A governor-appointed commission begins work on improving black history education in Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE — The commission charged with making recommendations to create a more accurate and complete representation of black history in state education guidelines plans to finish its work by the time the state makes changes to the Standards of Learning again.
The 34-member Virginia Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth started about 10 months of work Monday at the University of Virginia.
Gov. Ralph Northam established the commission via executive order in August, the same day he spoke at an event to mark the arrival of the first slaves at Fort Monroe more than 400 years ago.
Northam said in the order that black history in Virginia is “difficult, complex and often untold.” At the commission’s meeting, he said black history in schools is often “inadequate” and “inaccurate,” a concern that has been echoed by educators.
Read more: https://www.virginiamercury.com/2019/10/29/a-governor-appointed-commission-begins-work-on-improving-teaching-of-black-history-in-virginia/