Campaign for Virginia Textbook Accuracy

In 2018, the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights (VCHR) initiated a campaign for Virginia textbook accuracy. Since then, this campaign has been extended to reviewing Standards of Learning (SOLs) that relate to World History and Virginia and U.S. History.

Students working together

Campaign to address questionable edits of Virginia textbooks

Who is proposing questionable changes to Virginia textbooks?

In March 2018, VCHR became aware of proposed changes to Virginia history and social studies textbooks in Grades 3-12. These edits were suggested by the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS), a partisan group with backing by state and local Israel advocacy organizations. The textbooks are:

Geography: The Human and Physical World—McGraw-Hill
World History and Geography: Early Ages—McGraw-Hill
World History and Geography: Modern Times—McGraw-Hill (Student and Teacher Editions)
World History and Geography Survey—McGraw-Hill (Teacher Edition)
Modern World History: Virginia Edition—Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
World History and Geography: Beginnings to 1500—Pearson (Student and Teacher Editions)
World History and Geography: 1500 to the Present—Pearson (Student and Teacher Editions)
Virginia and United States History—Pearson (Student Edition)
United States History: 1865 to the Present—Pearson (Student Edition)
Our America: 1865 to the Present—Five Ponds Press
U.S. History: American Stories: Beginnings to 1877—National Geographic Learning, Cengage Learning
World History: Great Civilizations Survey—National Geographic Learning, Cengage Learning
World Cultures and Geography Survey—National Geographic Learning, Cengage Learning

Why do we oppose ICS changes?

It is our view that a great many of the changes proposed by ICS, if adopted, would degrade the accuracy of our textbooks and teaching guides. In response, VCHR sent a letter signed by a group of concerned Virginia academics to the seven textbook publishers asking them not to incorporate any of these changes until a diverse panel of qualified and nonpartisan academic experts is consulted for feedback. We have also sent letters and press releases to state officials, legislators, and the media. (Please see accompanying documentation below.)

What is the outcome so far?

To the best of our knowledge, ICS proposed edits were not adopted.

What can you do?

If you care about maintaining the quality and accuracy of Virginia textbooks, contact Governor Northam with your concerns in addition to your state legislators in Richmond and officials at the Virginia Department of Education. Spread the word about this issue on social media and to friends in other states who are concerned about maintaining the integrity of their textbooks and teaching guides.

If you live in a state other than Virginia, research when the next textbook review cycle occurs and participate in the public commentary period.

Campaign to improve teaching of World History and Virginia and U.S. History

On August 24, 2019, Executive Order Thirty Nine was signed by Governor Ralph Northam. This Executive Order establishes the Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth (AAHEC). The Governor has charged the group with reviewing Virginia’s history standards and the instructional practices, content, and resources currently used to teach African American history in the Commonwealth. In addition, the Commission is to examine and make recommendations on the professional development supports needed to equip all teachers for culturally competent instruction.

In an effort to ensure that textbooks in the Commonwealth are accurate and unbiased in all areas, including that of African American History, VCHR has provided testimony to AAHEC as follows:

testimony that provides instructional support (letter to Dr. Alridge of December 11, 2019);
testimony that suggests edits to Virginia and U.S. History Standards (letter to Dr. Newby-Alexander of December 11, 2019);
testimony that argues for a more complete, interconnected approach to the teaching of World HIstory and Geography (testimony by Anjum Ali of December 16, 2019).

News Releases

06/04/2018: VCHR and Virginia professors push back against questionable textbook changes by Israel advocacy organizations

04/16/2018: Israel advocacy groups demand questionable changes to Virginia textbooks

Appeals

06/04/2018: Letter to Virginia Governor Northam

05/31/2018: List of Publishers

05/30/2018: Sample Letter to a Textbook Publisher

Fact Sheet

05/31/2018: Examples of Questionable ICS Edits in Virginia Textbooks

Resources

The following are two PDF documents concerning teacher workshops and resources provided through the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim Christian Understanding (CMCU) at Georgetown University (http://cmcuworkshops.net/).

Testimonies and presentations concerning Virginia textbook accuracy

June 25, 2020 - Mike Peled's Webinar: "What do they teach our children?"

Jeanne Trabulsi was a panelist at Mike Peled's webinar What do they teach our children? - Israel’s Intervention in American Social Studies Curriculum. The panel also included Dr. Samia Shoman Ed.D, Advisory Committee to the California Ethnic Studies Curriculum, and Zoha Khalili, Staff Attorney @ Palestine Legal.

Presentations by Jeanne Trabulsi and others at the webinar

See below for a video recording of the webinar. The actual content begins at 5 minutes and 26 seconds.

March 22, 2019 - The Israel Lobby & American Policy Conference 2019

VCHR spoke at The Israel Lobby & American Policy Conference 2019 regarding the Virginia textbook campaign. The conference was held at the The National Press Club and organized by the American Educational Trust, publisher of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and by the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy, Inc.

Presentation by Kathy Drinkard

Kathy Drinkard presents at The Israel Lobby & American Policy Conference 2019.

January 3, 2019 - Virginia budget hearings

VCHR presented testimony regarding Virginia textbook accuracy and the associated review process to Members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees of the Virginia General Assembly during hearings in Roanoke and Richmond.