Textbook Indoctrination...

I subbed for a 3rd grade class today. The class had some of the cutest, sweetest kids. I had a great time with them overall. We did spelling, reading, writing, more reading, and social studies. The social studies lesson was over "freedom holidays" we celebrate in America. Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was all pretty generic, it talked about why we celebrate them and when we celebrate them. On the bottom of the page, however, it had several discussion questions to engage the students in. I was the only one who had a copy of the book so I was able to preview the questions before asking them. Well. Here is the question (not verbatim):

What is the difference between how MLK Jr. sought to solve his problems and soldiers at war?

My response to this question, which I did not ask the students to discuss because I found it inappropriate, is how can you compare the two? I know exactly how the writers wanted the question answered. They were hoping some innocent, eager child would raise his/her hand and say "Martin Luther King was a peaceful man, and our soldiers are killing people with guns and grenades". You want to bet me?? How ridiculous is that question? Martin Luther King Jr. was not choosing to be peaceful in contrast to how soldiers in war are, he was a "peaceful protester" in contrast to the non-peaceful protesters. There is a difference. Our soldiers are not violent. I firmly agree with Ronald Reagan that we have Peace Through Strength. Are the author's of this textbook saying it would be better if we marched in the streets of Pakistan peacefully to get our point across? I know one US president who would like that. As long as he wouldn't be the one marching.

You can see why I would not ask that question. After discussing how great holidays like Veteran's Day and Memorial Day are, I would not cause those precious little minds to conjure up, through the poking and prodding of the author's questions, ideas that are just not right.