A task force to revise Ohio’s K-12 social studies standards in line with the “American Born Right” model promoted by pro-Trump groups will base the standards on an Ohio House amendment bill currently under consideration. by a committee that would take more time to formulate.
But that schedule doesn’t provide enough time, some Democrats on the committee argued during a recent hearing on House Bill 103.
The bill would direct the task force to develop academic standards for K-12 social studies, and the bill mentions a specific model called “American Born Right.” The model, developed by the Trump-aligned right-wing group Civic Alliance, promotes America’s patriotism and Christian history while simultaneously “turning civics education into a political recruitment tool,” according to documents about the model. The aim is to prevent the “inferiorization of
Bill sponsor state Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport), who is listed in the model document as a U.S. birthright policy maker, said Citizens United does not offer a specific curriculum that aligns with the model. Ta.
The model and the bill itself have been criticized by the American Historical Association as unnecessary and focused on the wrong groups creating social studies standards. The group said this model would “hold back” students, unlike when standards are developed by state agencies or education experts.
The amendments to the bill would give the bill six months from its effective date, if passed, to prepare a report recommending curriculum standards.
The report would then go back to the General Assembly, where lawmakers would scrutinize the recommended standards and decide whether to approve them in their respective chambers of the state Legislature.
Democratic committee members, including state Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville), said they understand developing state content standards “will take more than six months.”
Mr. Jones said he really expected Lightbody to write a report in which the task force would “complete newly revised state standards for K-12 schools within six months.” I was asked if I was there.
“That’s right. That’s right,” Jones said, adding that he feels it’s important to set a schedule so that “we’re working in a timely manner and it gets done.”
But the curriculum itself is not subject to state decisions, Jones said.
“It’s up to local school boards to determine the curriculum that meets that standard,” Jones said. “This is not a pre-packaged deal that we are trying to push through.”
State Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, said he remains concerned that six months isn’t enough time, even if state lawmakers’ approval was needed to set the standards. . But to him, it didn’t seem like the task force needed to do much work if the model was already sitting in front of it before it started considering it.
“It seems like these standards have already been created by this American-born rights group. And there’s just going to be a dog and pony show, ‘Come on, let us have your say, we’ve already created We have standards here.’ Thank you very much, we will send them to the House and Senate,” Miller said.
The amendment was added to Bill 10-5, but there was opposition from Democrats on the committee.
The bill was in its fifth public hearing, but no vote was taken.
Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, so if the bill goes to the House or Senate, it is likely to pass despite opposition from Democrats.
Democrats are pushing another social studies bill, House Bill 171, which would require the Ohio State Board of Education to update the state’s social studies standards to “introduce a broader perspective on migrants’ journeys, experiences, and social studies.” It calls for the inclusion of “guidance appropriate to age and grade regarding contribution.” of communities in Ohio and the United States. ”
The bill was referred to the House of Representatives for Elementary and Secondary Education at the end of May, but has not yet received a public hearing.
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