Northridge Learning Center, a Utah-based educational institution providing online classes and course materials, has taken decisive action to remove history packets containing inaccurate and insensitive descriptions of slavery from its offerings. This move comes in response to parental concerns and public outcry over the content, which sparked significant controversy.
The learning center, widely utilized by high school students across Utah for credit recovery, acknowledged the problematic nature of the materials and confirmed that it would no longer distribute the contentious packets. Furthermore, Northridge Learning Center announced plans to completely rewrite the section concerning the Civil War in its curriculum.
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In a statement released to The Salt Lake Tribune and directly to parents, Alison D. Bond, CEO of Northridge Learning Center, addressed the situation. “It is difficult to address a subject such as slavery, especially through an independent study packet versus classroom discussion,” Bond stated. “But we see how this section can be improved.” This statement signals an understanding of the gravity of the issue and a commitment to rectifying the historical inaccuracies present in their learning materials.
While Northridge Learning Center has not specified the exact duration these packets have been in use or the number of students exposed to them, they confirmed the materials have been circulating for “a while.” The controversy ignited when concerned parents brought the content to the attention of Northridge Learning Center administrators. One parent expressed deep concern about the potential impact on her Black son, stating he would have been “crushed” by the packet’s descriptions of slavery. This personal perspective underscores the emotional and educational harm caused by the misrepresentation of this critical period in American history.
Emma Houston, Special Assistant to the Vice President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Utah, voiced strong criticism of the packets. “The fact of the matter is that Africans were brought to this country in shackles and chains and forced to do manual labor,” Houston emphasized in an interview with The Tribune. She further articulated the brutal reality of slavery, stating, “They were born into slavery and died in slavery. I am just beyond words that anyone would call that ‘kind.’” Houston’s powerful words highlight the stark contrast between the packet’s description and the lived experiences of enslaved people.
Northridge Learning Center provides paper workbooks that students can complete to earn credit for courses, often used to make up for failed classes or as an alternative to traditional classroom settings. The center offers a focused range of subjects, including essential graduation requirements like math and financial literacy. School districts throughout Utah generally accept credits earned through Northridge Learning Center, making its curriculum widely influential.
Nancy McKendrick, the parent who initially raised the alarm, shared that her daughter was using the packet over the summer to regain U.S. history credit missed during the pandemic. Her daughter’s disbelief upon reading the material prompted McKendrick to take action. The packet contained deeply troubling statements, including assertions that “many slaves worked so closely with their masters that they were treated as family.” It further suggested “slaves were considered property so it was not in the best interest of a slaveholder to treat a slave poorly,” and even alluded to “nice housing” for enslaved people. These phrases minimize the brutality of slavery and present a distorted view of the power dynamics and inhumane conditions inherent in the system.
The packet’s description of enslaved individuals as property, assigning dollar values to them, further dehumanizes them. While it briefly acknowledges that “human slavery is still wrong and many cruel acts did take place,” and mentions slave rebellions, this cursory acknowledgement is overshadowed by the preceding justifications and minimization of the horrors of slavery. The inclusion of images depicting the whipping and beating of slaves, immediately following the assertion of “kind” treatment, creates a jarring and contradictory message.
View the controversial Northridge packet for U.S. history on Scribd
McKendrick, whose daughter attends Itineris Early College High School, expressed her shock and dismay at the packet’s content. While Itineris Early College High School accepts Northridge Learning Center credits, the charter school is not affiliated with and does not review the center’s materials.
In response to this incident, Houston is advocating for a comprehensive review of all Northridge Learning Center materials to identify and rectify any further inaccuracies. She also emphasizes the need for an external and diverse committee to be involved in this review process, ensuring a balanced and informed perspective. Houston urges Northridge Learning Center to utilize factual references, reputable sources, and firsthand accounts from enslaved individuals to provide an accurate and comprehensive portrayal of the atrocities they endured, including sexual assault, beatings, and various forms of abuse.
Houston powerfully stated, “This sounds like 1902 that they wrote this. Individuals who were enslaved were not treated with kindness. That’s a fact. They were stripped of their names and cultures and everything. It’s an issue of reporting history — not the history that we want it to be, but the actual history of how individuals were treated.”
The packets are produced by North Farm Enterprises LLC, also operated by Northridge Learning Center CEO Alison D. Bond. The connection between these entities is not immediately clear from public records. Northridge Learning Center, though accredited by Cognia, a national education accreditation organization, does not publicly disclose the identities of those responsible for creating its curriculum materials. The center operates in multiple locations across Utah, including Layton, where McKendrick obtained the packet.
Houston commended the family for challenging the problematic content, stating, “For individuals who see this, it’s OK to not be silent. They can challenge it.”
This controversy arises amidst a national debate surrounding critical race theory and discussions about race in education. Utah has also witnessed similar incidents, including a school assigning students roles as slaves and slave owners and another school initially allowing parents to opt their children out of Black History Month lessons.
Adrienne Andrews, Chief Diversity Officer at Weber State University, stressed the recurring nature of these issues in Utah and the importance of consistently addressing them. “To have a history makeup packet say these things is obscene,” Andrews stated. “And it negates the facts and real lived experiences of people who were brutalized. That’s not OK. Knowing the truth does not mean we have to stay in that history. It means we can learn from that history and commit ourselves to not doing that again.”
Vikki Deakin, a history professor at Weber State University, echoed Andrews’ sentiments. “I’m not surprised, but it still makes me sad,” Deakin said. “It’s 2021, so I don’t even know why we’re still having this conversation about slavery, why we’re using the language that slaveholders used to justify slavery.” Deakin highlighted that similar issues occur in other states, emphasizing the widespread need for improved historical education regarding slavery. “But they weren’t servants,” Deakin asserted, refuting euphemistic language often used to describe enslaved people. “They had no choice. They were held against their will. Holding someone in bondage is inherently cruel and barbaric. Kindness is not a word that belongs in this narrative.”
Deakin further emphasized the psychological torture inflicted upon enslaved people, beyond physical abuse, including threats to separate families. “You don’t get to have slave owners get away with it,” Deakin concluded. “I’m just so tired of it.”
The Utah chapter of Black Lives Matter has also joined the call for transparency and curriculum revision at Northridge Learning Center. Rae Duckworth, the organization’s president, stated, “The truth of my people is not being taught,” underscoring the urgent need for accurate and honest representation of history in educational materials.
This incident serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing need for careful scrutiny of educational content, particularly when addressing sensitive and complex historical topics like slavery. Northridge Learning Center’s decision to remove the packets and revise their curriculum is a step in the right direction, but continued vigilance and commitment to accurate and inclusive history education are essential.
