Anchorage School District in Alaska admitted to a mistake after adding a disclaimer to a flyer containing the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The disclaimer, which states that the district ‘does not endorse these materials or the viewpoints expressed,’ sparked significant backlash from parents and officials. One parent, Karen Waldron, expressed outrage upon discovering the sticker, questioning the rationale behind the disclaimer. She believes the documents are foundational to the nation and questioned why the school would distance itself from the principles they represent.
Alaska Attorney General Stephen J. Cox called the school district’s action ‘deeply concerning,’ emphasizing that the Declaration of Independence and Constitution are foundational American documents. Cox stated that the stickers only invite confusion about these founding documents. The school district’s spokesperson, M.J. Thim, acknowledged the error, stating that the flyers should not have been processed through a system that adds such disclaimers to materials from external sources.
The flyer, produced by Hillsdale College, remains a point of contention as the disclaimer has led to confusion about the intent of the materials. The controversy has raised broader questions about the teaching of foundational documents in schools and the role of school districts in curating educational materials. The Attorney General’s involvement highlights the sensitivity of the issue, as the disclaimer is seen as undermining the very principles the documents represent.
Following the backlash and public spotlight on the flyer, the spokesperson from the Anchorage School District told Anchorage Daily News that the district is reviewing the process to ensure it doesn’t happen again and that the founding documents are taught in every school and reflect the values we want every student to understand. Hillsdale College did not respond to a request for comment.