RAMONA UNIFIED TO CONTINUE REVIEW OF TEXTBOOKS

Committee evaluating history book for accuracy, perceived political bias

Ramona Unified School District will continue reviewing history and social science instructional materials at a public meeting Thursday.

The History/Social Science Ad Hoc Committee will meet from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school district office boardroom, 720 Ninth St. In its first meeting on Jan. 25, committee members familiarized themselves with the state’s content standards, framework and Education Code.

The committee, composed of school board members, teachers, administrators and community residents, plans to review the “U.S. History” textbook for accuracy and what they determine is political bias. Its role is to recommend which books and/or supplemental educational materials should be adopted to the district’s Board of Education.

The board will then consider replacing “The Americans” textbook, which has been used by teachers in the district since it was adopted in 2005.

Committee member Daryn Drum, a Ramona Unified trustee, gave a report on the first daylong session to the school board Feb. 9.

“I was very pleased with what took place in the meeting,” Drum said. “It really opened my eyes to the process that Education Services uses when selecting curriculum. Being part of this committee process has educated me immensely.”

When trustees first join the board, Drum said the California School Board Association provides training on items such as finance, good governance and the budgeting process, but it does not address issues such as the development of California content standards or the framework.

“This is not something that’s part of new board member training and probably should be,” he said.

Barbara “Bobbie” Plough, a Ramona resident for 44 years, is one of two community representatives on the committee. Plough was selected along with Beth Prinz from among 20 applicants.

Plough said she’s volunteering