RE: Students welcome the Year of the Rabbit [Village News, 3/10/11]

Now that the “multicultural” program is at Fallbrook Union Elementary School District (FUESD), common sense teaching appears to be omitted from the teaching manuals. Why is FUESD spending time and money on the International Scholars program when the teaching manual this program created regarding the Chinese culture doesn’t mention that China is a communist country?

I was told that “teachers may add that aspect if they choose to.” How many teachers will cross the politically correct line, or have the time to, since we also expect them to teach our children math, reading and science?

Why are schools sensationalizing dances and such of the Chinese culture, when these rituals revolve around religious sects such as Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism? Since mentioning God or Jesus Christ is forbidden in school, it should be the same for all religions.

As a co-teacher of my children, I teach the history of all cultures and religions that have formed through “assimilation” to create America. How could it be more important for our school to spend three weeks on this event, and not three weeks teaching about the architects of America – our founding fathers, who contributed so much to our freedom?

If FUESD’s goal is to make children “globally aware,” then don’t omit the facts about the history of communist governments, and current events like continued suppression of freedom of speech through the press and Internet. This can be accomplished in a few hours, not three weeks. Then get back to focusing on math, reading, and science.

Ramona Calhoun