Iowa City’s ‘Portrait of a Graduate’ is sketchy

I appreciate the Iowa City Community School District seeking public input for "Portrait of a Graduate," the initiative to update school curricula. With so many students falling behind on the basics due to the pandemic, should these changes be a priority?

I specifically have questions about one of the goals for students referred to as "global citizens." Under this new order, will China guarantee students their constitutional rights? Will Russia provide college loans to students? Will Iran provide a safety net if students meet with misfortune? Will we no longer teach students to be good citizens of the United States, knowing both the rights and responsibilities of citizenship?

If the concept of global citizens means promoting peaceful cooperation among nations, joint efforts to slow climate change, assisting poor nations with development, and planning for future pandemics, that seems reasonable. But one has to wonder why a new curricula is needed for that.

My concern is that promoting global citizens may be part of the leftist agenda to surrender U.S. sovereignty. The public needs to pay attention. Impressionable students can be worked over by people with the wrong ideas.

Mike Streb

Iowa City