Does Margaret Spellings Oppose Teaching Tolerance?

Vol. I, Issue 5
February 2005

Recently, Margaret Spellings, the new Secretary of Education, lashed out against PBS, the Public Broadcasting System, for an episode of their children's television program, "Postcards From Buster." In this particular episode the main character, during a trip to Vermont, met a little girl who had two mothers. This seemingly innocent plot development so enraged Margaret Spellings that she began an aggressive campaign of attacking the program and the public television network in the press.¹

The strange thing is that the show was merely trying to teach tolerance, not full blown acceptance. It wasn't asking the audience to support a specific lifestyle or to model their lives after those of the television characters; it was just trying to teach simple respect for people and their differences.²

It seems oddly contradictory that the Secretary of Education, the person charged with leading America's educational policy, would be so vehemently opposed to teaching children not to be hateful. Some have said they are concerned that Spellings' actions indicate she is trying to promote an "agenda of intolerance." They are worried that she is not really looking out for the best interests of children, but instead trying to force a narrow-minded world view on them.

Suggestions that Spellings is trying to promote bigotry seem a bit extreme, but it does lead many to wonder if she is appropriately qualified to head the Department of Education. America has an incredibly diverse society, one of the most heterogeneous in the world. People of all different races, religions, personal and political beliefs live and work together creating a multicultural and rich society that is uniquely American. To become a functioning member of American society, it is important to get along with different people of diverse backgrounds.² Spellings seems unable or unwilling to teach the nation's children this basic skill for being successful in modern society. Even more troubling is that she is actively working against others teaching children understanding and tolerance.

How much will Spellings' actions damage the mental development of America's children? Will they be able to become good and productive citizens? Or will Ms. Spellings opposition to the teaching of tolerance stunt the social and psychological development of America's youth? The influence of the Department of Education on the nation's schools, administrators and teachers is significant. Will the next generation of children be able to live and work together easily and cohesively? Or have Ms. Spellings' extreme personal views damaged the potential of a young generation?

How far will her personal agenda take her? Does she oppose AIDS education and awareness? What about the teaching sciences? At such a young age, children are highly receptive to instruction. With Margaret Spellings working against the educational interests of the America's children, and carrying with her the full weight of the Department of Education, our society may suffer the consequences in the years ahead. But worse, by not teaching good socialization and citizenship skills to young minds, ready and willing to learn, she may be squandering America's greatest resource: it's children.