Things turned divisive over supplemental reading material during the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board’s June 6 meeting with two board members apologizing to the public for the comments of another two board members.
Ultimately, the board approved a $35,000 contract with Capstone Press to purchase the PebbleGO program by a 3-2 vote. Board members Amy Carney and Carine Werner voted against the contract but not before sparks flew during the discussion on the subject.
“PebbleGO ... promotes activism and controversial cultural topics,” Carney said. “For example, I reviewed the curriculum and under social studies you find a module about being a good citizen, which has tabs for activism and protests, striking, picketing, boycotts and petitions. Another one titled ‘Healthy Habits’ promotes masks, face coverings are good for your health and physical distancing. PebbleGO also promotes several topics under social action. It presents pride month as a holiday and several other controversial topics which are currently approved for use in the classroom. We’ve got to recognize all that is in the curriculum because PebbleGO feeds right into the distrust of parents and the culture war controversies that are unnecessary and unacceptable in our elementary school curriculum.”
