Public outcry changed Michigan social studies standards. Add your voice.
Last year, the public influenced changes in how history will be taught in Michigan schools. Now, residents will have another chance to offer their opinions on Michigan’s controversial social studies standards, at nine evening meetings around the state and online.
A similar round of public meetings in 2018 led to a rewrite of a draft of the standards that took a notably more conservative bent. That draft cut references to climate change and gay rights, and excised “democratic” from the phrase “core democratic values.”
Related: History gets a conservative twist in Michigan social studies standards
After an outcry, much of it at public hearings after the conservative changes were chronicled by Bridge, that draft was rewritten and presented to the State Board of Education last week.
The current draft reversed many of the changes advocated by a group of conservatives last year, which has led to complaints that the Michigan Department of Education is now favoring liberal viewpoints in the teaching of history and social studies.
Related: It’s conservatives’ turn to complain about Michigan social studies standards
You can see a side-by-side comparison of the 2018 draft and the current draft here. Do you agree with some critics the standards now skew progressive? Or did the state create a more even-handed approach to the topics required to be taught to Michigan students?
“As we did last year, we are asking for public input on this latest version of the proposed Social Studies Standards for Michigan schools,” Interim State Superintendent Sheila Alles said in a news release. “Public comments will help Michigan’s social studies experts finalize the standards that will go before the State Board of Education for consideration in June.”
Michigan residents can offer their opinions online here, or at the following meetings:
Detroit
April 24 6:00-8:00 pm
Detroit Historical Museum
5401 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
Saginaw
April 25 6:00-8:00 pm
ISD Transition PD Center
3860 Fashion Square Blvd.
Saginaw, MI 48603
Waterford
April 29 6:00-8:00 pm
Oakland Schools
2111 Pontiac Lake Road
Waterford, MI 48328
Kalamazoo
April 30 6:00-8:00 pm
Kalamazoo Central High School
2432 N. Drake Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
Lansing
May 2 6:00-8:00 pm
Michigan Historical Center and Library
702 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48915
Grand Rapids
May 6 6:00-8:00 pm
Kent Intermediate School District
2930 Knapp Road
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Gaylord
May 7 6:00-8:00 pm
University Center Gaylord
80 Livingston Blvd.
Gaylord, MI 49735
Sault Ste. Marie
May 8 6:00-8:00 pm
Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District
315 Armory Place
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Escanaba
May 9 6:00-8:00 pm
Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District
2525 3rd Avenue S.
Escanaba, MI 49829
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