In a move that has incited heated debate, the Temecula Valley Unified School District’s (TVUSD) school board has finally bowed to pressure, adopting a social studies curriculum for Grades 1 through 5 that controversially includes a focus on Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official and a contentious figure.
The newly approved curriculum paints a rose-colored portrait of Milk as a key figure in human rights activism, but conveniently glosses over allegations of predatory behavior towards teenagers – a fact that has led many to question the appropriateness of discussing Milk in a classroom setting for such young learners.
The TVUSD board had initially made a stand against the updated textbook, “Social Studies Alive!”, with a 3-2 vote against its implementation. Yet when Governor Gavin Newsom (D) threatened a steep $1.5 million fine for non-compliance with a 2011 state law demanding the inclusion of LGBT figures in school curriculums, the board was effectively strong-armed into reconsideration.
After twice rejecting a social studies curriculum some members deemed “inappropriate,” the Temecula Valley Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved the materials.
The new materials will replace a textbook from 2006.
https://t.co/J9HM2bFsze— Spectrum News 1 SoCal (@SpecNews1SoCal) July 23, 2023
According to Fox News reports, the board gave its grudging approval for the textbook in a Friday meeting, but not without requesting that the interim superintendent review and possibly revise sections related to gay rights and marriage in California. Their aim? To replace these with a curriculum that is “age-appropriate” – a move that aligns with the board’s dedication to shunning explicit content in elementary school classrooms, while still satisfying state mandates.
Board President Joseph Komrosky shared his vexation at being backed into a corner, forced to risk a lawsuit by not adopting a specific curriculum. However, he was clear to note that the decision to reconsider wasn’t driven by fear, but by a prudent desire to avoid legal entanglements.
In the second round of voting, the textbook was adopted unanimously. Governor Newsom expressed relief at the decision, stating that students would now be granted access to crucial learning materials. Yet, he went further to lambaste those who initially resisted the curriculum, branding them extremists aiming to control information and censor educational content. Interestingly, in his statement, Newsom avoided any mention of the allegations that hang over Harvey Milk’s legacy.
