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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 24 april 2023

Alabama education director ousted over book's stance on race

By KIM CHANDLER to provide high-quality ed-
Associated Press ucation materials and re-
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) sources for young children.
— Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey In an emailed response
on Friday announced she to The Associated Press,
replaced her director of the group did not address
early childhood education Ivey’s statements but said
over the use of a teacher the book is a research-
training book, written by based resource for edu-
a nationally recognized cators. “For nearly four de-
education group, that cades, and in partnership
the Republican governor with hundreds of thousands
denounced as teaching of families and educators,
“woke concepts” because Developmentally Appro-
of language about inclu- priate Practice has served
sion and structural racism. as the foundation for high-
Barbara Cooper was quality early childhood
forced out as as head of education across all states
the Alabama Department and communities. While not
of Early Childhood Educa- a curriculum, it is a respon-
tion after Ivey expressed sive, educator-developed,
concern over the distribu- Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey delivers her State of the State address, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in educator-informed, and
tion of the book to state- Montgomery, Ala. research-based resource
run pre-kindergartens. Ivey Associated Press that has been honed over
spokesperson Gina Maiola said in a statement. not a curriculum taught to ent-led, foster, LGBTQIA+) multiple generations to
identified the book as the Ivey’s statement comes children. need to hear and see mes- support teachers in help-
National Association for as conservative politicians The governor’s office, in sages that promote equal- ing all children thrive and
the Education of Young have made a rallying cry a press release, cited two ity, dignity, and worth,” the reach their full potential,”
Children (NAEYC) Devel- out of decrying so-called examples from the book — book states. the statement read.
opmentally Appropriate “woke” teachings, with one discussing white privi- The section on structural Cooper is a member of the
Practice Book, 4th edition. schools sometimes emerg- lege and that “the United racism states that “systemic NAEYC board. In a previ-
Maiola said she under- ing as a flashpoint over States is built on systemic and structural racism ... has ously published statement
stands that the books have diversity training and par- and structural racism” and permeated every institu- on the organization’s web-
been removed from the ents’ rights. another that Ivey’s office tion and system through site about the latest edition
state classrooms. The governor’s office said claimed teaches LGBTQ+ policies and practices that of the book, Cooper said
“The education of Ala- Ivey first asked Cooper inclusion to 4-year-olds. position people of color in that book teaches, “ap-
bama’s children is my top to “send a memo to dis- Those sections, according oppressive, repressive, and plicable skills for teaching
priority as governor, and avow this book and to im- to a copy of the 881-page menial positions. The early through developmentally
there is absolutely no room mediately discontinue its book obtained by The As- education system is not im- appropriate practices that
to distract or take away use.” Ivey’s office did not sociated Press, discuss mune to these forces.” It build brains during the criti-
from this mission. Let me be say how Cooper respond- combating bias and mak- says preschool is one place cal first five years of life.”
crystal clear: Woke con- ed but that the governor ing sure that all children where children “begin to Alabama’s First Class volun-
cepts that have zero to do made the decision to re- feel welcome. see how they are repre- tary pre-kindergarten pro-
with a proper education place Cooper and accept- “Early childhood programs sented in society” and that grams operates more than
and that are divisive at the ed her resignation. Cooper also serve and welcome the classroom should be a 1,400 classrooms across
core have no place in Ala- could not immediately be families that represent place of “affirmation and the state. The program has
bama classrooms at any reached for comment. many compositions. Chil- healing.” won high ratings from the
age level, let alone with The book is a guide for ear- dren from all families (e.g., NAEYC is a national ac- National Institute for Early
our youngest learners,” Ivey ly childhood educators. It is single parent, grandpar- crediting board that works Education Research.q

Cruise line let passenger’s body

decompose, lawsuit says

her husband’s body after promised, according to to comment, citing the
he died while they were the federal lawsuit filed in case’s sensitivity and “out
on a ship last year, saying Florida. of respect for the fam-
it was left to decompose That left the body bloated ily.” The Celebrity Equinox,
and they suffered extreme and green, and the fam- which cruises the Caribbe-
emotional trauma. ily was unable to have an an year-round out of Fort
After Marilyn Jones’ hus- open-coffin funeral “which Lauderdale, is flagged out
band of 55 years, Robert was a long standing fam- of Malta and can carry al-
Jones, died of a heart at- ily custom and was what most 3,000 passengers and
tack Aug. 15 onboard the his family had desired,” the 1,200 crew members.
The cruiser Celebrity Equinox built by the shipyard Meyer in Celebrity Equinox, his body lawsuit says. Marilyn Jones, According to the lawsuit,
Papenburg, Germany, goes down the river Ems near Gandersum was stored for nearly a her two daughters and which was filed Wednesday
on Saturday, June 20, 2009.
Associated Press week inside a walk-in cool- three grandchildren are in Fort Lauderdale, after
er normally used for bever- seeking $1 million in dam- Robert Jones died, his wid-
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) are suing Celebrity Cruises ages instead of a properly ages. ow was given two choices
— A widow and her family for allegedly mishandling chilled morgue as she was Celebrity Cruises declined by crew members.q