From the article
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has ditched a “woke” teacher resource book from the state’s pre-K programs. The bureaucrat who supported it is gone as well.
“The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room to distract or take away from this mission. Let me be crystal clear: Woke concepts that have zero to do with a proper education and that are divisive at the core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age level, let alone with our youngest learners,” Ivey said in a statement, according to The Hill.
Barbara Cooper, who was secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education resigned over the book, according to the Alabama Political Reporter.
Ivey’s statement said the book had content “that is simply not in line with what the Ivey Administration or the people of Alabama stand for or believe,” noting that it “invokes ideas for teachers that there are ‘larger systemic forces that perpetuate systems of white privilege.’”
Ivey spokesperson Gina Maiola said the book was a teacher resource called the National Association for the Education of Young Children Developmentally Appropriate Practice Book, according to Politico.
The governor’s office said Ivey pushed for Cooper to “send a memo to disavow this book and to immediately discontinue its use.” Although Cooper’s reply was not shared, Ivey’s office said the decision was made to replace her and accept her resignation.
The book says that “systemic and structural racism … has permeated every institution and system through policies and practices that position people of color in oppressive, repressive, and menial positions. The early education system is not immune to these forces.”
The book also said that children from LGBT families “need to hear and see messages that promote equality, dignity, and worth.”
On Friday, Ivey said children in pre-K should “be focused on the fundamentals, such as reading and math,” according to the Reporter.
“Alabama’s First Class Pre-K is the best in the country, and those children are at too critical of a juncture in their educational journeys and development to get it wrong,” Ivey said, according to Fox News.
“I remain confident in the wonderful teachers we have in pre-K classrooms around our state and in the necessity of our children receiving a strong start to their educational journeys in our First Class Pre-K program,” she said.
Now remove the entire chain of command above this demon.
She was the top. Nobody between her and the Gov. The real question is why we need that small department, which is independent of the much larger Dept of Education which is overseen by an elected board.
OK. If that is the case, I am in agreement. Work down through the department and eliminate.
Childhood Education Secretary - why on earth have such a position? A deep cleaning of government is needed, along with the elimination of government worker's unions and a reduction of pay. Make government service a temporary job (not a lifetime) career.
Eliminate pensions and make those people live like the rest of us.
Ivey does have a task force looking into consolidation and elimination of duplicate government work. I'll be surprised if this department doesn't make the list of recommendations.
I nominate the Depart of Redundancy department for elimination.