The Future of U.S. Education: Who decides what gets taught?
Channel: Gustavus Adolphus College
Date: 2023-05-04

The 2023 MAYDAY! Peace Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Education is one of the cornerstones of American democracy and has historically been seen as a pathway to personal wellbeing, healthy communities, and a more peaceful world. Every generation has seen debates around educational curricula as a reflection of our values and priorities. Today, we’re seeing increased efforts to legislate what gets taught in classrooms from K-12 to colleges and universities — particularly around topics such as history, race, gender, sexuality, and identity. The outcomes of these debates will have a tremendous impact on peace, justice, and our democracy at home and abroad. 


This MAYDAY! teach-in will be an opportunity to draw upon the expertise and insights of Gustavus faculty members from across the disciplines to examine what education's purpose is and should be, who actually decides what gets taught and why, and how the answers to these questions will impact us all in the short term and for generations to come.