Gwinnett residents speak out against textbooks
A handful of Gwinnett County residents asked the school system not to use some textbooks and other materials they say contain inaccuracies, are biased and inappropriate for some grade levels.
“We should not spend any taxpayer money on these books,” one of the speakers, Judy Craft, said during Thursday evening’s school board meeting.
In recent months, Gwinnett school officials have had dozens of books and other materials the district may use on display for parents and residents to review. The speakers said some of the materials contain “half-truths” about Founding Father and former President Thomas Jefferson, seem “to be stifling individual thought” and discuss issues they think are too advanced for some students, such as right to die.
Some school board members said they are concerned about some of the information in those materials. School board chairman Daniel Seckinger said a review of the materials is ongoing and the board will discuss any changes.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
