Imagine that you are a surgeon. Before each operation you have to submit a summary of your surgical procedures to the family of your patient. Now imagine that they choose to do the surgery themselves or opt out.

That scenario in essence represents American education today and this condition is caused by "culture wars."

Not since the Civil War, has there existed such a deep divide represented by vitriolic rhetoric and actions from some quarters.

The Scopes trial is an example of a reactionary public engaging in curriculum engineering. But Scopes was vindicated. The science of evolution is taught in public schools.

The latest challenge of creationism was also put to rest by the courts as a violation of the establishment clause. Yet some school boards edit text books and ban fiction, movies and documentaries.

The uproar over the Obama presidential address aimed at students begs some questions.

Why did parents not threaten to keep their students home when Ronald Reagan in 1988 and George Bush in 1991 spoke to children in national broadcasts?

Will I have to submit my lesson plans to parents before I teach? If they object to an assigned speech by Teddy Roosevelt or Bill Clinton, will I have to give "alternative" assignments?

What will happen to the value of academic freedom? What will happen to free and open discourse as a cherished value in education?

Will we ever return to the respectful attitude towards educators that we once enjoyed? Perhaps we should ask our students.

Jim Kelly, Hudson