SK> ->    The new curriculum focuses on Western history and outlines a
SK> -> "set of key events, ideas and places that will be the focus of a
SK> -> statewide test," reports the paper.  Critics claim students will
SK> -> loose interest in history because the standards reduce the
SK> -> subject to memorization of dates, places and other facts. Others
SK> -> argue that the curriculum does not adequately cover economics,
SK> -> geography, sociology and other areas of social studies.  Some
SK> -> teachers add that the curriculum's emphasis on Western history
SK> -> neglects issues of multiculturalism.  "These standards don't
SK> -> speak to the many different people who make up our country 
    "Multiculturalism" in K-12 education is absurd.
    America was made up of many different ethnic and religious groups long 
before "multiculturalism" advocates demanded K-12 curricula teach about a 
privileged few demographic groups.  Decades before anyone heard the word 
"multicultural" and before massive Third World immigration, a typical K-12 
classroom in a big city would have at least one kid from each of the 
following groups: Irish Catholics, Jews, Italians, Poles, and Germans...none 
of which have _their_ cultures taught in "multicultural" curricula nor demand 
it.
    "Multiculturalism" has just given privileged status to a particular few 
groups whose cultures will be taught, instead of to all groups composing 
America.
SK> -> including the ethnic groups that are part of their own
SK> -> communitites," he added.
    Which, in eastern Massachusetts, would include so many groups there would 
not be time to teach them all.
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