WEEK OF NOVEMBER 28, 2024
VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 39
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SPECIAL HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS EDITION
Douglas County adds ‘In God we trust’ to public space where officials meet
Douglas County schools delay AP African American studies course BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
ticular motto as one that could irk some members of the public. “I just know in general that the less we can do to create division, the better we all are,” Thomas said. She has “always believed that our hearing room looked very professional and stately, and we didn’t need to put slogans all over the walls,” she added. “And it cost money, and it cost staff time and energy as well.” Teal felt that the change to the room “adds a degree of solemnity and respect,” he said.
On a 4-3 vote, the Douglas County School District delayed approval of an Advanced Placement African American studies course after community members raised concerns about its content, and board members said they didn’t feel informed enough. Douglas County School Board President Christy Williams asked to wait before approving a curriculum for a new course on African American studies because the board had received multiple emails from community members with concerns and wanted more information. “It is our responsibility to do our due diligence, and I don’t feel like I had enough time to prepare for this,” Williams said. The course “examines the diversity of African-American experiences through direct encounters with rich and varied sources,” drawing on literature, the arts, humanities, political science, geography, and science, according to the College Board, which administers AP classes for high schools across the nation. Topics in the course extend from early African kingdoms to the contemporary moment. Williams said she wanted to take more time to make sure the course aligns with the district’s equity policy and doesn’t include critical race theory. Critical race theory is an approach to studying racism in the United States and how it intersects with institutions, according to Associated Press reporting. “I’m scheduling a time to go meet with (the teacher) so I can understand the class and answer questions from the public about it better,” Williams said. Though the AP African American studies class was only recently introduced, it’s already received a lot of pushback nationwide, including being banned from classrooms in Florida after Governor Ron Desantis claimed it was pushing a political agenda. AP classes are higher-level courses that offer students the chance to earn college credit while still in high school by taking an exam run by the College Board at the conclusion of the class. The class is an elective course.
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A quoted phrase from Abraham Lincoln — “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” — is displayed in the Douglas County comPHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD missioners’ public meeting room, pictured here in October.
Officials also put up other messages in the space where local leaders pass laws BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After months of discussion, Douglas County has installed the words “In God we trust” — along with other messages — on the public room where officials meet to pass laws and shape policy. Inspired by the words on the Castle
Rock Town Council’s meeting room, George Teal, one of the county’s three elected commissioners, proposed adding mottos to the county’s room. With Commissioner Abe Laydon’s support, and over opposition from Commissioner Lora Thomas, county officials put up the national motto and other words, including a translation of “E pluribus unum” — Latin for “out of many, one” — and a quote from President Abraham Lincoln. An email newsletter from Thomas said mottos “could be divisive and get some residents up in arms.” Speaking to Colorado Community Media, Thomas didn’t single out a par-
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