Rewriting history: Colorado school system seeks curricular changes

In Colorado, students and teachers alike are protesting a curriculum change in A.P. U.S. History. Jefferson County has proposed “Materials should promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights. Materials should not encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law. Instructional materials should present positive aspects of the United States and its heritage.”
What a clever way to phrase censorship. But students have not been fooled by the candy-coated changes that their school board has presented. Protests led by the students and the teachers have been successful, but the final outcome is still up in the air. As of yet, no definite decision has been made regarding the changes.
The material that would be played down includes treatment of women, slavery, and the bombing of Hiroshima. Board members claim these topics will foster a bad image of the country in the minds of America’s youth, but students should be given a little more credit. They can decide for themselves how to process information and realize a new country will progress as it matures.
Making the classrooms a part of someone’s political agenda is just plain wrong; there’s no way around it. The thought that a political party is trying to manipulate a history curriculum class is frightening. To what lengths will they go to twist the truth and win votes?
As a community, Jefferson County is not taking this situation lightly. The school board meetings have been flooded with angered parents, distraught students, and exasperated teachers. They have all been expressing their discontent with the proposed curriculum, hoping to make an impact.
History is constantly evolving. New information is brought to light every day, and changes must be made to keep the content as accurate as possible. However, blatantly removing certain events from history in order to shape the minds of students in a certain manner is corrupt. A political agenda should not shape school curriculums.
The fight to secure an untampered education is an important one. Students taking a stand against the changes realize this, and students all around the nation should follow their lead.