09-04-2025
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In Wilson County, a school board member claimed a book recommended by teachers had an 'outdated view on evolution and climate alarmism.'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.
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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Another school board member claimed the textbooks touch on both climate alarmism and an outdated view on evolution.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.
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'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.
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