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Maryland schools aim to include LGBT and disability rights in history curriculum
Social Issues
Maryland schools aim to include LGBT and disability rights in history curriculum
By Samantha Schmidt
August 16, 2019
Maryland school officials are developing curriculum standards for history classes to include lessons about the fight for civil rights for the LGBT community and Americans with disabilities. ... If the changes are approved, Maryland would join at least four other states that have taken steps to require public schools to teach lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, which advocates say has long been absent from textbooks and classroom lessons.
Last month, dozens of state lawmakers signed a letter calling on Maryland school officials to craft new curriculum standards addressing the rights of LGBT and disabled communities. The letter specifically mentioned the 50th anniversary in June of the Stonewall riots in Manhattan, and the other states that have recently passed similar standards through legislation.
“These are important stories for our teachers to tell, not only for those students who are themselves LGBT or who have a disability, but so all of our students have a basic understanding of the challenges faced by significant segments of American society,” Del. Eric G. Luedtke (D-Montgomery) wrote in the letter to State Superintendent of Schools Karen B. Salmon.
In response, the Maryland State Department of Education on Friday said it had already been in the process of developing such changes to the curriculum. Officials plan to present the standards to the State Board of Education for approval during the upcoming school year, a spokesman with the agency said. The spokesman could not confirm any other details about the nature of the curriculum changes.
....
Samantha Schmidt is a reporter covering gender and family issues. Follow https://twitter.com/@schmidtsam7
Maryland schools aim to include LGBT and disability rights in history curriculum
By Samantha Schmidt
August 16, 2019
Maryland school officials are developing curriculum standards for history classes to include lessons about the fight for civil rights for the LGBT community and Americans with disabilities. ... If the changes are approved, Maryland would join at least four other states that have taken steps to require public schools to teach lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, which advocates say has long been absent from textbooks and classroom lessons.
Last month, dozens of state lawmakers signed a letter calling on Maryland school officials to craft new curriculum standards addressing the rights of LGBT and disabled communities. The letter specifically mentioned the 50th anniversary in June of the Stonewall riots in Manhattan, and the other states that have recently passed similar standards through legislation.
“These are important stories for our teachers to tell, not only for those students who are themselves LGBT or who have a disability, but so all of our students have a basic understanding of the challenges faced by significant segments of American society,” Del. Eric G. Luedtke (D-Montgomery) wrote in the letter to State Superintendent of Schools Karen B. Salmon.
In response, the Maryland State Department of Education on Friday said it had already been in the process of developing such changes to the curriculum. Officials plan to present the standards to the State Board of Education for approval during the upcoming school year, a spokesman with the agency said. The spokesman could not confirm any other details about the nature of the curriculum changes.
....
Samantha Schmidt is a reporter covering gender and family issues. Follow https://twitter.com/@schmidtsam7