Inappropriate? Parents can review how family values, race are taught in Beaufort Co. schools

Mary Dimitrov

In the public comment section of nearly every Beaufort County School Board meeting, parents, grandparents and guardians express concerns about the way family values and race are taught to their children in the classroom.

“There are several hundred books in our schools that are deemed inappropriate for children,” Beaufort parent Joseph Castagnino said in a school board meeting Oct. 4. “They range from books containing offensive language to books that push racism, social-emotional learning and critical race theory and even borderline pornography.”

Critical race theory, or CRT, is a decades-old academic and legal framework that examines American laws, policies and institutions through the lens of race, focusing on how they uphold and reproduce racial inequalities. Social-emotional learning teaches students how to manage their emotions and get along with others. It explores identity and culture, often making it a buzzword for CRT, though they aren’t synonymous.

Legislation aimed at banning CRT in South Carolina classroom failed to pass in the South Carolina General Assembly earlier this year. Though, under state General Appropriations Bill Proviso 1.93, certain race-related instruction can’t be taught in schools, such as “an individual, by virtue of his race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.”

“We don’t teach CRT,” Beaufort County School District spokesperson Candace Bruder said. “Our teachers are required to teach state standards.”

Here are some examples

Parents like Castagnino have a chance to review textbooks and instructional materials proposed for use in Beaufort County public schools, some of which have discussions on family and race.

Of the proposed material for 19 courses, some examples are:

  • A History of Western Society, proposed for Advanced Placement European History, has sections titled “Race and Slavery,” “New Ideas about Race” and “Enlightenment Debates about Race.”

  • Western Civilization: Since 1300 AP Edition, proposed for Advanced Placement European History, has information about race in regard to World War II and the Holocaust.

  • United States Government and Civics, proposed for civics courses, has material about racial segregation and discrimination.

  • Nutrition and Wellness, proposed for nutrition and wellness courses, has text on “many types of families” including “LGBTQ+ parents.”

Some materials are on display in-person at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and at 11 other locations in the state, but all are virtually accessible. They can be viewed through Nov. 14.

For those wanting to review textbooks and instructional materials proposed to be used in South Carolina’s public schools, can visit them at the library at the USCB Bluffton campus. While all of the materials haven’t been delivered, the material will be available until Nov. 14, 2022.
For those wanting to review textbooks and instructional materials proposed to be used in South Carolina’s public schools, can visit them at the library at the USCB Bluffton campus. While all of the materials haven’t been delivered, the material will be available until Nov. 14, 2022.

“They’re in a special location that’s in the center of the library near the reference collection, because they’re the current ones,” USCB Director of Libraries Kimberly Kelly said. “Then we have previous years actually in our library stacks.

Under federal law, the Protection of Student Rights Amendment, parents have the right to inspect any instructional materials that are part of their students’ education curriculum.

The review process takes place annually for new material, and during this time, the public can submit comments to the State Board of Education through a form.

“Typically, those comments are compiled and included in a report that the state board receives before they take action or decide not to take action,” South Carolina Department of Education spokesperson Katrina Goggins said.

There are typically about 50 to 75 comments submitted, according to Goggins.

The state board appointed Instructional Material Review Panel will determine whether to recommend materials to the board for adoption Dec. 13.

A page on evolutionand natural selection from “Biology for the AP Course” as seen on Oct. 13, 2022 at the USCB Bluffton campus. While all of the materials haven’t been delivered, the material will be available until Nov. 14, 2022.
A page on evolutionand natural selection from “Biology for the AP Course” as seen on Oct. 13, 2022 at the USCB Bluffton campus. While all of the materials haven’t been delivered, the material will be available until Nov. 14, 2022.

In the past the state board has made changes to material after reviewing public comment, according to Goggins. Last year, there was particular interest in history materials.

“We went back to the publisher and gave them the opportunity to see if they want to make adjustments,” South Carolina Office of Instructional Materials member Kriss Stewart said. “If they wanted to make adjustments, they did, but if they did not, those materials did not go forward.”

The review panel consists of nominees from the state board, district instructional leaders and education specialists in the content areas.

“We welcome public input. This is the community’s opportunity, educators opportunity, anybody with an interest,” Goggins said. “This is the chance for them to give us feedback about instructional materials. It is welcome and it’s needed.”

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