Just 48 hours before the first day of school, the Arkansas Department of Education announced that Advanced Placement African American Studies wouldn't count towards graduation. They said they’re reviewing the course for possible indoctrination.

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders went on Fox News to explain her administration's decision to de-prioritize AP African American studies.

“We cannot perpetuate a lie to our students, and push this propaganda leftist agenda, teaching our kids to hate America, and hate one another," she said.

Sanders has not pointed to anything specific in the AP African American Studies curriculum. The Arkansas Department of Education notified teachers that they’d deleted the course code for AP African American Studies. That means students can’t get graduation credit for taking it.

all 48 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 128 points 2 years ago (1 child)

In a further statement, taken during a break from looking for truffles, Sarah Sanders stated she loved Black people, and everyone should own one.

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 86 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Notice the crowd that wanted all the confederate statues around is completely silent about an actual history course being attacked by special interest groups. It's almost like the only common goal is racism.

  • source
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 31 points 2 years ago

    Never, ever take their arguments as if they’re made in good faith. It’s never about history, or religious freedom, or ensuring fair elections, or “reverse racism,” or states’ rights. It’s never about parental rights, or keeping children safe, or freedom of speech.

    It is always just about being able to do what they want, much of which is making sure other people can’t do what they want. It’s about enshrining racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia in law.

    There are no honest arguments coming from the conservatives at this point. The age of disagreeing over tax policy is over. Bill Buckley and George Will and their actual conservatives are gone. It’s Trumpism now.

    It’s always about hate, not history.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 48 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    So anyone wanting to read what the AP course covers, guess what? It’s been up for public review for nearly ten years. You too can literally read about every aspect that the course covers!

    So you don’t have to fear “IF” this is evil, evil indoctrination because you can read it for yourself and come to a conclusion. ALL. ON. YOUR. OWN! Shocker! Something, apparently, the governor cannot be bothered with.

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    You assume they're able to read.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago

    Hopeless idealist I am thinking people bitching about something would want to educate themselves about it.

    But you’re right, it’s willful their spite. For way too many people they’ve got to hate something. Even if it’s unfounded.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 35 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    How professional of them to take off their Klan hoods for this announcement.

  • source
  • [–] 31 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Would it be possible for the AP board to refuse then to recognize any AP courses and tests from Arkansas?

  • source
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 23 points 2 years ago* (2 children)

    Wow. That sounds like a great idea.

    Colleges could also start to refuse admissions/not recognize accreditations from these backward places.

    That'll damage the children of the powerful

    College is about learning how to think for yourself. That's why it's so threatening to these people.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    People with power aren't going to these colleges. Obviously. This is about keeping the poor too stupid to threaten the rich.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    The powerful would simply add money to the equation and would come out on top. This would really harm poor children who actually worked hard on their AP courses.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 28 points 2 years ago

    Arkansas: Still a racist shithole.

  • source
  • [–] 25 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    ????? I must be drunk. What is hateful about history and cultural studies? Asking as an undergrad of said studies, including African American Studies.

  • source
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 24 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Fucking hell the right are really doing a speed run in fascism.

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 23 points 2 years ago

    Pirate Kansas: if you don’y like parts of history, just pretend it didn’t happen.

  • source
  • [–] 22 points 2 years ago

    There wasn't enough indoctrination in it, so they're seeing what they can add.

  • source
  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago

    Literally anti American, right there in the name.

  • source
  • [–] 15 points 2 years ago

    I am so scared for my kid's future in this country. For now, I'm just really thankful that we live in a relatively safe area with mostly intelligent, non-evil leaders. Though even here, our school board elections this year had right-wing candidates with cookie-cutter talking points and websites.

  • source
  • [+] 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)
    [–] 13 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Educating kids who want to understand American history is indoctrination, but getting them used to following arbitrary rules for 8 hours a day is what…

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Not to mention having to stand for the flag and sing the anthem every day.

    ...it is every day, right? Because honestly to me as an European it seems sufficiently absurd (and kinda gross) that I just have to ask to make sure lmao

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Pledge, yes. Anthem, no. And legally they can't force students to participate in the pledge. It's a violation of their 1st amendment rights. Though I couldn't say how many students actually know that. Meanwhile there are plenty of teachers and faculty that definitely DON'T know that, and will bully kids who refuse to participate.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    Yep, my daughter decided she didn't want to say the pledge anymore in fifth grade because "it's stupid to say a pledge to a flag." Can't say I disagree. Her "teacher" (not an actual teacher despite being a public school, but that's another story) made her go sit out in the hall for refusing to say the pledge and she got a long email from me telling her all about West Virginia v. Barnette and telling her that if she either forced my daughter to say the pledge or punished her for not saying it again, she'd be hearing from my lawyer.

    I got an apology. My daughter, unfortunately, did not, but she never had to say the pledge again. And after that, about half the class sat out.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    a politician in Arkansas must work so hard.... every day they have to find a new and novel way to fuck with minorities.

    Must be such a grind....../s

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 9 points 2 years ago

    Arkansas is a time machine back to the good ol MURICA. Where you could be openly racist, hate the gays and go days and days without seeing either.

  • source
  • [+] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)