6 — Wednesday, May 4, 2022 — North Pointe
IN-DEPTH
The great education debate: The recent push for parent involvement in schools By Farrah Fasse, Jo Jackson & Allie McIntyre Editor-in-Chief, Web Editor & Staff Reporter If passed, Michigan’s House Bill 5722, introduced by Michigan House Republicans with a goal of increasing curriculum transparency, will require school districts to publicize specific curriculum, assignments and activities. By the first day of school, districts would have to make their approved curriculum, all course offerings, field trips and extracurricular activities open to the public or they risk losing funding. All textbooks, literature, research projects and writing assignments assigned by teachers must also be released. Along with this, the names of all certified teachers who are in Michigan schools must be publicized. Non-complying districts would lose 5% of their annual funding. Wayne County RESA Social Studies Consultant David Hales believes that the bill was introduced on a “false premise” that there isn’t already community involvement when designing curriculum. “There seems to be an implication in that law that parents or the public do not have a level of involvement in schools,” Hales said. “That is the farthest thing from the truth. I think [the bill] would have a negative impact, a very chilling impact, because it would take some of that autonomy away from teachers being [able] to really focus on their students, front and center.” If the bill were passed, math teacher Bradley Smith believes it may impede his creativity and innovation as an educator. “As a relatively new teacher, a lot of my career right now is revamping old lessons and old curriculum in order to make all the teaching and learning in my classroom better for
students,” Smith said. “That’s included revamping projects midyear, even two weeks out from the actual project being assigned with my colleagues in the math department. So, I do wonder how this would stifle innovation in the
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experience, because I also have to tailor my instructions to my individual students.” The push for more transparency in the curriculum may just be a way for parents to have more control over what their children are learning, according to critics of curriculum transparency bills, including junior Ella Chamberlain. “I think parents just want more control over everything,” Chamberlain said. “It should be not totally backed off, but they shouldn’t be at the head of the teaching curriculum.” Smith does acknowledge the importance of parents’ involvement in their child’s education for their success, but also says that parents need to recognize that teachers and school staff are professionals acting in the best interest of their students. “I think it is valid to want to know what is happening in your schools and to be communicating with parents and families because [teachers and families] should be acting as a team to help their students become these knowledgeable and equipped members of society,” Smith said. “But, I do think there needs to be a line of trust and respect that families know that their child will feel safe and they can enter school and be themselves and be brave and take academic risks.” Though there are some guidelines set by state and federal governments, Hales says that curriculum is mostly determined at the local level. Depending on the individual district, there is generally some level of involvement from
If I followed [my original lesson plans] to a T, my students would not have the best learning experience, because I also have to tailor my instructions to my individual students.
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Bradley Smith MATH TEACHER
classroom, and would possibly prevent students from getting a better experience if teachers aren’t allowed to create when they need to. If I followed [my original lesson plans] to a T, my students would not have the best learning
