The controversy surrounding the Utah school black history month opt out has been back on again. After parents and students were allowed to opt out of the curriculum, there has been a new twist to the story.
It seems that the state is now backing away from the decision to allow the opt out. However, this does not mean that the curriculum is no longer mandatory. Rather, students will still be required to learn about black history.
Maria Montessori Academy
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Maria Montessori Academy in North Ogden, Utah, was recently in the spotlight for their decision to allow parents to opt out of the school’s Black history month curriculum. Traditionally, the academy incorporates the history of Black people into its social studies lessons for four weeks during the month of February.
However, the choice was not without controversy. Some claimed that the choice helped to foster bigotry among children. Activists also demanded that the school change their decision. The school’s director has now reversed his original decision.
Maria Montessori Academy, which is a public charter school, serves 322 students. Of these, three are black. The academy is 99% white and 1% Latino.
The school has not disclosed how many parents opted out of the Black history month curriculum. It did, however, say that a number of families have inquired about the option. This has led the school to offer an alternative Black history month event.
Backtracks on decision to allow parents to opt out of black history month curriculum
The Maria Montessori Academy in North Ogden, Utah has backed down on its decision to allow parents to opt out of Black History Month lessons. After a backlash from parents and community activists, the school has reversed its decision.
In a Facebook post, director Micah Hirokawa announced that families could choose to have their children removed from Black History Month curriculum. Those who decided to opt out would be sent a form to complete.
A Utah law allows parents to opt out of curricula that they feel do not reflect their personal beliefs. It also allows for parents to opt out based on their religious beliefs. However, parents can only be exempt from a particular lesson if they have an objection to it.
When asked about the decision, Hirokawa said the decision was made after a “few families” requested it. He added that he “believes in the importance of teaching history.” But he declined to answer any other questions about the incident.
Activities were not outside of required social studies standards
During the first week of January, a Utah school opted to make a bold statement and offered parents a choice between learning about the state’s history in black and white or not.
The school made this offer after receiving complaints from some parents. As a result, the state’s top education officials convened an emergency meeting.
In the end, however, the decision was not without its flaws. Besides the fact that Utah is a white-majority state, the school was not required to offer the opt-out.
It was a surprise to the parents of two white students when they learned that they would not be required to participate in any activities that were not part of the standard curriculum.
A more robust discussion was afoot when the school’s director of instruction and special needs, Micah Hirokawa, said there were no black history lessons in the classroom.
After a public outcry, the school reversed its decision and is now letting all students engage in its signature black history month event.
According to Hirokawa, the school’s administrators are in the process of incorporating the Black History Month curriculum into regular history and social studies lessons for the entire month of February.
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Students are still required to learn about black history
The history of Black people in America has been whitewashed for so long. It’s time to make it more inclusive.
Many school districts across the country have been forced to teach Black history. They’ve even passed laws to require it. But many students in these schools feel uncomfortable learning about the subject. Some teachers, too, have a lack of knowledge about Black history.
Activists want to ensure that young Black Americans are centered in their own stories. They hope that if teachers talk about the tough aspects of history, students will be able to see the relevance of the struggle.
There has been an uptick in the number of schools teaching Black history. However, many of the teachers in these schools were raised in the school system and don’t have a great deal of knowledge about the subject.
One charter school in Utah has received backlash after it gave parents the option to opt their child out of the curriculum for Black History Month. Afterwards, the school retracted the decision.
