Rebecca Nathanson is the local Chapter Chair for Moms for Liberty. Her professional expertise is as a Human Resource Manager for over 24 years. She has experience in instructional design and professional curriculum development. We are pleased to give her Eye’s platform regarding VP Harris’ recent visit to Jacksonville. Read her thoughts below and watch the Fox News video where Rebecca was on a guest expert here: VP Harris lies
Kamala Harris’s criticism of Florida’s education standards around African American History show us, once again, that she’s uninformed and peddling cynical lies to stoke anger.
For several decades, our state has proudly required the teaching of African American History. Since 1994 we have had an African American History Task Force comprised of historians and educators – not politicians – who have guided our public school standards.
In fact, prior to the state requiring it, we taught robust African American history here in Duval County. I know, because I was a student here and learned about the horrors of slavery, and some of our magnificent Black Heroes.
Moms for Liberty lobbied in support of HB7 – which actually expanded the breadth and depth of teaching African American history. To say that our state or our lawmakers or governor do not support the teaching of slavery or African American History is absolutely false. This year we’ve added an entire curriculum of lessons throughout K-12.
When the Task Force met to develop these expanded teaching standards, they did so in publicly noticed meetings, in the sunshine. There was nothing about this process that was political or secret.
Obviously our state welcomes the greater dialogue around this. That’s why this taskforce operates in the sunshine. But the conversation should be had in good faith and not motivated by cynical politics.
Dr. William B. Allen, Professor Emeritus, Michigan State is a part of the workgroup that developed the African American History standards for our state. He is also a descendent of slaves. During his interview with ABC News, he made it very clear that the criticisms put forth by the vice president are categorically false. He said that anyone who reads the full list of standards would see this falsehood.
He also has said that he stands by the standards that he helped develop and that he’s confident in their 1) Validity, 2) Historical accuracy, 3) Motivations and 4) Intent.
Everyone should take a step back and remind ourselves that Kamala Harris is not a historian. She is not an educator. She is a politician. As the adage goes: “Consider the source” of the criticism.
