People are split over school diversity classes
include specialty classes such as music technology, nutrition and environmental sustainability.
If the Global Community Citizenship course is added to the high school curriculum, that requirement will be slashed to eight.
Supporters say the change is worth it.
“I think this a very bold step that we are taking,” said school board President Julie Hummer. “It will not be easy. These are hard topics.
“I was taught that in polite conversation we don’t talk about policies or religion and I believe that’s done a disservice to our country, that many of us were raised that way that we aren’t able to discuss things civilly and listen for understanding, in all areas, not just politics and religion.”
The Anne Arundel County chapter of the NAACP gave its blessing at the board meeting.
President Jacqueline Allsup said she expects “pushback and challenges” and offered the NAACP’s help with implementing the course districtwide.
“As we all know these incidents have become more overt and more frequent over the past two years,” Allsup said about hate crimes and bias-related incidents in the county. “With this course, Anne Arundel County schools has gained traction on what seems to be an intractable problem. This is exactly the type of program that the NAACP has been requesting.”
The pushback some fear has already started. Alex Knautz, a mother of two, agrees with the course’s content but thinks kids should be required to take “practical” classes.
“What’s important for kids is to learn finances or something useful for when they go to college,” Knautz said. “It’s very important to have practical teachings, like how to balance a checkbook, how to check your credit score.”
Arundel High piloted Global Community Citizenship in 2017 and since then about 750 students have been exposed to the course’s content, either by taking the class, sitting in on sessions or experiencing some activities of the course in other classes, said Katara West, one of the course’s coordinators.
West is also an intervention and initiative specialist and math teacher at Arundel.
The teachers tasked with leading the course also teach courses in the school’s signature program — a set of specialized courses focused on community development and global citizenship.
Andrea Chamberlain, a Crofton resident, expressed concern about resources, particularly staffing.
“With limited school funds and those many other funding needs, how we’re requiring this course over those other things that really add to those educational needs of our children, the core educational needs,” Chamberlain asked.
She also said acceptance and inclusion should be “taught through example and one’s family upbringing and beliefs.”
The board is scheduled to vote Feb. 6 on the graduation requirement. llumpkin@capgaznews.com twitter.com/lauren_lumps
If the Global Community Citizenship course is added to the high school curriculum, that requirement will be slashed to eight.
Supporters say the change is worth it.
“I think this a very bold step that we are taking,” said school board President Julie Hummer. “It will not be easy. These are hard topics.
“I was taught that in polite conversation we don’t talk about policies or religion and I believe that’s done a disservice to our country, that many of us were raised that way that we aren’t able to discuss things civilly and listen for understanding, in all areas, not just politics and religion.”
The Anne Arundel County chapter of the NAACP gave its blessing at the board meeting.
President Jacqueline Allsup said she expects “pushback and challenges” and offered the NAACP’s help with implementing the course districtwide.
“As we all know these incidents have become more overt and more frequent over the past two years,” Allsup said about hate crimes and bias-related incidents in the county. “With this course, Anne Arundel County schools has gained traction on what seems to be an intractable problem. This is exactly the type of program that the NAACP has been requesting.”
The pushback some fear has already started. Alex Knautz, a mother of two, agrees with the course’s content but thinks kids should be required to take “practical” classes.
“What’s important for kids is to learn finances or something useful for when they go to college,” Knautz said. “It’s very important to have practical teachings, like how to balance a checkbook, how to check your credit score.”
Arundel High piloted Global Community Citizenship in 2017 and since then about 750 students have been exposed to the course’s content, either by taking the class, sitting in on sessions or experiencing some activities of the course in other classes, said Katara West, one of the course’s coordinators.
West is also an intervention and initiative specialist and math teacher at Arundel.
The teachers tasked with leading the course also teach courses in the school’s signature program — a set of specialized courses focused on community development and global citizenship.
Andrea Chamberlain, a Crofton resident, expressed concern about resources, particularly staffing.
“With limited school funds and those many other funding needs, how we’re requiring this course over those other things that really add to those educational needs of our children, the core educational needs,” Chamberlain asked.
She also said acceptance and inclusion should be “taught through example and one’s family upbringing and beliefs.”
The board is scheduled to vote Feb. 6 on the graduation requirement. llumpkin@capgaznews.com twitter.com/lauren_lumps
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