Let's look at both sides now

 Let’s look at both sides now

 

We have a new phenomenon going on in our schools.   The idea is that when any idea is presented, it is important to look at both sides of the issue.   At first blush that looks like a good thing.    After all, one of the major objectives of education is to teach our children to consider both sides of an issue before deciding on their position.

However, there is a serious flaw in this approach.   In this approach, every opinion is treated as equally valid, including those including falsehoods masquerading as objective fact.   It also includes treating the opinions of liars and those unqualified to have an opinion as equal to those who are trained experts in the field.

The issue is NOT that everyone is entitled to an opinion the issue is that in “bothsideism” all opinions have to be treated as equally valid.  And this is not the case.

So for example, if children were studying space, views that the earth is flat and not a sphere would need to be treated equally and given equal time and attention as those of scientists.   There is a view that a woman’s menstrual cycle can be regulated with jade quartz eggs.   In districts that require “bothsideism”, these views must get equal time and attention in biology classes.  This past October, educators in Southlake, Texas were told if they had a book on the Holocaust in their classroom library, they would also have to have one that had an “opposing” perspective, i.e. the Holocaust never happened.   In Indiana, a state senator is insisting that the teaching of history needs to be impartial.  Teaching about  history needed to be taught from the perspective of all sides and not take a position as to which side might be right or wrong.  Good or bad reasons to go to war are not categorized as such, all reasons are neutral.

Absolutely, children need to be taught multiple positions on all issues so they can intelligently come to their own views as to what is right and what is wrong.  But when we give equal credence to information that is without evidence we are teaching children that it is ok to accept opinion as equal to fact.

Russia invaded Ukraine; that is a fact.  The Holocaust happened, that is a fact.  The earth is a sphere; that is a fact.  There is no equivalency sign between fact and opinion.  A vital part of education is to teach children the difference.