Alabama Education Director Fired For Book Talking About Fighting Racism

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday that she has replaced her early childhood education director for the use of a teacher training book written by a globally recognized education group. which the Republican governor denounced as teaching that “woke up concepts” due to language about inclusivity and structural racism.

Barbara Cooper was ousted as head of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education after Ivey raised concerns about the book’s distribution to state kindergartens. Ivey’s spokeswoman, Gina Maiola, identified the book as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Book of Developmentally Appropriate Practices, 4th Edition. Maiola said that she understands that the books have been withdrawn from state classrooms.

“The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as Governor, and there is absolutely no room to distract from or take away from this mission. Let me be very clear: Woke concepts that have nothing to do with a proper education and are divisive at their core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age level, let alone our youngest students.” Ivey said in a statement.

Ivey’s statement comes as conservative politicians have made a rallying cry for denouncing the so-called “awakened” teachings, with schools sometimes emerging as a flash point over diversity training and parental rights.

The governor’s office said Ivey first asked Cooper to “submit a memo to reject this book and immediately suspend its use.” Ivey’s office did not say how Cooper responded, but that the governor made the decision to replace Cooper and accepted his resignation. Cooper could not immediately be reached for comment.

The book is a guide for early childhood educators. It is not a curriculum that is taught to children.

The governor’s office, in a news release, cited two examples from the book: one that discusses white privilege and that “America is built on systemic and structural racism” and another that Ivey’s office says teaches LGBTQ+ inclusion to 4-year-old children. Those sections, according to a copy of the 881-page book obtained by The Associated Press, discuss how to combat prejudice and make sure all children feel welcome.

“Early childhood programs also serve and welcome families that represent many compositions. Children in all families (eg, single parent, grandparent-led, adoptive, LGBTQIA+) need to hear and see messages that promote equality, dignity, and worth,” the book states.

The section on structural racism states that “structural and systemic racism…has permeated every institution and system through policies and practices that place people of color in oppressive, repressive, and subservient positions. The early education system is not immune to these forces.” He says that preschool is a place where children “begin to see how they are represented in society” and that the classroom should be a place of “affirmation and healing.”

NAEYC is a national accrediting board that works to provide high-quality educational materials and resources for young children. In an emailed response to The Associated Press, the group did not address Ivey’s remarks, but said that book is a research-based resource for educators.

“For nearly four decades, and in partnership with hundreds of thousands of families and educators, Developmentally Appropriate Practice has served as the foundation for high-quality early childhood education in every state and every community. While not a curriculum, it is a responsive, educator-developed, educator-informed, and research-based resource that has been honed over generations to help teachers help all children thrive and reach their full potential. ”, reads the statement.

copper is a member of the board of NAEYC. In a statement posted earlier on the organization’s website about the latest edition of the book, Cooper said the book teaches “applicable teaching skills through developmentally appropriate practices that develop brains during the critical first five years of life.” .

Alabama’s First Class voluntary pre-kindergarten programs operate more than 1,400 classrooms throughout the state. The program has earned high marks from the National Institute for Early Education Research.