IB: Issue isn't about choice

I attended the School District’s “Schools of Choice” workshop on 5/17/10.  The School Board had the opportunity to address the concerns we as parents and taxpayers have raised concerning the controversial IB/PYP programs, but their primary thrust was to paint this as an issue of choice. Most of the presentations were by the principals of our local schools offering special programs.  Naturally, all of the principals were very proud of their schools, their hard work to implement the special programs such as IB/PYP, and their students/our kids. I have a couple of points to make about the District’s presentation.

First, although they clearly want to make this about “choice,” as opposed to the absence of any need to have a UN-based program in our schools, it is clear this strategy has not been properly planned by the School Board. Thus, there was no analysis presented about how the school district is going to manage the logistics of bussing students away from their neighborhood schools they “choose” not to attend, or how much that will cost the taxpayers. Parents were given no practical information as to what they will need to do to get their children transferred to a different school, whether there would be waiting lists, etc.

The speakers did not attempt to refute the facts establishing the direct connection between IB/PYP and UNESCO, or that IB/PYP says its curriculum framework is designed to turn out “true global citizens.” The school principals quite sincerely denied having any intent to indoctrinate our children, and I take them at their word.  However, when specifically asked by a board trustee, the principals could not deny the charge that IB teaches moral relativism.  I simply cannot disregard the education professionals and behavioralists above them at IB/PYP and UNESCO who designed the program.  If they say their IB/PYP program will turn our kids into “true global citizens” who believe “everyone can be right” and there is no absolute truth, I have to take that seriously, as well.

Third, I discovered that throughout the workshop, one of the school board trustees had set up a video recording device, and trained it on where my wife and I were sitting at the workshop, along with other opponents of the IB/PYP program.  I confronted the trustee, who would not state the purpose for doing so. I requested a copy of the video recording, but was refused.  Why would an elected official surreptitiously video private citizens at a public meeting, without their knowledge or consent?

DUNCAN KOLER

Hayden Lake