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CNN Live Today

NEA Web Site Debate

Aired August 20, 2002 - 12:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: A national debate now is brewing over a new Web site. The Teachers association says it is meant to offer help in discussing the attacks on New York and Washington in the classroom, but some have taken offense to the material.
Reporter Leila Feinstein of affiliate station KRON has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEILA FEINSTEIN, CNN AFFILIATE KRON REPORTER (voice-over): Teachers in the San Francisco Unified School District are busy getting ready for school to reopen next week. At the same time, lesson plans introduced by the National Education Association to deal with the one- year anniversary of the September 11 attacks are coming under attack themselves.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's unconscionable that the nation's teachers are being encouraged to teach such lack of patriotism. It's anti-patriotism.

FEINSTEIN: Critics of the NEA's curriculum say suggested lesson plans found on its Web site take a "blame America approach," urging educators to discuss historical instances of American intolerance, so that the American public can avoid repeating mistakes.

AVI BLACK, CURRICULUM SPECIALIST: I think it is tricky, in the sense that there are many tricky situations like this and tricky issues that teachers deal with, with students.

FEINSTEIN: Curriculum specialist, Avi Black, says he agrees with the NEA's suggestion of teaching high school students about Japanese internment camps, and the backlash against Arab-Americans during the Gulf War, in order for them to form their own opinions.

BLACK: American democracy is about discourse. It's about examining situations in a responsible way and looking at different perspectives. And that this is an opportunity for students to do exactly that, and it is critical to, again, develop their critical thinking skills.

FEINSTEIN: But critics argue some of the lesson plans are simply un-American.

ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: The question: Should students be taught to at least evaluate, try to see what is happening from the other side what would make someone create or commit such a heinous act on Americans? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is nothing wrong with that, Arthel, but when you start indicating that America is responsible, that somehow we have contributed to this, that's bogus. That's unpatriotic. It is lies. It's not truth.

FEINSTEIN: But teachers say the truth is exactly what they plan to teach.

SANDY LAM, SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: Teaching students to look for the facts, look for historical facts, and pealing back the layers of history to make sure they understand which ones are cultural perspectives.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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