Black Studies Changed

Black

Studies

Changed

(Date stamp:) Thu Apr 2 1970

A change this September, from a one-semester

elective in Black History for seniors only to a two-

semester elective in a more comprehensive “Black

Studies” program for both juniors and seniors at

Ann Arbor’s senior high schools, was approved last

night by the Board of Education.

Also approved was a recommendation to make

a supplementary text, dealing with Black History

for senior-high American history courses, required

for student purchase.

The recommendations for changes came from

the Secondary Council of the Ann Arbor Public

Schools, composed of administrators and principals.

One of the demands of the Pioneer High .Black

students in February was for '‘more black history

in American history courses, and revision of cri-

teria for the black history courses so that all stu-

dents may take it.”

Dr. Sam M. Sniderman, assistant superintend-

ent for instruction, said the Black Studies course

will be examined during the 1970-71 school year “as

a possible alternative to the present social studies

graduation requirement of a year of American his-

tory.” Other alternatives to the American history

requirement also will be explored next year, he added.

Sniderman said he also recommends that the

teachers of Black Studies have academic course

work in the disciplines “appropriate to the areas

covered in Black Studies.” In-service programs to

help prepare teachers for an “integrated curricu-

lum” are planned, he said.

The new Black Studies course will be interdis-

ciplinary, covering such fields as history, litera-

ture, art, economics and sociology. It will be

“richer than a history offering” and will give stu-

dents a “more comprehensive understanding of the

black experience by viewing it from a variety of

perspectives,” Sniderman explained. He also said

the Black Studies class will concentrate more on

the present or recent past than a plain history

course would.

Trustee Paul H. Johnson was the only board

member to vote against the changes in black

studies, saying they planted “seeds of confronta-

tion” and “pitted” black history against American

history.