Thank you Kay Wiemer Gerke for stating so clearly what so many are condemning as CRT. Yes there are marvelous parts to our history and people who have stood tall. But there are also those who have cheated, lied, and destroyed. We need to know their motivations so we can avoid them. The positive needs to be enshrined but to avoid teaching the negative Is foolhardy.
Joan G. SmithOctober 20, 2023
A basic truth, long ignored, asserts that the purpose of education is to teach a student how to THINK. It appears that the "Fathom the Good" curriculum may well provide the way to accomplish that goal. I've sent a link for this article to my wonderful home-schooling daughter.
Kay Wiemer GerkeOctober 20, 2023
I am surprised that Meridian would print this Op-Ed. I have enjoyed Meridian for many years and have always counted on it for informative and inspirational reading. It plays an important role in spreading the Gospel in its unique way.
John C. Hancock's opinions are very concerning to me. He has latched on to sound-bite catchphrases that are inflammatory and not fully accurate. CRT, Critical Race Theory, is NOT taught in general education. It is a subject that has been inaccurately vilified and is misleading. CRT is a curriculum that is taught at a graduate school level, not in elementary schools. The danger of this overreaction can lead to omitting vital historical truths regarding our country's past which has created a climate of racism that still exists today.
We cannot change history but we should learn from it to not repeat its mistakes. America’s racial past is not only about the horrific treatment of many people of color, it also includes accounts of good people standing up for what was right and fighting against bigotry and hatred. Valuable learning can occur in classrooms when these topics are discussed with accuracy and truth. Students can learn to evaluate society’s mistakes from the past and make informed choices to commit to do better.
I have had the unique opportunity of substitute teaching for 20 years in public high school and middle schools. I have seen, first-hand, what curriculum is taught and I have grown close to the faculty and staff from these schools. It is very rare that I have ever felt concerns about the information that my co-workers are teaching. My own children grew up in this school district and I began subbing after our youngest graduated from high school. I have been extremely involved with our educational system for 41 years.
Yes, there are some things that are taught that are not consistent with our belief systems, but that is life, that is living in the world. My husband and I always felt that our job was to stay close to our kids and have frank discussions at home about what they learned at school. This way we helped guide them through life’s challenges as they went along and as they faced controversial ideas, on their own level. We empowered them with a feeling that they could handle whatever the world threw at them without fearing it. They were able to develop confidence in knowing that they were strong enough to withstand the confusing influences of the adversary through discernment. Their protective armor was based on gospel principles giving them insight and strength to make good choices as they looked to Heavenly Father for help. Personally, I am a supporter of public schooling with home support and I have really enjoyed the opportunity to be a substitute teacher. It has allowed me to really get to know the youth of our community for decades and hopefully be an influence for good in their lives.
Dawn BrysonOctober 20, 2023
I took American Heritage from your Father, Ralph Hancock, at Brigham Young University in 1994. He made history so applicable to us. I looked forward to his lectures as each lecture was interesting and engaging. I learned to think more critically too. Honestly, one of my favorite classes. I look forward to learning more.Thank you!
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Joe HopkinsOctober 23, 2023
Thank you Kay Wiemer Gerke for stating so clearly what so many are condemning as CRT. Yes there are marvelous parts to our history and people who have stood tall. But there are also those who have cheated, lied, and destroyed. We need to know their motivations so we can avoid them. The positive needs to be enshrined but to avoid teaching the negative Is foolhardy.
Joan G. SmithOctober 20, 2023
A basic truth, long ignored, asserts that the purpose of education is to teach a student how to THINK. It appears that the "Fathom the Good" curriculum may well provide the way to accomplish that goal. I've sent a link for this article to my wonderful home-schooling daughter.
Kay Wiemer GerkeOctober 20, 2023
I am surprised that Meridian would print this Op-Ed. I have enjoyed Meridian for many years and have always counted on it for informative and inspirational reading. It plays an important role in spreading the Gospel in its unique way. John C. Hancock's opinions are very concerning to me. He has latched on to sound-bite catchphrases that are inflammatory and not fully accurate. CRT, Critical Race Theory, is NOT taught in general education. It is a subject that has been inaccurately vilified and is misleading. CRT is a curriculum that is taught at a graduate school level, not in elementary schools. The danger of this overreaction can lead to omitting vital historical truths regarding our country's past which has created a climate of racism that still exists today. We cannot change history but we should learn from it to not repeat its mistakes. America’s racial past is not only about the horrific treatment of many people of color, it also includes accounts of good people standing up for what was right and fighting against bigotry and hatred. Valuable learning can occur in classrooms when these topics are discussed with accuracy and truth. Students can learn to evaluate society’s mistakes from the past and make informed choices to commit to do better. I have had the unique opportunity of substitute teaching for 20 years in public high school and middle schools. I have seen, first-hand, what curriculum is taught and I have grown close to the faculty and staff from these schools. It is very rare that I have ever felt concerns about the information that my co-workers are teaching. My own children grew up in this school district and I began subbing after our youngest graduated from high school. I have been extremely involved with our educational system for 41 years. Yes, there are some things that are taught that are not consistent with our belief systems, but that is life, that is living in the world. My husband and I always felt that our job was to stay close to our kids and have frank discussions at home about what they learned at school. This way we helped guide them through life’s challenges as they went along and as they faced controversial ideas, on their own level. We empowered them with a feeling that they could handle whatever the world threw at them without fearing it. They were able to develop confidence in knowing that they were strong enough to withstand the confusing influences of the adversary through discernment. Their protective armor was based on gospel principles giving them insight and strength to make good choices as they looked to Heavenly Father for help. Personally, I am a supporter of public schooling with home support and I have really enjoyed the opportunity to be a substitute teacher. It has allowed me to really get to know the youth of our community for decades and hopefully be an influence for good in their lives.
Dawn BrysonOctober 20, 2023
I took American Heritage from your Father, Ralph Hancock, at Brigham Young University in 1994. He made history so applicable to us. I looked forward to his lectures as each lecture was interesting and engaging. I learned to think more critically too. Honestly, one of my favorite classes. I look forward to learning more.Thank you!
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