Defending our students’ freedom to learn
All students deserve the freedom to learn an honest history of our nation, both the good and the bad, so they can learn from our mistakes and create a better future for all Minnesotans. But certain politicians and some national big money groups are trying to:
- Turn Minnesotans against their educators.
- Deny educators the resources they need to support every student.
- Ban accurate, age-appropriate lessons about the role of racism, gender and civil rights in America.
Education Minnesota offers free training and materials on how to share our values for our students and our schools. They will equip advocates to push back confidently against the campaign to put Minnesota students in the middle of an election-year culture war.
These resources are available to all educators and allies who are ready to speak out for Minnesota students’ opportunity to learn the critical thinking skills they will need to become engaged citizens and make our state a place where everyone can thrive, no matter where they live, what they look like, or who they love.
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Due to high demand, we ask for groups of least 12. Someone will get back to you within two business days of your request.
Minnesota’s new social studies standards
The proposed update to Minnesota’s standards for the teaching of social studies in the public schools includes more content about forgotten and suppressed narratives, including a new strand on ethnic studies, while retaining lessons on the pivotal events in state and national history.
This is a welcome change for educators working to provide Minnesota students with an honest and complete education about America, including both the triumphs and the times when our nation fell short of its ideals.
Education Minnesota supports giving Minnesota students the critical thinking tools they need to understand the role of race and racism in American history. Denying these lessons would shortchange our students on the skills they will need to live and lead in a multicultural, multiracial society.
Perhaps the biggest change to the current standards would be the addition of a new ethnic studies strand. For questions about the ethnic studies standards and how they were developed, please contact the Minnesota Ethnic Studies Coalition at mnethnicstudies@gmail.com.
Certain members of the Minnesota Legislature are expected to try to review, modify or block the proposed standards. Watch this page for updates on what’s happening at the Capitol and for guidance on what you can do to share your opinion with these lawmakers.