A Texas school administrator instructed teachers during a training session to give students books with an “opposing” view, including when teaching about subjects such as the Holocaust.
Gina Peddy, executive director with the Carroll Independent School District, was secretly recorded by a staff member encouraging educators to offer opposing views on books about the Holocaust, NBC News reported on Thursday.
“Make sure that if, if you have a book on the Holocaust, that you have one that has an opposing, that has other perspectives,” Peddy can be heard saying on the recording, referring to Texas House Bill 3979, which requires educators in the state to present other opposing views when it comes to discussing controversial issues and topics in the classroom.
THREATENING MESSAGES REPORTEDLY DIRECTED AT RHODE ISLAND TEACHER WHO OPPOSES CRITICAL RACE THEORY
During the meeting, Peddy addressed concerns from educators regarding fears that they might have to get rid of books pertaining to the topic of race. “We are in the middle of a political mess,” Peddy starts. “You’re gonna do what you do best, and that’s to teach kids.”
“You are professionals. We hired you as professionals. We trust you with our children, so if you think the book is OK, then let’s go with it,” Peddy added, advising the staff to remember the principles of HB 3979.
“How do you oppose the Holocaust? What?” a teacher can be heard asking in the recording.
“Believe me,” Peddy said in response to the teacher. “That’s come up.”
“So, Number the Stars?” a teacher asked.
NEW: A school administrator in Southlake, Texas, advised teachers last week that if they have a book about the Holocaust in their classroom, they should also have a book with an “opposing” perspective.
Listen to the audio recording obtained by @NBCNews: https://t.co/vS0IjlROMu pic.twitter.com/yPtM1ncjgV
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 14, 2021
Stephanie Williams, a candidate for Place 7 on the school board and former teacher, expressed concern over the administrator’s comments regarding the Holocaust, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“I am concerned that we are misinterpreting the law and that we’re reading it too narrowly and not allowing teachers who are trained educators to use their judgement,” she said.
Texas House Bill 3979, which became effective on Sept. 1 after Gov. Greg Abbott signed it, states that teachers who wish “to discuss current events or widely debated and currently controversial issues” should try to teach as best they can while offering students “diverse and contending perspectives” without trying to lean to one side versus the other.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Carroll Independent School District for a statement but did not receive a response.
