Southington Schools Probe Whether Controversial Worksheet Is Part Of Curriculum

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Recently released meeting minutes reveal added details on where the school system stands regarding a controversial, pro-diversity worksheet distributed to high school students Sept. 1.

If it's determined the worksheet violated school-board approved curriculum, that teacher faces "progressive discipline," according to school officials.

At the Sept. 8 Southington Board of Education meeting, multiple residents and some board members heavily criticized the Southington High School English teacher and the worksheet.

The item being debated addressed several issues that have divided the nation along political, gender and racial lines.

Items raised included "white privilege," "indigenous peoples," "transgender" people, "institutional racism," gender pronouns, the "Latinx" term and other hot-button political issues dividing liberals and conservatives.

The worksheet, which was a writing style sheet, addressed those terms' definitions and proper ways students can include those terms in their writing.

According to recently posted minutes of the Sept. 8 meeting, school officials are looking into the matter.

Specifically, Southington Board of Education Chairman Colleen Clark, a Republican, read aloud a statement detailing where the school system stood on the matter.

Attempts to reach school system administrators were unsuccessful in seeking further comment.

Meanwhile, those looking to watch a video of the meeting on YouTube did not hear Clark's statement because the video was silent for about the first 13 minutes.

The meeting minutes, however, detail all of Clark's statement, which was read into the record.

School officials were notified of a complaint on the worksheet, made by a student to a counselor, only on Sept. 8.

In the days prior, the worksheet swept through local social media forums, igniting a firestorm of controversy.

Clark said teachers are required to teach based on school board-approved curriculum, which is what the ongoing investigation is looking into.

“Early today, the Board of Education and central office administration were made aware that there were worksheets used within a class at Southington High School that may not have been part of the course’s approved curriculum," Clark said, according to Sept. 8 meeting minutes.

"The administration is currently investigating this incident and, as is our practice with all personnel matters, we cannot comment any further at this time other than to ensure that if materials utilized were not part of our approved curriculum, progressive discipline will be applied."

Clark said the school district is posting curriculum on the school district's website "for full transparency."

"If teaching of controversial issues or topics do occur, they must be done as part of an approved or adopted curriculum and within the confines of Policy 6144, ‘Controversial Issues,’" Clark said.
"If a community member takes exception with a particular lesson or portion of the curriculum, please know that you can always contact us."

The meeting minutes further state the worksheet's genesis is from the University of Arizona and it's called “Vocabulary for Conversations about Race, Gender, Equality and Inclusivity.”

During that same meeting, six people testified to the school board, which is comprised of six Republicans and three Democrats, expressing criticism of the worksheet, some saying it was divisive and others calling it offensive.

Clark's statement said this situation isn't reflective of the entire school staff.

Said Clark: "We have a talented and dedicated staff, and this should in no way reflect upon all the great work that occurs in our classrooms every day. We remain committed to partnering with our families and insist that students are not pressured or coerced into personal or political views of individual staff members at any time.”

• To see a full copy of the University of Arizona's "Vocabulary for Conversations about Race, Gender, Equality and Inclusivity,” click on this link.
• To see the Sept. 8 Southington Board of Education meeting minutes, click on this link.
• From Sept. 9: 'Southington High Diversity Lesson Infuriates Many At BOE Meeting'