To the editor,

This past April 7, the Education Committee of the River Falls School District unanimously moved forward a revision to Policy 361.2 dealing with the selection of library material and instructional material. The revisions, among other things, boldly shift the focus from educating students in the ways and ideals unique to American society to that of a global society. This policy now goes before the entire board for formal approval. I found it troubling that the agenda at this meeting showed a strike-through on the word AMERICAN with the replacement word GLOBAL highlighted in yellow.

Putting my feelings aside, I want to express the deeper reasons why I am opposed to this effort.

Currently the U.N. lists 193 different and separate countries. So just what is a GLOBAL society? Further, the board was asked to name some characteristics of a Global society that are not already embedded within our American society. This request was not answered because “Q and A” between board and community members is not permitted. I am wondering how the board will handle the global perspective on free speech, women’s rights, the fair treatment of homosexuals or even how they will handle the fact that many of those 193 listed countries still permit legal slavery.

We have it pretty good in America mostly because of our foundational beliefs which permit dissent, debates and disagreement in a respectful and peaceful way. Let’s remember that those who came to this land in the 16-1700’s were truly globalists. They brought their religion and their laws both reflective of their embedded world views. Eventually, the fractured groups came together to create documents called the Declaration of Independence and later the Constitution of the United States. These documents distilled many diverse viewpoints around a civil society compact undergirded by the concept and phrase E Pluribus Unum, out of many…. one.

I have long worried that modern-era public schools produce graduates who hold a diminished respect for America and her ideals. I also find it interesting that the RFSD school boards of the past were comfortable with instructional material that supported the American culture.

Jim Souder

River Falls