A Kansas school board opted not to spend $400,000 on a new high school social studies curriculum after members took issue with how it portrays President-elect Donald Trump’s first term.
The Derby Board of Education near Wichita recently voted 4-3 to reject a Houghton Mifflin Harcourt curriculum selected by Derby High School teachers, nixing a proposed $400,000 contract for textbook and online social studies materials.
“My biggest concern … involved what I would define as bias of omission,” board member Cathy Boote told The Wichita Eagle. Boote pointed to how the curriculum reflected actions during Trump’s first term, from his stance on Cuba, to trade deals with China, to the country’s relationship with allies and Jan. 6.
“Then there was the ‘Muslim ban,’” Boote said with air quotes. “With no mention of the fact it wasn’t aimed at all Muslim countries, just those that have no ability to vet.
“Safety was the top priority, but they leave it sit there, with no explanation, to make you think he was xenophobic,” she said.
Holly Putnam-Jackson, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, told the board teachers reviewed six different curriculums over the last year and ran a pilot with the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt curriculum before asking the board to adopt it, Derby Informer reports.
Board Vice President Robyn Pearman and others voiced support for the change, but several board members raised questions about the company’s website, which included statements on diversity, equity, and inclusion and other politically charged materials.
“I’m not acting on my own mission. It’s a $400,000 expense,” Board member Michael Blankenship said. “Questions are to be expected.”
“This isn’t your typical DEI statement,” Boote said. “It wreaks of elitist indoctrination and their ideology – not the development of critical thinking skills needed for students to form their own beliefs, opinions and values.”
“My concern is rewarding a publishing company that I feel like has gone in the wrong direction,” Boote said, according to the Informer. “I cannot spend money with a company that has the type of statements they have.”
The opposition comes as Trump has vowed to eradicate DEI from the federal government and military, prompting some schools to curb DEI policies already in effect. The University of Michigan, home to one of the most expansive DEI programs in the country, recently dialed back the use of diversity statements in faculty hiring, and fired its top DEI officer, and other schools are reportedly considering similar moves.
Nonetheless, some Derby board members defended the proposed curriculum, suggesting it would help boost student achievement and support teachers who selected it.
“I really think based on two of our strategies: academic excellence, and then, … keeping teachers happy, basically,” board member Mark Boline said. “I think that’s really important and could have an effect on the district.”
“I don’t like this whole idea that we are not respecting teachers, or we don’t care or we are not respecting the process and all these things,” board president Jennifer Neel added. “And that’s probably the worst part of being on the board is you have to really take into account all the pieces.”
The vote to reject the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is the second time in as many years that Derby board members have raised concerns with the company’s materials.
Board member raised similar issues with an elementary social studies curriculum two years ago, but a Democratic majority at the time ultimately adopted it.
At the time, board members pointed to a June 2020 statement on the company’s website in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
“We believe Black Lives Matter. We believe in social justice. We believe learning is a fundamental right,” the statement read. “We believe the education system needs to change, and we will continue to use our platform to make that change.”
“That’s a pretty bold statement,” Blankenship said. “Wouldn’t anybody want to know ‘What do you mean?’ I still don’t have that answer.”
Representatives for the Boston-based company could not be reached for comment by The Eagle, but they did stand by the Black Lives Matter statement in 2022.
“This statement was not a political one,” spokeswoman Leah Riviere said at the time. “Rather, the intent was to express our care and support for Black members of our community – teachers, students, families and employees.”
“HMH does not advocate for any ideology, political organization or agenda,” she said. “Our aim is simply to help teachers teach and students learn.”
The Derby school board has since shifted to a 4-3 conservative majority, which put the kibosh on the high school curriculum on Dec. 9.
“We need to wait and see if we can’t find better options … or see if some things can cool down,” Neel said. “If and when you think you have two good, neutral products .. then bring it back.”
“I would like to make one request on that, though,” Boline added. “I think when it’s piloted you need to ensure you have a group of people who take a good look at the website.”
