Proposed Michigan social studies standards omits Roe v. Wade, climate change, gay rights

DETROIT – Proposed changes to Michigan's social studies curriculum is causing an uproar among the state's educators and parents.

A draft, lead by Republican State Senator and Gubernatorial candidate Patrick Colbeck, proposes major changes to subjects like civil rights, globalization, immigration and climate change.

"It's a reduction and minimization of our diverse cultural history," said Dave Crim, Michigan Education Association spokesperson, who also noted MEA is against the proposal.

In the draft, the word democratic, which is defined as "relating to or supporting democracy or its principles," has been changed to republic, defined as "a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives."

Watch Paula Tutman's story on this topic in the video player above.

If you'd like to participate in public comments, here's more information.

You can read the full 140+ page proposal draft below:


About the Authors

Paula Tutman is an Emmy award-winning journalist who came to Local 4 in 1992. She's married and the stepmother of three beautiful and brilliant daughters. Her personal philosophy in life, love and community is, "Do as much as you can possibly do, not as little as you can possibly get away with".

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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