Nina Kilbride's blog

I am thrilled at the initial success of North Carolina citizens of all political inclinations in transforming the process of curriculum development in the state. But I am troubled. Why? Because the few people who persist in advocating, “let the DPI do its job” are liberals like me! It’s clear that their understanding of the issue boils down to sound bites, and stems from a knee-jerk reaction to a story brought to national attention by FOX media. Whose fault is it that Fox had a better read on the pulse of its constituents than the liberal media?

I was in the first grade in 1976. It was the national Bicentennial, and it was a big deal. My husband, then 11, redecorated his room in red, white and blue in his enthusiasm. I can still remember the words to a half-time song “Two Hundred Years and Just a Baby.” From the spirit of the day, I learned that being American was about being independent in thought and deed while respecting the needs of others. Independence is a theme that still tugs at my heartstrings.

Independence as a value has largely disappeared from the national dialogue. This is unfortunate, because many independence lovers are “values” voters. Since the Reagan years they have steadily voted against their own interests for the sake of principle. These aren’t undecided voters. These are people who want to made decisions for themselves. They don’t like being told what to think. The way to attract voters who value independence is not by behaving like Republicans.

Liberal or Conservative, if you think that high school students should learn the facts of our history, please sign the online petition created by Dr. Holly Brewer and me.

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/nchistory/

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is in the process of overhauling the curriculum for North Carolina Public Schools. The DPI has asked for feedback on the proposed curriculum through February 15, 2010. I reviewed the proposed curriculum. There is a glaring problem with the proposed history instruction in North Carolina high schools. The proposed curriculum eliminates the teaching of United States history prior to 1877 in North Carolina public schools. A few pre-1877 concepts are covered in other parts of the curriculum, but the proposed curriculum would not teach children:

Who came to the Americas and why
The states were once colonies of England
We fought a war to free ourselves from an imperial crown
We had a lot of discussion of how people in a democracy best rule themselves, culminating in the Constitution.
Western Expansion
Death and Displacement of Native Americans
Wars of U.S. Territorial Expansion
Slavery
Civil War
Reconstruction

In law school, I learned that the party who succeeds in framing the question to be decided has a better chance of succeeding in court. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, decided last week, is the ultimate example. The Supreme Court did not have to review in this case, and certainly did not need to issue such a sweeping opinion.

The lawsuit sought injunctive and declaratory relief about whether the Citizens United, an anti-abortion rights group, could run its anti-Hillary Clinton video on pay-per-view during the 2008 election. This particular case is factually moot. The election is over. The only reason to keep going is to change the law - in short, to legislate by judicial decision.