WEEK OF NOVEMBER 28, 2024
VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 51
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SPECIAL HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS EDITION
Carving new life into an old tree
Douglas County schools delay AP African American studies course BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
tree also showed other signs of wounds and decay. In April, staff decided the tree reached the end of its useful life and cut it down, leaving only a portion of the trunk. Ounsworth, an award-winning artist from Fort Collins, was commissioned to transform what remains of the tree into a piece of art. He was given a tour of the area to learn about its history before he formed a concept for the design. “The idea is like the spirit of the tree
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.
SEE TREE CARVING, P14
SEE CONCERNS, P7
Matt Ounsworth, a Colorado artist from Fort Collins, worked on the Parker tree sculpture from eight to 10 hours a day, carving wood spirits, animals PHOTO BY HALEY LENA and flowers into the tree.
Artist Matt Ounsworth creates art out of Parker’s fallen historic tree BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Months after a historic tree was cut down in downtown Parker, a Colorado artist and chainsaw sculptor is bringing it back to life: one carve at a time.
“I believe the carving guides will guide me,” said Matt Ounsworth. Parker staff believe the Siberian elm tree was likely planted around the same time as the original construction of the schoolhouse, which was completed in 1915. For nearly a century, the tree stood tall, providing beauty and shade to those who walked down Mainstreet. The tree was under the care of the Parker Recreation Forestry staff for years, but earlier this year in the spring, a large snowstorm hit and broke significant limbs, compromising many others. The
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