has never occurred, and I've never, ever heard it even mentioned among my colleagues. Over the years, I have seen more diversity in the subjects, and by that I mean there are some stories about migrant farmers and their kids in the American west, or Afghan refugees who've made it to our shores, and in math word  problems there will be the occasional Jamal, Sanjay, or Chen mentioned, but of course Joe, Sam and Sally are still present.

I don't know what our local high school is doing, if anything, but surely slavery, Reconstruction and Jim Crow should be taught, but America has been and is many things, magnificent and downright awful. And of course slavery existed in many other countries (and surely still does in a few) so that should be acknowledged. Students should not be sheltered from uncomfortable truths. Reasonable people can disagree as to when these topics should be taught. 

Peter T.