The Delaware House approved a bill that would mandate schools teach Black history Thursday despite opposition from half the Republican caucus. Thirty-three representatives voted in favor of the proposal, while seven voted against it and one abstained. House Bill 198 would require Delaware public schools incorporate into their regular curricula lessons about the trials, tribulations and accomplishments of Black people, including African history, the role slavery and white supremacy played in the development of the United States (especially the Civil War), legal segregation after the war and Black contributions to America. The legislation aims to tackle the history and the impact of racism, “prepare students to be responsible citizens in a pluralistic democracy” and “reaffirm the commitment of free peoples to the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” which outlawed slavery.
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- Good. It should be taught. — Kasie Bell
- Black history is American history. — R.L. Fitzgerald
- American history is all history. — Howard Gaines III
- At least 244 years of it. — R.L. Fitzgerald
- So what about the parents that don’t want their children taught there is a thing of race and that there is just people? — Amanda Weimer
- Did you voice this same concern when the Holocaust was mandated to be taught in a school district in this state? — Michael Jones
- I would because, again, I feel people are people no matter what anyone looks like, believes in, who they love or whatever else. The only thing I teach my children is there are good people in this world and bad people in this world. — Amanda Weimer
- That’s very commendable of you to believe and to teach your children such a simple approach to race. But unfortunately, the world we live in doesn’t see it as you and I. I feel as though educating our children about factual history, Native American history — not the smiling, welcoming Natives stuff I was taught — the Holocaust and Black American history is and will be beneficial to our children to equip them with knowledge on why things are the way it currently is with regards to race relations in this country. This, I think, would go well with how you have taught your children. — Michael Jones
- I’m home-schooling after this year is over. Screw this. — Caitie Depelteau
