PHX Reporter

Rep. John Fillmore (R-16) called on the state to end the 1619 Project in Arizona schools, specifically in the Balsz School District in Phoenix.

He wrote a letter to Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman expressing his concern and request.

“This curriculum is grounded in a collection of politically charged essays and various other dubious works that aim to revise the history of America by highlighting the influence slavery has had on pivotal historical events even predating our nation’s founding,” Fillmore wrote in the letter.

Fillmore referred to it as “New York Times’ ‘highly controversial and discredited’ 1619 Project.” He pointed out that Arizona Revised Statutes do not permit this type of education material.

“As you are aware, A.R.S. §15-112 prohibits certain types of divisive courses and classes,’” the letter continued. I “believe that promoting the materials from the 1619 Project curriculum violates subsection’s A. (2) (4). The main essay on which the curriculum is based is a divisive and disputed version of alt-history that encourages a dangerous ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality.

The representative thinks these “may be appropriate in a college-level course, where theories and competing viewpoints can be explored and debated,” but aren’t fitting to be taught to children.