As the new school year begins, educational practices face increased scrutiny. Parents and organizations are examining curricula closely. The North American Values Institute (NAVI), a nonpartisan watchdog, has raised issues with the ethnic studies course for high school seniors in Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS). NAVI claims that the course emphasizes political activism over historical education. Steve Rosenberg, NAVI’s Pennsylvania Director, expressed concern. “Teach kids about revolutions, don’t recruit them to be in one,” he stated to Fox News Digital.
Rosenberg referred to documents NAVI accessed through right-to-know requests. These documents raised concerns about the course’s approach and the lack of counterarguments in materials. NAVI shared these documents with Fox News Digital.
The North American Values Institute is alerting educators about PPS’s ethnic studies curriculum. – Image by Goodboy Picture Company/Getty Images
Dr. Ann Fillmore, responsible for K-12 Literacy, Humanities, and Library Services at PPS, responded to these concerns. She confirmed providing NAVI with course overviews, not the full curriculum. She noted that some syllabi were linked to a College in High School (CHS) program with LaRoche University.
PPS documents showcase course division into five units:
- Unit 1: Developing Our Identities: Using Language and History to Create Community
- Unit 2: The Journey of Cultural Legacies: Exploring Diverse Histories
- Unit 3: Barriers and Bridges: Navigating Systems of Power
- Unit 4: From the System to the Self: How Society Shapes Identity and Opportunity
- Unit 5: Making an Impact
Concerns center on Units 3 and 4. Unit 3 explores power systems and strategies for change to ensure equality. Unit 4 examines societal limitations and encourages students to advocate for change in social systems.
Rosenberg sees these units as shifting away from traditional historical education.
The course trains students for activism, according to NAVI. – Image by FG Trade/Getty Images
In Unit 5, students apply learned concepts to community engagement. They develop action plans to address community issues related to race and diversity.
Fillmore contested NAVI’s claims, asserting the curriculum aims to foster civic reasoning, not activism. The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) framework supports this.
Another concern involves Jewish identity in the curriculum. Unit 1 includes works like Eric Goldstein’s “The Price of Whiteness,” which Rosenberg suggested misrepresents Jewish experiences. Fillmore countered that the course does not reduce groups to simplistic categories, emphasizing the complexity of history and identity.
The course integrates Jewish culture and history throughout its material. It highlights the contributions of Jewish Americans and acknowledges the challenges they face, referencing events like the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue attack.
Fillmore denied NAVI’s claim of presenting a one-sided narrative. She emphasized inquiry-based learning and the incorporation of varied sources.
Rosenberg remains concerned about the perspectives included in the course. He believes students might hesitate to express differing views due to potential bias.
He encourages parents to engage with course materials actively. Understanding what their children learn is crucial. Rachel Wolf, a media and culture reporter for Fox News Digital, contributed to this coverage.
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