Louisiana seeks to update social studies standards as debate over teaching racism intensifies

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In June, the Louisiana legislature hotly debated what history should be taught in public schools. That conversation continued at a meeting of the Louisiana Elementary and Secondary Education Council (BESE) on Monday as the state’s education department introduced new standards for Louisiana students. learning social studies.

Louisiana’s social studies content standards are supposed to be reviewed and revised every seven years to maintain rigor and high expectations in teaching and learning, said Jenna Chiasson, deputy superintendent of the Department of the Ministry of Justice on Monday. Louisiana Education, State School Board.

Louisiana’s student standards for social studies were last revised in 2010-2011, she said, which means the state is three years behind for a review and revision.

The department found in its review that some social studies content is repeated unnecessarily over several years, and some essential and very complex content is taught at the elementary level and never again, Chiasson said.

For example, seventh-graders in Louisiana are learning about the era of American reconstruction, but the effects and rise of Jim Crow are oddly absent from high school US history class, Chiasson said. This lack of cohesion does not help students form a solid timeline, which they need to make valid causal links.

Louisiana House Representative Charles Owen R-Rosepine told BESE he liked the revised standards to focus on the experiences of minorities and underrepresented populations in America, but said the standards revised require a more objective approach to what really happened in history.

In 39 pages (of the revised standards), the word freedom appears three times. Culture and Culture appear 75 times, Owen told BESE. Freedom appears six times The standards are a little unbalanced.

Owen said he’s also concerned that the revised standards contain inflammatory language you need to talk about.

The expression American imperialism appears there as a fact, he said. A lot of people don’t believe the United States is an imperialist nation. I do not.

Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, who came as a parent to listen, told BESE he hopes you won’t all be motivated by the national and public conversation and speech unfolding from the across the street. [in the Capitol].

I think all too often we have tried to push curriculum bills forward, and that is not our place, said James, chairman of the Louisianas Legislative Black Caucus.

A steering committee will decide whether or not to approve the revised standards on September 25. If approved, parents and teachers can submit public comments online to BESE on the new standards. In December, BESE will then review the revised standards, along with public comments.

When the revised standards are finalized, they will be implemented by the 2023-24 school year in Louisiana public schools.

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