Standards vs. Curriculum
know the difference and learn how curriculum is open to interpretation
Standards vs. Curriculum: Know the Difference
The standards are set by the state. They are the minimal requirements that the state deems fit for each grade level. The state, nor the standards actually dictate curriculum.
In the September 28, 2022 Curriculum and Special Services Committee meeting, Old Bridge Township Board of Education Attorney Christopher B. Parton, Esq. stated:
“the fact is the administration has to implement what the state hands down as filtered through the Board of Education.” He then referenced Old Bridge Board of Education Policy 2220 Adoption of Courses and New Jersey Statutes Title 18A. Education 18A § 33-1 “no course of study will be taught in the schools of this school district unless it has been adopted by the board and that requires 5 votes, regardless of how many board members are present.”
Curriculum is chosen by the individual board of educations and the teachers must comply to it, but are also not limited by it. Often the curriculum is left open to interpretation by the individual teacher’s discretion.
The interpretation at discretion point is made evident by an Old Bridge resident and former teacher that discusses an example of 1st and 2nd Grade learning materials at the recent Curriculum and Special Services Committee meeting held in Old Bridge on September 28, 2022.
“I went over the curriculum, just looking at the first and second grade curriculum and page 9 of the first grade curriculum states that children will know correct terminology for body parts including genitalia. This seems a rather benign objective, however, in light of the gender fluidity introduced in grade 2, how will penis and vagina be defined? Suggested resources include no standard text book, only random websites including YouTube. I joined one of the resource sites called Teachers Pay Teachers and bought the four dollar body part worksheet for elementary school. It contains squares of illustrations of body parts including bare breasts, penises and a vagina that students were to color, cut out and glue on a worksheet. As a former first grade teacher, I can only imagine how this would go; children with limited coloring and cutting ability randomly dropping and slicing and losing their genitalia squares and crying. Most seasoned teachers will avoid this worksheet at all cost. However, without a standard text book this entire curriculum is up to the discretion of the teacher who comes to it with his or her own world convictions or lack thereof. “ … “Second grade also includes the same body part objective and suggests ‘Simon Says’ as an assessment. I’m so glad I’m not in a classroom any longer.”
The former teacher continued on for her public comment time limit, making more references focusing on the first and second grade level throughout her speaking time. She also noted, on page 12 under Gender Roles and Stereotypes listed as a reference is a book called “Red: A Crayon’s Story” in summary, “A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as "red" suffers an identity crisis”. A book about gender identity recommended for Kindergarten through 2nd Grade.
Video:
You can watch her public commentary here:
(direct video timestamp 1:32:53 through 1:36:14).