The Anchorage School District has a problem with the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
A website called, “Must Read Alaska,” posted photos of a disclaimer that had been added to copies of both Founding Documents.
The label read: “The Anchorage School District does not endorse these materials or the viewpoint expressed in them.”
A student alerted her mother who posted images on social media. Click here to read Todd’s new book.
“These aren’t controversial documents, they are the foundation of our country and what our students are supposed to be learning about,” the mom wrote on Facebook. “Why would a school need to distance itself from the very principles we are built on?”
Today my daughter brought home a pamphlet with the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. On the back was a sticker saying that the Anchorage School District “does not endorse the materials or viewpoints expressed in them.”
I was honestly stunned. These aren’t controversial documents, they are the foundation of our country and what our students are supposed to be learning about. Why would a school need to distance itself from the very principles we are built on?
I fully support transparency in education and just want to understand this policy better. Parents deserve clarity. If outside materials are being sent home, especially involving American founding documents, the messaging should be thoughtful and not confusing to families.
I’ll be asking the district for an explanation.
Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox called the label deeply disturbing – writing on X:
“Public officers have to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution. I took such an oath on my first day. Alaska law requires school board members to sign—and swear to support and defend—the U.S. Constitution. When a public school district says it won’t endorse the Constitution or the Declaration, or “the viewpoints expressed in them,” something has gone terribly wrong.”
The school district has yet to weigh in on the controversy.
There’s a simple fix to all of this – either the Anchorage School District removes the label or the Department of Education should remove its federal funding.
