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U.S. History According to Charles Koch: The conservative billionaire could be teaching your kids
Now Koch's influence has extended into North Carolina's public schools.
A Senate Education Committee presentation last week from N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson included proposals for curriculum resources in "American History I: The Founding Principles," a mandatory high school course.
Among the 12 resources Atkinson listed is the Bill of Rights Institute, a Virginia-based nonprofit launched by Koch's charitable foundation that distributes teaching materials such as weekly lesson plans, videos, interactive games, seminars and webinars for history students.
"I am very concerned about the idea of somebody who is known to be very political getting involved in how we teach our political history," says state Rep. Deb McManus, a freshman Democrat from Chatham County and a former local school board member who sits on the House's Education Committee.
Chris Hill, education and law project director for the left-leaning N.C. Justice Center, says political advocacy does not belong in schools.
"I'm concerned when any group would muddle education with politics," Hill says. "Let the kids figure that out on their own."
Koch exerted his influence in last year's North Carolina elections. Koch Industries spent $36,000 on the campaigns of powerful GOP leaders such as Gov. Pat McCrory, House Speaker Thom Tillis, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Jacksonville Republican Harry Brown, a member of the Senate Education Committee. Republican leaders in that committee—co-chairs Dan Soucek and Jerry Tillman—did not return INDY phone calls.
Most concerning to critics, however, is the possibility that institute leaders will shape their lessons with partisan viewpoints. A recent lesson plan on gun rights following the Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting in December included questions referencing popular conservative talking points but only briefly noted the central point of pro-gun control arguments—that limiting access to guns will curb gun violence.
Other lesson plans take on topics such as gay marriage and health care, with materials on the latter challenging students to question whether President Obama's 2010 health care overhaul is ultimately constitutional.
A college teacher, Luebke called their work a "decidedly conservative analysis of the U.S. Constitution."
A Senate Education Committee presentation last week from N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson included proposals for curriculum resources in "American History I: The Founding Principles," a mandatory high school course.
Among the 12 resources Atkinson listed is the Bill of Rights Institute, a Virginia-based nonprofit launched by Koch's charitable foundation that distributes teaching materials such as weekly lesson plans, videos, interactive games, seminars and webinars for history students.
"I am very concerned about the idea of somebody who is known to be very political getting involved in how we teach our political history," says state Rep. Deb McManus, a freshman Democrat from Chatham County and a former local school board member who sits on the House's Education Committee.
Chris Hill, education and law project director for the left-leaning N.C. Justice Center, says political advocacy does not belong in schools.
"I'm concerned when any group would muddle education with politics," Hill says. "Let the kids figure that out on their own."
Koch exerted his influence in last year's North Carolina elections. Koch Industries spent $36,000 on the campaigns of powerful GOP leaders such as Gov. Pat McCrory, House Speaker Thom Tillis, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Jacksonville Republican Harry Brown, a member of the Senate Education Committee. Republican leaders in that committee—co-chairs Dan Soucek and Jerry Tillman—did not return INDY phone calls.
Most concerning to critics, however, is the possibility that institute leaders will shape their lessons with partisan viewpoints. A recent lesson plan on gun rights following the Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting in December included questions referencing popular conservative talking points but only briefly noted the central point of pro-gun control arguments—that limiting access to guns will curb gun violence.
Other lesson plans take on topics such as gay marriage and health care, with materials on the latter challenging students to question whether President Obama's 2010 health care overhaul is ultimately constitutional.
A college teacher, Luebke called their work a "decidedly conservative analysis of the U.S. Constitution."
http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/us-history-according-to-charles-koch-the-conservative-billionaire-could-be-teaching-your-kids/Content?oid=3344870
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