Dive Brief:
- Despite mass protests by students and teachers, Colorado's Jefferson County School Board is sticking to a proposal that would narrow history instruction to themes centered around citizenship, patriotism, and respect for authority.
- While the board is not dropping the plan, it has voted to include students, parents, and administrators in its reviews of the curriculum.
- At Thursday's board meeting, it was decided in a 3-2 vote to add two more people to the "curriculum review" committee, and to make all meetings public.
Dive Insight:
Whether or not the parent, student, and administrator voices will be represented through the two additional review committee members, or by virtue of public meetings, is unclear.
According to the Associated Press, the proposal that preceded the protests called for the constant reviewing of history texts and course plans to make sure they “promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free-market system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights” and don’t “encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law.”
It seems somewhat surprising, given the amount of discontent and attention the proposal has received, that board member Julie Williams, who suggested the proposal, is unwilling to reconsider. At Thursday's board meeting, the room was so full, according to the Associated Press, that some parents, students, and staff were forced to watch from a video monitor outside. "Resign" and "recall, recall" were a few of the statements being shouted by observers.
