Blackman Elementary principal trades Black History Month in favor of 'Multicultural Month'
BRINLEY HINEMAN
MURFREESBORO DAILY NEWS JOURNAL
Updated 12:24 p.m. CST Feb. 15, 2019
Blackman Elementary School is abandoning Black History Month in favor of "Multicultural Month," instead teaching students about a variety of cultures rather than focusing on African-American heritage.
Black History Month, which is observed in February, is a national celebration of African-American and black tradition in the United States. Blackman Elementary's choice not to observe the celebration felt like a slap in the face to parent Rachaunda Taylor.
"... My child will know why we celebrate this month. I will teach her myself," Taylor said in an emailed statement to The Daily News Journal.
Taylor's daughter is learning about Singapore, according to a paper sent home by her daughter's teacher. She, along with her classmates, are making posters about Singapore's history to display during a multicultural festival that's planned for the end of February.
When Taylor reached out to the elementary school's principal Cynthia Ford, who is Black, she wasn't happy with the principal's response.
"There would not be enough months in the school year to recognize and celebrate 'ALL' students represented here," Ford wrote in an email to Taylor. "I take pride in establishing an opportunity for everyone to learn about the cultures of our student body."
According to data provided by the state, nearly 25 percent of students at the elementary school are Black.
"I don't agree with her response at all," Taylor said of Ford's email. "There is absolutely no problem in teaching kids about other cultures but do it in another month."
Ford didn't return voicemail messages or emails seeking comment, but county schools spokesman James Evans said the principal wanted to celebrate the whole student body.
"Ms. Ford has been the principal of Blackman for 20 years and says the school has celebrated multicultural month since she’s been there," Evans said. "It started
out smaller and made sure students are learning in February during lessons that were inclusive of all Multicultural Month nationalities represented by the student body. As the diversity has increased, so has the way they have celebrated the multiple cultures."
According to the curriculum outline provided by Evans, students are learning about diverse art, music and athletes.
They're also learning about famous African-Americans, Jewish-American heritage, Arab-American heritage and Korean-American heritage. Kindergartners are reading a book called "Everybody Cooks Rice," a children's picture book that shows the multiple ways rice is cooked around the world.
