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Parent and veteran urges civic-virtue focus for social studies; asks how patriotic-education executive order will affect curriculum
Summary
A Derby parent and 20-year veteran expressed concerns about a new executive order promoting 'patriotic education' and asked the board how upcoming social studies curriculum decisions would address civic virtue.
During public comment at the Feb. 10 Derby Board of Education meeting, James Hanford, a Derby parent and military veteran, urged the board to clarify what the district’s social-studies curriculum is intended to teach and to emphasize civic virtue rather than patriotism.
Hanford said certified staff have not yet received board approval for a new social-studies curriculum and asked what the purpose of teaching history should be — to instill civic virtue and critical thinking, he said, not uncritical patriotism. He drew on examples from ancient Greek history to argue that teaching historical cases and themes (such as the Peloponnesian War and the Melian dialogue) helps students understand recurring patterns of foreign policy and civic life. Hanford said recent federal executive action on "patriotic education" raised questions for parents about curriculum content and urged the board to explain the district’s approach.
Board members did not take action on curriculum during the meeting; the comment was recorded during the public-comment portion of the agenda for the board’s consideration.
