The head of Alabama’s Department of Early Childhood Education has resigned now that the state’s Republican Governor, Kay Ivey, was made aware of and fought back against the “woke concepts” that were featured in the books distributed to teachers in the state for young children.
Governor Ivey’s office announced that education official was gone and woke books were being replaced in a Friday press release, saying that it “was brought to the Administration’s attention that there was concerning content in a pre-K educator resource book, content that is simply not in line with what the Ivey Administration or the people of Alabama stand for or believe.”
Continuing, Governor Ivey added that. “The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room to distract or take away from this mission. Let me be crystal clear: Woke concepts that have zero to do with a proper education and that are divisive at the core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age level, let alone with our youngest learners.”
The statement also said, “Alabama’s First Class Pre-K is the best in the country, and those children are at too critical of a juncture in their educational journeys and development to get it wrong. I remain confident in the wonderful teachers we have in pre-K classrooms around our state and in the necessity of our children receiving a strong start to their educational journeys in our First Class Pre-K program. I thank Dr. Cooper for her service, but I believe it is best we continue this historically strong program on its forward trajectory under new leadership.”
Describing the woke material that was in the books, Governor Ivey’s office said, “Also included for four-year-olds to learn is that ‘LGBTQIA+ need to hear and see messages that promote equality, dignity and worth.’ The glossary includes equally disturbing concepts that the Ivey Administration and the people of Alabama in no way, shape or form believe should be used to influence school children, let alone four-year-olds,”
Apparently, Governor Ivey’s office learned about the material and then reviewed and confirmed that it was as woke as they suspected. She then asked ADECE Sec. Barbara Cooper to “send a memo to disavow this book and to immediately discontinue its use.” Instead, ADECE Sec. Barbara Cooper resigned, and Governor Ivey’s office said she had accepted Cooper’s resignation after calling for a “change in leadership.”
The NAEYC, a national accrediting board that provides education materials and resources for young children and for which Cooper was a board member, said, “For nearly four decades, and in partnership with hundreds of thousands of families and educators, Developmentally Appropriate Practice has served as the foundation for high-quality early childhood education across all states and communities. While not a curriculum, it is a responsive, educator-developed, educator-informed, and research-based resource that has been honed over multiple generations to support teachers in helping all children thrive and reach their full potential.“
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