If you do not discuss the relative merit of actions such as colonization, then what good is history besides the facts? I don't understand why you would not discuss merit of an action. I took a history course (though it was cross-listed in Political Science) in Diplomacy. Certainly the merit of the actions/sayings that were taken by diplomats were discussed in the course as it was necessary to gage the response to that action or those words.

I do understand about academic freedom, but I just was wondering about your view of what History as a course of study was supposed to convey to the student.