So the folks that run the Springsboro school board meetings in Ohio have apparently lost their minds. In the past few months, their meetings have covered controversial issues including creationism, race in America and separation of church and state. Last Thursday, they invited conservative historian Larry Schweikart to speak and he said, “As a conservative, I reject teaching the concepts of race, class and gender. I just don’t buy it.” I’m sorry, what?!
First of all, the title ‘conservative historian’ should never exist. Personally, I believe historians need to be as objective as possible to give an accurate portrayal of history. Of course everyone has their own personal leanings, but to outright state that you’re going to give a skewed perception of history means that you shouldn’t even be given that title.
Secondly, my brain cannot even wrap itself around the concept that someone can choose whether or not they want to teach concepts of race, class and gender. They are very real and tangible aspects of society. How in the world can you purport to teach history and just skip over those parts? So did slavery just not happen? Are poor people simply a figment of the imagination? Did women never fight for their rights? How in the hell do you explain the Civil War which was nothing but an entanglement of racial and class issues? WHERE DO THESE PEOPLE COME FROM?!
Of course, after that statement, school board president Kelly Kohls stopped the Q&A and tried to move on. I don’t know why she bothered. Clearly she doesn’t have that much problem with ignorance and bigotry since there’s been a rich history of both in these meetings recently. Did I mention she’s the president of the Warren County Tea Party? Yeah.
My question is to the people who have children within the Springboro school district–are you guys cool with this? Like, are you in the least bit worried about your child having a ridiculously incomplete view of history, or nah? I mean, they tried to have summer classes on the Constitution taught by religious groups…seriously.
Somebody please save those children.
