MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) —
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced Friday that she has replaced her director of early childhood education over the use of a teacher training book written by a nationally recognized education group that denounced the Republican governor for teaching “awakened concepts.” because of language about inclusion and structural racism.
Barbara Cooper was forced to leave as head of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education after Ivey raised concerns about the distribution of the book to state-run kindergartens. Ivey spokesperson Gina Maiola identified the book as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Developmentally Appropriate Practice Book, 4th Edition. Maiola said she understands the books were collected from public classrooms.
“Educating the children of Alabama is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room for distraction or distraction from this mission. Let me be crystal clear: Woke concepts that have nothing to do with a good education and are divisive at their core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age, let alone our youngest students,” Ivey said in a statement.
Ivey’s statement comes as conservative politicians have made a rallying cry out of decrying so-called “wake” teachings, with schools sometimes emerging as a focal point for diversity training and parental rights.
The governor’s office said Ivey had first asked Cooper to “send a memo to reject this book and immediately cease its use.” Ivey’s office did not say how Cooper reacted, but that the governor made the decision to replace Cooper and accepted her resignation. Cooper was not immediately available for comment.
The book is a manual for early childhood educators. It is not a curriculum that is taught to children.
The governor’s office cited two examples from the book in a press release — one discussing white privilege and that “the United States is built on systemic and structural racism” and another that Ivey’s office claimed teaches LGBTQ+ inclusion. to 4 year olds. According to a copy of the 881-page book obtained by The Associated Press, those sections discuss how to make all children feel welcome.
“Early children’s programs also serve and welcome families of many compositions. Children from all families (e.g., single parent, grandparent-led, foster, LGBTQIA+) need to hear and see messages that promote equality, dignity, and dignity,” the book states.
The section on structural racism states that “systemic and structural 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.” It says 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 accreditation board that works to provide quality early childhood education materials and resources. In an email response to The Associated Press, the group did not comment on Ivey’s statements, but said the 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 quality early childhood education in all states and communities. While not a curriculum, it is a responsive, teacher-developed, teacher-informed, and research-based resource that has been honed over several generations to support teachers in helping all children thrive and reach their full potential.” said the statement.
Alabama’s First Class Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Programs operates more than 1,400 classrooms in the state. The program has received high ratings from the National Institute for Early Education Research.
