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I want to first say that I don't know another about this story outside of what @MoBrandNews and the @TimesFreePress reported, nor do I know the identity of the teacher at @SMMHSEagles. But I do want to weigh in. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2020/sep/09/signal-mountateacher-removes-two-african-amer/531927/
There's been comments about why the teacher removed these two books from the reading list, but let's be clear:
Based on the @TimesFreePress' reporting (which I trust), the teacher said the reading level was accessible to 7th graders but" the content in the books may be inappropriate for some of our students."
The teacher continued to say, "while a shock to us, the books may be relatable and important to other students in our county."
In terms of the reading level argument, Signal Mountain Middle/High Schools is one of the best performing schools in the Hamilton County.
In terms of the reading level argument, Signal Mountain Middle/High Schools is one of the best performing schools in the Hamilton County.
Hands down, Signal Mountain students perform the best out of many of Hamilton County students.
They are also majority white in a district that is about 40% students of color.
My question: Who are these "other students" the teacher is referring to?
They are also majority white in a district that is about 40% students of color.
My question: Who are these "other students" the teacher is referring to?
Educators, including @hamcoschools teachers, agree that exposing students to diverse perspectives and diverse literature is vitally important. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2019/nov/23/child-reading-teachers-books/509020/
Former @HustlinTigers teachers — who are now part of district leadership — started a book club that literally read some of the books @SMMHSEagles removed. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2018/oct/21/how-some-hamiltcounty-educators-are-encouragi/481473/
A local parent group has incorporated books from similar authors in the grant-funded classroom libraries they install in high-needs schools. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2018/dec/10/first-installment-moms-social-justices-classr/484604/
To be fair, I don't know what other books were included on @SMMHSEagles book club reading list and would love to know.
Also, as someone who covered @hamcoschools for several years, it's hard not to see the bigger part this story plays in the narrative around race in HCS schools.
Also, as someone who covered @hamcoschools for several years, it's hard not to see the bigger part this story plays in the narrative around race in HCS schools.
Hamilton County has a whole has struggled with conversations about race and class and their intersection in schools for years.
. @hamcoschools has made some efforts to talk about these things and help teachers respond in more culturally-competent ways.
But even those efforts have been controversial.
But even those efforts have been controversial.
Last year, some community members were enraged after teachers in the district's schools with the highest numbers of students of color attended a training that discussed things like race, privilege, implicit bias, etc. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2019/aug/02/hamilton-county-schools-calls-concerns-about-white-privilege-slides-misrepresentation/500383/
Even though this was the third time that such a training had been held for teachers. Heck, former U.S. Secretary of Education @JohnBKing attended @hamcoschools first Urban Education Institute in 2018. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2018/aug/06/former-educatisecretary-addresses-hamiltcount/476471/
Educators even said they wanted to talk about race — and that conversations about how to serve all students also needed to extend into the classroom. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2019/aug/10/should-teachers-talk-about-race-heres-wheduca/500918/
But remember this @hamcoschools also has a school board that includes 2 members who spoke out against integration and said it was not needed. In 2018. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2018/may/11/denounce-unified-plan/470584/
It is a district that, like dozens across the state and nation, has been called out for disproportionately singling out and punishing boys of color, especially boys of color with disabilities. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2019/feb/24/hamiltcounty-schools-flagged-state-disproport/489332/
The community as a whole has attacked @hamcoschools black, male superintendent and accused his administration of hiring only people of color and of "singling out white teachers." https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2019/aug/20/robocall-anonymous-survey-continue-stir-racia/501671/
Hamilton County Schools is a school system where students of color attend worse physical facilities, generally have less experienced teachers and are consistently outperformed by their wealthier, whiter peers.
And it's just one school district in state where this is true.
And it's just one school district in state where this is true.
I don't know more about this controversy on Signal Mountain, but it's not the first of its kind in Hamilton County and it will be interesting to see how the community responds.
I am a reporter and my job is to stay fair and balanced — I also cover education though and my job is to hold individuals and systems accountable for doing right by all kids.
Not "other" kids.
Not "other" kids.
