Although opponents of transparency initially flooded the Arizona Department of Education hotline with 30,000 crank calls, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has revealed that the Department is now receiving “valid concerns” from parents and teachers.
Complaints submitted to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) through the Empower Hotline have revealed potential violations of state law and demonstrate that elements of Critical Race Theory are present in the public school system, according to Horne.
Since its inception earlier this year, ADE has been compiling information regarding inappropriate activity occurring in Arizona schools through its Empower Hotline. These complaints have come not just from concerned parents but teachers as well.
Horne was joined at a press conference last Thursday by Scottsdale Unified School Board members Carine Werner and Amy Carney along with Mesa Public Schools Governing Board member Rachel Walden and Arizona State Rep. Justin Heap.
Both Werner and Carney shared curriculum examples from the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD), but before they could share their specific concerns about the materials, they were inundated with questions from journalist Howie Fisher, an apparent opponent of the hotline and Critical Race Theory-based pedagogy denier.
With Fisher more intent on debating the officials than receiving answers from them, the women ended up without their opportunity to present their full remarks. Horne acknowledged the unusual situation in a statement released after the press conference.
“Despite those in ideological groups and some in the media that propagate the urban myth that CRT is not a part of the school system, we have evidence from the empower hotline, that there is enough CRT in our schools to constitute a problem, though it is obviously not universal. We also have evidence that schools have put systems in place to hide or attempt to hide critical personal information from parents about their child,” said Horne after the press conference. “This is in direct violation of Arizona law, A.R.S. §1-602.”
“When my son was diagnosed with Autism, his doctor said, ‘The only label you will ever wear is your name.’ Labeling and dividing our students into groups has no place in our schools,” Werner told the Arizona Daily Independent. “Every student deserves to receive a high-quality education from a meaningful curriculum, feel included, and be confident they are getting the best opportunities to learn and thrive.”
“Arizona, like America, is full of diverse people from all backgrounds and cultures, and families that look different than our own – it is what makes us great,” said Werner. “Sadly, in education today, publishers are steering the direction and pushing their agenda of divisiveness and gender ideology as early as Kindergarten to 3rd grade. We must return to focusing on academics, not politics, and developing students’ interests, not identities.”
Carney, a mother of six children who have attended SUSD, is a staunch supporter of public education and believes curriculum containing controversial and political ideologies has no place in the classroom. Yet, Scottsdale’s board approved $35,000 to continue using Capstone’s PebbleGo for K-3 students with a 3-2 vote.
“If we are serious about attracting and retaining students in our public schools and not having families leave for other educational options, approving controversial curricula for our youngest students is not the way to do this, says Carney.
“We must get honest about the curricula and materials we are purchasing and adopting for our students. While PebbleGo does feature friendly modules on animals and biographies, it is disingenuous to not say that it also touts activism, protesting, picketing, Pride Month as a holiday, and many controversial topics that are unnecessary for our elementary schools,” explained Carney.
Scottsdale Unified administration also stated in the board presentation that parents of kindergartners through 3rd grade may always opt their child out of any lessons, including ones from Pebble Go. And that an alternative assignment or resource is always an option. “We should not have any curriculum or assignments in our elementary schools that parents have to worry about opting out of,” concluded Carney.
It is not just parents who are concerned with what is happening in Arizona’s K-12 schools.
“For example, Mesa is our largest district,” said Horne. “A teacher reported through the hotline that the Mesa school district has a training program for teachers that clearly states that certain Americans are ‘living under a system of white supremacy.’ That is a divisive and bigoted statement that has no place in education. We are individuals, entitled to be judged by what we know, what we can do, our character, and not the color of our skin. To its credit, Mesa is in discussion with the Department about this.”
Other concerns raised include a spreadsheet distributed in the Catalina Foothills school district with a list of pronouns chosen by students. The email and attached file clearly show the school withholding information from parents contrary to A.R.S. §1-602.
In the Chandler Unified School District, a lunch time Gay-Straight Alliance Club was created to discuss gender issues but also included the distribution of emancipation paperwork, which a parent only knew about because parents found it in their student’s backpack. Both of the above are examples of activity contrary to Arizona law.
Horne says despite the critics and cranks, he remains undaunted. All legitimate complaints received through the Empower Hotline will continue to be accepted and investigated.
“I encourage families to engage in their student’s education and regularly review the material on their laptops or tablets,” said Werner. “Review their homework and schoolbooks and become aware of what your students are learning and being exposed to. Advocate when you see things that appear to be inappropriate. Work in partnership with their teachers, and remember, together, we will ensure public schools continue to be the heart of America.”