Two Republican Ohio House Representatives have introduced legislation to create new social studies standards through a task force of appointed state officials.
House Bill (HB) 103, sponsored by State Representatives Don Jones (R-Freeport) and Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville), tries to create the Ohio State Social Studies Task Force to craft social studies standards to replace the existing standards in Ohio.
According to Jones (pictured above, right), the existing Ohio standards are vague, open-ended, and lack academic rigor.
“These existing standards leave Ohio students vulnerable to the political ideology of any classroom teacher,” Jones said.
If approved, the task force will consist of 9 members. Three appointed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, three appointed by House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill), and three appointed by Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima).
The task force will use “American Birthright: The Civics Alliance’s Model K-12 Social Studies Standards” as a guide and rely on feedback from parents, educators, and administrators to create the final standards, which the Ohio General Assembly must then approve. The task force will disband once the task force develops the standards and they are put into effect.
According to Richardson (pictured above, left), the “goal of the task force is to ensure that the standards are clear and will teach our children essential fundamentals of Americanism.”
Jones said that although the State Board of Education has crafted the previous standards, their failure to hit the mark and make much-needed updates has necessitated action of the general assembly.
“The American Birthright standards are a return to America’s bedrock principles. The standards are liberty focused and based on a proud telling of America’s liberty story. The new standards will stand in the way of those who misrepresent America’s origins, such as the 1619 project and A People’s History of the United States. The American Birthright focuses on History, Geography, Civics and Economics, and Social Studies pillars that are hardly controversial. America is a country founded on the principles of Liberty and Justice for all and that all men are created equal. It is crucial that those principles be presented to every young Ohioan who is learning today. It is time for Ohio to have transparent and objective learning goals that will strengthen Ohio’s public schools for the future,” Jones said.
The legislation only seeks to set new standards and does not dictate any curriculum. These standards will serve as guardrails to ensure Ohio students receive an accurate, non-partisan Social Studies education.
According to Richardson, it is critical that Ohio children understand the values that founded America.
“Our social studies standards are the means and the vessel by which we in Ohio ensure our children understand the values that founded a great nation. Our standards should also teach the challenges faced in preserving it,” he said.
The legislation is currently under review in the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Don Jones” by The Ohio House of Representatives. Photo “Tracy Richardson” by Ohio Statehouse. Background Photo “Classroom” by Wokandapix.
