Chalkbeat.org: Nic Garcia explains “Jeffco Interrupted”

interview with Nic Garcia

First a teacher “sickout” over pay, then students at two high schools walk out of class.  Then students at another school got involved.  What’s happening?  Recent changes to the Advance Placement history curriculum seem to have prompted this firestorm of academic debate.  Nic Garcia with Chalkbeat.org visited “First Take with Lando & Chavis” to explain the controversy.

“Some conservatives believe (that in) this new curriculum, because there is less dictation on exactly what should be covered, key figures have been left out,” said Garcia.   While specific elements were not in the proposal, Garcia explains that board member Julie Williams proposal included broader themes: “Making sure the curriculum did not teach social strife, making sure we’re teaching patriotism.”

Garcia also reported that a shift to merit pay for teachers has heightened tension between faculty and the board.  ”The distrust appears to go both ways,” said Garcia.

Garcia’s conversation (audio above) begins with an explanation of the College Board’s revisions of the Advanced Placement history curriculum.

Chalkbeat.org’s series “Jeffco Interrupted”