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By Denean Adams, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Harvey Public School District 152
Black History Month is a relevant recognition of
societal contribution from people of color. Initially, it
was celebrated for one week (then known as Black
History Week) until it was extended to Black History
Month. As a critical part of American History,
legislation has been proposed to encourage public
schools to teach Black History as a part of the year-
round curriculum.
With a commitment to education and service, I
proudly serve as Superintendent of Harvey Public
School District 152. Harvey serves approximately
2,300 students, 78.4 percent of whom are Black. For
over 20 years, I have done my best to contribute to
Black History while simultaneously encouraging many
students to become a part of Black History. It is my
firm belief that the history of African Americans
should be an essential part of the learning process
that expands beyond February programs and
celebrations into deeply embedded relevancy in
instruction and curriculum standards.
According to the Illinois State Board of Education,
every public elementary school and high school shall
include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying
the events of Black History. These events shall
include the contributions made by individual African
Americans in government, arts, humanities, sciences,
economic, cultural and political development of the
United States. In addition, inclusive of the socio-
economic struggle which African Americans
experienced collectively in striving to achieve fair and
equal treatment under the laws of this nation.
The above standard set by the Illinois State Board
of Education is a result of laws passed by the Illinois
legislature in the 1990's mandating the teaching of
African American studies. The legislative intent of the
law and its spirit was to ensure children are educated
about their culture and heritage. Lawmakers relied on
research that supported the basic premise knowledge
of culture and heritage as essential factors in the
learning process for K-12 students.
While there have been great strides in lessening
and eliminating discrimination in this country, I have
sincere trepidation that if it were not for the law
mentioned above, the possibility of excluding other
cultures as a part of American history is great. Daniel
Jocz, in his Huffington Post education article,
Black
History Is American History, All Year Round
said,
"We have an unfortunate tendency in this country to
exclude the stories of various groups in our year-
round teaching of the nation's history. The experience
of African Americans, women, immigrants, the poor,
and gay and lesbian individuals
is
American history.
Black History should be taught year round." Jocz
further said, "The American experience has been
African American studies: An all-year experience