Textbook Banned in Norwalk over 'Simplistic, Insensitive' Portrayal of Slavery

NORWALK, CT — The Norwalk Public School District has banned the textbook "The Connecticut Adventure" from its fourth grade curriculum - effective in January - for its "simplistic, insensitive" and "offensive" portrayal of slavery in Connecticut.

The school system became of aware of parents' concerns about the Social Studies book late last month, and following a review, officials "deemed the content in the textbook inaccurate," the district wrote in a Facebook post.

Published in 2001 by Gibbs Smith Publishing, the book by John W. Ifkovic contains the following passage, which officials reportedly found to be objectionable, according to the Star-Tribune:

Compared to other colonies, Connecticut did not have many slaves. Some people owned one or two slaves. They often cared for and protected them like members of the family. They taught them to be Christian, and sometimes to read and write.

"An Elementary Integration Committee made up of central office administrators and Curriculum Instruction Site Directors will work during the month of December to incorporate different Social Studies resources into our Connecticut history studies for fourth grade," officials wrote in a statement.

"Our district long-term strategy is to formally adopt a Social Studies program aligned to Connecticut’s new College, Career and Civic Life (C3) Social Studies Framework. During the month of January, Dr. [Michael] Conner [Chief Academic Officer] will work with the [Board of Education] Curriculum Committee and other district stakeholders to develop an ad-hoc committee that will look to make a recommendation for an official program adoption by May 2017."

Photo: Cover of "The Connecticut Adventure"