How inclusive should history lessons be?
I read with interest Hazel Trice Edney’s article on the absence of black history curricula under the No Child Left Behind Act (“No Child law leaves behind black history,” Feb. 22, 2007). She quotes University of Georgia professor Diane Batts Morrow as saying, “American society has not come to grips with its racist past and is fairly concerned about, ‘Oh, we don’t want to shock these children with [African American history].’” However, it seems that it is acceptable to “shock our children” with teachings on homosexuality.
On prime-time news, it was reported that gay and lesbian groups have been able to incorporate textbooks that teach children about homosexuality and gay lifestyles into elementary-level schools in Lexington, Mass. I found it to be of greater interest that when the parents of those Lexington children filed a lawsuit protesting the teaching of homosexuality to their children, the judge dismissed the suit. That those parents are forced to allow their children to be taught gay family life against their will and judgment is startling, and an eye-opener.
The action by that judge exemplifies the growing strength of those groups in a relatively short time by comparison to the hundreds of years and the futile weakness of the many African American scholars, organizations and others who have been unable to incorporate black history in the classrooms.
In her article, Trice Edney quotes Howard University professor Daryl Scott as saying, “Clearly, there’s not enough being done on a curriculum to incorporate African American topics into the day to day learning of students in schools.” I agree. All students lose when not being taught inclusive history on the achievements of black people. American society needs to come to grips with its racist past.
However, there is clearly enough being done by those gay and lesbian groups to penetrate our schools with books and curriculum to incorporate information about homosexual lifestyles to children against the wishes of their parents.
Barbara A. Shefton
Hyde Park
Virginia lawmakers should “regret” their “apology”
For the record, Virginia did not “apologize” for slavery (“Virginia becomes first state to apologize for slavery,” News Digest, March 1, 2007). As a Feb. 25, 2007 article in the Richmond (Va.) Times Dispatch noted: “The resolution’s wording was a compromise between House and Senate lawmakers who tweaked the language from issuing an apology, to expressing ‘contrition,’ to expressing ‘profound regret.’”
Prior to reaching the compromise in words, Virginia was caught in an embarrassing controversy over a comment made by General Assembly Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, R-Hanover, that African Americans should simply “get over” slavery. It’s not clear whether Virginia’s actions will help African Americans or the nation “get over” slavery, but it’s important to understand that no “apology” was made.
I express “profound regret” to those who fail to understand the need for this clarification, but I do not “apologize” for making it; they will just have to “get over” it.
E.J. Walton
President of Elma Lewis Partners, LLC, Roxbury
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