Public outcry changed Michigan social studies standards. Add your voice.

There will be a total of nine meetings held across the state over the next month for the public to offer its views on the latest state draft of new social studies standards.

By Ron French (Bridge)

Last year, the public influenced changes in how history will be taught in Michigan schools. Now, residents will have another chance to offer their opinions on Michigan’s controversial social studies standards, at nine evening meetings around the state and online.

A similar round of public meetings in 2018 led to a rewrite of a draft of the standards that took a notably more conservative bent. That draft cut references to climate change and gay rights, and excised “democratic” from the phrase “core democratic values.”

Related: History gets a conservative twist in Michigan social studies standards

After an outcry, much of it at public hearings after the conservative changes were chronicled by Bridge, that draft was rewritten and presented to the State Board of Education last week.

The current draft reversed many of the changes advocated by a group of conservatives last year, which has led to complaints that the Michigan Department of Education is now favoring liberal viewpoints in the teaching of history and social studies.

Related: It’s conservatives’ turn to complain about Michigan social studies standards

You can see a side-by-side comparison of the 2018 draft and the current draft here. Do you agree with some critics the standards now skew progressive? Or did the state create a more even-handed approach to the topics required to be taught to Michigan students?

“As we did last year, we are asking for public input on this latest version of the proposed Social Studies Standards for Michigan schools,” Interim State Superintendent Sheila Alles said in a news release. “Public comments will help Michigan’s social studies experts finalize the standards that will go before the State Board of Education for consideration in June.”

Michigan residents can offer their opinions online here, or at the a variety of scheduled meetings, the most local of which are listed below:

Detroit

April 24 6-8 pm

Detroit Historical Museum

5401 Woodward Avenue

Detroit, MI 48202

Waterford

April 29 6-8 pm

Oakland Schools

2111 Pontiac Lake Road

Waterford, MI 48328

Kalamazoo

April 30 6-8 pm

Kalamazoo Central High School

2432 N. Drake Road

Kalamazoo, MI 49006

Lansing

May 2 6-8 pm

Michigan Historical Center and Library

702 W. Kalamazoo Street

Lansing, MI 48915

Grand Rapids

May 6 6-8 pm

Kent Intermediate School District

2930 Knapp Road

Grand Rapids, MI 49525

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.