Watchdog Urges Smithsonian Museum to Withdraw from Educator Retreat

A watchdog organization has urged the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture to withdraw from an academic retreat scheduled for next month. North American Values Institute sent a letter raising concerns about workshop leader Ismael Jimenez.

Jimenez serves as Director of Social Studies Curriculum for the School District of Philadelphia and will co-facilitate a session at the Social Studies Curriculum Coordinators Retreat hosted by the University at Buffalo.

The letter cited Jimenez's curriculum materials, which NAVI said steer students toward activism. Examples include lessons that ask students to apply antiracism and intersectionality lenses and projects directing students to develop civic action plans.

NAVI also referenced Jimenez's past public comments about Israel. The group pointed to posts in which Jimenez allegedly called Israel a terrorist state, along with statements tracked by Canary Mission.

Retreat materials list a Reconstruction and Freedmen's Bureau workshop involving NMAAHC staff. NAVI argued that participation would lend institutional credibility to politicized approaches in K-12 education. Jimenez told Fox News Digital that he viewed the retreat as an opportunity to engage with educators and remain open to learning and growth.

He did not address the specific criticisms of his past comments. NAVI asked the Smithsonian to withdraw its workshop, state that it does not support politicized K-12 education, and review procedures for third-party trainings.