( CNN ) -- Hundreds of students in Colorado walked out of classes this week in response to recent attempts by the conservative-leaning Jefferson County board of education to change the school curriculum . One of the board 's most controversial initiatives is to avoid historical instances of civil disobedience while promoting `` patriotism , respect for authority and free enterprise . '' Imagine for a moment : What if the board succeeds ? What if we step into a time machine and travel to such a future ? In such a world , not only have those pesky moments of civil disobedience been put in their proper place , but also their dangerous effects have finally started turning around . For example , the late 1800s look a lot different in Colorado 's textbook in the future . Take that troublemaker Susan B. Anthony , who spent 50 years of her life fighting for women 's right to vote . While current textbooks applaud her courage in the face of a trial , conviction and $ 100 fine for illegally casting a ballot in the 1872 presidential election , the Colorado textbook of the future might well ensure that her story is blotted out . And even though there 's no repealing women 's right to vote , future generations of girls at least know never to protest against continuing forms of gender inequality , such as being paid less for doing the same job as a man . To fight for equal pay would be unpatriotic , disrespectful , and contemptuous of CEOs , who -- let 's face it -- ultimately know what 's best for us . The progressive movement of the early 20th century would likely look different in Colorado 's textbook of the future . While current textbooks detail the illegal labor strikes that eventually led to things like a 40-hour work week and workplace safety laws , future textbooks may make no mention of it . In the future , students would understand that it 's unpatriotic to question an employer for any reason . Asking for things like cost-of-living raises just makes companies want to leave the U.S. and go someplace where they can hire people who will work for even less money . The lesson : If you want a job at all , better keep your mouth shut and watch your wages decline . Finally , in the Colorado textbooks of the future , the civil rights movement could be recast in the proper light . For example , Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King could be depicted as disobedient rabble-rousers rather than brave fighters for equality . How dare Rosa Parks -- a black woman -- sit in the front of the bus ? In Montgomery , Alabama , in 1955 , that was illegal , not to mention disrespectful and unpatriotic . And how dare the Rev . Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lead peaceful marches for equality without a permit ? That was also illegal in many Southern cities , and he rightfully went to jail for the crime . Thus , Colorado students of the future would know that fighting for equality among the races is dangerous and might get you into trouble . Best to just accept the status quo despite stubborn discrepancies between the races in categories like student achievement , household income , and incarceration . No , I do n't really have a time machine , and no one can predict the future . But we can and should look at the past with a critical eye . Our history is filled with seemingly powerless people banding together , following their conscience , and making a positive change , despite the anger of rich and powerful people , who like things to stay just the way they are . As we face a future of widening inequality , resurgent discrimination , and decreasing wages , we would do well to follow the example of the Colorado students who are peacefully disobeying authorities and fighting for a truthful account of history in their textbooks .
Colorado school district wants to revise curriculum to avoid history of civil disobedience . David Wheeler : Students are right to protest , but what if the board succeeds ? He says in such a future , those in Colorado will be afraid to fight for rights and equality . Wheeler : Instances of disobedience in history offers valuable lessons for citizens .