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BoE acts on black parent’s history objection

By J. FRANK LYNCH
jflynch@theCitizenNews.com

A parent’s concern over omission in a third-grade history text of the role African-Americans played in early Georgia has led the Fayette County Board of Education to admonish the book’s publisherÊand reevaluate use of the textbook in the classroom.

Michelle Mitchell addressed the school board Monday night, before Superintendent John DeCotis asked the board to take action on the history text, “Our Georgia Community.”

The book is used to prepare third graders for the Criterion Reference Competency Test, or CRCT, which is important in determining “Adequate Yearly Progress” under the federal “No Child Left Behind” act.

In summarizing state history from the time Georgia was settled until the advent of the Civil Rights movement, the text makes just one mention of African-Americans in the state, Mitchell said.

Specifically, the book explains that “blacks were brought to Georgia against their will to help pick cotton.”

The reference devastated her daughter, who has moved on to fourth grade since she first lodged the complaint with the school system, said Mitchell who works at the APEX African-American museum in Atlanta.

She said she had no fault with her child’s teacher, but was concerned that county students weren’t getting a full picture of the evils of slavery.

DeCotis said the text was never intended to be used as the sole source of information on Georgia history for third graders, who get just a cursory introduction to the state’s history. More detailed Georgia history is taught in the eighth grade.

“Teachers can use it, but they are not required to use it,” said DeCotis, adding that the text was never part of a textbook purchase approved by the school board.

He asked the board Monday to approve a motion requiring teachers who use the text to supplement it with other history materials.

“Teachers would have the option to use it only in conjunction with other materials,” said DeCotis.

DeCotis said the school district’s social studies curriculum committee was hesitant to ban the book because portions of it were very useful, and had contacted the book’s publisher to register a formal complaint.

After the meeting, Mitchell said she was pleased the board took action, but would rather see the book and its reference to African-Americans dismissed altogether.

DeCotis suggested she gather materials on black history from the APEX Museum and forward them to the school system to help supplement the curriculum.