WEBSTER GROVES — The Webster Groves School Board on Thursday approved a new social studies curriculum that could be considered illegal under a proposed state law.
The curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grades emphasizes equity and social justice, and “provides students an opportunity to see themselves, and that’s really powerful,†said board member Christine Keller before the unanimous vote.
The district’s team of teachers and staff who designed the curriculum over three years drew from 28 resources including the Southern Poverty Law Center’s . Social justice topics for sixth and seventh grade U.S. History include white supremacy, Jim Crow laws, the Black Lives Matter movement and protests against police violence.
Missouri legislators debated an amendment on Wednesday that would ban social studies curriculum that “identifies people, entities, or institutions as inherently, immutably, or systemically sexist, racist, biased, privileged, or oppressed.†Banned resources would include the Learning for Justice guidelines along with , critical race theory, local nonprofit and similar programs.
Opponents of the Webster Groves curriculum say the resources bring leftist politics and racial division to classrooms.
“It is unjust to tell open-minded people they have to leave our community if they want their children to believe in equality of opportunity, to judge people by the content of their character, and be thankful to live in and try to improve the most free and most equal society ever created,†40-year resident S. Carter Nixon wrote in a letter to the board earlier this month.
School board members on Thursday praised district leaders’ courage in implementing the new curriculum.
“Change isn’t easy and, it often comes and brings a lot of fear,†said board member Kita Quinn. “I think that’s really what’s driving some of the things behind people who are questioning this work, but I think they will find there’s really nothing to be afraid of. Our kids are in very capable and competent hands.â€
Photos: Affton seniors hold unconventional (Un)-Prom night
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School seniors Anna Bohnert, left, Kennedy Spears and Rachel Krakos, watch Jumanji on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville as part of their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School student Sheldon Underwood, right, arrives with her date, Ricky Niebling in his Ford F-150 on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville for their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom". School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
Christian Gooden
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School senior Andrew Sadl, left, and his date, Frances Miklovic arrive on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville in his family's '57 Chevy Bel Air for their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School seniors Abagale Berger, left, and Greg Wagoner greet fellow classmates Melisa Suljevic and Emma Grana on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville before the start of their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for a full-length movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School seniors Regan Power, left, Grace Klence and Abby Puzniak decorate the car they arrived in on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville as part of their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates and dresses to watch the movie, Jumanji. There were concessions and a contest for the best decorated vehicle. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School seniors watch the full-length film Jumanji on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville as part of their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates and dresses to watch the movie, Jumanji. There were concessions and a contest for the best decorated vehicle. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School seniors watch Jumanji on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville as part of their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Greg Wagoner, senior Ricky Niebling, center, oversees the decoration of his Ford F-150 on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville to compete in a car-decorating contest for their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions, and a raffle. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
A photo presentation put together by parents of Affton High School seniors is played on the big screen on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville for the school's COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School students Charlotte Krakowsi and Chris Hercules settle in on Sunday, April 18, 2021, before the start of the movie, Jumanji at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville for their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School seniors gather before watching Jumanji on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville as part of their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School senior Greg Wagoner, left, arrives with his date, Abagale Berger on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville for their COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for the movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
Christian Gooden
Affton High reformats prom night with the 'Un-Prom'
Affton High School seniors celebrated an unusual prom night on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville for a COVID-induced "Senior Un-Prom." School administrators, under coronavirus restrictions, adjusted the format of their traditional senior prom to avoid another graduating class not having one at all. Students arrived in their cars with dates, dresses for a full-length movie, concessions and a decorated car contest. (Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com )
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