NORTHERN MORNING, Utah – A northern Utah charter school that enables parents to take students out of its Black History Month curriculum has sparked a debate over whether parents should have the option.
The director of the Maria Montessori Academy, Micah Hirokawa, said on the school’s Facebook page on Friday that he ‘reluctantly’ sent out a letter in which he explained that families are allowed to ‘exercise their civil rights not to comply with the Black History Month at the school ‘, the Standard Examiner reported. .
Hirokawa said ‘few families’ had asked not to take part in the teaching related to Black History Month. But he would not say how many parents or their reasons why they decide.
“We must not protect our children from the history of our nation, the abuse of its African American citizens and the bravery of civil rights leaders, but must inform them about it,” Hirokawa said, adding that the parents’ request was sad and dissapoint. him.
The board of the school did not want to comment further on the decision.
The Maria Montessori Academy, which serves elementary and middle school students, takes up Black History Month in regular social studies and history lessons throughout February, Hirokawa said.
Hirokawa, who is of Asian descent, said his post was contrary to his personal beliefs. As someone whose great-grandparents were sent to a Japanese internment camp, he said he sees value in teaching children about the abuse, challenges, and obstacles that people of color in the United States have had to endure.
Data from the Utah State Board of Education shows that the academy has 322 students and only three blacks, while about 70 percent are white.
Some parents have argued that it is racist to give parents the right to withdraw.
The Ogden chapter of the NAACP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.