January 6, 2005 Board Meeting: All members were present. The books requested for IB Theory of Knowledge (to be taught beginning 05-06) were presented for vote, having been originally reviewed at the December 16, 2004 study session, with teachers present to answer questions.
Dr. Peterson presented the list and said there was good rationale to adopt them not as texts, but as resources for discussion.
Bill Wenmark expressed concerns about the way the materials would be used to teach; he feels they are pro-Marxist and anti-American; not convinced Doug Kennedy has depth to teach these books effectively without other things to balance; concerned about developing a contrarian attitude in adolescents’ minds; brain research shows adolescents default to anger center; doesn’t believe 17 & 18 yr old children have capability to agree or disagree with what program is all about; “we suggested some texts to gentleman teaching this” but they’re not here.
Dr. Peterson: books are a resource to challenge student’s thinking, not a text to be taught – in light of this, we wanted to stay away from books laden with religious overtones which would be more appropriate in comparative religion course; AP & IB students clearly capable of handling this material – want to be careful of implying that we have students whose brains can’t handle challenging material – clearly we do have capable students.
Erin Adams, Chair, asked Claudia Risnes for brief description of course.
Claudia Risnes, Director of Teaching and Learning: I didn’t ask Doug K. or science teachers or others to be here tonight because I didn’t know you had further questions for them; they would gladly have come if asked. Doug K and I fully committed to addressing your concerns for more materials as requested in December; researching books from list Mr. Eaton sent; looking for a text on logic students could use. Theory of Knowledge is key component of IB, introducing students to basic elements of thought and understanding, the relationship between language and thought, the relationship between knowledge and truth. Students are not presented with “here is truth, here is knowledge” but are encouraged to look for fallacies in logic and to analyze and think critically about the ideological and cultural beliefs portrayed by a writer.
Dave Eaton said Sagan and Campbell and some others promote atheism, which is a religion, so he feels the list not balanced and wants “both sides” of the belief systems represented. If eliminating theistic belief system, then eliminate atheistic; doesn’t believe 17 & 18 yr olds’ knowledge is enough to stand up to atheist Sagan and Campbell; books are against district policy.
Dr. Peterson: purpose of course is not to analyze the beliefs and truths of Christianity; to have material that would lead students to do that would be a mistake. Believes himself that atheism can be considered a religion, but to have students critique and tear apart atheism is more palatable than to do the same to Christianity or any specific religion. Unlike most courses, challenge is the point here – let’s be careful what we lead kids to challenge.
Erin Adams: Remember IB is an elective program, not required; students self-select.
Carol Eastlund: Reassured by Claudia and Dennis – if they say there will be more texts, I know they will follow through. Exposing students to new ideas is not the same as advocating them.
Judy Erdahl: Clarify, please Dave – did you say if there are other books included later you would not object to any books we’re considering today?
Dave Eaton: Yes, but I don’t want to vote on partial list.
Peggy Stefan: I read these books, too, understand they are for discussion, not texts to be taught. My son read Huck Finn which has language and ideas I could object to, but he wrote a great essay about it.
Bob Quam to Claudia Risnes: We’ve heard several times that these books promote only one way of thinking or knowing. Do you believe that?
Claudia Risnes: No. Discussion here is separating things between atheistic and theistic viewpoint and that’s not intent of course.
Bob Quam: So that’s not the opinion of our professional staff - It’s the opinion of two board members.
Vote was taken to approve the partial list of materials with the provision that the board would have the opportunity to vote on the final list. Unanimous in favor.
Erin Adams: Thank you for your advocacy and work for kids. Good discussion.
This meeting seems to be the first time ideological concerns were raised publicly about IB, 4 months after the first Minnetonka students began the IB Diploma.
Read official minutes of this meeting at:
www.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/district/schoolboard/minutes/1605minutes.pdf
Report compiled by TonkaFocus members as they viewed the tape of the January 6 meeting