We don’t give our kids enough credit. Give them the chance to learn our country’s history, which is both inspirational and disturbing, and have faith that they can be critical thinkers who can be empowered to participate fully and intelligently in shaping America’s future. Students want this, teachers want this, and communities need this.

As we move into summer, where policies about flying Pride and other flags will be developed and debated, I fully expect that the final Carlsbad Unified School District policy will prohibit all flags except the U.S. and California flags. I hope I’m proven wrong.

No one can deny that students need, now more than ever, a place of learning where acceptance of the “other” can be advanced and where under-represented student populations can learn about their own histories with pride and dignity. It’s how to apply those worthy objectives is where it gets tricky.

Ethnic and racial studies programs have been labeled cultural indoctrination simply for attempting to help children understand the brutal effects that hate speech, bullying and harassment can have. Helping children understand this, and providing support to those victimized, are worthy lessons that kids need now more than ever.