Do Visalia Unified trustees trust teachers to talk about race?
Visalia Unified has gone back-and-forth on whether it should approve Global Learning Charter Schools use of Newsela, an educational application currently used by students. "We have to trust that our teachers who are with our kids all day are doing what's best for them," Jacqueline Gaebe said to the board after Trustee John Crabtree questioned the use of the application by Visalia teachers. "They are not there to spread their personal opinions, they are there to teach standards... If we are saying we don't trust our teachers, that is a statement I am not comfortable making," Gaebe said. An informational meeting about Newsela was scheduled to start before the school board's regular meeting at 7 p.m. Discussion about Newsela quickly turned into a debate after board members flung accusations regarding Visalia teacher's intentions, and potential biases while using the application. We bring in supplemental material constantly, we go on the internet, print out an article because it is relevant to our curriculum, and we bring that in, Gaebe said. Then it becomes your biases, Crabtree responded. We have to trust our teacher's professionalism in what they bring into the classroom, Gaebe replied. You wont convince me, Mrs. Gaebe, that we should have Newsela in our schools, Crabtree said after more discussion, ultimately ending the back-and-forth. Newsela lists over 100 content partners on its website including the History Channel, WikiHow, The Athletic, Texas PBS and more, to name a few. The application is currently a part of Visalia Global Learning Charter Schools curriculum, meaning teachers and students have access to a variety of sources. The application was first approved for use at Visalia's Global Learning Charter School four years ago and has been a part of the school's curriculum since. The charter is connected to VUSD and housed at the former Fairview school. If the board fails to renew its contract with Newsela, the charter will have to rewrite its science and history curriculum before August, said Doug Cardoza, assistant superintendent of instructional services. The district was quoted $12.5k for its renewal, set to expire this month. "What [the charter school] they are asking for is a minimal cost for an enormous amount of savings of our teacher's time and the ability to provide resources at their instructional level," Gaebe said. Board member Crabtree wasn't alone in voicing his concerns. Trustee Walta Gamoian also spoke up vehemently against the product saying: "I am not in favor of critical race theory, so I wont be voting for this curriculum." According to Purdue University, critical race theory "emphasizes the importance of examining and attempting to understand the socio-cultural forces that shape how we and others perceive, experience, and respond to racism." Gamoian also said that she was against implementing an anti-racist curriculum because she believes that the district does not currently offer a racist curriculum, despite many stories of racism and bigotry districtwide. Unlike Crabtree, she disputed not trusting teachers, though. "It's not that I dont trust the teachers, I have looked at the site, it is infused with critical race theory," she said. "I will not be approving it." Tuesday's presentation was informational only and was not an action item. The next Visalia Unified School District school board meeting is set for 7 p.m. on June 22 in the VUSD office boardroom at 5000 W. Cypress Ave.