4th grade social studies SOL - Robert E Lee Hero of the Confederacy

[Anonymous]

Our DC came home with study material for the SOLs, including a copy of Robert E Lee: Confederate Hero:

Robert E. Lee-the pride of Virginia! His military foresight, decisiveness, and ability to inspire greatness in his troops was phenomenal. Not only was he a brilliant Confederate general, he was also a perfect gentleman and loyal Virginian.
These popular readers include easy-to-read information, fun facts and trivia, humor, activities and a whole lot more. They are great for ages 7-12 (grades 2-6), because although simple, these readers have substance and really engage kids with their stories. They are great for social studies, meeting state and national curriculum standards, individual and group reading programs, centers, library programs, and have many other terrific educational uses.

Among others, it talks about celebrating "Lee-Jackson-King" day. We're immigrants from a different country and had been taught in school that the South lost the US Civil War.
We're not woke, but did we miss something? Why do VA SOLs expect children to read books highlighting Robert E Lee in 2021?

[Anonymous]

What county? APS is not taking the SOL in 4th grade this year. There is a performance based assessment instead.
-4th grade teacher

[Anonymous]

Where is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is this?

Not in NoVA.

[Anonymous]

I call BS if this is in APS or FCCPS.

[Anonymous]

It is out of touch and unacceptable for a school system to be circulating this book!

Which system? I’d bring it up with the principal first to get it out of circulation and encourage a review of materials being distributed at the school level. But there also needs to be a broader discussion within the school system in at the school board level about curriculums, including Virginia studies. I remember some pretty questionable materials coming home with our kids in 4th grade a few years ago too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is out of touch and unacceptable for a school system to be circulating this book!

Which system? I’d bring it up with the principal first to get it out of circulation and encourage a review of materials being distributed at the school level. But there also needs to be a broader discussion within the school system in at the school board level about curriculums, including Virginia studies. I remember some pretty questionable materials coming home with our kids in 4th grade a few years ago too.

I'd bring it up to the principal. That's nuts.

[Anonymous]

Robert E Lee is still a standards of learning figure. Is it possible there was a class discussion about revisionist history, the lost cause mythology, etc.?

And OP, where was this? I assume in VA but not in NoVa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Robert E Lee is still a standards of learning figure. Is it possible there was a class discussion about revisionist history, the lost cause mythology, etc.?

And OP, where was this? I assume in VA but not in NoVa?

Adolph Hitler is someone kids learn about in History too. That doesn't mean we need to teach that he was a "perfect gentleman".

In 4th grade, I expect anything that kids read on their own to stand alone, because at that age, even if you told them in the introduction that it was a racist text you were reading as an example of racism literature, you couldn't guarantee they'd remember it.

I teach high school, and at that age it's different. For example, I teach the Journal of Captain John Smith, because it gives a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of the Europeans in the New World. But my students are old enough to understand that we can read something and discuss it without agreeing with it.

[Anonymous]

Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this?

Not in NoVA.

Is this OP or just a guess?

[Anonymous]

I seriously OP is even real. If this was in NOVA, it would be on the news by now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this?

Not in NoVA.

Is this OP or just a guess?

This is OP. It was not in a NoVA district, further south but won't say more than that. The forum is for VA Public Schools other than FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this?

Not in NoVA.

Is this OP or just a guess?

This is OP. It was not in a NoVA district, further south but won't say more than that. The forum is for VA Public Schools other than FCPS.

Yea, on the webpage DC Urban Moms and Dads- this is generally regarded as a NOVA board. This is not super shocking coming from the south- there are still a lot of confederate flags flying down there, even teachers- I grew up there and its one of many reasons I left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this?

Not in NoVA.

Is this OP or just a guess?

This is OP. It was not in a NoVA district, further south but won't say more than that. The forum is for VA Public Schools other than FCPS.

That’s fine- I wasn’t implying that non NOVA school topics are inappropriate, just wanted clarification.