By Efren Acevedo and Justin Hill

Earlier this month, Jeffco school board vice president Julie Williams proposed that some changes be made to the Advanced Placement history curriculum.

The changes include that “all instructional materials should promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system, respect for authority and individual rights.” Thus, meaning Williams would prefer to censor history so it does “not condone civil disorder, social strife, or disregard for the law.”

Not only does this impact all history teachers, but also future AP History students. Also “instructional materials should present the most current factual information accurately and objectively” said Williams in her proposal. Williams also quoted in her proposal “Instructional materials should present positive aspects of the United States and its heritage.” Since the proposal came out it, has caused an uproar of protests among all of the high schools in Jefferson county.

The Jeffco school board has set the proposal aside for this week and will be reviewed at a later time. Although the reason is unknown as to why they set it aside it was most likely to calm everybody down.

Here is the actual proposal:

Board Committee for Curriculum Review.
The committee shall be seated by the Board.  Each director may nominated up to three candidates for the committee and the entire board then will vote to select the nine (9) members of the committee.  The charge to the committee is to review curricular choices for conformity to Jeffco academic standards, accuracy and omissions, and to inform the board of any objectionable materials.  The committee shall regularly review texts and curriculum according to priorities that it establishes, however, at any time, the Board may add items to the list for review.  The committee shall report all comments (majority and minority) to the board in writing on a weekly basis as items are reviewed.  Board members may move for discussion or action on items reported when matters warrant public discussion or action.  The committee’s initial projects will be a review of the AP US History curriculum and elementary health curriculum.
Review criteria shall include the following:  instructional materials should present the most current factual information accurately and objectively.  Theories should be distinguished from fact.  Materials should promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights.  Materials should not encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law.  Instructional materials should present positive aspects of the United States and its heritage.  Content pertaining to political and social movements in history should present balanced and factual treatment of the positions.