I invited Ames Community School District leaders, including the Superintendent Dr. Jenny Risner and Director of Equity Dr. Anthony Jones, to discuss the school district’s controversial curriculum presented during Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action which occurred Feb. 1-5. They will appear before the House Government Oversight Committee on Feb. 23.
The Ames school district gained national attention for its required week-long curriculum. Local parents, students and residents contacted Republican legislators regarding their fear that any publicly expressed questions or concerns to the curriculum would result in child targeting and charges of racism.
The “Week of Action” was based around 13 guiding principles. The principles include topics such as “Globalism” and “Trans-affirming”. One principle’s explanation states “We are committed to disrupting the Western prescribed nuclear family structure…” and another calls students “comrades”. I and other members of the committee will be very interested to hear from Ames leaders on how this curriculum was chosen to teach their students, including elementary school students.
