#JeffCoSchoolBoardHistory has some really funny tweets.
Those are funny...
jen @amfmjen Follow The Bay of Pigs was actually Jim Henson's first attempt at muppetry, but was passed over by studio execs. #JeffCoSchoolBoardHistory
or
LRD90 @lrd90 Miley Cyrus was Hannah Montana before Obama took office - #JeffCoSchoolBoardHistory - THANKS OBAMA!!! pic.twitter.com/YtUJkMiJvP
Post by MrsAxilla on Sept 26, 2014 20:48:32 GMT -5
The College Board releases a statement on the student protests in Jefferson County.
KUSA - Friday afternoon, the organization responsible for the Advanced Placement U.S. History curriculum and tests voiced its support for the student protests in Jefferson County.
"The College Board's Advanced Placement Program® supports the actions taken by students in Jefferson County, Colorado to protest a school board member's request to censor aspects of the AP U.S. History course," The College Board said in a statement.
The statement cites concerns with a portion of the proposal submitted by Jeffco School Board Member Julie Williams which reads "Materials should not encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law."
The College Board states, "These students recognize that the social order can – and sometimes must – be disrupted in the pursuit of liberty and justice. Civil disorder and social strife are at the patriotic heart of American history – from the Boston Tea Party to the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement. And these events and ideas are essential within the study of a college-level, AP U.S. History course."
Williams says she is not trying to rewrite history or censor any materials being taught. She just wants the community to examine the curriculum.
"It has an emphasis on race, gender, class, ethnicity, grievance and American-bashing while simultaneously omitting the most basic structural and philosophical elements considered essential to the understanding of American History for generations," Williams released in a statement.
School Board President Ken Witt issued this statement in response to The College Board, "College Board would do well to research rather than rely on media reports. There has been no proposal to revise or "censor aspects of the AP U.S. History course", but only a proposal to review AP U.S. History curriculum to ensure thorough and balanced curriculum. I am encouraged that College Board "has announced a public-review process for the AP U.S. History course framework" in light of the observation by SR VP Trevor Packer at College Board, who says "It's very difficult, given the dominance of liberal perspectives in college and high school history departments, for faculty committees to avoid unintentionally muting, eliding, or obfuscating the perspectives of the right" in an interview with Rick Hess."
The College Board went on to say that if any changes are made to the curriculum that they have established for this course and the A.P. test, there will have to be a change made.
"As vital context for the courageous voices of the students in Colorado, the AP community, our member institutions and the American people can rest assured: If a school or district censors essential concepts from an Advanced Placement course, that course can no longer bear the "AP" designation," The College Board said in a statement.
Collage Board statement in full:
The College Board's Advanced Placement Program® supports the actions taken by students in Jefferson County, Colorado to protest a school board member's request to censor aspects of the AP U.S. History course. The board member claims that some historical content in the course "encouraged or condoned civil disorder, social strife, or disregard for the law."
These students recognize that the social order can – and sometimes must – be disrupted in the pursuit of liberty and justice. Civil disorder and social strife are at the patriotic heart of American history – from the Boston Tea Party to the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement. And these events and ideas are essential within the study of a college-level, AP U.S. History course.
The College Board will always listen to principled concerns based on evidence – and in fact has announced a public-review process for the AP U.S. History course framework. But in light of current events, an important policy reminder is in order:
College faculty and AP teachers collaborate to develop, deliver, and evaluate AP courses and exams. Their partnership ensures that these courses align with the content and rigor of college-level learning, while still providing teachers with the flexibility to examine topics of local interest in greater depth.
To offer a course labeled "AP" or "Advanced Placement," a school must agree to meet the expectations set for such courses by the more than 3,300 colleges and universities across the globe that use AP Exam scores for credit, placement, or consideration in the admission process.
As vital context for the courageous voices of the students in Colorado, the AP community, our member institutions and the American people can rest assured: If a school or district censors essential concepts from an Advanced Placement course, that course can no longer bear the "AP" designation.
9News Political Analyst Floyd Ciruli says this is a debate that has spanned the nation. The Texas State Board of Education has taken up the issue and the Republican National Committee has issued statements showing concern over this curriculum.
"This is all part of an even bigger struggle," Ciruli said.
He says conservative groups are worried about the type of students that graduating from high school, politically.
"All the polls indicate that this generation is much more liberal than previous generations and they're convinced that at least part of it is because of what they've been taught," Ciruli said.
Ciruli believes that AP U.S. history curriculum is being targeted for specific reasons.
"Those are your best history teachers. Those are your best history students," Ciruli said. "That's the place where you would be the most concerned that the history is from, the point of view of a conservative, balanced."