October 10, 2024
State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver recently announced that teachers in S.C. public schools will have the option to incorporate material from PragerU into their classrooms. The news of this partnership was met with skepticism by many state educators and students.
When asked about this partnership with PragerU, Dr. Beth Costner, Dean of the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences, said, “There is a very specific underlying message in many [videos] that I have seen that families and educators need to be aware of before they are introduced.”
On their website, PragerU says they “Promote American values through short educational videos.” These educational videos include titles such as “There is No Gender Wage Gap,” and “Why the 3/5ths Compromise was Anti-Slavery.” South Carolina would not be the first state to invite PragerU into its classrooms. Similar partnerships have been announced in Florida, Arizona, New Hampshire and Oklahoma.
“I am concerned with such a public show of support being made for a resource…that did not go through the typical review process we see for other instructional materials such as textbooks,” Dr. Costner said. “That process allows for multiple voices to be considered before decisions for adoption are made.”
Although the use of PragerU material is optional, Superintendent Weaver reiterated her support in a public conversation with PragerU CEO Marissa Streit. “As we celebrate Constitution Day, the South Carolina Department of Education reaffirms its commitment to providing an exceptional education for every child,” said Superintendent Weaver. “We are thrilled to announce the addition of supplemental materials for South Carolina schools through this partnership.” This statement was made after USNews ranked South Carolina 41st in the nation for Pre-K-12 education.
Some Winthrop students see this partnership as evidence of the growing scrutiny of public schools and educators. “Being in education, everyone is hyper-aware of every single thing you do,” said Kathryn, a senior childhood education major. “No matter what you do, there will be criticism…like we go into the field knowing that’s what’s going to happen. I do feel like public education, there’s a lot of attention on it right now, and, in a way, I do kind of see it being attacked.”
Jasmine, a freshman special education major, expressed her concerns for the future of education in South Carolina. “I think the profession of education is going to be looked at as something that’s scary, and I think it’s kind of sad that people aren’t as enthusiastic about entering the field of education because of such politics,” Jasmine said. “I’m still going to be a teacher, I’m going to be a great teacher, but it’s very unsettling…It’s really about politics.”
The question about an educator’s role in policy came up often.
“I just wish that teachers could be involved in policy more, that they would listen to teachers more,” said Alex, a senior history student who plans to teach in South Carolina, “because a lot of these politicians, after they’ve graduated, have never stepped foot in the classroom again, and they don’t know what it’s like.”
“They just make the laws that appeal to their voter base.”
However, when asked about PragerU’s influence on student learning outcomes, Alex said that students could be trusted to form their own conclusions. “The kids are smarter than we give them credit for. I know in some of the brief internships I’ve had here, there’s some incredibly smart kids who may not even have the resources to do what they want to accomplish, but they are, they are brighter than we think, and I think they can see through this.”
Although the machinations of the Superintendent might be difficult to control, Dr. Costner reiterated the importance of educators and public education while urging Winthrop students to support one another during these uncertain times.
“The work of an educator can be very trying,” said Dr. Costner. “This is particularly true in the current climate. Public schools and well-trained public school educators are immensely important to the success and well-being of individuals, our community, the state, the nation, and yes, the world as a whole. I encourage all to celebrate the work of public-school educators and work to support them and the schools in which they engage.”
Screencapped from PragerU’s website by me. Dunno if we wanna use this or not
