As the new school year begins, education becomes a focal point, attracting scrutiny from parents and organizations alike. The North American Values Institute (NAVI), a nonpartisan education watchdog, raises concerns over a new ethnic studies course for high school seniors in Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS). NAVI criticizes the curriculum, suggesting it promotes political activism rather than historical education.

NAVI’s Concerns

Steve Rosenberg, Pennsylvania Director of NAVI, expresses his philosophy: teach revolutions, but do not recruit students for them. NAVI obtained PPS documents through right-to-know requests, which raised concerns about the approach to teaching and the apparent lack of counterarguments in the class materials.

Documents provided to Fox News Digital show the course’s structure and content. Dr. Ann Fillmore from PPS responds by clarifying that the organization received unit overviews, not the complete curriculum. Fillmore highlights that some syllabi are for a College in High School (CHS) dual-enrollment course linked with LaRoche University, not part of PPS curriculum creation.

Course Structure

The course divides into five units:

• Unit 1: Developing our identities through language and history.
• Unit 2: Exploring and embracing diverse cultural legacies.
• Unit 3: Navigating power structures, discussing their development, and seeking equity.
• Unit 4: Understanding how social systems affect identity and opportunities.
• Unit 5: Implementing action plans for community issues.

Rosenberg voices concerns over Units 3 and 4, emphasizing their focus on systemic inequities and advocacy for change. Unit 5 encourages students to develop action plans addressing race and diversity-related community issues.

Responses and Counterarguments

Fillmore counters NAVI’s claims, stating that the curriculum encourages civic reasoning and helps students form original ideas using inquiry-based learning principles. Grounded in the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) C3 Framework, the course aims to foster active citizenship.

NAVI also disputes how the course addresses Jewish identity and antisemitism, particularly in Unit 1. Rosenberg argues that discussions on Jewish identity should include counter narratives to the belief that Jews are oppressors.

Fillmore refutes the idea that the course views any group as oppressors or oppressed. She notes that the curriculum covers Jewish history, resilience, and contributions, particularly in light of local events such as the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue attack.

She emphasizes the use of diverse sources in teaching to ensure comprehensive learning.

Parental Involvement

Rosenberg urges parents to scrutinize course materials closely. He advises them to ask informed questions about what their children learn in schools, ensuring that diverse perspectives are presented and discussed fairly in classrooms.