A Wyoming Republican politician is facing intense criticism after saying students should learn "different views" of slavery.
The politician, Republican Jeremy Haroldson, said during a school curriculum debate in the Wyoming House of Representatives:
"Slavery was something that shouldn't have happened in America, but it did. So slavery needs to be discussed..."
"It needs to be brought forward and the different views, that slavery was not maybe what it has been painted in this nation completely."
Wyoming Republican says it's time to start teaching kids 'different views' about slavery https://t.co/vPtLF9wZGz— Kathleen Rummel (@Kathleen Rummel) 1616099974.0
NEWS: Rep. Jeremy Haroldson suggested there are two sides to the history of American slavery, and that Black Americ… https://t.co/WmrWsZlSad— WyoFile (@WyoFile) 1616078706.0
1. There is no 2 sides to slavery. 2. Salute to Rep. Cathy Connelly for reminding Rep. Jeremy Haroldson what the 19th Amendment is.— Kathleen Rummel (@Kathleen Rummel) 1616099974.0
WE is profoundly disappointed in the statements by Rep Jeremy Haroldson and @jillian4supt and ask both of them to a… https://t.co/SRjZaBNODJ— WyomingEquality (@WyomingEquality) 1616101309.0
Obviously there is no "different side" to slavery.
@CSTribune https://t.co/wm5Za8hEKy— The WY Ranch (@The WY Ranch) 1616036983.0
@CSTribune What the hell does Jeremy think slavery was like?— Rio Smith (@Rio Smith) 1616036379.0
@CSTribune Same guy who said mask mandate was a gateway to the next Holocaust...#gowyo— Paul Kemp (@Paul Kemp) 1616037421.0
Haroldson insisted to his colleagues slavery should be part of a more nuanced discussion and schools should emphasize teaching students the constitution, which he thought children seemed to know very little about.
He was then asked by Democratic Representative Cathy Connolly whether he knew what the 19th Amendment was.
Haroldson said he would have to look it up, but Connolly informed him it was the amendment that gives women the right to vote.
Perhaps Haroldson thinks students should be learning the "different views" of that piece of history as well.
@CSTribune @BFoster91 Ignorance abounds— JZ (@JZ) 1616036676.0
@CSTribune He was homeschooled and he homeschools his kids. He runs a super cult church in our town and pushes thi… https://t.co/jYXJMzXoS6— MMMendoza (@MMMendoza) 1616111890.0
Rep. Jeremy Haroldson argued in favor of teaching two sides of slavery during a legislative hearing on a bill that… https://t.co/7mv5yFWv2I— Vladdy Pudding (@Vladdy Pudding) 1616086922.0
Haroldson, a pastor who homeschools his children, seems to have some very extreme views of how public education should function.
While we're at it let's teach them different views about 2 plus 2 https://t.co/z5EWIms9qs— BornJamerican (@BornJamerican) 1616097355.0
Ok- this pretty much says ALL you need to know about the #RepublicanParty and their way of thinking,… https://t.co/0mtgqG0fYB— MindCrime, Deux (@MindCrime, Deux) 1616088713.0
When he says "different views" on slavery https://t.co/T8ezj225XN https://t.co/CkTzV8swUM— Brad's Imaginarium Emporium 🎨 (@Brad's Imaginarium Emporium 🎨) 1616087124.0
The internet denounced Haroldson's ideas in the absolutely harshest terms.
These people really are just the worst... https://t.co/P4HibsZprn— Sian Dougall (@Sian Dougall) 1616086987.0
https://t.co/7GG5JnIEJh https://t.co/VHJ4vY0Mq4— Doris Bivings♏🦂🥂🥂🥂🥂💙💙❤❤ (@Doris Bivings♏🦂🥂🥂🥂🥂💙💙❤❤) 1616086904.0
Since Haroldson homeschools his children he is free to teach them whatever he wants. But his "different views" of slavery are unlikely to be imposed on public school children.