Mount Pleasant – The Michigan Department of Education has heard thousands of complaints about proposed changes to state social studies standards that would delete references to gay rights, Roe v. Wade and climate change.

Now, comes the hard part: rewriting the standards to try to satisfy everyone.

Thursday evening’s forum in an auditorium in Central Michigan University’s student union was the 18th and last currently scheduled session to gather public input on the controversial changes to standards meant to set the parameters for what is taught in Michigan classrooms.

Over five months, about 800 people attended sessions, and another 4,000 left online comments for the Michigan Department of Education.

Concerns about the conservative changes were consistent over time and across the state, and are likely to have a major impact on how the draft standards are rewritten, said Linda Forward, senior executive policy advisor for the state’s education department.

“I’m embarrassed,” said Anthony Tuf Francis, an Oakland University assistant professor who typified the public comments Thursday. “These standards need to be rejected and rewritten by people who appreciate democracy.”

Source: A final meeting, and Michigan’s social studies standards head for a rewrite | Bridge Magazine