Dear Minnesota Social Studies Standards Committee:

I am writing to express concern and feedback about the first draft of the K-12 academic standards in social studies. I applaud this open process – it’s important many voices are heard as we make decisions about what our children are taught about history, civics and the world around them.

I’m concerned the committee’s admitted “shift in approach to standards and social studies learning” eliminated many important aspects of history and civics and replaced them with controversial and hard to measure standards that ask students to “recognize unfairness” and “develop respectful awareness.”

The new draft no longer provides a comprehensive approach to history and social studies our children deserve. The following specific changes would restore balance to the draft social studies standards and create a document all Minnesotans can be proud of:

WORLD/U.S. HISTORY

There are several key pieces of our world and nation’s history that are missing when compared with the 2011 standards.

Keep some or all of the benchmarks that teach about World War I, World War II, the Holocaust (including references to the Nazi regime and Jews), the rise and effects of communism and socialism, the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Do not weaken benchmarks that teach about the Vietnam War, China and genocide. Indigenous peoples is the only group named in reference to genocide (21.5.1), and genocide is only framed as a past occurrence (17.6.2).

MINNESOTA HISTORY

The history and culture of Minnesota’s Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples were included in five benchmarks in the 2011 standards. Their lives and perspective are important, but now with 15 benchmarks in the 2020 first draft specifically naming these two groups, there is concern this comes at the expense of other people groups and other history.

Keep some or all of the benchmarks that teach about Minnesota’s involvement in the Civil War, the impact of Iron Range mining during World War II, the response of Minnesotans to global conflicts and displaced peoples since 1945, the causes and effects of the United States Secret War in Laos and the role Norman Borlaug played in the agricultural revolution.

PATRIOTISM

Replacing specific mentions of flag etiquette and the Pledge of Allegiance with a vague reference to how people show patriotism does not serve our students.

Do not weaken the benchmark that teaches about the Pledge of Allegiance, basic flag etiquette and other demonstrations of patriotism. (2.1.1) Add a benchmark on the study of September 11, 2001.

RACISM/MARGINALIZATION

While the study of racism is relevant, how it is framed in the draft standards is political and controversial and comes at the expense of more important topics.

Eliminate some or all of the new benchmarks that add controversial and hard to measure language regarding bias (22.1.1); inclusion (18.7.1); gender marginalization (22.9.1); and references to “whiteness” (18.9.6); and “persistent discrimination and inequity” (18.9.7).

Again, thank you for the opportunity to provide this feedback and I look forward to future drafts.

Respectfully,

Your Name

Every 10 years, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) revises K-12 academic standards. This year is social studies' turn. The first draft, released in December 2020, is very concerning.

Raise Our Standards!

The Pledge of Allegiance and American flag
Key events and figures of the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World Wars I and II
The Holocaust - including references to Nazis and Jews
Communism and socialism
The brave Minnesotans of the First Regiment who were first to answer Lincoln’s call
Minnesota/Iron Range role during WWI and WWII
Minnesota's response to global conflicts and displaced people since 1945

What's OUT

What's IN

Systemic racism in the United States rooted in our founding
Persistent discrimination and inequity in the present
How freedom and democracy have included or excluded certain groups throughout our history
Gender equality/equity
The Reconstruction period, specifically successful efforts to disenfranchise newly freed black Americans
Labeling Westward Expansion as the shameful product of "whiteness, Christianity, and capitalism"

Through this site, concerned Minnesotans submitted over 5,000 public comments to the Social Studies Standards Committee. That is over 80% of the public feedback received!

During the committee's first public meeting following the comment period, an MDE director called the input "white supremacy language" and another committee member wondered if they should do a "select-all delete" to the comments.

They Don't Care What You Think!

Read the letter sent by over 5,000 Minnesotans to the standards committee

Resource Center

Upcoming Social Studies Standards Committee meetings:

May 6 - Watch live here.
June 17
July 22
August 17
September 21

Reading

Woke revolution looms for Minnesota schools

by Katherine Kersten

Educrats Unleashed

In the latest issue of Thinking Minnesota, Katherine Kersten and Catrin Wigfall provide unparalled analysis of how progressives want to rewrite how students learn about their American heritage.

The committee is now tasked with drafting a second version of standards. The date of release is expected sometime after June 17. Check back to this page for updates and more news!