Caledonia Argus

New education standards proposed

Posted: 9/9/03

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

The Department of Education Monday released proposed science, history and social studies standards to replace the discarded Profile of Learning.

In upcoming weeks, public hearings on the new standards will take place.

Education Commissioner Cheri Pearson Yecke described the proposed standards as more specific than current standards.

ìIf weíre going to have responsible citizens they have to know the history of our country,î said Yecke, speaking of the history and social studies standards.

Minnesotaís current social studies and history standards have been rated as among the worst in the country, she said.

ìOur goal is to rekindle that fire of interest in history,î she said.

ìThey (children) can recognize Beavis and Butthead and Snoop Doggy Dog but they canít recognize the reasons the Gettysburg's Address was given,î said Yecke, referring to surveys of student knowledge.

Under the proposed standards, third graders would memorize the Pledge of Allegiance and songs expressing American ideals.

Fourth graders would learn about events leading to the American Revolution ó the ideals of philosopher John Locke incorporated into the Declaration of Independence ó and memorize the Preamble to the Constitution.

In science, sixth graders will learn how personal bias can affect the results of ìscientific experiment.î Seventh graders will learn about plate tectonics and evolution ó how science explains the presents of fossils and similarities among living things.

The science standards include nothing about religious creationalism ó that God, not random events, guided the path of development.

ìYou canít teach creationalism in the classroom,î said Yecke, citing a 1987 Supreme Court decision.

Still, local school districts are free to teach the idea of intelligent design, she said.

Such a standard is not found in the proposed standards, she said. But that is not to say local school districts canít include it in their curriculums, she said.

Some 14 public hearings are scheduled to gain public comment on the proposed science, history and social studies standards.

Math and reading standards were released earlier this year.

The new education standards will be presented to the Legislature in February.

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