Full Text of Resolution Adopted by MNPS School Board 8/24/21

A RESOLUTION REGARDING MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION WHEREAS, the Metro Nashville Board of Education believes a multicultural education should promote the recognition of individual and group differences and similarities in order to reduce racism, homophobia, ethnocentrism, and all other forms of prejudice and discrimination and to facilitate the development of self-esteem as well as respect for others among all students; and

WHEREAS, more than 70% of Metro Nashville Public Schools’ students are students of color, and the overall student population represents 139 countries of origin; and

WHEREAS, the Metro Nashville Board of Education believes that educational materials and activities should accurately portray the influences and contributions of ethnic and other minorities, women, and world religions; and

WHEREAS, the Metro Nashville Board of Education believes that academic freedom, which includes the rights of teachers and learners to explore and discuss divergent points of view, is essential to the teaching profession; and

WHEREAS, the Metro Nashville Board of Education recognizes that the Tennessee State Social Studies standards require providing students with opportunities to explore current events by drawing connections between the past and modern day, develop and defend their opinions, and analyze multiple points of view; and

WHEREAS, the Metro Nashville Board of Education believes that, in order to achieve racial and social justice, educators must acknowledge the root causes of institutional racism, structural racism, and white privilege; and

WHEREAS, the Metro Nashville Public Schools Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion exists to address issues of racism, homophobia, ethnocentrism, and all other forms of prejudice and discrimination within Metro Nashville Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, all students deserve to see accurate representations of themselves in their education, and learning about the contributions, successes, and challenges of non-white people is critical to long-term educational development and understanding.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE BOARD OF EDUCATION will; advocate for research and implementation of social and educational strategies that foster the eradication of institutional racism and white privilege perpetuated by white supremacy culture.

FURTHERMORE, stand behind its adoption of curricular materials that adhere to the Tennessee Academic Standards;

FURTHERMORE, stand behind teachers who teach the Tennessee Academic Standards in a factual manner that represents the truth of this country’s history;

FURTHERMORE, support and defend teachers’ use of materials that incorporate diverse, accurate viewpoints that are representative of the student body in their classrooms;

FURTHERMORE, ensure that individual teachers who teach the Tennessee Academic Standards are not punished for teaching accurate information.

ADOPTED BY THE ELECTED METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE BOARD OF EDUCATION, on the 24th of August, 2021, with this Resolution to take immediate effect, the public welfare requiring it.