Texan parents and teachers spoke about their concerns regarding the Holocaust remark made weeks ago. They raised their concerns at the Carroll Independent School District (ISD) board meeting on Monday.
A North Texas administrator recently told teachers that if they have books about the Holocaust in their classroom, they should include books with opposing views of the Holocaust. The comment was made after new guidelines were issued to schools to align with another controversial law in Texas seeking to restrict discussion regarding race and history in schools. The law is Texas House Bill 3979.
Parents, Teachers Voice Out Their Concerns
CNN reported that many people came forward during the board meeting at the Carroll ISD on Monday that took nearly two hours. Some teachers got very emotional and said that they felt unsupported. Others, however, defended the school administrator saying her comment might have been taken out of context.
A mom named Cara Serber of two students with the Carroll ISD said she is Jewish and her children are Jewish. After hearing about the comment made by the administrator, she said that her instant reaction was to be upset. However, after further consideration, Serber said she would give the benefit of the doubt to the administrator as she thinks the administrator was just the mouthpiece of the administration, and she got caught off guard.
CNN quoted a teacher named Lindsay Garcia, who was emotional at the meeting as she felt the district and the school board let her down. She said, “Every day, I treat my students and their families with kindness and respect and allow my students to speak their truth without fear. I only wish that same courtesy would be extended to all my fellow educators and me.”
During the board meeting, board president Michelle Moore said she understood the confusion, anger, and fear that the parents and teachers are feeling. She added that although they can no longer rewind the events that unfolded, they can work together as a district to figure out how to apply the new laws best. She also said that their message to their curriculum and instructional staff and teachers is they support them and understand the challenges that lie ahead of them.
The Comment That Garnered Mixed Reactions
Gina Peddy, the executive director of curriculum and instruction for the district, made the comment. CNN said that she used the Holocaust as an example of a historic event that would require teachers to keep other books with opposing views. She said that the teachers should try to remember the concepts of Texas House Bill 3979 and make sure that if they have a book on the Holocaust, they should also have one that has opposing or other perspectives.
Lance Ledbetter, the superintendent of the Carroll ISD, issued an apology after the statement made its way online. Ledbetter said that the comments made were not meant to convey that the Holocaust was anything less than a terrible event in history.
