St. Charles District 303 to keep textbook, for now
St. Charles Unit District 303 school board members decided Monday night that books don't teach students, teachers do, while debating the continued use of a text that's drawn local and national criticism from conservatives.
The debate began in May with a complaint by Jennifer Nazlian. Her daughter was a third-grader at the time. In reviewing her daughter's “Social Studies Alive!” textbook, Nazlian found several historical depictions she found troubling.
Specifically, a section on immigration reads: “Sometimes people discriminate against immigrants. To discriminate means to treat unfairly. Immigrants might have to take jobs no one else wants. These jobs can be dangerous. They may not pay much money. Families have to work hard to make enough money for the things they need.”
Nazlian characterized that passage as “so far from the truth” in her complaint.
Another passage reads: “Jen's athletic shoes might cost a lot more if they were made in the United States. Also, global trade means that people don't always have to buy things made locally.”
Nazlian said that passage misrepresents the United States.
“We should be buying things locally to help our own economy. What is the purpose of third-graders learning this?”
Superintendent Don Schlomann reviewed Nazlian's complaint and rejected the idea of banning the text.
In summarizing his reasoning, Schlomann told the school board Monday night that teaching social studies comes with major timing issues. “Social Studies Alive!” has been a district text for the past seven years. As such, social norms have changed, and it's time to find a replacement text — but not immediately, Schlomann said.
The book is already set for replacement in the 2013-14 school year, according to the current textbook review schedule.
“Is this a great textbook? No,” Schlomann said. “Do I think this is a textbook that meets our needs? Yes.”
But Nazlian had a sympathetic ear in filing an appeal of Schlomann's ruling with the school board. Board Member Judith McConnell is also the coordinator for the Tri City Tea Party Patriots.
“I tend to think the book is relatively egregious,” McConnell said in response to Schlomann. “I'd like anyone, if they can show me balance in this book, to point it out to me. We talk about how difficult it is for immigrants to come to this country. There are immigrants who've come to this country and didn't have (English as a Second Language courses).”
Schlomann said the text introduces a topic to students. It's up to teachers, and parents, to provide balance.
“The balance issue is a difficult one to chase,” Schlomann said. “Everyone has a different viewpoint of balance.”
The district staff also informed the school board that it could cost up to $500,000 to replace the “Social Studies Alive!” text for the next school year. Doing so would also hinder the ability to replace some science texts scheduled for replacement in the coming school year.
With that in mind, the school board decided to uphold Schlomann's ruling. But board members told Schlomann they want to keep a close eye on how teachers use the text. Schlomann said he'd have third-grade teachers, and students, present some of their social studies coursework to give the board a ground-level feel for the lessons.