All-white school board votes 5-2 to stop offering black history and literature courses.
A Missouri school board that previously voted to repeal an anti-discrimination resolution has now voted in favor of eliminating black history and literature electives.
The seven-member Francis Howell School Board voted 5-2 Thursday night to stop offering black history and black literature courses, which have been offered at the district’s three high schools since 2021, KSDK reported. All seven members of the board are white.
“Our students really wanted these electives,” said Harry Harris, whose son is also a student in the district, at the board meeting. “Our families and teachers want them. It’s important. It’s fantastic.”
In July, the conservative-led board rescinded an anti-racism resolution that was passed in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd.
The resolution promised to “stand firm against any act of racism, discrimination and senseless violence, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or ability.”
According to the Associated Press, both the resolution and the curriculum were opposed by the five new board members, all of whom are supported by the Francis Howell Families, a conservative political action committee.
On its website, the Francis Howell Families PAC lists their concerns, including “Critical Race Theory” and “Obscene Books in Your Child’s Library.”
During the board’s vote, community members, including resident Tom Ferri, spoke out against the board’s decision.
“Utilizing a diverse talent pipeline would be a great way to slow turnover, but what diverse employee would want to work in a district that is waging a culture war?” Ferry asked.