So my question to you is WHY don’t we just keep teaching the 3 Rs &, with children’s new found ability to actually read, write, & analyze statistics for themselves, let THEM decide how they want to participate in the affairs of the world? An educated student, with the tools to research on her own, will do so. As she develops & her brain grows, she will have questions. She can ask her teachers after class if there is additional material. She can go to the library. She can talk to her parents. I discovered Orwell’s ’1984′ when I was a 13 yr old freshman not because it was taught, but because I engaged my English teacher in a discussion & he thought I might enjoy it. He might have been trying to influence me in some way, but the point is I asked. And there was no assignment due; I just wanted something to read that seemed to reflect my feelings about a matter.

Taking time away from learning the basic tools that support critical thinking (finding & evaluating facts, & organizing one’s analysis into coherent written thought) is a disservice to future adults. It may seem noble to indoctrinate them with activist principles, but if they never learn to properly research material on their own, what have they actually learned? How many people do you know whose opinions mainly come from soundbites on TV? Think about it; it’s scary, isn’t it? I know lots of people younger than me who fondly recall self esteem time & green week & what have you, but they seem to lack a real connection to the material because they were deprived of a classical education that allows them to assign true meaning to any aspect of their lives.

Evidence: the popularity of reality TV, which does not require prior learning or even empathy to enjoy. It’s just spectacle, no substance. If you’ve learned to appreciate story & nuance, those things are painful to watch.

Another thing you might want to keep in mind: Adam Baldwin lives, & his kids go to school, in California. You assert kids aren’t getting enough of a global citizenry education. I do not know where you live, so I cannot speak to your experience, but California kids are getting more than anyone’s fair share.

I can only thank God that you are not educating my children.

Of course everything American is not just, but when you have American companies putting American people second because it is ‘just good business’ there is a disconnect over what it means to have a so-called global community.

His article is not at all “scathing” towards global citizenship nor sustainability… it is scathing towards the METHOD of teaching the above uncritically and/or vis a vis intentional circumvention of parental intent.

You claim that we should not believe this is a pervasive issue just on Baldwin’s say-so… but then insist we believe the opposite based on nothing but your say-so.

Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

Ask any 2nd grader if all the polar bears are drowning to death… (as opposed to the reality of their increasing populations) and you’ll see who’s closer to the truth.

Unethical educational indoctrination, no matter how well intentioned, IS a problem that demands vigilance. That’s pretty much all the article says.
And just saying “there is no problem” is not a solution.