According to The Century Foundation, for the first time since the founding of our nation, a majority of children in K-12 public schools are children of color. Research also demonstrates that diversity and inclusion in curriculum benefits all students regardless of ethnicity.
It is well past time for Clark County and surrounding school districts to have a formalized curriculum for Black History Month in every public school. As Black Lives Matter Vancouver pointed out on Mother’s Day, Black children deserve to see that African Americans have been more than slaves. All children deserve to feel celebrated and represented.
As a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, I am calling on school district administrators to work with the African-American community to develop and implement this curriculum for the benefit, health and love of all children.