The Anchorage School District in Alaska admitted to a mistake after adding a controversial ‘does not endorse’ disclaimer to a flyer containing the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The sticker, which sparked parent outrage and criticism from the state attorney general, was mistakenly applied through a system that typically adds such disclaimers to external materials. The district apologized, calling the incident an error, and pledged to review its procedures to prevent future mistakes.
Parents and educators expressed confusion and frustration over the disclaimer, which was placed on the back of the pamphlet distributed to students. Karen Waldron, a parent who discovered the sticker after her daughter brought the flyer home, called the wording ‘highly inappropriate.’ Waldron emphasized that the Constitution and Declaration of Independence are foundational documents and questioned the rationale for distancing the school from them. She called for transparency and clarity in how materials are presented to students and families.
Alaska Attorney General Stephen J. Cox weighed in, calling the district’s actions ‘deeply concerning.’ Cox stressed the importance of teaching students about the founding principles of the United States and warned that the disclaimer could confuse students about the significance of these documents. The attorney general noted that the school district had taken ownership of the situation, issued an apology, and committed to corrective measures. However, he also mentioned that the state’s Law Department and Department of Education and Early Development are reviewing the district’s policies to ensure such an error does not happen again.
The flyer, produced by Hillsdale College, was distributed to students in class, with the disclaimer mistakenly added through a system that typically applies disclaimers to materials from external sources. The district’s spokesperson, M.J. Thim, acknowledged the mistake and explained that the request for the flyer did not specify the need for a disclaimer. The district is now working to address the issue and has committed to refining its procedures to avoid similar errors in the future.
While the incident has sparked debate about the role of schools in teaching historical and constitutional principles, the Anchorage School District has reaffirmed its commitment to teaching the founding documents as part of the curriculum. The district emphasized that the mistake was not a reflection of its educational values but rather a technical error in its material distribution process. However, the controversy highlights the broader tensions surrounding the teaching of American history and the potential for administrative missteps to fuel public debate.