Teachers in Jefferson County, Colorado called in sick Friday to protest disputes over questionable curriculum. They are being forced to use Advanced Placement (AP) history curriculum that whitewashes history in a way that erases evidence of historical strife.?The are being called instead to teach only about patriotism, the free market, respect for individual rights, and get this: obedience to authority.
The school district is proposing a nine-person panel to oversee the schools. Naturally, parents and teachers fear that the panel will be a first step towards censorship. The superintendent resigned in February, citing that she “can’t lead” and “can’t move the district forward.”?So who will appoint this questionable?panel? The district’s uber-conservative school board.
From the official Board Committee for Curriculum Review document (highlights mine):
Board Committee for Curriculum Review.
The committee shall be seated by the Board. Each director may nominated up to three candidates for the committee and the entire board then will vote to select the nine (9) members of the committee. The charge to the committee is to review curricular choices for conformity to JeffCo academic standards, accuracy and omissions, and to inform the board of any objectionable materials. The committee shall regularly review texts and curriculum according to priorities that it establishes, however, at any time, the Board may add items to the list for review. The committee shall report all comments (majority and minority) to the board in writing on a weekly basis as items are reviewed. Board members may move for discussion or action on items reported when matters warrant public discussion or action. The committee’s initial projects will be a review of the AP US History curriculum and elementary health curriculum.
Review criteria shall include the following: instructional materials should present the most current factual information accurately and objectively. Theories should be distinguished from fact. Materials should promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights. Materials should not encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law. Instructional materials should present positive aspects of the United States and its heritage. Content pertaining to political and social movements in history should present balanced and factual treatment of the positions.
Yep, they are seriously doing this. I have screenshotted this document in case it gets taken down.
From Addicting Info:
The PTA President, Michele Patterson, asked, ?does that mean we’re going to eliminate slavery from class discussions, because that wasn’t a particular positive time of our history? Hiroshima didn’t necessarily look great.?
Jefferson County teachers are also in contract disputes.
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Tiffany Willis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
h/t Addicting Info
