LGBT History Heading to School
Last updated 8/1/2016 at 4:56am
The State Board of Education has approved curriculum changes for children as early as the second grade, to reflect an education more in line with today's evolving society.
Students will learn age-appropriate lessons about families with two moms or two dads and will eventually be taught the history of gay and lesbian leaders and their civil rights struggles. The new curriculum stems from the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Act, a 2012 California law seeking greater representation of the LGBT community and other minorities in history, social and civic lessons.
The radical change in curriculum was met with die-hard opponents and supporters who, according to the Los Angeles Times, emailed the Department of Education more than 10,000 comments on the change over a three-month comment period.
Tom Torlakson, the state superintendent of public instruction, sees the change as overdue. "It will give our students access to the latest historical research and help them learn about the diversity of our state and the contributions of people and groups who may not have received the appropriate recognition in the past," he told the Times.
The newspaper quoted Miguel Covarrubias, a U.S. history teacher at Highland Park's Franklin High School, who said many of his students are new to the history of the LGBT movement. "Some are initially uncomfortable," Covarrubias said. "It makes a huge difference to know how they are part of the evolving American story."
