Half-truths, innuendo, falsehoods, intentional omissions and pure ignorance

My friend Col. Curt Dale was recently asked to speak at the Colorado Board of Education meeting on the AP History curriculum. Here reproduced are his remarks:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I was invited to come as a Veteran of 27 years in the Air Force and opine on the Advanced Placement College Board History curriculum. Holding a BS, Masters and PhD, all in the field of Education, wasn’t a factor. But that background helped me evaluate this flawed effort. I’m insulted, disappointed, even infuriated at this attempt at what I’ll call “ADVOCACY HISTORY.” Advocacy Journalism is when supposedly unbiased, balanced, and evenhanded in reporting, instead, become advocates of personal agendas. This AP History Curriculum is a perfect parallel to Advocacy Journalism. It is bias against America, finding fault and ignoring its best. It finds American Exceptionalism repulsive.

When I found the efforts of millions of comrades to arms in the Korean War, and my Brothers in the Vietnam War reduced to ONE SENTENCE in the curriculum, I was insulted. I am no hero. But I flew 153 Combat Missions in the course of 3 Combat Tours in the Vietnam War. Further, I helped fight the Cold War those 27 years We won it? Is that in this curriculum? Hardly! That would be unseemly, given the faultfinding in the curriculum.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream Speech” is omitted, as is Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” In City Park we have a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument. There’s a Martin Luther King Blvd. What would be the hue and cry if we just removed that monument and those signs? The “I have a Dream Speech” is one of the greatest speeches ever given in America? That speech should be timeless to Americans. These historians tore it down. The monument may fade and crumble. If not taught the essential reason Dr. King is admired in his fight for justice and freedom, these inept histories will have robbed Dr. King and the youth.

Do we want the importance of the American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen of World War I and WWII to fall by the wayside? Do we want to teach that Washington did NOT cross the Delaware? This reduces the battles, ultimate sacrifices and victories of our wars to just reasons to find fault with America?

It ignores the Founding Fathers. But it praises inane figures who contributed nothing to make it and keep America secure and safe. Recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor are ignored. I’ve had the great honor of meeting Medal of Honor Recipients General James Doolittle, Corporal “Woody” Williams, and Colonel “Bernie” Fisher and others, including a squadron mate, Captain Gerald O. Young. Yet, their bravery and willingness to give all to preserve this Republic aren’t even worthy grist for this curriculum.

I say, scrap this feeble effort at revisionist history. It’s unworthy for our brightest students. They deserve knowing what really happened in building this great nation, of its wars, and the real heroes and heroines. This collection of half-truths, innuendo, falsehoods, intentional omissions and pure ignorance does not pass muster. It is advocacy history for political correctness. Thank you!

Who is Curt Dale?

Curtis D. Dale is retired in Parker Colorado, has been married to Pat for over 57 years, has 7 children (3 homemade and 4 adopted), 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is a Colonel, USAF, Retired. He holds a BS in Education from West Virginia University, a Masters Degree in Education from Pepperdine University, and a PhD in Educational Management from Angeles University. He is a graduate of the Air Ward College (twice: correspondence and in residence) and Command and Staff College. He served 3 Combat Tours in the Vietnam War, two of them in reconnaissance flying B-47s and one flying electronic warfare in EC-47s. He served on tour as a Crew Commander in Atlas D and Atlas E ICBMs. He was Commander of Task Force Alpha in Panama, flying RB-57Fs on the edge of space, above 70,000 feet altitude, a spacesuit operation. He also commanded both the BMEWS site at Clear, Alaska, and the PAVE PAWS site at Beale AFB, California, both in Space and Missile Warning and Space Track operations. His final command tour was as Commander AAFES Philippines and Thailand. His last tour was working with the Space Shuttle. Upon retirement from the USAF, he was an Astronautic Planner for Martin Marietta in the Titan IV Space Launch System. Adopting children later in life kept him active in their schooling. He served on the Douglas County, CO, Accountability Committee as member, chair elect, chairman, past chairman and again as member. He taught as a substitute teacher in the school for 2 years. He voluntarily spent months preparing a comparison of Dr. Bill Spady’s Outcomes Based Education and Standards Based Education and was asked for his recommendation. His recommendation was Standards Based. He subsequently sat with Governor Roy Romer and two others for an entire Sunday afternoon, presenting that comparison and discussing the reasoning. Colorado adopted Standards Based Education shortly therafter. He then worked with DCSD in developing Standards, then with Senator John Evans and ultimately the Colorado Department of Education in developing standards.