WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Williamson County Schools has faced some resistance after the board adopted a new science curriculum that rejected the recommendations of a committee and most teachers within the school system.
“The dismissal of the teachers’ recommendation and the committee’s recommendation in this case is really a low blow,” Former WCS teacher, Charity Hazen, told News 2.
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Before changing career paths and accepting a job in the corporate world, Hazen was a teacher in Williamson County for nearly a decade.
“I was just completely floored to see the board not just not take the teacher’s recommendation, but to truly go in the complete opposite direction…to me, it was just a shocking departure from the advice and expertise that our teachers bring,” Hazen added.
Last Monday, board members voted seven to two to adopt a K-8 science curriculum called STEMscopes, which only 7% of K-second grade teachers, about 10% of third-fifth grade teachers, and zero middle school teachers recommended.
However, WCS board member and scientist Dr. Claire Reeves said the STEMscopes curriculum offered more evidence of student success than the teacher and committee recommended options, adding the textbook wouldn’t just “teach to the test.”
“It allows for prioritizing the hands-on piece and print materials that will give parents and kids greater exposure to science on a daily basis,” Reeves said in last week’s board meeting.
However, some teachers shared concerns about the textbook reading like an encyclopedia and loosely aligning with standards.
“I really was discouraged by the fact that no middle school teachers chose the curriculum that the board ultimately did,” former WCS board member K.C. Haugh told News 2.
One Tennessee law relating to school districts reads that board members “shall make their adoption upon recommendations of such committees.”
“There are times when things were close and that we would ask pointed questions, but honestly, it should be rare [to override the teacher recommendations],” Haugh said. “To be honest, it’s unfortunate when that happens because this is a collaborative process.”
Current WCS board member Eric Welch has served the district for about 15 years and was in the minority to support the teachers’ and the committee’s recommendation.
“Right now, it’s the angriest and most disappointed I’ve ever seen our teachers,” Welch said of teacher morale within the district.
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STEMscopes will be the curriculum assigned to teachers for the next several years unless a current WCS parent, student or teacher challenges the use of instructional materials.
News 2 reached out to one current WCS teacher who said educators have been advised not to do media interviews, but Welch said dozens of teachers have emailed him since the vote, saying they feel disrespected by the board’s decision.
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Williamson County Schools, the board, teachers, WCS, curriculum, Charity Hazen
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