Concerns Over Ethnic Studies Course at Pittsburgh Schools
Education and Scrutiny: As the school year begins, educational curricula are under examination, with parents and organizations paying close attention. The North American Values Institute (NAVI), a nonpartisan education watchdog, has raised concerns about the new ethnic studies course for high school seniors in Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS).
NAVI’s Concerns: NAVI claims the course focuses more on political activism rather than teaching history. Steve Rosenberg, NAVI Pennsylvania Director, emphasized the need to educate about revolutions without recruiting students to participate in them. The institute obtained PPS documents through right-to-know requests, highlighting concerns about the course approach and lack of counterarguments in class materials.
NAVI Pennsylvania Director Steve Rosenberg stated, “I have a simple philosophy: Teach kids about revolutions, don’t recruit them to be in one.”
Course Structure: The course divides into five units, including identity formation, cultural heritage, historical migration, and systems of power. NAVI’s focus is on the latter half, especially Unit 3, which encourages students to examine and potentially challenge systems of power to ensure equity.
- Unit 1: Developing Our Identities: Using Language and History to Create Community
- Unit 2: The Journey of Cultural Legacies: Exploring, Honoring, and Embracing Diverse Histories
- Unit 3: Barriers and Bridges: Navigating Systems of Power
- Unit 4: From the System to the Self: How Society Shapes Identity, Opportunity, and Power
- Unit 5: Making an Impact
Controversy over Units 3 and 4: Unit 3 explores how power systems privilege certain groups and strategies to redress power dynamics. Unit 4 focuses on how systems impact opportunities and resources, encouraging students to propose advocacy strategies.
Practical Application in Unit 5: Unit 5 asks students to apply their knowledge in developing an action plan addressing race and diversity issues, fostering teamwork within school or community settings.
Dispute About Course Intent: Dr. Ann Fillmore from PPS stated the course emphasizes civic reasoning, not activism. She noted it’s based on inquiry-based learning principles and adheres to the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) C3 Framework.
According to Dr. Ann Fillmore, the curriculum aims to teach civic reasoning rather than training activists.
Jewish Identity Concerns: NAVI has objections related to Jewish identity portrayal in course readings, criticizing the lack of counter-narratives and claiming it misrepresents Jewish experiences.
Steve Rosenberg pointed out the need for balancing narratives, suggesting that Jewish experiences should not be oversimplified in any educational context.
PPS Response: Fillmore refuted the claims, emphasizing the complexity and depth of Jewish history incorporated in the course. She stressed the curriculum’s diverse sources, including oral histories and literature, fostering discussions.
NAVI remains concerned about the perspectives presented in the course, arguing students might struggle to express differing views.
Parental Action: Rosenberg encourages parents to investigate course materials thoroughly and engage with what their children learn.
Rachel Wolf from Fox News Digital covers media and culture.