’ standards, recommended the revised standards pay more attention to chronological sequence and addressing various issues equally,” reports Margaret Reist for the Lincoln Journal Star.

According to Dejka, climate change was not previously included in state standards, but a new draft lists climate change under the heading of geography. “The topic heading calls for students to develop and apply spacial perspectives, geographic knowledge and geographic skills ‘to make informed decisions regarding issues and current events at the local, state, national and international levels,’” writes Dejka. “Climate change, which is not mentioned in existing Nebraska standards, is in the draft as a concept that students would evaluate along with loss of biodiversity, deforestation, ozone layer, air pollution and other ‘environmental geographic issues,’” he reports.

Nebraska is not alone in its debate about whether to include climate change in new school standards. As the Associated Press recently reported, “Kansas State Board of Education races this year are shadowed by an emerging conflict over science standards for public schools — and it’s not all about evolution.” Rather, it’s about climate change.

“Climate change is emerging as a potential political flashpoint in Kansas and possibly 25 other states working with the National Research Council on common standards,” reports the AP. “If adopted, the guidelines could encourage public schools to spend far more time teaching students about the Earth’s climate and how human activity affects it.”

The AP reports that “Kansas’ current science standards touch on climate change with a statement in guidelines for grades 8-12 that says only, ‘Human activity impacts global climate.’”

“In contrast, the multi-state standards under development are likely to contain more detail and make the effects of human activity on climate a core concept starting in elementary school.” After all, the lessons learned earliest provide the foundation for our children’s perspectives going forward. Is this really what we want their geography and science classes to discuss?

You can read a few of my climate change articles here:

Mann-made Climate Changes

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Reasons Not to Shower

Climate Change Bible

Mann Overboard


TOPICS: Education; Politics; Science; Weather
KEYWORDS: climatechange; commoncore; education; globalwarming; globalwarminghoax; nebraska; publiceducation

1 posted on 10/30/2012 2:39:25 PM PDT by eagleye85
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To: eagleye85

See my tagline....’nuff said...


2 posted on 10/30/2012 2:43:26 PM PDT by Crapgame (What should be taught in our schools? American Exceptionalism, not cultural Marxism...)
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To: eagleye85
Dejka reports that “[Stern] suggested something more neutral, such as ‘the American journey.’”

And the theory of climate change, also a controversial issue, can be changed to "climate moderation" just to keep "education" balanced.

3 posted on 10/30/2012 2:45:40 PM PDT by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: eagleye85
‘American Exceptionalism.’… has become extremely politically charged in recent years, and could convey unintended baggage

Such as ...? Pride in one's heritage? A sense of national identity that revels in our accomplishments as a people? A humble recognition that Divine Providence has indeed smiled on our endeavors?

Yeah, we can't have THAT kind of controversy, can we?

4 posted on 10/30/2012 2:59:54 PM PDT by IronJack (=)
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To: eagleye85

Lordy how I hate the fact that educatin in America has all become about ‘reeducation’. Keep your chikdren at home


5 posted on 10/30/2012 3:14:01 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: eagleye85
“American Exceptualism Trumped By Climate Change???”

Well duh! “Ally Oop Tribe Exceptualism Trumped By Ice Age Glacier Crunching Their Huts.”

Don't matter what you is if the sun explodes either now does it? It ain't caused by humans so what, me worry?

6 posted on 10/30/2012 3:25:48 PM PDT by Happy Rain ("Remember the Benghazi 4")
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; Rurudyne; steelyourfaith; Tolerance Sucks Rocks; xcamel; AdmSmith; ...

Thanks eagleye85.


7 posted on 10/31/2012 4:22:49 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: eagleye85

Gee, I learned climate change back in the 1960s — the planet went from a molten ball of slag to what we live on today.

If they MEAN anthropogenic global warming, they should SAY “anthropogenic global warming”!

But a con-artist NEVER exposes the “con” outright...


8 posted on 10/31/2012 4:51:54 AM PDT by Peet (Everything has an end -- only the sausage has two.)
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To: eagleye85; 11B40; A Balrog of Morgoth; A message; ACelt; Aeronaut; AFPhys; AlexW; America_Right; ...
DOOMAGE!

Global Warming PING!

You have been pinged because of your interest in environmentalism, alarmist wackos, mainstream media doomsday hype, and other issues pertaining to global warming.

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Please ping me to all note-worthy threads on global warming.

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9 posted on 10/31/2012 7:03:52 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Obama should change his campaign slogan to "Yes, we am!" Sounds as stupid as his administration is.)
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