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Parent urges Parkway to preserve full history curriculum amid executive orders
Summary
A Parkway parent told the board Feb. 19 that she wants the district to find ways to comply with state and federal directives without removing challenging historical topics or banning books; she asked whether the district plans curriculum changes and whether community culture has shifted as in Rockwood.
Madeline Legler, a Parkway parent, told the Parkway Board of Education on Feb. 19 she is concerned that recent executive orders could narrow history instruction and asked the district to preserve comprehensive historical education while complying with the law.
"It is vital that our students learn the full spectrum of our nation's past, the triumphs and the failures, the inspiring moments, and the difficult truths," Legler said. "We cannot allow fear to dictate our curriculum. Banning books or erasing challenging topics does a disservice to our students, denying them the opportunity to learn from the past and build a better future."
Legler said she respects the district's need to follow state and federal law but urged the board to "work collaboratively with teachers, parents, and community members to develop strategies that ensure we uphold the law while preserving the essential content of our history curriculum." She asked two specific questions during public comment: whether the district has plans to change curriculum or ban books, and whether the board has observed cultural shifts in the community similar to those that occurred in Rockwood.
The board did not answer those questions on the record during the meeting; the chair said public commenters will receive a written response. No curriculum changes, book bans or policy actions were announced at the Feb. 19 meeting.
Why it matters: Curriculum changes or book restrictions can affect classroom instruction and community trust; Legler's request asks the district to balance legal compliance with instructional completeness.
