New AmazeWorks book program
put on pause at South St. Paul elementary schools

By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | November 2024

AmazeWorks book program, a new supplemental curriculum that launched this fall at South St. Paul elementary schools, has attracted the ire of some parents concerned with some of its subject matter. The program was instituted at Kaposia Education Center and Lincoln Center Elementary and calls for teachers to read picture books to students that address a wide variety of topics, including personal identities, family dynamics, cultures and more, and have corresponding discussions about each book.

In late September, parents raised concerns at meetings at both schools about some of the 20 books selected for this year, specifically those that address gender identity. Some parents object because the content goes against their religious beliefs; others say the corresponding discussions may cause their young students to be confused about their own gender identity. Some who are opposed to implementing the program in elementary school say it is more appropriate for middle school students. Additionally, some parents say they weren’t properly informed about the program’s launch and weren’t given a chance to withdraw their students from the lessons. Some families have expressed their full support of the program, advocating that kids can develop gender identity as early as kindergarten and that it’s unfair to exclude books about LGBTQIA+ families or individuals from schools. South St. Paul Public Schools website for the program also says students may feel invisible or less valued if they don’t see themselves reflected in school curriculum. The five primary topics for lessons are: empathy and understanding; healthy, complex identities; respect across differences; notice, name and reject bias; and responsiveness and action.

According to Special School District #6, the program is currently on pause while staff review recent feedback from parents. Details of the program, along with a letter dated September 13 that was sent home with students, can be found at sspps.org/academics/amazeworks.

The stated goal of the program is to foster a school environment where all students feel valued and respected, and to increase students’ skills in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships and responsible decision-making. The goal aligns with feedback from South St. Paul families regarding their desired daily experience at the schools, and with core values jointly adopted by the District and the City of South St. Paul this year. The District contends that the program doesn’t push any particular viewpoint but rather helps students think critically and talk about people’s differences in race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, faith, physical ability, culture and more. The first book in the program addressed how to handle feelings of insecurity.

The book titles aren’t available online, so parents must schedule an in-person meeting with school staff to review them. This decision was made so school staff can explain the context of the program to parents. The list of books may change in the coming months based on updated themes and feedback, so parents are encouraged to review materials as they’re implemented.

The program was created by AmazeWorks, a St. Paul-based nonprofit founded in 2013, and teachers are undergoing necessary training to use AmazeWorks books in their classrooms.

Notification letter
This is the letter that was sent home with students in mid-September.

“Dear South St. Paul Families, South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) is excited to share the addition of the AmazeWorks book program. AmazeWorks is a St. Paul, Minnesota based non-profit organization that works with schools to provide professional development and book resources that are culturally and linguistically responsive. This anti-biased book program aligns to our core values of teaching respect, equity and resilience to all our learners and promotes respect for social and emotional skills that foster healthy identity development and respect across differences. Teachers also engage in ongoing self-reflection about how their own identities and biases impact relationships and their work with children and families.

Each picture book in the AmazeWorks program explores different cultures, identities, lived experiences, and family structures. AMAZE programs in SSPPS foster the knowledge, values and skills that adults and the next generation need in order to support and respect each other across differences of race, class, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion/faith, and physical ability.

Each lesson contains teacher-led discussion questions, journal prompts, and follow-up activities. By facilitating meaningful discussions about identity, difference, and bias, teachers prevent biased based teasing and mistreatment while maintaining a safe and supportive school environment. Students learn and feel better in classrooms where they feel seen and valued for all of who they are. Students learn about empathy, accepting oneself, respect for others, noticing and rejecting bias, and standing up for themselves and others. These topics are also infused with CASEL Social Emotional Framework: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

SSPPS acknowledges that parents/guardians are the primary educator for their child/children and we are committed to partnering with you to provide supplementary resources to support you in this role.
Please reach out to your school administrator if you have any questions or concerns.”

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