Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has replaced its director of early childhood education over the use of a teacher training book, written by a nationally recognized education group, that was denounced by the Republican governor for allegedly teaching “wake concepts” over language about inclusion and structural racism.

Barbara Cooper was forced to leave as head of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education after Ivey raised concerns about the distribution of the book to state-run kindergartens. Ivey spokesperson Gina Maiola identified the book as the National Assn. for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Developmentally Appropriate Practice Book, 4th Edition. Maiola said she understands the books have been removed from public classrooms.

The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room for distraction or distraction from this mission. Let me be crystal clear: Woke concepts that have nothing to do with a good education and are divisive at their core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age level, let alone our youngest students,” said Ivey in a statement

Friday

Ivey’s statement comes as conservative politicians have raised a rallying cry in rejecting what they call “awakened doctrine,” with schools sometimes popping up like a tinderbox about diversity training and parental rights.

The governor’s office said Ivey had first asked Cooper to send a memo to reject this book and stop using it immediately. Ivey’s office did not say how Cooper reacted, but that the governor made the decision to replace Cooper and accepted her resignation. Cooper was not immediately available for comment.

The book is a manual for early childhood educators. It is not a curriculum that is taught to children.

The governor’s office cited two examples from the book in a press release: one that discusses white privilege and that the United States is built on systemic and structural racism, and another that Ivey’s office claimed promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion teaches to 4 year olds. Those sections, according to a copy of the 881-page book obtained by the Associated Press, discuss fighting prejudice and making all kids feel welcome.

Early childhood programs also serve and welcome families representing many assemblies. Children from all families (e.g., single parent, grandparent-led, foster, LGBTQIA+) need to hear and see messages that promote equality, dignity, and value, the book argues.

The section on structural racism argues that systemic and structural racism … has permeated every institution and system through policies and practices that place people of color in oppressive, repressive, and subservient positions. The early education system is not immune to these forces. It says preschool is a place where children begin to see how they are represented in society and that the classroom should be a place of “affirmation and healing”.

NAEYC is a national accreditation board that works to provide quality early childhood education materials and resources. In an email response to the AP, the group did not comment on Ivey’s statements, but said the book is a research-based resource for educators.

For nearly four decades, and in partnership with hundreds of thousands of families and educators, Developmentally Appropriate Practice has served as the foundation for quality early childhood education in all states and communities. While not a curriculum, it is a responsive, teacher-developed, teacher-informed, and research-based resource that has been honed over several generations to support teachers in helping all children thrive and reach their full potential.” said the statement.

Cooper is a member of the NAEYC board. In a previously published statement on the organization’s website about the latest edition of the book, Cooper said the book teaches applicable skills to teach through developmental practices that build brains during the critical first five years of life.

Alabama’s First Class Volunteer Kindergarten programs operate more than 1,400 classrooms in the state. The program has received high ratings from the National Institute for Early Education Research.