Denver Area Students Walk Out in Protest

[Stuart G]

Source: Yahoo News/AP

ARVADA, Colo. (AP) — Hundreds of students walked out of classrooms around suburban Denver on Tuesday in protest over a conservative-led school board proposal to focus history education on topics that promote citizenship, patriotism and respect for authority, providing a show of civil disobedience that the new standards would aim to downplay.


The youth protest in the state's second-largest school district follows a sick-out from teachers that shut down two high schools in the politically and economically diverse area that has become a key political battleground.

Student participants said their demonstration was organized by word of mouth and social media. Many waved American flags and carried signs, including messages that read "There is nothing more patriotic than protest."

The school board proposal that triggered the walkout calls of instructional materials that present positive aspects of the nation and its heritage. It would establish a committee to regularly review texts and course plans, starting with Advanced Placement history, to make sure materials "promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free-market system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights" and don't "encourage or condone civil disorder, social strike or disregard of the law."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/denver-area-students-walk-school-protest-212434798.html

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As someone who knows this, I know what this is all about. It is destroying the parts of U.S. History that conservatives don't like..Pullman Strike, conditions of workers in 1880s, child labor, and reasons for unions, mining conditions and certain aspects of the depression of 1929, and so on......and on...... All of that would be taken out, and more, by these so called, "conservatives" who would slant history against any progressive ideas, just like they do now..

[mcar]

1. Nothing more patriotic than protest

These students are part of what is wonderful about this country.

[billhicks76]

20. And Bring Back Civics Classes

Then students can understand representative democracy and constitutional rights. Screw these conservative pigs who should be roasting on a spit for turning our hallowed democracy into a fascist oligarchy. Rotisserie anyone?

[Brigid]

21. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. "

-- Thomas Jefferson

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Stuart G.

[Iliyah]

3. Aarrrggghhh, for the Fatherland!

Heir H........... Many conservatives secretly praises what that mad man did and hope to mirror America by his murderous rule. Example - Koch Brothers, GOP, et al.,

[BeyondGeography]

4. Yay, kids

[SoapBox]

5. Lies, untruths and brainwashing...

It's the way of Pukes, Baggers and Terrorists.

[Stuart G]

7. What it is really about is the high school cirriculum a few years from now.

Total control of content against the birth and reasons for progressive and liberal ideas. A one sided view, with very few references to any other points of view. There will be a "few references" but not a comprehensive view as to who so called "progressive ideas" even exist. It isn't about today's history classes, but those 5 years into the future, to brainwash for ever, the real reasons for workers rights, minimum wage laws, certain important kinds of government regulations....... That is how these assholes work, plan into the future and wait.. They are very very patient.

For example, this charter school crap...It is all about destroying unions. That is all. Charter Schools are private institutions that do not have unions. Teachers Unions have always, yes always been strong supporters of the Democratic Party. Destroy the strongest unions and eliminate a major source of support for all progressive ideas. That is it..the real reason for charter schools, and the first paragraph is the real reason why this so called, "conservative agenda" in a Denver suburban school district is being proposed and they hope will be implemented..

[Dustlawyer]

29. When Texas started this crap I said "Oh no, not again", but now Coloradao means that a genuine

intentional policy is at work.
Growing up, The Soviet Union was the one who tortured, had lies and propaganda through their news agency, TAS, changed history books.... We never thought it would happen here!
My friends, the time has come to really put a stop to all of this control, authoritarianism, propaganda, election rigging, corporations gone wild, and financial servitude!

[ancianita]

6. So glad. The country should be proud to see students demanding better board decisions.

No textbook review committee should be without teaching professionals, parents and students, as well. A majority of school districts boards in most states are composed by people who've never stepped into a school or a classroom since they themselves were students.

Coloradoans are doing it right these days.

[Dawson Leery]

8. These same right wing nuts who promote this historical revisionism

are the same ones that believed it would be better to side with Hitler over Stalin.

[Stuart G]

9. These right wing nuts...are the same ones who deny the extence of "Climate Change"

And the fact that the earth is warming and in serious danger of self destruction of humans. These are awful people who want to control the A P History classes. The school board would alter the content of classes for their own purpose. In Texas, this has already happened.

[no1uno]

10. Warning to all republicans....

You republicans really need to re-evaluate the message you are sending out to these young new future voters. There is not going to be anything left of the republican party. Never in all my years have I ever seen so much alienation of young people by one political group.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

[barbtries]

11. disregard of the law?

fucking republicans are so corrupt what would they know about the law. or that the right to protest is part of the basic law of the land. let's not TEACH our children (especially not to think for themselves!) but let's MOLD our children.

suddenly i thought of north korea. wonder why

good on these kids, and the parents of these kids, who allowed them to grow and think for themselves.

[HelenWheels]

12. If these kids are 18 years old

They should vote at ALL elections. People think School Board elections aren't important but this event shows they are. The kids that aren't old enough to vote could go to their local Democratic Party headquarters and volunteer.

[mountain grammy]

13. Hooray for the youth of Colorado who understand what they have to lose!

[jtuck004]

14. Now they need to put out their own history book. Get some researchers to help

them with access to better materials than some shmucky HS gives them, and disrupt the ass clowns party.

Spokane banned free speech and put people in jail around 1910 who were protesting thieving employers in the wood harvesting industry.
The police stuck hundreds of them in jail, alternated steam heat and cold to try and sicken and kill some, was running a brothel out of the other side.

Spokane Police haven't changed much, btw. Neither has the town.

Anyway the protesters (IWW) put out a call to fill the jails of Spokane, and made it so expensive and troublesome that they eventually prevailed.

I was born in Oklahoma and moved here 10 years ago. I have yet to find a native educated here that even knows about that fight.

Sometimes I print out a few pages on it and leave one on the bus, or tack it to a telephone pole (like they used to put messages on cigarette papers and stick them to poles). My community education effort, among others.

You can't fix children with broken adults. Best to just get out of the way.

[Smarmie Doofus]

19. Interesting post. And I esp. like this sentence:

>>>You can't fix children with broken adults.>>>>>

[marym625]

15. It is so good to see

That upcoming generation cares! I just hope that by the time they're running the country, there's a country to run.


So glad you mentioned the Pullman strike

[Brigid]

22. But don't forget my personal favorite:

Blair Mountain.

[ReRe]

16. K&R

Good on those students! Now what they need to do is all buy a copy of

Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States and bring it
to class everyday and sit it on their desk where the teacher can see it.

[Brigid]

23. Howard Zinn!

[ReRe]

26. Absolutely!

[jayschool]

33. Zinn

I sneaked readings from "A People's History" into the 10th-grade U.S. History class I taught in suburban Denver in the 1990s. Never heard a complaint from parents or students.

[ReRe]

36. Good for you!

Last edited Wed Sep 24, 2014, 07:57 PM - Edit history (1)

At this point we have yet another "history"...Oliver Stone's "Untold History of the United States." that is an excellent look at another angle of America's history. I think all three versions of history should be encouraged. Maybe the standard "USHistory" in class and the other two as outside reading followed up by book reports and discussion.

Edited: to change name of Oliver North to Oliver Stone, which is what I meant to say!

[Califa]

46. Oliver North? Really?

The traitor who lied about Iran Contra and claimed he lied in the name of god? Yeah, what a great role model for kids--not!

[secondvariety]

47. I think

he meant Oliver Stone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Stone%27s_Untold_History_of_the_United_States

[ReRe]

51. Thanks, secondvariety

That is exactly what I meant. So sorry for the stupid mistake. It's a Senior moment thing.

[ReRe]

50. Oliver Stone is NOT a traitor, for God's sake!

How did he lie about Iran Contra? He claimed he lied in the name of God? You deny that his recent work is not true? Did I say Oliver North? I'm so sorry. I meant Oliver Stone! I will go change that right now. Look it, sometimes I open my mouth and the wrong word comes out. It was a Senior moment. Oh, and welcome to DU.

[kimbutgar]

17. Are these school board members ones put in by the Koch's?

I seem to remember they were putting their trained paid for operatives elected to take over local school boards. They did it in North carolina and the people fought back. Ironically it happens in a primarily white areas now.

Shame on the people to be fooled by tv commercials and voted the school board members in.
Thank goodness for the high schoolers to realize the conservatives want to re write history to their advantage.

[bvf]

49. Ralph Reed was openly promoting this approach

three decades ago. It's just a hell of a lot easier with Koch money.

Good on these kids. Would love to see this spread far and wide.

[DrBulldog]

18. Sounds familiar ....

... 60 years ago the Russians did exactly that - teach the glorification of the motherland - to their school kids and we called it "communist propaganda".

[niyad]

24. hurrah for these brave students! and jeers to those conservative assholes. bet they want

to ban "a people's history", too.

[Denver Progressive]

25. Smart kids...

it gives me hope!

[blkmusclmachine]

27. Stand up to the revisionists now, or we all suffer later.

[riqster]

28. Straight out of Orwell:

"He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past."

"1984" is seeming more prophetic with every passing year.

[Liberalynn]

30. I basically thought my high school history classes

were little more than rah rah go U.S. A. Pep squad sessions any way. It wasn't until I started taking college history classes that I learned about the genocide of the Native Americans, the atrocity of working conditions before organised labor, and prevalent racism and sexism.

Sad to hear the Community College that I attended for the first two years, which was a liberal bastion, has become a purveyor of conservative lies. My favorite History Professor is probably rolling over in his grave.

He told us that true patriotism was recognizing when your country screwed up, figuring out why it screwed up, and speaking up publicly when politicians are on the verge of screwing up again.

How I miss you Jack!

[ctsnowman]

31. K & R

[closeupready]

32. Always question authority - ALWAYS.

K&R

[EEO]

34. Rage Against the Machine - Testify

Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now controls the past
Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now?

Now testify
Testify
It's right outside our door
Now testify
Testify
It's right outside our door

[IHateTheGOP]

35. Why do people vote R?

For the life of me, I cannot understand why ANYONE would vote for ANY repuglican. The Repuglican party is decrepit.

[politicat]

42. Agreed, but local school boards are "nonpartisan" elections - no party affiliations.

Which is compleat bullshit, but they run as non-partisan candidates.

Jeffco is the district next door to mine, so I have colleagues/acquaintances who have kids in the district. From what I hear, the parents of the protesters are 100% supportive, and they're bringing people off the fence. This end of Jeffco tends to be solidly middle class to lower-upper middle class; their parents are generally comfortable, well educated, in secure employment, and expect their kids to go to good colleges. It's a centrist area by Colorado standards, which is distinctly blue by national. (The metro-Front range is mid to deep blue except for North Colorado Springs and Highlands Ranch; the state's rural areas trend red, but on the libertarian rather than neo-con track, which is what keeps Colorado in the violet). These parents tend to be engaged, interested and willing to be the squeaky wheel, and their kids tend to be social media savvy, bright, motivated and academically curious.

This was not the district to attempt this. Poor calculation, but good for people who care about education. Making it visible is to everyone's benefit.

The school board members who are the problem stealthed their way in. At this point, I'm hearing rumbles about recall, on the premise that the members misrepresented their positions.

[wildbilln864]

37. k & r! n/t

[The Magistrate]

39. Now That, Fella, Is Comedy Gold....

[arcane1]

45. The truly funny part is that they surely patted themsevles on the back, thinking "nailed it!"

[geretogo]

41. Both Hitler and Mussolini promoted the same things in the Fascist environment of their homelands

and crushed any protest against what the Fascist State dictated .

[lark]

43. March on, my young brothers and sisters!

This makes me so proud!!

[The Last Dem.]

44. “Out of the Depths”,

Tells the story of the coal strikes and the Ludlow Massacre in the state of Colorado through the years of 1913-1914. A copy, of which was at one time in every school library in the state of Colorado. But by the time was in High School it was gone (a loss of Colo. History at that time). Not in till I was a union member did I even know about the strike and the Ludlow Massacre.

Later in life when I was a union representative I had several copies on hand to give to each new member that joined our union for their labor information.

[Veganhealedme]

48. The concept of Solidarity needs to be re-awakened here in America..

I applaud these students! More power and good vibes to them!



Dissent is patriotic.

So is Solidarity.

recced

[Ash_F]

52. Vote the bums out, in an orderly, civil manner.

[madamesilverspurs]

53. Grew up in the JeffCo schools,

kindergarden through 10th grade when Dad's job moved us out of state.

Very proud of these kids, and frankly horrified by the "adults" who brought them to this.