Latest news with #APPsychology
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Debate over science textbooks in Wilson County
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Textbooks appear to be a battleground for some local school boards. In Wilson County, a school board member claimed a book recommended by teachers had an 'outdated view on evolution and climate alarmism.' 'I firmly believe that educators need [a] curriculum that is current — especially in the area of science,' Jeff Luttrell, director of Wilson County Schools, said during a board meeting Monday night. Bill would prohibit Red 40 in foods sold in Tennessee school lunch programs Luttrell has taken a stance after a science textbook committee — made up of teachers, supervisors, administrators and parents — recommended a new set of science textbooks. 'Everyone had an opportunity to come look at this curriculum. We had neighboring counties that came in,' Luttrell said. 'We were able to bring in the publishers, so it was very evident that our committee members did not take this lightly.' In Tennessee, the State Board of Education revises the set of standards for textbooks and instructional material every eight years. Luttrell said these new textbooks meet those standards, but some other school board members were not convinced. 'I'm going to be honest with you, I've had phone calls from all over the state from board members who have reviewed this and there are some concerns that there's a lot of bias in these textbooks,' Dr. Beth Meyers, Zone 2 School Board member, said. Another school board member claimed the textbooks touch on both climate alarmism and an outdated view on evolution. 'I say all of this to inform parents to review these topics with their children and understand what is being presented to your child and engage in meaningful discussions with them,' Greg Hohman, Zone 1 said. Wilson County's school board is not the only one in Middle Tennessee debating instructional material; in Williamson County, school board members debated an AP Psychology textbook that had been recommended by several teachers. However, some school board members raised concerns about the textbook's explanation of topics like sexual orientation and gender identity. MARCH: Williamson County school board debates AP Psychology textbook due to LGBTQ+ content 'It just didn't reflect our community values,' Williamson County Schoolboard member Donna Clements said in March. 'They were talking about gender identities and things like that which I recognize as a mental health issue,' Jay Galbreath, a Williamson County School Board member, said within the same meeting. 'What you're seeing now is that school boards are pushing back,' executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, JC Bowman, said. 'They are saying, 'We do not like what the so-called experts, educators or parents have chosen,' and you are seeing an ongoing war with that.' Despite the debate, the Wilson County school board approved the recommendation to approve the adoption of the science textbooks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘It's the angriest and most disappointed I've ever seen our teachers': Williamson County school board adopts new science curriculum, rejects committee recommendation
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Williamson County Schools has faced some resistance after the board adopted a new science curriculum that rejected the recommendations of a committee and most teachers within the school system. 'The dismissal of the teachers' recommendation and the committee's recommendation in this case is really a low blow,' Former WCS teacher, Charity Hazen, told News 2. Williamson County school board debates AP Psychology textbook due to LGBTQ+ content Before changing career paths and accepting a job in the corporate world, Hazen was a teacher in Williamson County for nearly a decade. 'I was just completely floored to see the board not just not take the teacher's recommendation, but to truly go in the complete opposite direction…to me, it was just a shocking departure from the advice and expertise that our teachers bring,' Hazen added. Last Monday, board members voted seven to two to adopt a K-8 science curriculum called STEMscopes, which only 7% of K-second grade teachers, about 10% of third-fifth grade teachers, and zero middle school teachers recommended. However, WCS board member and scientist Dr. Claire Reeves said the STEMscopes curriculum offered more evidence of student success than the teacher and committee recommended options, adding the textbook wouldn't just 'teach to the test.' 'It allows for prioritizing the hands-on piece and print materials that will give parents and kids greater exposure to science on a daily basis,' Reeves said in last week's board meeting. However, some teachers shared concerns about the textbook reading like an encyclopedia and loosely aligning with standards. 'I really was discouraged by the fact that no middle school teachers chose the curriculum that the board ultimately did,' former WCS board member K.C. Haugh told News 2. One Tennessee law relating to school districts reads that board members 'shall make their adoption upon recommendations of such committees.' 'There are times when things were close and that we would ask pointed questions, but honestly, it should be rare [to override the teacher recommendations],' Haugh said. 'To be honest, it's unfortunate when that happens because this is a collaborative process.' Current WCS board member Eric Welch has served the district for about 15 years and was in the minority to support the teachers' and the committee's recommendation. 'Right now, it's the angriest and most disappointed I've ever seen our teachers,' Welch said of teacher morale within the district. ⏩ STEMscopes will be the curriculum assigned to teachers for the next several years unless a current WCS parent, student or teacher challenges the use of instructional materials. News 2 reached out to one current WCS teacher who said educators have been advised not to do media interviews, but Welch said dozens of teachers have emailed him since the vote, saying they feel disrespected by the board's decision. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Williamson County school board debates AP Psychology textbook due to LGBTQ+ content
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A textbook used to teach AP Psychology in Williamson County high schools is up for debate at the Williamson County School Board. 'I've got 40 to 50 emails in the last week and they all name one book: Myers AP Psychology,' WCS board member Dennis Driggers said. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → The textbook was recommended by nine out of nine AP Psychology teachers in Williamson County. 'To me, when I see this recommendation that our teachers all chose the same textbook — it carries a significant weight,' said Leigh Webb, Assistant Superintendent Secondary at WCS. However, some school board members raised concerns with how the book explains topics regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. 'It just didn't reflect our community values,' said WCS board member Donna Clements. 'They were talking about gender identities and things like that which I recognize as a mental health issue,' Jay Galbreath, WCS board member added in Monday night's meeting. Ultimately, board members voted 7-3 to defer the discussion to a later date so members have time to review the book's contents. 'We can't always shield our kids from the world. I mean it's out there and that is going to be part — if they're going to community college or wherever, that's going to be part of the discussion [and those are] discussions you need to have with your children at home,' Tonja Hibma, WCS board member, said. Some board members argued teachers can skip sections that aren't a part of the district's curriculum. 'If there are controversial things that you've seen in a textbook and they don't align with our standards, those are not aspects that will be taught in our classes,' Webb added. In 2022, some Tennessee lawmakers tried to pass a state law to ban the teaching of LGBTQ issues in Tennessee public schools. The bill failed. ⏩ 'I would really encourage some of you to go and talk to your principals on the impact you're having on teacher morale and staff morale,' WCS Board member Eric Welch said at Monday night's meeting. 'When you insert your own opinion over theirs on a lot of these things when it's not always an educated opinion.' The Williamson County school board is expected to revisit the conversation at their April meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
