California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the state will provide new social studies textbooks to students in the Temecula Valley Unified School District. This decision comes after a majority of the district’s school board members rejected the textbooks due to concerns about their content. Newsom plans to hold the board accountable for their decision by making them cover the cost of the books.
Newsom and other state officials are urging the TVUSD Board of Trustees to reverse their previous decision and allow the use of a state-recommended social studies book called “Social Studies Alive” for grades K-5. The governor referred to the board members who opposed the book as part of “cancel culture,” a term often used to describe the destruction of statues on college campuses.
Newsom expressed his concern that by rejecting the textbooks, the board is depriving students of necessary learning materials. He stated that if the board fails to ensure that students have the necessary materials by the start of the school year, the state will personally deliver the books to students and their parents, and the district will be responsible for covering the costs.
Newsom also suggested that there may be additional penalties for the district under the FAIR Act of 2011, which requires inclusive and respectful teachings without prejudice in K-12 schools. Currently, the district’s social studies curriculum for grades K-5 relies on textbooks from 2006. It is important to note that there have been no findings to suggest that the content of these books violates state law.
State Superintendent of Instruction Tony Thurmond expressed his support for Newsom’s actions, emphasizing the importance of inclusive education for students’ academic achievement and social development. He stated that banning books in schools, especially in California, harms students of color and LGBTQ+ youth.
TVUSD board President Joseph Komrosky, along with trustees Danny Gonzalez and Jennifer Wiersma, voted against the adoption of “Social Studies Alive” for the K-5 curriculum. They raised concerns about the book’s celebration of Harvey Milk, a gay politician from San Francisco, whom Komrosky referred to as a “pedophile.” Komrosky clarified that his concerns were not based on Milk’s sexual orientation but rather on his documented interactions with a minor when Milk was an adult. Gonzalez shared similar concerns and questioned the need to highlight Milk when there are other historical figures associated with the gay community who did not have inappropriate relationships with children.
Despite the opposition from some board members, Trustees Allison Barclay and Steven Schwarz supported the adoption of “Social Studies Alive” based on the recommendation of the Temecula Valley Educators Association. Gonzalez dismissed claims that students would be left without appropriate social studies reading materials, assuring that teachers and students will have what they need for the upcoming academic year.
The fall term for TVUSD is set to begin on August 14th.
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