LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan State Board of Education wants to have authority over the curriculum in every child’s classroom, but its interim superintendent doesn’t know the basics of  fifth grade science.

“Different people have different beliefs.”

On Tuesday morning, Dr. Sue C. Carnell testified before the Michigan House Committee on Oversight. The committee heard testimony regarding the board’s proposed Health Education Standards Framework, which has not gone through a revamp since 2007.

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When Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) asked her about the number of genders, Carnell sat silent before offering a non-answer.

 

Are the new standards sneaky?

The proposed changes from the board drew ire from some parents and lawmakers. While some educators claims parents can still “opt” out of the updated sex education curriculum, others have argued the new standards sneak LGBTQ philosophy into every subject.

Meghan Reckling, a Republican activist, wrote on Facebook about Tuesday’s testimony. “Listening to the House Oversight Committee today where the State Superintendent admitted that under the new curriculum guidance being pushed by the State School Board here in Michigan, LGBTQ+ and gender identity topics would be woven into every subject area — history, science, math, reading, writing, economics, and more.” Reckling continued, “So now it would be on us as a parent to comb through every single book, lesson plan, worksheet, and assignment across every subject our kids are taught — just to know when we have to pull them out of class to protect them from this liberal indoctrination.”

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She added, “This is not education. This is an agenda.”

Student success?

Some argue adding so-called “woke” philosophy into Michigan curriculums should be the least of the state’s worries. Michigan kids can’t add, subtract, or read. Michigan ranks 44th in the nation for fourth grade reading scores and 31st in the nation ranking on eighth grade math scores.