The Garfield Re-2 School District continued its discussion on the Social Studies Curriculum and Program Adoption Action Plan on Wednesday at the Rifle Branch Library. 

The goal of these meetings is to gain informed input from local residents on adopting either the 2022 Adopted Social Studies Standards, the Revised 2022 Social Studies Standards, or the American Birthright Standard (ABS). 

American Birthright was the core of the evening’s discussion. 

The discussion featured both proponents and opponents of ABS. The final count was eight people for ABS and 10 against.

One ABS proponent was Holly Miller, a local Re-2 parent who said she was willing to compromise by making small adjustments to the 2020 standards. While the other, Howard Thrailkill, said he preferred ABS but was neither for nor against it. 

Proponents of ABS mainly argued that this wasn’t about hate; especially against minorities or the LGBTQ community. They argued that this issue is more about wanting control over when their children learn about such topics as sex and how that relates to LGBTQ+ topics. 

Andrew Womack, a Re-2 parent of five, drove across his point that certain issues that children learn should be taught at home, and not in school. 

“I believe everyone deserves a voice at the table,” he said in reference to everyone in attendance. Womack added, “A lot of teaching crosses the lines of morality. There are certain things that should be left to home.”

Caleb Waller, a parent who lives in Re-2, said he was stoked to hear a lot of amazing ideas and opinions on Wednesday.

“What deeply concerns me, on both sides of the equation, are my kids being taught by activists, right?” he said. “Is that who we want our kids to be taught by?”

Caleb Robinson, who lives in the Re-2 district, started off by offering the teachers in the district a round of applause. Robinson mentioned a section of the 2022 standards that focused on diversity and differences, such as those found in minority groups and the LGBTQ+ community.

“My question is, why does the school classroom need to teach that? Don’t we teach love and acceptance of people and notice the differences around us, just the way we live in society?” he said. “Why does that have to be the way we teach? It almost forces the kids to see color instead of observing it as they live.”

Opponents of ABS included people such as Re-2 parent Steven Arauza.

“Greater than 50% of students in Re-2 are Latino or Latinas,” Arauza said. “I urge the district to pay close attention to the makeup of attendees and those providing public comment in these meetings. The voice of the majority is not being represented here. 

“Nor are our concerns for our children we’re entrusting to your care.”

Arauza also spoke of Latino history and his heritage.

“As a third-generation Mexican-American, a proud Chicano, my ancestors were presented as enemies at the Alamo and then they were not mentioned at all. This also led to distancing and bullying from my peers,” he said. “My Mexican parents didn’t teach me that I had no place in history, but the Eurocentric curriculum did.”

New Castle resident May Gray said the Re-2 school board is working for a white, Christian nationalist agenda. She also referred to a specific section of the ABS curriculum.

“On page 95, section 39, this action states that when we colonized our country, we did (Native Americans) a favor because we improved their life expectancy,” she said.

New Castle parent Ashley Stahl highlighted the struggles that LGBTQ+ children face and how ABS will make this worse by eliminating the inclusion and diversity of this (ABS) curriculum.

“Between 10 and 21% (of students) identify as queer,” Stahl said. “The role of public education is to provide equal education to every child. If we adopt ABS, we will be denying a significant portion of our student body, an equal opportunity to learn about their history and see themselves in their education.” 

You say more by saying nothing, Stahl added.

“By saying nothing, you are telling 10 to 21% of our students that they have something to be ashamed of, embarrassed by and that they should be hiding in a closet,” she said. “A closet that can cause so much pain and suffering.”

The district had two more social studies curriculum discussions slated at the release of this story:

• 6-7 p.m. Thursday at the Rifle Branch Library, 207 E. Ave.
• 6-7 p.m. Monday at New Castle Branch Library, 402 W. Main St. 

The Re-2 school board has not yet set a specific date on when it will make a decision on the district’s social studies standards.