Kelly Clark and Geoffrey Nelson, Nevada Joint Union High School District (NJUHSD) candidates for Trustee Area 3, addressed questions about inclusive curriculum and antiracism at the NJUHSD candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Nevada County September 25.

When the League of Women Voters of Nevada County asked the candidates whether they are “in support of ensuring all voices are represented in the curriculum,” Clark expressed that while “all voices are important,” historical truth should not be compromised in the name of representation.

“Of course. All voices are important. If the curriculum is truthful, I’m in agreement. Such as, it’s important to learn history, all history, as long as it’s truthful,” said Clark.

“I know that there are some questionable things that come up and some people have an opposition to it, and I think that’s why you need to work with teachers, the parents, and the children. But yes, every voice is important,” Clark continued.

Following Clark’s response, Nelson answered this same question by saying what he perceived to be the quiet part of the question out loud.

“I’m 100% positive whoever wrote that question had a very specific thing in mind. And what they’re asking is, should we have explicit LGBT curriculum in the school? Should we have explicit trans curriculum in the school? Should we talk about racism in our history books? Just so everybody’s clear, the way the process works is the experts, the teachers, propose the curriculum. The board then reviews and assesses the teachers ability to have done that, and we eventually, unless we think there’s a real miscarriage of justice going on, we support the teachers in the selection of the curriculum,” said Nelson.

Nelson then appeared to call attention to Clark’s use of the word “truthful.”

“We need to normalize the conversation about the way our society is, and if anybody has any questions about what’s truthful, let’s just go outside and see it, and that should be what’s in our books,” said Nelson.

The League of Women Voters of Nevada County also presented the candidates with this question addressing antiracism and support for the LGBTQ community:

“Students and parents have expressed a need for antiracist and supportive environments for those who identify as members of the LGBTQ and black and brown communities. Do you agree this is necessary? Why or why not?”

Nelson agreed with providing training to ensure supportive environments and expressed how “the only barometer that matters to [him] is the students.”

Reflecting on 2 years prior, Nelson explained how the board was “basically having to use the Bear River auditorium because we had hundreds of people coming to school board meetings. What were those meetings about? They were about kids feeling bullied, harassed, racist taunting, gay taunting. There was a much larger problem at that time, but…there still is a problem.”

A theme for Nelson throughout the forum was his commitment to normalizing the LGBTQ community in an effort to reduce bullying and harassment and improve students’ mental health.

“My whole goal as a leader in this organization is to normalize the conversation around mental health. Normalize the conversation around LGBT issues. Normalize the conversation around all the normal things that happen in our society. I’m supportive of training because I think we just need to keep normalizing the conversation,” said Nelson.

Clark took a different approach with her answer, focusing on her experience growing up in a diverse community.

“First of all,” Clark responded, “I believe in being compassionate and caring for all people, all students. I believe that is what we should all do. And I know that’s not what everybody does. I grew up in a very racially diverse community in high school, and I’m happy to say that we really got along. I don’t remember any racial fights. Maybe we were not the norm, but we instead looked at our common interests and all the activities we participated in, and we had a great time. So I feel like some of the best ways that you a take care of that bullying and everything is to treat each other already like you’re the same and have a conversation with family.”

“As far as the training goes and everything,” Clark added, “we never had training, and we got along.”

To view the candidate forum in its entirety, click here.