Date: March 25, 2004
Subject: Back to the Future II

At this point, the bigger question is the process, not the content. Love 'em or hate 'em, the second draft of the social studies standards is the result of a public process. The Senate's alternative standards are a result of a largely unknown process by a few elites comfortably out of public view, as was the Profile of Learning. They seem to be designed to give the education omnibus bill conference committee the power to set aside the Academic Standards Committee's work and essentially re-write the social studies standards, or to table the standards until after the '04 House elections. In the latter scenario, Commissioner Yecke's confirmation is key to both sides of the issue, because the Commissioner will appoint the next Academic Standards Committee, unless the Legislature specifies some other process.

See the SCSU Scholars blog for ongoing frank commentary on the alternative standards.