Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curriculum Social Studies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts two small edits to social studies frameworks after public concern about Middle East wording
Summary
The board approved two targeted edits to the grade 6-7 Middle East unit: broaden the timeframe to 1900-present and replace a generalized objective with illustrative examples of regional conflicts. The changes aim to restore inclusivity after public comment that earlier wording erased Palestinian references.
The State Board of Education amended two limited parts of the sixth- and seventh-grade social studies frameworks and adopted the changes by unanimous vote.
MSDE staff said the edits respond to public comment that prior wording in a Middle East unit had the unintended effect of excluding references to Palestinians. Department presenters (Dr. Brown and Mr. Ramsey) proposed revising the timeframe in the unit from 1940'to 1994 CE to 1900'present so students can study twentieth- and twenty-first-century events. A second edit converts a generalized objective into one that includes illustrative examples of local conflicts in the Middle East; MSDE emphasized that examples are illustrative, not an exhaustive or mandatory list, and that LEAs retain instructional flexibility.
Public speakers earlier in the meeting had urged restoration of references to Palestinians in standards. Christina Duncan Evans, a Baltimore City social studies teacher and library media specialist, told the board that removal of the word "Palestine" limited students' access to current and historical information and asked the department to reopen the work group; MSDE says the new edits reflect that concern.
MSDE framed the changes as aligning sixth- and seventh-grade language for coherence and clarifying intent for teachers. The board then moved, seconded and approved the two small revisions to the frameworks.
Next steps: MSDE will publish the updated framework language and communicate clarifications and illustrative examples to LEAs and teacher professional-learning channels.
