that can be addressed in creative ways, particularly in high school. For example, I think it's ok and in fact desirable to talk about how global trade developed, including the excesses of the slave trade, and what impacts that had on indigenous people. Or to talk about how globalization has had both positive and negative effects on labor markets, wages, access to goods and services, and even pandemics.

Now, not every essay you read is a balanced argument. The key is to be able to learn how to support one argument or the other using critical thinking. The topic of social media is a great opportunity for the teacher to generate discussion of the pros and cons rather than just accepting the inherent goodness in it as a fact. I'm not sure what the objective is about using Spanish to talk about climate change; kind of an ironic crossover there given Spain's role in the subjugation of indigenous people. But again, sounds like an opportunity to me.

What I'd like to see in schools by the way is more emphasis on helping kids choose a track between college or vocational training. Not every kid wants or needs college. One of my son's friends ditched the college track early on and became an excellent diesel mechanic who can also hold an intelligent conversation. Seems like that should be the bottom line.