Religion part of reading curriculum excised

CELINA - A contentious component of a new reading curriculum has been removed after parents complained.

School board members at Monday night's regular meeting heard curriculum director Vaughn Ray give an update on the new literacy curriculum that aims to align reading standards and content, the first such overhaul in more than a decade at the district.

At issue was one of the knowledge portions - religions - that falls under the reading curriculum in the early grades. Board members last month found out first graders were learning about Christianity, Islam and Judaism while second graders were being asked to contrast Hinduism and Buddhism.

Some parents felt the concepts were way over their students' heads, board president Craig Flag had said.

"As the one parent expressed concerns, their daughter is struggling to even get reading so are we making sure that we're putting enough time into reading the books?" he had asked.

Superintendent Ken Schmiesing confirmed Monday that the religions component has since been removed.

"I've been involved in that. The principals have been involved in that. The teachers are looking up things, making adjustments as well, too," he said. "It's been a lot of work but that's what we were directed to do."

Vaughn on Monday night said a new website called Literacy at Celina City Schools - viewable under the curriculum section on the Celina City Schools website celinaschools.org - is expected to go live to the public today. The site provides a framework of the district's literacy plan and includes numerous resources and videos.

Flack, relaying a question from a parent in the audience, asked whom parents should ask if they have inquiries or concerns about the literacy program.

Vaughn said the best person to contact first is a student's teacher, the person in the classroom doing the work and who has the most impact on a student.

He also recommended that parents who want to view curriculum should do so at the schools.

"We want to be there to answer questions, give support and offer context. We don't want someone just to have something (part of the curriculum) without knowing what's truly happening," Vaughn said. "Our teachers are the ones that are using it. They're going to be a great resource for our parents. We want to provide as much support and assistance to our families as we can."

Additional videos showing what is being taught via literacy efforts will be shared on social media, he said.

Teachers, he said, are working vigorously on the new literacy program.

"They are working as hard as they possibly can from the high school all the way down to kindergarten. This curriculum, it's hard work. But it's nothing that we can't handle. It's just hard work," he said.

He urged parents and other community members to give teachers time as they work through implementing and adjusting the curriculum.

"Let them make some good mistakes and give them the flexibility and support to help our kids," he said.