Powhatan Today, July 21, 2021
Page 4A
BOARD Continued from pg. 1
learning, or the continued need for a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The focus of this meeting was the board sitting down and discussing these and other issues that have been weighing on everyone’s minds. But while the four board members at the meeting (see story about Joe Walters’ resignation on 1A) held plenty of discussion during the meeting and indicated plans that seemed to have general support, they did not take any official votes or actions. Critical race theory In recent months, those who are opposed to any use of critical race theory (CRT) in schools have requested the school board members to issue a complete ban of its use in Powhatan County Public Schools (PCPS). Those calls for action continued at the July 13 meeting. Of the 32 people who spoke at the beginning and end of the meeting, 16 of them referenced not wanting critical race theory in Powhatan schools or a related topic. Objections continued to be raised about CRT being divisive, creating hate and anger among children, making children pay for the sins of the past, being a “cult,” and not belonging in K-12 education. Some pointed to other states and institutions that are already banning CRT in their public schools. Some charged the schools to stop teaching lessons that should be taught in the home and focus on core subjects and basic life skills. Of those same 32 people, 12 asked the school board
to continue to show support for diversity, tolerance, and inclusion in Powhatan schools. Several people talked about the school division’s role to prepare students for life after high school in a world where they will have to know how to work alongside people with different backgrounds and ideas. Some called the information being spread by “extremists” in the community misinformation and fear-based rhetoric. Some called for academic integrity by being inclusive of many voices. There were people on both sides of the argument who offered praise and support to teachers. School board and staff members have stated repeatedly that CRT is not in use in the school division and asked for anyone who had evidence to the contrary to bring it to them so it could be addressed. And in reference to an outright ban, there were requests to approach the issue with caution and a clear definition of what was being banned. Last week, the school board actually began discussing what, if any, official stance they want to take on CRT. Rick Cole, who represents District 1, said rather than starting with a strict ban of CRT, the school board should start with its mission. “I think each of us at some point has stated that we are not endorsing critical race theory. It is not appropriate for high schools students, at least what I understand as critical race theory. But I want to make sure when we do say that publically and take a vote on it that we also reaffirm our commitment to our mission statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion and, as part of that, we clearly define what those items are,” he said. Chairwoman Kim Hymel, District 5, agreed with Cole’s suggestion and said she would like to also include the Anti-Racism Resolution the school board adopted on June 16, 2020. Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, said staff would use those two documents as a start and draft something for the school board to review at its next meeting.
Virginia Inquiry Collaborative
Mr. Majestic
Candace
The Tide is High
We have some wonderful Cats, and Dogs up for adoption. We have a variety of laid back, very playful to just wants a lap to sit in. If you are looking to add a young cat, older cat, or a unique colored one, We have them. If you are looking for a dog to play fetch with, or to run with you while you are on your morning jog, We have them. Contact our shelter at 804-598-5672 and we will be happy to assist you in scheduling an appointment or to answer any question you may have in regards to our available pets. You can also find our available animals on petfinder, and facebook. If you would like to help the animals in our care, you can do so by donating to our medical fund at Claws and Paws, 4313 Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA 23139 Powhatan Sheriff’s Office | Division Of Animal Control Phone: 804-598-5672 | Fax: 804-598-5109
During the June 22 joint meeting with the board of supervisors, the school board was questioned heavily about its involvement in a group called the Virginia Inquiry Collaborative (VIC). Board members were questioned about its purpose, its methods, and how it could impact Powhatan students. Some of the questions about VIC were present again during public comments at last week’s meeting, with emphasis on stating the goal of the organization is to create curriculum, which is contrary to what the public was being told. During the meeting, Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, said the collaborative is not a pilot program but a “professional development learning group of several school divisions that came together to try to learn how to teach history using inquiry based methods.” Each year the group took a different topic and each school division’s participants built their own sample lessons and then brought them back to their school divisions, mainly in the area of history. PCPS joined the collaborative after a Powhatan High School teacher received an invitation to participate and accepted with approval from the division. Other teachers participated as well and the participation was made public in previous board meetings, Jones said. He said it was approved “because it was based on inquiry-based learning, which is something that we are working on in history to bring history more alive, to
have students delve deeply into it, to ask essential questions about history, to look at primary sources and to review them and look at history from different perspectives. Those are all things we are trying to do instead of just lecturing and memorizing names and dates.” After the June 22 meeting, in which Jones said the school division was “blindsided” by the board of supervisors on the topic, there was also plenty of community feedback questioning Powhatan’s participation in the collaborative. Since the collaborative had become a flashpoint for the community and, based on the knowledge that the school division had already learned what it needed to about the inquiry-based model the collaborative was offering, PCPS decided to pull out of VIC, Jones said. He said the school division will “continue to do the important work of looking at essential questions and history through primary sources.” Susan Smith, District 2, asked about the continued use of the inquiry-based model with age appropriateness in mind so students aren’t pushed too fast. Jones pointed out that two third-grade inquiry-based lessons developed as part of the division’s participation in VIC are posted on the school division’s website. He said there is nothing in either lesson dealing with race, which is a concern for some in the community, and they are age appropriate. The two lessons can be viewed at www.powhatan.k12.va.us/groups/66646/instruction/ instruction. “We will have better control over that if it is done in house with our staff, and, certainly, everything we want to do is age appropriate and within our standards and our curriculum,” he said.
Professional development Discussion about the collaborative naturally flowed into a conversation about professional development. Teachers are required to complete 270 professional development points for renewal of their 10-year teaching license in Virginia. Jones pointed out that the school division does offer a robust amount of in-house activities that teachers can do, but it also allows them to find outside opportunities that interest them, especially if they are in a specialized subject. PCPS does have teachers that attend conferences in their content area where they have professional development, special seminars, opportunities provided by associations, and many more. There are hundreds of opportunities that they may choose to pursue, he said. “Our teachers put in request to do that. Sometimes that request is led by the specialist in that area where they go and ask teachers to participate because they have reviewed the conference and think it is a good conference. … Sometimes the teachers come to us that is something they find and they want to do and then there is an approval process that goes through the principal,” he said. Chairwoman Kim Hymel, District 5, pointed out that if teachers pursue a professional development opportunity on their own time and at their own expense, they are not required to let the school division know.
Social emotional learning Hymel specifically brought up the topic of social emotional learning (SEL) because she said many peosee BOARD pg. 6
CHURCH DIRECTORY
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
SUNDAYS 8:00 AM in person service in the church 10:30 AM in person service in the church (livestreamed) www.stlukespowhatan.org All are Welcome For more information visit www.stlukespowhatan.org Route 711 at Three Bridge Road 794-6953
EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHURCH (PCA) Proclaiming & Practicing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Outdoor Worship Service at 10:00 AM Meeting at 2375 Skaggs Road, Powhatan. ECCPCA.ORG
598-8844
Rev. Robert Barnes
The Bridge
Genito Church Presbyterian “Building a Bridge of Hope” Isaiah 58:12 Church 2910 Genito Rd. Powhatan, VA
372-9074 Worship with us this Sunday Church service @ 9:30 AM Sunday school @ 10:30 AM
Sundays: Morning Worship 10:00 AM Wednesday: Family Life Night 7:00 PM 2480 Academy Road 598-7159 Pastor: Johnathan M. Whichard
Providence Presbyterian Church “Worshiping and Witnessing in Western Powhatan since 1825”
Church Directory.
Powhatan Christian Fellowship Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Night 7:30 p.m. Worship Service 11:00 am All Are Welcome! 3308 Pleasants Road, 598-4970 1/4 mile off of Route 711 Located 1950 Ridge Road Russ Cress, Pastor (Rt. 627) 598-0733
St. John Neumann Catholic Church Worship Service 10 AM Meeting in the gym
Meeting Sundays in Amelia, Farmville, Fork Union, Midlothian, Powhatan and Online. Visit pccwired.net for services times & locations. 598-1174 pccwired.net
Rev. Walter G. Lewis, Pastor Living As Christ’s Disciples Within Our Hearts and Beyond Our Doors 2253 Rosson Rd.
Just off Rt. 13 in the Village
598-4438
Worship: 8:30 & 10am
www.powhatanumc.us Weekday Preschool (ages 2-5)
598-6090
Mount Calvary Baptist Church 2020 Red Lane Road
Powhatan, VA 23139 1801 Huguenot Trail Sunday School 9am Pastor, Larry B. Collins Sunday Worship 10am Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6:45pm Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study Bryan M. Holt, Pastor 7:30 p.m. 378-3607 www.EmmausChristianChurch.org Office 804-598-2398
Community Church Dr. Cavell W. Phillips, Pastor Where there is Unity, there is always Victory. A church “Where you are welcome” Wednesday: Bible Study Join Us For Sunday Worship 6:30 – 7:30pm (60 Minute 11:00AM – 12:30PM Warm Up To Sunday) Powhatan Village Building 3910 Old Buckingham Road ucc4me.org Powhatan, VA 804-256-4411
Advertise in
Saturday - 5 p.m. Sunday - 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. 598-3754 www.sjnpowhatan.org Located behind Flat Rock Village Shopping Center
Call 804-746-1235 ext. 2 for details.
