Berkeley is holding a two day teach-in on how much children should hate the war. There's not much to do except roll ones eyes and shrug the head at a collection of educators struggling to inject propaganda into the schools. Ms. Heagerty does a nice job of getting the people involved to squirm around the issue of using two days to indoctrinate an unusual side to a controversial issue.

Boardmember John Selawsky, sponsor of the "School Days of Public Education on Peace," resolution, acknowledged the event's political charge.

"If we can't bring up moral and ethical issues in our schools, then where can we?" Selawsky said.

Student Boardmember Andy Turner said that the event would be an enhancement, not a detriment, to existing curriculum.

"Education is not relevant if it's not based in the times," he said. "Students are interested in having a school-sanctioned environment to discuss issues they, and teachers, are discussing anyway."

Issel said the event was not in line with the district's policy on controversial speakers, which requires "reasonable and balanced" presentation on potentially controversial subjects.

Other members of the board argued that, since the event will be run completely by district employees who are exempt from the policy, the policy does not apply.

This from a body of thought that has supposedly been on the front lines of keeping politicization out of schools.

That's what concerns me most, not two days of tedious agitprop in a school that already has let a semester's worth in with a wink and a nod. To oppose politicization of the schools requires an absolute fidelity to the cause. That moral authority has been dropped. What's stopping these administrators from blatantly allowing a cross slate of popular leftist causes to run the classes?

But oh well. It's kinda hard to get outraged about this, such a typical abuse of authority that it'd probably get A2 mention in the old Planet. It might be interesting if the national media picks this one up because it's Berkeley, while ignoring the larger Oakland teach-in.
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