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NILES — After several meetings with little or no public comment, people once again came out to express their views at Tuesday morning’s Brandywine Board of Education curriculum committee meeting.  

Curriculum committee members Thomas Payne and Angela Seastrom were joined in the meeting at the Brandywine Innovation Academy by Superintendent Travis Walker, Assistant Superintendent Amanda Lezotte and Rebecca Crocker of Berrien RESA. 

Despite the cold weather and short notice for the meeting, nearly 50 people attended the committee meeting and another 40 people watched online. 

People expressed disappointment on several issues, ranging from holding the meeting during the day when many people are working to what they see is board members’ micromanaging of the district. They also took issue with board members promoting the American Classical Curriculum developed by Hillsdale College, a private, Christian college located in Hillsdale, Michigan. 

The curriculum has been accused of whitewashing U.S. history and undermining the civil rights movement. According to Hillsdale’s website, its curriculum does not whitewash and addresses the “warts” in America’s history.

“The Hillsdale curricular recommendations respect the inherent dignity of both the student and historical figures,” its website states. “They do not whitewash or rewrite. The curriculum also does not ignore ‘warts,’ if those ‘warts’—as with America’s noblest moments—are significant enough to fit the time restraints of K-12 schooling. It does not claim to be immune to conversation or disagreement, or to be ‘the last word.’ But it does argue that this content is true and that it is what American students should learn first.”

Resident Jeremy Colby said he had looked into the Hillsdale-sponsored curriculum and said that while it contained some good information, he felt it was too dated, had too much emphasis on European and American history and promoted economic views no longer accepted. 

Former superintendent John Jarpe said he remains concerned that the four board members who took office a year ago are doing too much micromanaging. 

“For you to suggest a specific curriculum and put a survey out to the community, that’s not board leadership to me, it’s very disappointing,” he said. 

Resident Ryan Adams said he could not believe that the board was holding another midday meeting and pointed to the attendance to show that people remain passionate about the district. He called the American classical curriculum as not progress but looking back to 1950s style thought designed by a religious school that has no place in the district. 

“Don’t come with the same tired playbook of disruption, learn the real meaning of due diligence,” he said. “You answer to us, once again we are re-energized. We’re ready to kick you out if you don’t grow into the roles you found your way into. I continue to ask Mr. Payne to resign for the good of the community.” 

The timing of Tuesday’s meeting was not addressed by Seastrom or Payne during the meeting. Seastrom did say before the meeting that the timing of Tuesday’s meeting was mainly dependent on when Walker and other staff would be available. She noted that the meeting was live streamed and that people always have the opportunity to comment. 

The first topic of discussion was the current curriculum for grades 9-12 and what specific curriculum are up for review. Right now, the district is studying what changes may need to be made with the science curriculum and Lezotte said the district will next be looking at the fine arts, physical education and elementary math curriculums.  

Seastrom asked whether a curriculum summary can be made available to parents in a central place on the district’s website. She’d also like to see parents be able to see a list of novels and other books being used in the classroom. 

Walker noted that some of that information is already available on the district’s website. For example, he said there’s a 66-page document on the website under the counselor tab that outlines courses and career planning. 

Seastrom and Payne then turned to a consideration of the Hillsdale American Classical Curriculum.

“There has been some talk that certain members of the board are trying to push a Hillsdale curriculum and that’s not my intent,” Seastrom said. “But Hillsdale has laid out materials including unit outlines, topics for units and sample questions that are free.” 

Seastrom said that the Hillsdale curriculum could offer students an alternate path of instruction if they’re interested in a classical education just like students can pursue an academic path that emphasizes career technical education.  

“I bring it up because I want to clarify some perceptions that have been circulating,” she said. “The focus needs to be on the content of the curriculum itself and not the school that created and promoted it. It also does not mean there is a lack of trust in our staff, there’s not.” 

“If we do have parents interested, it’s worth pursuing,” Payne added. “I’m not aware of how robust our curriculum is and how it matches with American classical curriculum … We need to learn the good, the bad and the ugly of American history so content when it comes to history is really important.” 

Walker said the district is already implementing a lot of what could be considered a classical curriculum. He also raised questions about how the Hillsdale sponsored curriculum fits into Michigan Merit Curriculum standards and whether using that curriculum could endanger students getting the credits they need to meet state graduation requirements.