WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The Monroe County Community School Corporation is looking to adopt new curriculums, in the wake of a racist handout.
The school corporation is seeking public comment, after a racist handout was included in materials distributed to elementary school students, earlier this year.
The handout included a suggested program meant to ‘simulate slavery,’ by using school children as actors. The Studies Weekly Inc. handout recommended the students conduct a role-playing activity in which one child was the slave-trader and the other students were slaves.
The material garnered backlash from parents and community members in MCCSC, eventually pushing the school district to terminate its contract with the curriculum vendor. The outcry also pushed MCCSC officials to establish a review board to approve future curriculum additions.
MCCSC is asking parents and community members to be more involved in the selection of new curricula.
Communications Director for MCCSC, Andrew Clampitt, says the school corporation has implemented new methods to prevent future issues. A new committee of parents and school officials has reportedly been vetting the recent submissions for the updated curriculums.
MCCSC will be holding an open house to give parents and community members an opportunity to review new curriculum additions. The event will be tomorrow, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., and from 5 to 6:30 pm at the MCCSC facility on East Miller Drive.
