Jeffco School Board votes to reorganize curriculum

On Thursday evening the Jefferson County School Board  approved by a 3-2 margin, a compromise measure that would reorganize existing curriculum review groups in the district to involve more student, teacher and community voices.  Hundreds of students, teachers, parents and community members packed the meeting yesterday after 2 weeks of student walk outs and teacher sick outs over proposed changes to the history curriculum.  Jeffco School Board Member Julie Williams, who initially proposed creating a curriculum review committee that would promote patriotism and “positive aspects” of U.S. history and avoid encouragement of “civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law, ” addressed the meeting and said that she was never encouraging censorship.

Before the 3-2 vote, many students, teachers and parents addressed the school board expressing their concern about what they perceive as politics influencing school curriculum.  Standley Lake High School senior Jessica Yan said civil disobedience is central to being a patriot and needs to be taught in schools.