Many people feel that this is a very divided time in American history. At times it may seem that American political parties define themselves more on what they are against than what they support, while neither side misses an opportunity to take a public jab at the other side. Because schools are micro-reflections of the communities they serve, some schools have become the staging ground for these political and social disagreements. Manyteachersand administrators are struggling with unhappy and vocal parents and other stakeholders who bring those political disagreements into discussions about curricula, school policies, and what children are or are not being taught.

Given its content, social studies are often targeted for this scrutiny and if some controversial content is discovered, a great deal of undesired attention may transpire. As a result, some schools have adopted a very conflict-avoidant stance and intentionally omit curricula that might spark controversy.

Respond to the following questions:

• What are the schools in your community doing regarding the teaching ofau courant curricula, such as critical race theory or other contemporary issues?
• What advice do you have for your local schools, regarding this issue?
• How can teachers incorporate multiple perspectives in their social studies instruction to promote culturally responsive instruction?
• Review theCollege's Conceptual Framework. How does this topic link to the College's Conceptual Framework and the framework's philosophical relationship to effective teacher preparation?

I live in Whitney Texas.