Students Walk Out Over Conservative Curriculum

This week, Jefferson county students and teachers staged a walk-out from five high schools in protest at a proposal by the Jefferson County Colorado Board of Education to alter AP U.S. history standards, to meet a more right-wing view of the world. The proposal states:

“Materials should promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights. Materials should not encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law. Instructional materials should present positive aspects of the United States and its heritage. Content pertaining to political and social movements in history should present balanced and factual treatment of the positions.”

Ironically, the proposals have caused their own social and political movement, which could even go down in history itself. On Tuesday, more than 500 students walked out of one single high school, carrying placards like “People didn’t die so we could erase them.” And last week, as many as 50 teachers in two county schools staged a sickout to protest the new standards, forcing classes to be canceled.

It´s not what the board of education expected, but civil disobedience as reaction to these conservative proposals is exactly what they deserve. Good luck to all the students and teachers involved in this action!

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