At its invitation, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren recently addressed the State Board of Education about the adoption of revised Social Studies Standards.
Recruited by the Michigan Department of Education in 2016 to serve as a member of a focus group to examine draft K-12 Social Studies Standards, Warren was heavily engaged in revising draft standards in civics and American History.
“When I was first tapped to serve on the Focus Group to review the draft standards, I thought there was no way I would end up supporting the revisions,” Warren reflected. “But we worked through the criticisms, suggestions, and other comments and a very good draft resulted.”
Warren explained that the draft is definitely an improvement in part because “we have crafted a specific definition of ‘core values’ of the American republic, which is rooted in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and should provide better guidance to teachers. Likewise, we have defined ‘constitutional principles’ that refer to key attributes or elements of the Constitution – again providing clarity in the classroom.”
Overall, Warren remarked, the revised standards should provide “better guidance to teachers” and “assist in assessment and accountability . . . [and] many standards have also been revised to increase precision, consistency, and improve balance of perspective.”
Warren energetically supports moving the draft standards to the next stage – public hearings. Quoting James Monroe’s first inaugural address, he stated, “‘Let us by all wise and constitutional measures promote intelligence among the people as the best means of preserving our liberties.’”
Warren ended his testimony by expounding that, “Ensuring that our students can understand the Declaration, how it is embedded in the Constitution, and our history is the key to safeguarding that our children and their children will enjoy the blessings of liberty, and these standards will help us better achieve that most important objective.”
After the public comment period ends, the draft standards will be presented to the State Board for approval in August 2018.
Warren formerly served on the State Board of Education, and is currently heavily engaged in education as president and co-founder of the Patriot Week Foundation and as education chair of the Board of Directors of the Cornerstone Education Group. Patriot Week renews the spirit of America by celebrating the country’s founding First Principles, key documents and speeches, founding fathers and other great patriots, and flags from U.S. history. The commemoration was co-founded by Warren with his then 10-year-old, daughter, Leah.
For more information visit www.PatriotWeek.org. His book, “America’s Survival Guide, How to Stop America’s Impending Suicide by Reclaiming Our First Principles and History,” focuses on the First Principles of Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution, the Constitution, Civil War, Civil Rights struggles, and suggestions for renewing the spirit of America. More information is available at www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.
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