Arizona school district faces criticism over textbook selection controversy

Both critics acknowledged they never read the textbooks in question when pressed by 12News.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — State Schools Chief Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan blasted the Scottsdale Unified School District on Wednesday, claiming its board recently approved woke and anti-police textbooks.

“They present a one-sided presentation that’s trying to get students, impressionable students, to believe that racism is deeply embedded in this country, and the textbooks for students should be objective,” Horne said. 

However, both Republicans acknowledged they never read the textbooks in question when pressed by 12News. 

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Scottsdale Superintendent Scott Menzel said the accusations were “irresponsible” — especially from two elected officials who admitted to having never read the textbooks. 

At the press conference at the Department of Education near the Capitol, Horne’s staff distributed a packet from Scottsdale Unites For Educational Integrity that had highlighted several textbook passages that the group didn’t like. 

One parent at Horne’s press conference said she disapproved of the way one textbook presented Christianity. Yet, the packet also showed a passage of the Ten Commandments, and credited them as “the basis of many modern laws.”

Horne said he became aware of the issue from a few upset Scottsdale parents, and he would report Scottsdale Unified to the federal Department of Education for allegedly violating President Donald Trump’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

That could result in Scottsdale losing federal funds.

Menzel said that the district was not out of compliance with Trump’s order. 

Menzel added the complaints came from a few parents and only pertain to a handful of pages or passages in thick textbooks. 

He also questioned whether there were more pressing issues for Horne and Sheridan.

“It’s playing into a political agenda and not an educational agenda,” Menzel told 12News. “Arizona (test) scores are pretty pathetic when it comes to math and reading, and I would hope that the superintendent of public instruction would spend more time focusing on academic achievement and less time on political agendas.”

Horne’s criticism comes as he has recently felt heat from the far-right wing of the Republican Party for trying to rein in school vouchers. That has resulted in a GOP primary challenge next year from Treasurer Kimberly Yee.

Horne and Sheridan said the textbooks have an anti-police theme, including the way the Black Lives Matter movement is chronicled. That issue is covered on six pages in a 1,200-plus page textbook. 

“Any school curriculum should be focused on academics and historical facts, not on extreme, politically charged agendas that are inaccurate and not in the best interest of our students,” Sheridan said.

Menzel said he was unable to watch the press conference, which was livestreamed, because he was at a retirement party with several law enforcement officers for the Scottsdale police chief. The superintendent added that many Scottsdale schools have school resource officers, and the district and police department have worked together on safety issues.

“Some people have expressed concern that the social studies curriculum that we adopted recently is anti-police,” Menzel said. “Our students see the power and importance of police in our community to ensure that we have a healthy, safe, and thriving community.”

Menzel said the district will use the textbooks when school starts Aug. 4, and the total cost was about $600,000.

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