Please pass this important bill

I oppose this bill. What I have heard for several years is equity in education. In order to keep that equity, students should be required to take the same core courses for graduation including history and social studies. The two African American studies can be offered as electives. If they are allowed as substitute, not all students will receive the same education in history, thereby having a skewed understanding of history.

I oppose this bill. January 6th was not an insurrection and should not be taught as such in public schools. That is misinformation leading students to believe it is truth. This is propaganda is leading to indoctrination of our vulnerable children and needs to be stopped. SCOTUS ruled that federal prosecutors overreached in using an obstruction of justice law to charge January 6th rioters. To prevent any other words to be used to describe the January 6th events is irresponsible.

As an educator, I am hesitant about this bill, not because I oppose teaching African American History, but I believe the unintended consequences could include 1) weakening common academic expectations by making foundational world history optional, 2) fragmenting the curriculum, so students in the same diploma track graduate with non-comparable coursework, and 3) reducing exposure to global history, undermining civic literacy. Also, in a nation comprised of multiple ethnicities, why is African American History singled out, but not Asian American, or Hispanic American, or Native American, etc.? I am most concerned that it could serve to sideline core world history knowledge that should be the standard program of studies for all students. I don't think this should be a decision at the legislative level but rather left to the local school boards and their communities to decide.