The Duty of Civil Disobedience : Jeff Co
http://thegrio.com/2014/10/02/school-board-proposal-white-washes-history/
Jefferson County students are cutting class with the goal to enhance their education. Board of Education members voted 3:2 to approve a committee that will revise the history curriculum, AP US History being the focal point of controversy.
The general aim of the committee is to whitewash history by emphasizing patriotism while avoiding encouragement of civil disobedience, disregard of the law, civil disorder, and social strife.
History is fact and to be omitting facts of United States history from the Advanced Placement Curriculum, developed by the College Board, presents an incomplete depiction and understanding of how America came to be the country that stands today.
Students are aware that the actions of the school board could be considered censorship and are eager to let the board know that they are unjustified in their actions.
A parody Twitter account has been made of the woman who suggested the curriculum change, Julie Williams. The account mocks Williams and has gained a following of about 240 Twitter users.
Although a committee is promised, there is no promise the board will listen.
Schools have been closed because students and teachers alike are against the plan. Protests and marches have become popular to demonstrate the opposition to the prospect of significant curriculum changes.
Julie Williams, the main promoter of the plan is a conservative who was elected to the board in November, said the plan was to make the curriculum more transparent.
Fellow board member Lesley Dahlkemper, a three year board member and democrat, expressed concern that she isn’t sure of the plan’s true intentions or even political agenda.
AP US History is a course created by the College Board, in close association with university and college standards for history, yet a school board with less knowledge is permitted to amend the curriculum to better suit how that county decides to present history.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/03/after-weeks-of-student-protest-colorado-school-board-gives-a-little-ground-on-positive-history-curriculum/
Alex Valentine • Oct 16, 2014 at 7:27 pm
Maddy,
Your article is well written and very compelling. Thank you for sharing your option.
The proposed curriculum changes are a red herring. I compel you to look further into the situation. The voters in JeffCo voted in the current school board, who, as you point out, have a conservative point of view.
The disruption you reported on were motivated by teachers and their dissatisfaction with the new majority in the school board. The old board complied with the views and positions of the teachers union, without providing healthy friction. The new board sees things differently. They were voted in with a majority of the voters’ approval. They promised reform. This reform has the teachers union (and some of the teachers) very upset.
What is really at stake is the teachers new “pay for performance” standards.
These new pay standards will raise every teachers pay, and richly reward outstanding teacher performance. However, administrators now have new tools to hold accountable teachers who rank low, giving them the opportunity for training or reassignment.
Let’s not confuse the issue of what is at stake – curriculum changes MAY happen, but pay changes WILL happen.
Respectfully submitted.