The Derby Board of Education in Kansas recently voted to reject a proposed high school social studies curriculum, citing concerns that the materials were biased against former President Donald Trump. The newly elected conservative majority on the board voted down the $400,000 contract with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which had been recommended by Derby High School teachers after reviewing five other candidates.
Board member Cathy Boote voiced her objections, saying her biggest concern was “what I would define as bias of omission.” Boote was particularly troubled by the way the materials portrayed Trump’s policies on Cuba, trade deals with China, his relationships with allies, the January 6th riot, and other aspects of his presidency.
“Then there was the ‘Muslim ban,’” Boote said, making air quotes with her fingers. “With no mention of the fact it wasn’t aimed at all Muslim countries, just those that have no ability to vet. Safety was the top priority, but they leave it to sit there, with no explanation, to make you think he was xenophobic.”
Fellow board member Michael Blankenship shared Boote’s concerns and added his objection to the curriculum based on a statement made by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020. The company declared, “We believe Black Lives Matter [and] we believe in social justice.”
“That’s a pretty bold statement,” Blankenship said. “Wouldn’t anybody want to know, ‘What do you mean?’ I still don’t have that answer’, reported KCUR-FM.
While representatives from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt were unavailable for comment, the publisher stood by its statement when similar concerns were raised by the Derby school board two years ago, during the approval of an elementary school curriculum. Since then, the board has seen a shift in membership, with a new 4-3 conservative majority.
“We need to wait and see if we can’t find better options … or see if some things can cool down,” said board president Jennifer Neel. “If and when you think you have two good, neutral products … then bring it back.”
Derby administrators had been requesting a new high school curriculum as teachers have been without social studies textbooks for several years. Holly Putnam-Jackson, the district’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, emphasized the importance of critical thinking in the curriculum. “Our social studies teachers aim to teach our students … how to think, and not necessarily what to think,” she said.