3.1 The Weaponization of Neutrality

Episode Abstract: This episode considers the weaponization of neutrality in education. Neutrality has the air of common sense, gaining power through repetition, yet it does not withstand deeper questioning: What does it mean to be neutral? Can you describe a neutral classroom? Is the provincial curriculum neutral? Are school policies neutral? Are there not topics that require teachers to take an ethical stand? Despite decades of pointed critiques of neutrality, education reformers continue to invoke the term to advance status quo politics under the guise of neutrality, and to discourage, stigmatize, or make dangerous political views that challenge the status quo. In full ignore-ance of these critiques, the Alberta government recently introduced Bill 25, An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and a Manitoba school division has proposed policies that impose a particular politics on schools while invoking the language of neutrality, balance, and impartiality. Guest Bios: Carla L. Peck is a Professor of Social Studies Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta, Adjunct Professor in the Department of History, Classics & Religion, Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick, and Director of Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future, a SSHRC-funded Partnership Grant. She researches teachers’ and students’ understandings of democratic concepts, teachers’ and students’ historical understandings, and is particularly interested in the relationship between students’ ethnic identities and their understandings of history. https://carlapeck.wordpress.com/ Check out Dr. Peck’s new co-authored book: Sears, A., & Peck, C. L. (2026). Rescuing Reason: How History Education Can Help Save Democracy. University of Toronto Press Kevin Lopuck has taught high school social studies in English and French immersion programs in Selkirk, Manitoba since 2001. In February 2025, he began an interchange with Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning, where he is helping redevelop Manitoba’s K–11 social studies curriculum. He holds a B.Ed. and M.Ed. from the University of Manitoba and is currently a PhD candidate there, researching the emotional weight of teaching high school social studies. Kevin is Past President of the Manitoba Social Sciences Teachers’ Association and serves on the board of directors of the Social Studies Educators Network of Canada. References/Resources: Alberta Education & Childcare. (2026, July 13). Removing politics and ideology from Alberta classrooms | Alberta.ca. Alberta Teachers’ Association. (2026, April 21). ATA raises concerns about Bill 25’s scope, impacts | Alberta Teachers’ Association. CTV News. (2026, April 7). Legislation around ideology in classrooms will have ‘chilling effect’: Education professor. CTVNews. Gareau, C. (2026, September 3). Rural school division rescinds order that would affect health-care privacy of older students. CBC News. Lopuck, K. (2026, February 5). Social studies as ‘neutral?’ That’s a myth, and pressures teachers to avoid contentious issues. The Conversation. Mlinarevic, S. (2026, July 8). Hanover School Division board passes first reading for student activism policy. The Carillon. Moore, S. D. M. (2025, February 20). The Imposition of Teacher Neutrality. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. Ross, E. W., & Vinson, K. (2013). Resisting Neoliberal Education Reform: Insurrectionist Pedagogies and the Pursuit of Dangerous Citizenship. Works and Days, 31, 27–58. Sears, A., & Peck, C. L. (2026). Rescuing Reason: How History Education Can Help Save Democracy. University of Toronto Press Credits The show's producers are Melanie Janzen & Shannon D.M. Moore The co-hosts are Shannon D.M. Moore & Justin Fraser The technical producer is Devin King The cover art is by political cartoonist, Chris Chuckry. The songs 26 Ghosts III, 16 Ghosts II, and 35 Ghosts IV by Nine Inch Nails are used through a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/